Clouds Over Arcata Bottoms

This 12x24 oil painting was completed during the Humboldt Open Paint Out 2025. The first few days of the event had been quite rainy. I was excited to take advantage of the wonderful clouds on the third morning so I got up early and headed towards the town of Arcata, CA.

I remembered some backroads in what locals call the Arcata Bottoms and pointed my truck in that direction. It didn't take long to find a place to pull over and look around. When I looked back in the direction I came from, I saw the big, back lit clouds and interesting cloud shadows on the fields. I couldn't get my easel set fast enough, I was so excited. This is one of those paintings that felt like it painted itself and I was experiencing pure joy. At the end of the week, this painting received the "Rick Tolley Award" during the awards night. Thank you to Rick Tolley's daughter and the great folks at the Redwood Art Association.