contrast of color, checkerboard fields, Santa Lucia foothills

Foothills Contrast - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2006

While driving on River Road up and back along the Santa Lucia foothills last week - I was struck by the incredible color of what was some sort of neglected weed or cover crop.

Despite being essentially dead - it was a remarkably vibrant gold color with some brown mixed in - it was checkerboard strewn through the green fields.

The contrast was amazing and left a strong impression. The glow and contrast is what’s left - the composition pales a bit - but is close enough to communicate.  The grape vines in the foreground - were not in the scene of the impression, but are quite plausible for the area this is from - and it definitely makes for a more interesting view.

I do like the trees.

See Also

• River Run
  another impression from River Road - different time - different view - check out enlargement and details - really improves full scale
• Carmel Valley Road to Greenfield
  Not completely same road - but very close and very similar look and feel
• Cauliflower on River Road
  Vector Point and Scenic Visions gallery - numerous photos of area from local photographer Kirk Kennedy