Latigo Canyon

My husband and I just got back from a wonderful vacation thanks to the generosity of our friends and family.  Arlene and Dennis gave us there wonderful home in Santa Monica on Ocean Ave. for 2 weeks... every day was wonderful.  And our Michelle and Joe (cuz) gave us 2 weeks at there great home in Malibu on Latigo Canyon-- I actualy learned to handle the drive up that mountain.

This trip ended with a mini family reunion of  with  cousins from back home in Chicago (they now live in LA and New Jersey).  They  rented a wonderful home in Santa Barbara where we played with our little cousins Max, Julia, Ryan and Lily and their parents -- and of course my kids.. it was wonderful.

Thank you everyone... it was wonderful... love to all of you.

The painting above is a watercolor I did from my cousins backyard in Malibu one morning. Nice view....every moment of everyday the views were wonderful.

Ocean's Unrest - Watercolor Painting of storm over the ocean

I am going to the ocean for the next few weeks starting Thursday.

I won't be bringing a scanner but I will try to post the paintings by photographing them...

The first 12 days will be in Santa Monica and the second 12 days in Malibu. I am so very lucky between great friends and great relatives I have wonderful places to stay!

I posted this painting a long time ago, one year ago to be exact.  But I thought I would post it again before my ocean visit.

I can't get enough of the ocean-it doesn't matter what mood it is in. Working in watercolor lets the movement of the ocean come thru in painting. Ocean's Unrest is 8" x 5" and is on watercolor board which is a wonderful hard surface that is ideal for painting on location.  The price is

$125  please contact me at stopandsmile@mac.com

Laguna Beach Koi Farm

After this picture was taken I realized that the Koi were actually  transparent.  Many times when you are taken a photograph the real beauty of it is discovered after it is processed.

This photo was taken at a wonderful Koi farm in Laguna California. Laguna Koi Ponds - Koi Health & Pond Filtration Design Experts Most of the paintings I have done of koi are from photos I have taken at this farm or my friend Mary's home in Lake Forest Illinois. 

Copies of this photo are available. 

The Most Romantic Night of Your Life

This beautiful pension/hotel is one of my favorite places to photograph.  This winter I gave a little art show here and met some fascinating people including musicians and photographers.  You never know who you are going to run into at korakia pensione

Room At Lotusland Garden created by Ganna Walska

My darling daughter took my husband and I to Lotusland  Welcome to Lotusland

 in Montecito for a wonderful day....  that is where I took this photo.

The gardens were stunning as was the surrounding buildings, ponds, etc.  If you ever have the time you should go... Lovely

Cosmos Flowers from the yard

This watercolor was done from my old garden when I lived in Chicago

Golden Umbrellas - Those lazy days of summer

As I've said before I love photography as much as painting.  This photo was taken on a wonderfully sunny day at the beach in Laguna Beach California. The wonderfully lazy days of summer

Family Outing Laguna Beach

This photo was taken at Laguna Beach of a lovely family outing.  This print is available in several sizes. Email Diane Bronstein stopandsmile@mac.com

Beach Time-What Summer is All About

I love photography as much as painting and of course I love my kids more than anything.  This is a photo from the good old days---my kids were young and we use to summer in Michianna shore.  It is the real meaning of Daily Art.

SAFE At HOME-Architectural Painting by Diane Bronstein

The dark, threatening  storm surrounding this home with its many compartments  tells us that Home is a safety zone.

This was the study- 11" x 14" was created in pastels on pastel board for the large oil version featured on this blog.    -- I love layers upon layers of color to get that rich dark background.  To purchase email Diane Bronstein at Stopandsmile@mac.com  for $450

Contemporary Crystal and Antique Beads

I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you my jewelry art site.  I create one of a kind jewelry pieces. They combine both new components and antique and contemporary beads.  Just click this link       Jewelry Art          and enjoy - I try to post new pieces several times a week and you can purchase directly thru stopandsmile@mac.com. If you have a store or a web site and you would like to sell these please contact Diane Bronstein at StopandSmile@mac.com.

How quickly the years go by - Child's portrait

Cara Growing Up

We all know how fast time flies so I tried to catch this one of my daughter when she was little.

I did this watercolor on watercolor board- it is of my daughter when she was young.

The painting is on watercolor board and is 7" x 10"    NOT FOR SALE

Paris Balcony-2- Illustration by Diane Bronstein

Paris represents romance, music, art, and everything wonderful... it just has to be painted and painted often.  I painting this balcony originally very loosely and this version was done later just to give it a more illustration look.

