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I learned about this special event from my fellow artist, Laura Wambsgans. She and her club members had scheduled a paint out event at the Rancho earlier in the year and they had been notified of this event.

A cool breeze blew off the hills, but the sun was shining and the day was clear and gorgeous. Leaves were new and spring green and the flowers were blooming. It was almost a sensory overload because the rancho is surrounded by fields of citrus - oranges, lemons, grapefruit and all the blooms sent delicious smells wafting across our noses! For this special event, the docents were dressed in period costume and posed for all of us willingly. Thirty or more plein air painters from all around painted different scenes of the Rancho. Everyone enjoyed the lunch provided by the docents and had a grand time... we all voted to have a similar event in the fall.

Rancho Camulos us known as the "Home of Ramona". It is a National Historic Landmark located between Piru and Magic Mountain. The Mexican land grant rancho is original (now a museum) and is open to the public for tours. The Rancho is the inspiration for Helen Hunt Jackson's novel, "Ramona".

I liked my initial sketch, but felt the painting didn't realize its potential. In analyzing it, I've decided that I centered the fountain too much in the painting (as opposed to the sketch) and I should darken some of the darks to deepen the drama of the scene. What do you think?