Author: Frances

Fish Friday? Flashing back to three summers ago painting in Provence with @jillsteenhuis. This is a small study in oil, by moi. #fishpainting #stilllife #naturemorte

A fun night in LA celebrating the incomparable “Robert Shaw – Man of Many Voices” with two of my favorite fellas. @alexhitz, left, stepson of the late great conductor Shaw; and right, the one and only His Grace.

Catching the midday light just so, the skylight in our great room spills a pretty pattern around the center table. I’ve taken to putting orchids in the punch bowl/wine cooler and covering them with moss. Instant centerpiece and lasts forever. #rancholazaca #prettylight

Painted this morning at this charming, historic cottage in Ballard (Calif). #cortagecharms #ballard #ballardcanyon #santaynezvalley

These exquisite embroidered linens reposted from @charmajesty caught my eye yesterday. All the work is by hand and so lovely. #charmajesty #handbroidery #beautifullinens #sweetdreams #love

Where there’s smoke, there’s … another one. Seen from Foxen Canyon Road, which we drive daily, this is the Rey fire, between Santa Ynez (where we are) and Santa Barbara (about 35 mi away) in a rugged area of the Los Padres National Forest but threatening to some houses in area. Those areas evacuated. We are ok in the Valley but smokey and ashy depending on the wind. A lot of planes flying over bc the fire is difficult to access with engines. God bless our brave firefighters. #reyfire #wildfire #foxencanyon #losolivos #california

Happy #sunflowers #rancholazaca

Thinking of the cool mountain air and this pretty table set earlier in the summer by designers @johnoetgen and @johnlineweaver at “Maryjack” in Highlands NC. See feature on the talented Oetgen in the July-August issue of @verandamag #tablesettings #afewfriendsfordinner #highlands #dinnerparty #green

Haystacks on Foxen Canyon. Everything so hot and dry… #haystacks #foxencanyon #santaynezvalley #losolivos

Been wanting to paint his view of a friend’s woodland garden in early spring, with purple mountains in the distance. Tiny watercolor 2″x2″ on canvas board – just messing around. #watercolorsketch #tinypainting

Good morning! Looking forward this week to Letters From Yellowstone by Diane Smith (Penguin 1999) – my way of celebrating our national parks 100th anniversary. Thank you dear @rosestoryfarm for this lovely gift and dear @billyhurbaugh for the matching yellow roses and @thestylejunction for the good luck cranes! #breakfasttray #bouquetoftheday #nationalparks #lettersfromyellowstone #origamicranes

Sunflowers planted along our neighbors’ fence – might make a nice painting. #sunflowers #zacamesa #zacamesawinery #windmill #foxencanyon #grassmountainwines #santaynezvalley #santabarbarawinecountry