Ranch at Black Diamond Mines

The old Arata/Moller ranch stead is part of the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch, CA, and is located just before the entrance to the park. Several fellow plein air painters and myself parked at the side of the narrow road, found a spot and painted away! The road can get busy with park visitor traffic, so we picked a mid-week morning to go out. And what a glorious day it was! The California hills are very dry yet are a beautiful golden color - and contrasted with the vivid, blue sky it was incredibly inspiring! Majority of the painting was done on site with details (such as the pickup trucks), refined in studio. This piece won an Honorable Mention in the Machinery & Structures division of "Celebrate Agriculture With the Arts 2023" Madera County Arts Council.