"Fall's Gold" ©

Lately I have been painting all sorts of scenes and subjects. Not being concerned with a finished painting that I can exhibit but spending time experimenting and thinking. Most of these attempts will never be seen, heading for the dumpster quickly and yet I am learning a great deal though the exercise. This painting was done Friday at the SCAA paint out in the Summit Park of Valencia. It's simply a portrait of a tree in "Fall's Gold".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Vineyard Road" ©

Last weekend we trailered our rail car up to Santa Maria for a run on the Santa Maria Railroad. More and more, vineyards cover the hillsides of central California.

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"Live Oak Park Creek" ©

Before the sprinkles fell, a small group of us painted together in Live Oak Park off Sand Canyon. Nice spot, endless views to paint, safe and quiet. Once in a while a motorcycle would come screaming around the bend in the road, driver covered in leathers bent low, but that was about the only distraction.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Fall At Falkner Vineyard" ©

Temecula was gorgeous this weekend. Artists dotted the vineyard, painting the morning marine layer and sunny afternoons, during the Falkner Invitational.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Lombardi Ranch View" ©

Today was gray and hazy out at Lombardi Ranch. I was painting under the power lines, listening to a sympony of black birds. Behind me was the remenates of acres of pumpkins. The shiny orange balls strewn about the fields were tempting, yet somewhat strange for a painting, so I settled on the farm road that loops around brush and then back into the fields.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

Segil Fine Art Show

Finally after 16 months of painting for this show, it's hung. Segil Gallery owner Laura Segil was fantastic today, she really knows her gallery and hung this show beautifully. There are 62 paintings, several will be online early next week for viewing. Now I can just paint, anything that strikes me, the fun begins tomorrow!

"Riverbed Jewels" ©

Taking the recent small 5" X 7" painting of Riverbed Jewels, I painted this piece in the studio. My goal was to capture the way the late afternoon light glazes the dry brush in lavender and rust.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Fall, Hansen Dam" ©

The fall colors are just starting to show in the leaves of trees around the lake. I'll wait a couple of weeks for the "gold". These Sycamores are a short walk down the bridle path leading away from the recreational area. I love the dance of working paint back and forth within the leaves, which I am sure will continue in the morning.

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"Riverbed Jewels" @

Hard to believe this view is just off a major road, with hundreds of cars whizzing by daily. I wanted to try out an idea for this painting to see if it would work on a larger canvas. I think with some minor adjustments it might be nice.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Dave, The Pirate" ©

Last Thursday evening during the Old Town Newhall Artwalk, Dave posed once again for us as a pirate. He's such a nice guy it was hard to image Dave doing any sort of pirateering. (Yes, probably made up a word.) I learned more about "street" painting, especially with the sun sinking earlier but mostly not to forget Cadmium Lemon.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

"Dry Creek" ©

Paintings, paintings and more paintings are all over the place. Some just need signing, others need just a bit more paint, several are drying after being varnished and a bunch are waiting for frames. All of this flurry while I am on the last stretch for my upcoming solo show. It looks like I'll have about 60 paintings to deliver on November 1st, so I am feeling really good. "Dry Creek" is one that I was tweaking today and may still work on just a bit more. I am still not sure if it will make the cut.....

"Who Me?" ©

If they could speak I think this lamb would have asked me if she was indeed who I was painting. You'll be pleased to know that wool is the reason for her being on the farm in Maine.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Foxes Field" ©

Foxes Field is down the canyon from me in the so close to town and yet town feels like a million miles away. Three deer crossed my path and coyotes howled down the canyon. The promise of rain was not kept.

Oil on Canvas 30" X 40"

"Sunlit Bank" ©

A friendly lifeguard at Hansen Dam drove a couple of us looking the just the right spot to paint to his favorite view of the lake. The brilliant bank sparkling in the morning sun grabbed my attention and held on tight.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Schoodic Point Morning" ©

Acadia National Park includes a bit of land across the water from Mount Desert Island. This is the quiet, less traveled part of the park, far away from Cadillac Mountain and Bar Harbor. I painted this scene on the park loop road looking towards Big Moose Island, while a Bald Eagle kept an eye on me. By the time I had finished high tide had hidden all of the rocky shore.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Darthia" ©

One of the many discoveries while painting in Maine was the Darthia Organic Farm. Folks buy into the farm before the growing season, $10. per month in advance for the right to collect all the bounty their family needs that the farm produces during the summer season. My eyes immediately zoomed in on the sheep glowing in the afternoon Maine sun. I named this sheep Darthia, after the farm.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Fall Brush"

Painting furiously for the November show........

"Dave" ©

It's been a long time since I had the opportunity to paint from a live model. Last evening during the first ever Old Town Newhall Artwalk a great guy named "Dave" agreed to sit for a couple of us. We had a super time painting and chatting with guests out for the evening to view art, drink a bit of wine and cheese.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Fall" ©

Last evening I finished this painting in celebration of the opening of "Chasing Open Spaces IV" this evening. Joining me in this exhibit of plein air and studio paintings historically documenting the natural areas of the Santa Clarita Valley are Lorelle Miller, Ernie Dollman, Rod Edwards and Alan Garber.

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"Private Drive" ©

Thru Facebook I was able to connect with a group of plein air painters centered in Acadia National Park. One day a couple of weeks ago I painted with the group at a private home on Mount Desert Island. After looking at dozens of little drives leading into the forest the chance to paint one with permission was a delight.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Manana Island" ©

Painting on Monhegan Island has been a long time dream and my visit was coming to an end. The ferry back to Port Clyde was leaving in 15 minutes and I had to be on it. This image is of my painting looking at Manana Island from the south end of the Monhegan village just before packing up and dashing to the ferry. Artists thrive on the quiet Island, enjoying a very slow pace. I was told that in the past mail arriving via boat was the most excitement known to the locals. I had an deep sensation of peace and separation from the world wandering the Island trails. Returning soon was on my mind as the boat cut across the sea accompanied by Porpoise back to the mainland.

