Plein Air Lighthouse Painting

"Lighthouse Near San Simeon"

By Theresa Paden

8x10"

Acrylic on canvas board

My husband and I just spent four wonderful days in Cambria, California, 

which is about a three hour drive from our home in Camarillo.  

I took some acrylic paint and some canvas boards with me and when I saw 

this lighthouse, I just had to paint it. I haven't done much plein air, 

and it was certainly a challenge with acrylics. I guess I attracted

 a lot of attention and people were pulling their cars over 

to the side of the road so they could watch. My husband was walking 

along the shore and snapped the photo below. It's so funny that 

several people, although I didn't realize it, were watching 

me paint and were taking photos! The lighthouse is just north of 

San Simeon (home of the Hearst Castle). The top part was damaged in an 

earthquake in 1948, and was then removed. 

You can read the interesting history of the lighthouse at this link 

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=89

There are many, many elephant seals

 that live nearby and my husband got some great photos of them.

Enjoy the photos!