Rolling Hills in Winters

This started as a plein aire (outdoor) painting at a ranch outside Winters, California.  It's probably one of the few places in the mostly flat town that's on a hillside and hence has a view of some nearby hills. 

The day I was there, I was struck by the view and how the hills appeared to be layer after layer, with only a couple trees in sight. 

A good friend has since bought this painting, and it now resides in New Mexico -- a very fitting place for it I think. 

If you'd like information about any of my paintings, please email me at: 

asonora@cal.net

Izzy's Dream

This watercolor is named after a dog.  A white, fluffy, standard poodle dog.  Some of us called her "Izzy" for short, or maybe it was just me.  Oh, and she was also part human.  She used to walk in my house (with her owner, a good friend of mine who's also an artist) and immediately go sit on the couch very comfortably. 

I think I fell in love with Izzy about the same time I started this painting, so somehow the connection got made.  I didn't even finish it until after she died.  She's the only dog I've known, so far, that was given a memorial service in her honor.  Turns out, I wasn't the only one that loved her.

If you want to know more about any of my paintings, please contact me at:  asonora@cal.net

Adele Sonora 

At the Gate

All my finished paintings are special to me, but this one falls into another category of memorable.  It's part of my "Sacred Spaces" series.  This one is a view of the LDS Temple in Folsom, California.  A very good friend asked if I'd be interested in painting something for an upcoming conference she was in charge of.  There would be hundreds of attendees (women) at the Spring 2011 conference, and the topic of her conference was to be:  Lioness at the Gate. 

"Lioness at the Gate" referred (in a nutshell) to the many responsibilities that women have in getting themselves, and their families, to "the gate".  In my mind and interpretation, the gate referred to a doorway or opening into a sacred portal -- both symbolically and figuratively.  In this case, the symbolic became the door to the temple, which is a very sacred and holy place for LDS members. 

For the image, I used one of my friend's photos of the temple, and the rest evolved from there -- including the colors.  I just let it flow.  And I'm glad I did. 

If you have any questions about my paintings, please contact me at:  asonora@cal.net

Adele Sonora