Mt. Tamalpais (Mt Tam)

I've been wanting to paint a watercolor of Mt. Tam in Marin County for some time. It is a very imposing mountain with lots of history. It lies just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate and is 2,571 feet high. It has spectacular views from the peak. You can see the Farallon Islands 25 miles away, Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, the East Bay, and Mount Diablo.

According to the California State Park's web site, Coastal Miwok Indians lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. In 1770, two explorers named the mountain La Sierra de Nuestro Padre de San Francisco, which was later changed to the Miwok word Tamalpais.

With the Gold Rush of 1849, San Francisco grew and more people began to use Mount Tamalpais for recreation. Trails were developed and a wagon road was built. Later, a railway was completed and became known as "The Crookedest Railroad in the World." It was abandoned in 1930 after a wildfire damaged the line".

I will probably have another attempt at this subject since I'm not that happy with the foreground. I'd like to try some different hues. At different times of the day the mountain changes color, depending on whether the sun is shining or it's overcast or in the shade. It always looks different, lending itself to lots of interpretations.

Watercolor - Sonoma Landscape

As you drive up route 101 north from Marin County, you travel through the wide open areas of Sonoma and beyond. It is an area of unspoilt plains and hills. In the hot summer months the vegetation dries out to a lovely wheaten color. The only greens are provided by the dark live oak trees and some small evergreen scrub. It's very much the colors of California in the summertime - beautiful but also a reminder of the ever-present fire hazard.