Eucalyptus Dreams

This painting was an effort to paint in the style of Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel (1873 – 1954). She painted en plein air (outside in the open) in both watercolors and oils. She lived and worked with her artist husband, Elmer Wachtel, in the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena. Her work has been among my favorites for many years. After I chose her as my inspiration, I decided to look at many of her artworks on the record. I was unfamiliar with her southwest scenes. However, I have long admired Wachtel’s California landscapes and decided to use a variety of her California paintings as my inspiration. Her atmospheric backgrounds and lyrical eucalyptus and sycamores draw the viewer into and through the painting. She has a way of making the branches and foliage seem to bend and sway creating beautiful shapes and designs. Although I use more texture and some more vibrant colors, I hope that this painting “Eucalyptus Dreams” will still serve as my homage to Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel.