"Surf Study at Sunset" 

You cannot beat the California Coast for some great

painting.  Mild weather makes it ideal to paint year 

round. 

"San Francisco Street Study"

I painted this during a summer trip to paint urban scenes

of the iconic city of San Francisco.  In all,  I painted close

to a dozen paintings depicting the light and mood of this

beautiful city.  

It was a challenge painting here, of course traffic is scary

and you have to find a parking spot that you can stay in 

for at least 2 hours without it costing you an arm and a 

leg.  It didn't matter how tough though,  I was determined

to get some work done!

Just recently painted in Big Sur,  California after
exhibiting in Laguna Beach at the 14th Annual
Plein Air Invitational.
 

 I've been on the road for almost 2 months

painting outdoors in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona
and California,  so now it's time to concentrate on 

some large scale works in the studio.

"Mid Day Light"  9"x12"

 

I was honored to receive Best of Show in

the Quick Draw at 14th Annual Laguna Beach 

Plein Air Invitational taking place this week 

October 14 - 21, 2012.

 

Back from teaching in Vermont  last week and 

traveling to Wyoming,  Utah and Arizona for the 

past month.  It was a fantastic trip with stunning 

scenery and good times!  I will be posting new

paintings soon! 

Grand Canyon North Rim

Dear friends I will be on the road painting 

this month and also heading to Vermont to
teach a workshop.   I hope to post new work next

month in October!  Happy painting!!

Painting on the Pacific Coast near my home and
the painting above from that day!

 "Pine Creek Lake Study #1"  6"x8" NFS

After a good nights sleep under the stars it was

time to venture around the lake to find a good

spot to paint.  There were so many,  but this 

captured my attention almost right away.

Sierra high country lakes are heavenly. God's art
is nature to me and I feel blessed that he gave
 me this ability to share it with others.

Henry David Thoreau said,  "My profession is to 
always find God in Nature." 

Just recently returned from my annual painting

trip in the Eastern Sierra.  It's a tough 5 hour hike

up granite cliffs to Pine Creek Lake, but worth

every sore muscle when you arrive.  Kirby our

trusted guide made it look easy of course,  he 

was always ahead of us by 30 yards or more.

More to come...

3 day plein-air workshop with Frank Serrano in Putney, Vermont for 3 days in September. Dates are- Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sept. 26, 27, 28, 2012. If your interested get in touch with Deborah Lazar
  at  d@artworking.com

Minimum of 10 people.  Scholarships available.

I hope you will watch...Have a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=choOYBFZBVA

Thanks to Everyone who came to my Studio

Open House.  It turned out to be the best in 

10 Years! 

 

Also,  Thanks to those of you who helped

out and to Wonderland Custom Cakes for

their generosity in providing their delicious

cupcakes for everyone to try!  

 

By the way they won Cup Cake Wars on the

Food Network!!!

 

 

- Frank Serrano

"I paint, not to paint a pretty picture that sells, but because I was inspired by my subject. I fell in love and wanted everyone to know."

"High Mountain Aspen"  8"x8"

SOLD

Available at my Studio Sale August 4th, 2012
If you would like to attend please email
frankserrano@sbcglobal.net

Available at my Studio Sale August 4th, 2012
If you would like to attend please email
frankserrano@sbcglobal.net

Above,  "Hyde Street"  SOLD

"Colorado Blvd. 7am" 8"x8" HOLD

After working in the studio for the past few days I 

decided to break it up with a trip down to Laguna 

Beach to get a couple field studies done.  I often 

give myself a break when painting larger works

in the studio to keep those paintings from 

looking too labored.  They  take  much longer

to create,  sometimes weeks,  so a fresh eye is
important!

Above: "Laguna Rock Pile" 8"x8"
"Mid Day Sun" 8"x10"

Copyright F. Serrano 2012

Recent on location field studies from my trip up the California
coast.  I recommend this trip to anyone,  but especially if you
paint or love to sketch it's spectacular. and if you bring
 a partner you can stop along the way picnic at sights like
these and paint!

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to
play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give
 strength to body and soul." John Muir

Above: Pigeon Pt Light House 10"x14"

Copyright,  F. Serrano 2012

"Sunrise at Leo Carrillo",  7"x10" Field Study

Copyright F. Serrano 2012

SOLD

I couldn't believe how lucky I was to drive an hour

to the beach and find this scene just starting 

 to unfold.  With my hot coffee in hand and 

easel on my back I hiked down to the sand to

find my spot.  I could feel the warmth of the sun

on my face and at the same time a cool breeze

coming off of the water.  So peaceful,  I had to 

say a quick prayer before setting up my easel to 

thank God for such a beautiful day!

 

Back to the studio to work on enlarging some of my 

San Francisco and Central Coast paintings!

Sometimes it's hard to get back into painting in the
studio after such a beautiful experience painting
outdoors,  but it's something that must be done.  I
will often surround myself with all the studies of
the area and meditate or visualize being there again.
Slowly the sights,  smells and sounds drift back
and I feel i can begin to start my work. I want the
viewer to feel in my larger works what I felt
on the spot in my field studies.  

"Hyde Street"  8"x8"  oil on panel

SOLD

I recently had the best painting trip to to the 

great city of San Francisco.  My friend Andre and

I painted  scenes from the Golden Gate to 

the streets that make this city a unique place.

Although I painted at least a dozen Plein Air

paintings,  I can't wait to go back when I can 

spend more time exploring and painting

all the places I may have missed.

Copyright F. Serrano 2012

"Treasure Island Coast" 7"x10"

SOLD

When I'm in the studio and start to feel like I 

need to get out and paint,  the coast is the first 

place I think of.  It has all the elements I look

for in order to create a good painting. 

 

This particular scene as set up for me.  A great

design with beautiful color and light.  This was 

painted right in the middle of the day,  but there 

were still some great blue shadows on the cliff

which complimented its golden tone.

 

I think this summer is going to be grand!

 

 

"Sunshine" 10"x12" Oil on linen

Private Collection

"Head of the Trail" Field Study 8"x10".

 Painted in the 

mountains near my home that had been burned 

by the Station Fire. Mother nature has sprinkled

 her love and everything is coming back!

SOLD 

"June in the High Country" 8"x10" Field Study

SOLD

"Raking Light" 9"x12"

California has light that is just amazing.  The 

variety of light, from hazy near the coast, to sharp

in the foothills and mountains,  keeps me excited 

and ready to paint any day of the year.  

This piece was painted near my home in the

foothills as the sun was approaching sunset.

The warm glow on the grass and reflected light

on the tree trunks literally stopped me in my 

tracks.

This is available for sale.

"Crashing Waves" 6"x8"  Field Study
SOLD

I love the California Coast and as you can tell one 

of my favorite places to paint.  Ever changing,

there is so much excitement with the surf crashing

over the rocks and sand to watching dolphins

frolic just off shore.  This particular painting is 

one I did recently in Malibu at what is called

the "Channels."  The tide was starting to build

and the waves were crashing  spectacularly.

"Early Summer" 7"x10" This was painted near

the town of Bishop,  CA in the Eastern Sierra.

"Crazy Mountains" Field Study

SOLD

"Surf at Pt. Fermin" Field Study

Nothing like driving down to the coast to paint.

SOLD

"Dog Beach" 8"x8" Oil on Linen