Painting In Maine

I just could not pull off finishing yesterdays painting for today and finish packing and getting troops ready for my absence. Tomorrow before the sun rises I'll be dragging my suitcase into LAX heading for Maine till mid September. Plein air painting will be magical, it has to be, with the pink granite cliffs, pine trees, lighthouses, small harbors and glorious sunsets. My gone painting sign is officially hung......

*photo credit to Marty Kranin (thank you Marty). And no I usually stand and paint, figures she would shoot me sitting.

"Marshlands" ©

Friday I am winging across the country to Maine. In preparation I have been reading about the area and intrigued by the marshlands fed by the tide I painted what I might see.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Serenity" ©

Simply calm and quiet serenity.

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

"Copper Sunset" ©

In this painting I attempted to capture a copper sunset to use the copper surface to support the work. This piece was painted in layers over a long period of time. Because it is dry I was able to put the panel on the scanner, rather then photographing the painting for the blog, the result seems to be a much better image.

Oil on Copper

"Coastline" ©

Lately I have been experimenting the process of painting on copper, in between large canvases. A small piece of copper, sanded, cleaned with denatured alcohol and rubbed with garlic is the beginning. Once the garlic has dried the surface is ready to paint. The copper surface influences the color of the oil paint and sparkles just a bit here and there. The possibilities are limitless.

Oil on Copper

"Peaceful Pasture" ©

Within 30 minutes of home this classic California view still exists.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 30"

"Sharing The Sheets II" ©

Last year I painted a small 6" X 8" canvas of "Sharing The Sheets", our beloved dog, Lucky in bed waiting for us. Missing him I revisited the image and painted a 18" X 24" canvas, using the larger surface to really explore the sheets and fur. I loved every stroke.

Just an update, I am still painting large canvases furiously for my show at Segil's gallery in November, exploring painting on copper and preparing for a plein air painting trip to Maine in 12 days. My blogging has been on hold, selfishly I have been sticking to the easel and not the computer. I have missed blogging and yet felt relief from the commitment. I'll be back in full gear blogging when I arrive home in mid-September. Thanks and appreciation to everyone that checked up on my absence.

Oil on canvas, 18" X 24"

"Walker Ranch, Midday" ©

I have finished the last in the series of Walker Ranch, painted at different times of day. This was such an interesting idea, I plan to continue the concept of "time of day" exploration.

Oil on canvas, 20" X 30"

"Walker Ranch, Evening"

This painting is the same view as "Walker Ranch, Morning". Painting the same view at different times of day was an idea from Robert Walker (no relation to the Ranch). Really pushing the concept of time of day and having it on my mind the entire time painting the piece was very helpful.

A little blog update, the last blog was painting 600, a small cheer peeped out of me when I saw that number. I am still painting large pieces for my November show so my postings aren't so "daily", once I am back from painting in Maine and all of the show pieces are done, I'll be back with the small paintings.

Oil on canvas, 24" X 30"

"Malibu Lagoon"

As long as I kept painting the families of ducks would pass under the bridge that I was standing on. Eye contact, duck to human, and the little feathered buoys would swim off warily. This painting is from yesterday mornings SCAA paint out in the Malibu Lagoon.

9" X 12", oil on panel

"Walker Ranch, Morning"

7am, the eastern end of Walker Ranch is just waking up.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 30"

"A Long Way Home"

We saw this homestead in "Big Sky" country and thought, boy are we a long way from home. It's truly all about the sky.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Desert Sky" ©

The "Friends Of Hart Park" asked me to paint a little painting for an upcoming auction to raise funds for the park. I am happily donating a "Desert Sky".

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"San Juan Capistrano" ©

Yep, everyone paints the Mission, except me. I have to go out and find a lovely spot along the San Juan River, completely alone, just bunnies and little black flying bugs that love my eyes. Actually I painted this view during the San Clemente Competition and loved it so much I wanted to visit it again large.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 36"

p.s. the darks look really dark in this photo, trust me there are bushes, twigs and rocks in there.

"Sweetie" ©

At Rancho Oso several barn yard animals are living the good life. "Sweetie" was hanging out with a lamb, looking adorable.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Desert Evening" ©

It's amazing how different a mountain looks throughout the day. In the morning they are pale and distant, midday flushed in sunlight all of the ribs and gulley's are washed out and finally in the evening they glow with the last of the sunlight.

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 24"

"Sunlit Oaks" ©

This location is half way between Sand Canyon and Sierra Highway on Placerita Canyon. The light playing in the Oaks was what captured me and lead to the painting.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Rancho Oso" ©

Not much time to paint at the ranch this past weekend, just this little study of this wild tree. No one knew exactly the type, maybe a Cottonwood that had a rough life. Other then the Santa Ynez River, the creeks and streams had dried up for the summer. It's a lovely valley especially in the evening.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Trestles Trail" ©

The trail to Trestles surfing beach runs along side the San Mateo Riverbed, so thick with trees and brush the river is buried. I was tempted to find a way down into the riverbed when a local explained that it might not be safe for a lone painter. Being on my own, I opted to wimp out and stick to the trail.

Tonight I am packing my paints for a long 4th of July weekend at Rancho Oso, in Santa Barbara on the Santa Ynez River. Yes, the kids are packing horses and tack, they'll ride, I'll paint. What could be better?

Oil on Panel, 12" X 16"