Paula Somma Art Journal

Monday, November 3, 2014

On the Ojai Conservation Trail...

Pastel, 12 x 9

My mom and I took a road trip to Ojai last week for a few days. What a beautiful time of year to explore that area, and what an adventure seeker my dear mom was. As we entered the winding road to our B&B, we came across this conservation trail. Those fiery orange/yellow/red trees caught our eye immediately and we just had to stop and take a stroll through the tree lined paths. More Ojai inspired paintings to come soon.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Fall Succulent

Pastel, 16 x 12

I enjoyed observing the shapes and shadows here with the subtle gradations of colors shifting from blues, greens and lavenders. The warm pink tips of the petals were like putting icing on the cake for me. This was painted on a black sanded surface allowing many layers to carve out the shapes, retaining the contrasted shadows and leaving some of the surface peeking through to add texture through out.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

SC Art Association Fall Show

Pastel, 9 x 12

I am honored to have received 3rd Place in the Pastel Category for SC Art Association's Fall Show.

"Leaving Linda Lane"

Monday, September 15, 2014

North Beach Sunrise

Pastel, 12 x 6

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

End of August Moon - 2014

Pastel, 27 x 18.75

A moment captured on our early evening beach walk the other day.

I can't quite get the color and contrast to represent the painting accurately here.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Color of Summer...

Pastel, 12 x 9 - SOLD

With summer coming to a close soon, I thought I'd try to capture the lighting and colors of the season. Fall is beautiful here too, but the light will soon shift, shadows will change and colors won't be quite as warm. Here we have the color of summer...

Monday, August 4, 2014

Morning View at The Montage...

Pastel, 9 x 10.5

© 2014 Paula Somma. All rights reserved.

With misty mornings come softer hues… a peaceful view from the Montage in South Laguna, CA.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Beach Trail Pano

Pastel, 27 x 11

San Clemente's beach trail after the sun has set.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Cabrillo Playhouse

Pastel, 12 x 9

The local Playhouse in my home town of San Clemente has so much character. On this clear sunny day, it caught my eye with all the color and contrasts. I really enjoyed painting it and the finishing strokes were adding the telephone wires. I almost left them out, but they were there and it added some interest to the sky by scratching them in. The playhouse opened in 1966 and is still active today.

I'm honored to share that this painting was awarded 3rd place in the San Clemente Art Associations Members Paint San Clemente Event.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Mission Lily

Pastel and graphite, 12 x 7

I enjoyed working more spontaneous and loose with this one. Allowing the terra cotta surface to peek through more and adding some graphite gestures in the end. I might try this again with another color of lily just for fun.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

"Morning at the Mission" - The Mission San Juan Capistrano

Pastel, 16 x 12

I took a walk through the Mission in San Juan Capistrano the other morning right when it opened. It was so peaceful and the light was warm and still a bit low casting nice cool toned shadows across the lawn and pathways.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

A Peek Between the Palms

Pastel, 16 x 12

© 2014 Paula Somma. All rights reserved.

I took the coast to run a few errands and the ocean was so blue I had to stop and take it in. This view of Dana Point Harbor caught my eye between the palm trees with their interesting cast shadows.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

San Juan's Open Space

Pastel, 12 x 9

My mom and I took the scenic view home last weekend and as we entered San Juan Capistrano, we stumbled onto this Open Space preserve of the Avocado and Orange groves. What a gorgeous day to view this Open Space. The focal tree I believe is an Avocado tree. The distant trees are orange trees midst the mustard grasses. I loved how the sun lit up the mustard and contrasted the shadows of the trees. I can remember when I was about 11 years old, riding horses with my friend Janna through the orange groves here. I'm so thankful they've preserved this area for the public to enjoy.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Abalone Point

Pastel, 12 x 9

Saturday, May 3, 2014

At the Mission Fine Art Gallery today...

At Mission Fine Art Gallery today. Such a pleasant place to be and it's such a joy to watch people stroll through and enjoy the art. If you are ever in San Juan Capistrano, the Mission Fine Art Gallery is in the breezeway next to Starbucks across from the historic Mission.