Three Oaks on Golden Hills

I saw this scene at midday from a small road in San Martin, CA. The rolling hills stretched endlessly, golden grass swaying gently under the afternoon sun. The sturdy oaks stood out - dark green against a palette of ochre and amber. My favorite!

A faint breeze carried with it the scent of dry earth and wildflowers hidden among the hillsides. The sky, streaked with clouds of white, hinted at a day that was both restless and serene.

Pausing here, I could almost feel it: that gentle reminder that the earth was old, enduring, and alive.

I chose to paint this on a solid black underpainting. I then painted on top of the underpainting. The places where the black shows through is where I didn't paint. I love how the black outlines and highlights the summer colors of the scene.