I love painting during Spring in the mountain foothills of Santa Barbara. The Botanical Gardens has an amazing wildflower meadow on the upper trail. My artist eyes see the rugged and baren mountains as a backdrop to the multitude of freshly born spring wildflowers. If I turn in the opposite direction, I see the ocean and the islands miles beyond the fragrant wildflower meadow. On this particular spring day, it is hot and the air is still. I put my brush to canvas for several peaceful hours and returned a week later to continue painting while the weather and light are the same as my beginning. I finally finished the painting in my studio working from sketches, photos and memories.