Modoc County

This is the main body of work i have completed while in Modoc county.  The following collection is some 60 or so paintings in which I strove to really capture the rugged beauty of this unique area.  The motto here is 'where the west still lives."  There is so much unspoiled landscape and most times I was the only soul for miles while completing these works.  I hope you enjoy them.

Return of the Snow Geese, Oil on Canvas   16"x20"
SOLD
 Snow Geese circle in the sky, searching for a good landing spot in the Modoc Wildlife Refuge.

Tween the Rocks, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
AVAILABLE
 Cedar Creek provided a great opportunity to complete this study of the water winding its way through the rocks.

The Mossy Limbs, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
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The Rush Creek campground is in the Modoc National Forest, close to the tiny hamlet of Adin.  Many of the trees had brilliant lime green moss growing on their limbs .

The Fishing Lesson, Oil on Canvas   10"x8"
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 Lily Lake is about six miles down the road from New Pine Creek, a town straddling the Oregon/California border.  The trout fishing here is not too shabby.

The Chute, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
AVAILABLE
 This old red barn is situated just outside Eagleville in Surprise Valley.  The wooden cattle chute allows the rancher to funnel the cattle to waiting transportation.

Heading Downhill   10"x8"
SOLD 
The South Fork of the Pitt River winds its way out of Jess Valley and down Jess Valley Road.  The light was sparkling off the surface of the cool water on this hot summer day.

The Co-Op, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
SOLD 
The Modoc County Co-Operative is just off of Main Street in Alturas California and is the current home of Modoc Farm Supply.  The faded paint on the grain elevator is a reminder of a bygone era.

Wind Swept, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
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The clouds began to take on a Salmon hue as the day drew to a close at Reservoir C in Devil's Garden just outside of Alturas California.  The hardy juniper and sage yield slightly in the breeze. 

Cedarville Community, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
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Opened to the public for the first time in 1881, this little church still sits proudly on Bonner Street in Cedarville California. 

Mill Creek Glow, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
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Mill Creek Falls is nestled in the South Warner Wilderness a short drive From likely California.  The sun was hitting the falls just right while casting the creek in blue and purple shadows.. 

Parked for the Summer, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
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 Two pelicans coast by a travel trailer situated on the shore of West Valley Reservoir.

Shadow on Squaw, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
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Cumulous clouds are quite common in Modoc County and the way they cast large shadows on the Warner Mountain Range is striking.  

Catchin' Dinner, Oil on Canvas  10"x8"
SOLD
Stowe Reservoir is the site of this quaint scene.  Its a lovely place to camp and a saw a few trout jump while I painted this.

Low Land Glow, Oil on Canvas   12"x16"
SOLD
 Big billowy clouds meander across the grasslands of the Modoc Wildlife Refuge.  This is a peaceful spot where the only sounds you hear are that of wildlife.

View Through to Canby, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
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 This rustic barn is located just outside Canby California.  Many boards are missing which creates some very interesting shapes as the background shows through. 

Little Red Schoolhouse, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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 Del Morma School is now closed as a working schoolhouse.  It is located in Cal Pines and is a charming relic of days gone by.

The Blues, Oil on Canvas  10"x8"
AVAILABLE
 This stately victorian is located just of main street in Alturas.  I had been meaning to paint the beautiful orange blossoms that had been popping up around town.  The blues of the tractor and the house provided a perfect foil to the orange flowers. 

The Classics, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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This classic truck and stately home are located just off Main Street in historic Alturas California. 

A Passing Rain, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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 The wind was whipping and the rain was fast approaching, but I was able to capture this scene before I was overtaken.

Bear and the Honey Pot, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
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This aptly named rock formation, Bear and the Honeypot, is located just near the summit of Cedar Pass.  The bear is daintily eating his honey on the left side of the image. 

Spring at the Pass, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
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The Cedar Pass Ski Area is still quite beautiful even after the snow has melted.

Adin Americana, Oil on Canvas  12"x16"
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 With a population under 300 souls, Adin feels as if stuck in time.  The community church and burger stand are the centerpieces of the nostolgic scene. 

The Giant, Oil on Canvas   12"x16"
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Another magical cloud formation at the Modoc Wildlife envelopes much of the scene into shadow. 

Blue and Gold, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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While driving along county roads just outside Alturas, I found this scene and was immediately drawn to the contrast of the tractor's blue and the gold of the haystacks.  

Done for the Day, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
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A little red tractor is parked for the night outside the barn.  The last light of the day kisses the very tops of the pines in the Modoc National Forest near Adin Pass. 

Modoc Eclipse, Oil on Canvas   11"x14"
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This giant cloud formation momentarily passed in front of the sun at the Modoc Wildlife Refuge and essentially created a solar eclipse. 

Moonrise: Surprise Valley, Oil on Canvas   7"x9"
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 I completed this painting at the end of the day in Surprise Valley just outside Cedarville.  The moon began to rise over the bare mountains on the Nevada side of the valley just as the spinklers were turned on in the alfalfa field.   

Last Light Watering, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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The Eastern slope of the Warner Range rises precipitously in the background.  The very last hints of light of the day shine of the rugged peaks. 

Bells On Main, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
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 Eagleville Community Church is located on Main Street in Eagleville California at the southern end of Surprise Valley.  It was completed in 1888 and has been carefully preserved. 

