Ward Ranch Holidays

Our plein air group returned to Waldo Ward Ranch in Sierra Madre to paint and also to buy some of their distinctive gourmet holiday foods...jams, marmalades, and condiments.  My previous watercolor there was about six months ago, Across the Orchard.  Ward Ranch has some charming, old, yellow buildings, a barn, a factory, and orchards so it's always fun to paint there.  Since it was a Saturday, they were giving tours.  And since the holidays are coming there were a lot of visitors that day.  I've never seen so many people there.  I found a view to paint from a shady spot in an orchard west of the office and gift store.  With so many visitors, sometimes they were standing in front of what I was trying to paint.  That's how it goes with plein air painting.  Sometimes it's a car or truck that drives up and parks in front of me.  You never know what obstacles might be in store!  

8" x 10" Watercolor

Huge grapefruit tree