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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

creating what can’t be recreated … but with feeling

Foothills Terrain - digital painting - Dan Beck 2006

The thing about this art print which strikes me the most - is how it pulls me in. I find the hills and mountains to have both the depth and warmth that they have in person.

I can’t say that the image or its prints is impeccable - that is not for me to say - but I know if makes me feel like I want to reach out and hug those hills and mountains - and that is what I feel when I am in the Santa Lucia Foothills.

This is a place which always blows my mind - I am always stunned by its beauty - I cannot copy or recreate such beauty - and I don’t believe any artist can - what I can do in a digital painting or at least try to do - is paint what it feels like for me to be in the scene.

I feel successful in this venture, but this is not a particularly trafficked area - and I suspect does not look like it even exists.

For art prints from the above digital painting, please email specialorders@outhousestudios.net.

See Also

• River Run 1
  digital painting from same area - different time - different direction
• Big Sur Xtreme - Guided Hiking Tours of the Santa Lucia Mountains
  Photo gallery of same mountains - from the West side instead of the East