This watercolor painting - with pen and ink- is a tighter version of the original Paris Balcony.

To purchase contact Diane Bronstein at StopandSmile@mac.com for $125

Open Window by Diane Bronstein

To sit on this window seat experience a peaceful moment-that is heaven on earth.

Open Window was created in  watercolor on watercolor paper.

These scenes are always lovely to paint and leave me with a very relaxed feeling.

Purchase price  $125     size:  7 1/2" x 8"

Email Diane Bronstein at StopandSmile@mac.com

Paris Balcony by Diane Bronstein

This watercolor was done on a rainy day in Paris -- I was waiting in a room across the street for my children to get ready.  The painting is 8"x10" 

Purchase price is $200 

Email me at LifeStylesDefined@mac.com

Wedding Dress by Diane Bronstein

This is a watercolor of the back of a wedding dress-- I think it would be a great idea to use this as the Thank You Note for Weddings-- that way the bride could show her lovely dress one more time.  If you would like a painting done of your wedding dress email Diane Bronstein at StopandSmile@mac.com

Blue Sky - Sailboats at Night

Blue sky was created on watercolor paper.  I used watercolor, ink and pastel.  

The size is 11" x 7 1/2"

Price is $175. To purchase contact me at LifeStylesDefined@mac.com 

Gold Sails -Sailboats at sunset

This watercolor is 4 1/4" x 8 " done on Watercolor Board.  Sailing is such a wonderful way to spend time- it is so calming yet exciting at the same time.  

To purchase the original or a print contact me at LifeStylesDefined@mac.com

Yellow Home in Spring- home portrait Glencoe Illinois

Lovely home on Chicago's North Shore.  Watercolor on watercolor board 10" x 14"

For purchase information email LifeStylesDefined@mac.com

$145

French Country Manor - home portrait - SOLD

This is a watercolor done of a country home in France.  It is 8" x 10" and done on watercolor paper. This painting is SOLD

HOME IN WINTER - Glencoe Illinois- Illustration - Home Portrait

Watercolor painting on watercolor board 8" x 14".  This home was in Glencoe Illinois and was painted in winter- I just love the grays.  Email Diane Bronstein at StopandSmile@mac.com to purchase.

Evening Sail- Sailboats in a race

Evening Sail - Watercolor and Pastel on Watercolor Board

8" x 15 " 

$450

Coffee Talk- Coffee Shop in Palm Springs California

Watercolor Painting  on Watercolor Paper of a coffee shop called Koffi in Palm Springs California.

8" x 10"  

Sold

At The Door- Wedding Dress- white dress

Again-- does the dress make the woman or does the woman make the dress-- go see Sex and The City and find out.

Oil on canvas  8" x 10"

$125   for purchase info contact me at lifestylesdefined@mac.com

Little Italy San Diego Coffee Shop People - Illustration

Coffee Shop People- Illustration

These two women who were not together and sketched at different times were in a wonderful coffee shop in Little Italy - San Diego.

$35

Always Working Coffee Shop People - Koffi Palm Springs

Coffee Shop People- Illustration - from Koffi in Palm Springs

This man could barely take his eyes off the computer...

$35

All in a hurry- Koffi in Palm Springs- Coffee Shop People Illustration

Coffee Shop People- Illustration

They were all in such a big hurry that I could barely draw any of them... but I like the combination and the feeling I get from combining all of their sketches.

$40

The Student- Illustration from a coffee shop in California

COFFEE SHOP PEOPLE- Illustration

This young man was not happy.... but I loved his image anger and all.

He was so busy studying that for the longest time he did not see me sketching.

$35

Storm Rushes In- The waterfront - Illustration

This painting was done on watercolor paper with a variety of mediums including neopastels and watercolor pencils.

It was done as a storm was approaching.

Size  5"x 12"

Price $135

Ocean Before The Storm- Santa Monica California

This painting was done in Santa Monica using watercolors.  While I was working on the painting it was calm but shortly after  the painting was done the storm came rolling in.  I used watercolors because when you are painting on location you have to work quickly and accurately right form the beginning- it keeps the air in the painting- just the way you feel on the beach.

The size of the painting is 4 1/2" x  5 1/2"  with a white matt around the painting the total size is 11" x 14"  

Original-Total price is $125