Divers, Oil on Canvas   12"x20"
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These bare trees are perched on the shore of Goose Pond in the Modoc Wildlife Refuge, simulate a frame by frame animation of someone diving into the water.
 

Ascending the Peak, Oil on Canvas   8"x6"
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The Cedar Pass Ski Area is located between Alturas and Cedarville California in the Warner Mountain Range.

East of the Warners, Oil on Canvas   12"x16"
SOLD
 This little barn is located in Cedarville California on the edge of the Great Basin Desert. The Warner Mountains loom in the background.

Sentinals, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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These conical rock formations are situated near the Chimney Rock Historical Site along the Pitt River.   

Davis Creek Twilight, Oil on Canvas   11"x14"
AVAILABLE
 The warm evening light envelop this scene in Davis Creek California.  This old barn drew me in with its rusty roof panels and weathered wood siding. 
 

A Light From Above, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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This is a sunset as only the high desert can offer. I was lucky enough to capture this moment while scouting out painting locations outside Alturas.  The day was a mix of wind, rain and snow but became calm as the day came to a close. 

Cloud Bend,  Oil on Canvas 16"x20"
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 The large billowy clouds meander over the wide open spaces of the Modoc Wildlife Refuge. It's a scene that captures the essence of Modoc County. 

High Desert Mirror, Oil on Canvas   11"x14"

Contact: The Art Center

317 S Main St.  Alturas, CA 96101
(530) 233-2574
These backlit clouds hover above the Modoc Wildlife Refuge while they cast their reflections in one of the area's many ponds.

Path to the Peak, Oil on Canvas   16"x20"
SOLD
 I completed this larger studio piece based of the smaller 'Jess Valley Pasture' plein air painting.  I was able to capture more of the detail of the flowers and twisted shapes of the green forested foothills rising up to the peak. 

The Reveal, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
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The passing rain in the distance was coming sown in sheets and as it moved revealed Likely Mountain. 

Winter's Last Stand, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"

Contact: The Art Center

317 S Main St.  Alturas, CA 96101
(530) 233-2574
A decent snow passed through the night before I completed this little painting.  Chimney rock is the foreground and the bluffs that rise in the distance mark the border of Devil's Garden.

The Solitary Warners, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
SOLD
 I completed this work in January while all the ponds at the Modoc Wildlife Refuge were frozen solid.  The setting sun illuminated the fields in the distance to a bright orange and cast some of their reflections on the surface of the pond. Game tracks were visible on the pond's surface as well.

A Break in the Weather, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
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The morning weather cleared up in the afternoon and large cumulous clouds floated by.  In the high desert, it seems as if one could reach out and grab the clouds.  

Devil's Garden Descent, Oil on Canvas   6"x8"
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I hurried up to the top of Devil's Garden to capture the last light of this winter day.  The warm color of the setting sunlight illuminates the Junipers along Crowder Flat Road. 

The Pool Below, Oil on Canvas   16"x20"
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Spectacular Burney Falls is just outside the town of Burney California and a short drive from Redding. A short hike from the Visitor's Center will provide a close encounter with one of the State's more beautiful waterfalls.  

Warner Range Awakening, Oil on Canvas   9"x12"
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On a January morning the sun began to slow creep above the Warners.  The colors and patterns of the clouds was spectacular.  

The Veils at Burney, Oil on Canvas   12"x9"
AVAILABLE
Spectacular Burney Falls is just outside the town of Burney California and a short drive from Redding. A short hike from the Visitor's Center will provide a close encounter with one of the State's more beautiful waterfalls. 

Through the Shake, Oil on Canvas   10"x8"

Contact: The Art Center

317 S Main St.  Alturas, CA 96101
(530) 233-2574
The Pitt River winds through the Shake Canyon just outside Canby California.  Junipers dot the scene and eventually give way to pines in the distance.  

A Light Dusting, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
SOLD
I woke up this winter morning after a fresh snow and wanted to capture a snow covered sage field.  The Modoc County Co-operative building was a nice backdrop.  Cedar Pass is visible in the background.
 

Niles at Night, Oil on Canvas   12"x12"
SOLD
I Completed this work for the Impressions of the Niles Hotel Contest.  I sat in my truck one night and completed this little painting in about two hours.  I wanted to capture the 'Hotel Niles' sign lit up red at night. 

The Perch, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
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A golden eagle sit atop this tree near Teal Pond in the Modoc Wildlife Refuge.  The pond is frozen solid during the winter.   

Winter Afternoon: Hotel Niles, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
AVAILABLE
 This was a nice temperate winter day and I took advantage by painting the Nile Hotel which is one of the more interesting structures in the town of Alturas.  Recently renovated, The Hotel Niles is the centerpiece of town activities.

Jess Valley Pasture, Oil on Canvas   11"x14"
SOLD
 Eagle Peak is just shy of 10,000 feet in elevation and towers over the pasture land of Jess Valley in the South Warner Wilderness.  I painted this in January and was lucky to get a warm clear day to work. 

Shasta Looms, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
AVAILABLE
 I found this view of stunning Mount Shasta at Ahjumawi state Park just outside the little town of McAthur in Lassen County.  The clouds were attracted to the peak and moved just enough so I could complete the painting.

Warren Geese, Oil on Canvas   8"x10"
AVAILABLE
The rocky heights of Warren Peak began to change to a salmon color in the dwindling light.  A flock of Canadian Geese fly by in the distance.