"Season's End" © study

In September I'll be participating in the 1st Annual Falkner Vineyard Art Invitational, located in Temecula, California. A day of painting the vineyard, followed by an artists reception and sale of the days paintings. Also each artist will have one painting hanging in the gallery. With this little study I am starting to explore what might be a nice larger painting. This is the beginning of figuring out a successful larger piece.

6" X 8", Oil on canvas

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"Evening Glow" ©

When you have a view like this outside your front door it's just difficult to stop painting it over and over again. This is Placerita Canyon, near Choke Cherry Lane looking to the east when our tiny canyon is blanketed in the "Evening Glow".

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Bonterra Vineyard" ©

A while ago I painted a painting called "Vineyard Vignette", it was never blogged. Recently a lovely collector requested the same painting, smaller with a slight change, leaving out a building. Also without the building she suggested the title "Bonterra Vineyard". I like this, it's as though we are both working on this together, yet we have never met. The internet is an amazing tool of our times.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

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"Lisa" ©

Today I was allowed to paint a live model for the first time. Another artist arranged for me to join in a weekly event of painting in a private studio. I was unsure of what I would manage to get onto the canvas. The advantage of working in a controlled environment is having the light stay constant, usually I am outside and the light is shifting every few minutes. What was wonderful was to be able to really look at another human without either one of us feeling odd. Lisa chose to keep her eyes shut. I don't know if this a common pose, I didn't care I was just thrilled to have the chance to paint looking at a live lovely lady, named "Lisa".

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

"Joey and Yellie" ©

Yellie is beautiful, inside and out, so I am still trying to "get" her but I really have had fun exploring the two of them and will keep on till I have it. Ever polite and faithful Joey is one of those dogs that is one in a million. The two of them together are priceless.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Mendocino Headlands" ©

My goal in this painting was to draw the viewer into the arch that the ocean formed out of stone and if possible make it believable. The water and rocky cliffs are a whole different set of colors compared to Southern California and it was a nice break today to paint the "Mendocino Headlands".

Oil on canvas, 8" X 10"

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"Live Oak Park' ©

Live Oak Park is in the Sand Canyon area of Canyon Country. What attacted me to this scene was the lit brush and sand off in the distance and the lovely Oak tree on the right. Because of shooting the photograph late at night the upper left corner is washed out, but you can see where I am going with the painting. This painting will be hanging in the upcoming "Chasing Open Spaces" exhibit in October. One last thing, I painted on a linen surface that is new to me, "Old Holland" and it is luxury I have never known before. Simply elegant. If money was not a consideration I think that I would paint on nothing else, ever again.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Snow Capped In Mendocino" ©

A lovely lady by the name of Liz, emailed me a photo of her mountains in the high country of Mendocino and asked if I would paint them for her. I jumped at the chance, because it was a challenge and it makes me happy to paint for a collector. I have never met Liz, but a the while I was carving out her mountains in oil paint, I thought about what it would be like to have this view. WOW

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12" sold

"Evening, Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

The Santa Clara River weaves lazily across the Santa Clarita Valley. In the winter rain water cuts deeply into the sand, in the summer the dry sand glistens between the bushes and Cottonwood trees, until the evening light when the sand cools and reflects the blue sky. This is the moment I captured in "Evening, Santa Clara Riverbed".

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Pico Canyon" ©

Last evening four Santa Clarita painters met at Pico Canyon park to paint together, enjoy each others company and share the evening. Two had just purchased new plein air easels and that is really fun for everyone, figuring out how all the parts work together. Personally I don't think you can have to many easels, being the owner of 2 Guerrillia Boxes (6X8 & 9X12), 1 EasyL (11X14)and 1 French Easel. Tools have always intrigued me no matter what the medium. Pico Canyon is very typical of the whole valley, hosting Oak trees, scrub brush and distant mountains. We were talking last evening about how lucky we all are to live in such a beautiful valley.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Surfing" ©

This is the last second before the ride is over. What attacted me to this surfer over the others was his brilliant yellow board, against all the colors of the sea. Surfing has changed, little ankle leashes prevent having to swim to shore to retieve the board after a spill, short boards allow for quicker moves, waiting for a wave the water level is around your waist rather then you actually floating on top and finally "turning turtle" has been replaced by a slick move of just pushing the tip of the nose down with you on top diving down under the rolling white water. Amazing what can change in 30 years.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

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"Canyon Evening" ©

This painting is a "break through" piece. I always have some idea of how the finished painting will look before beginning, even working in plein air. And almost always the painting takes a few turns that I didn't expect, which is disappointing, even if the painting is successful on it's own. Finally it all came together, I guess I am catching on to this business of painting and it feels great. What you are seeing is exactly what I envisioned, whew. You can't see the whole painting because of the format, 20" X 24", so there is a bit more sky. After I finished I went out back to work on a stone and most of you knows what that means. Oh, yes!

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Rock Rose" ©

This lovely bloom was waving in the last bit of sun for the day. These carefree flowers are dazzling with their tissue paper thin petals in every shade of white.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"


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"San Francisquito Riverbed" ©

One of the benefits of development in the Santa Clarita Valley are new views accessed by constructed trails. Judging by the amount of folks passing today the trails are appreciated very much. This view is just north of Decoro along the "San Francisquito Riverbed".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Making Lunch" © In-N-Out

I have heard that while painting still lifes artists become hungry. I would have to say the same applies to painting the prep area of an In-N-Out. The menu is simple, great prices and the food is real, one of the best hamburgers in L.A.

Oil on Canvas, 10" X 8"

Purchase ($200. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist

"Old Red" ©

It's close to midnight and I need to stop here but really want to develop this piece more. And yet I really wanted to post today since this is number 400. Yes, 4oo paintings, another 600 to go! This small craft was one of many that are tethered along the edge of the Venice canals.

Oil on canvas, 8" X 10"

"Venice Beach Pier" ©

If you were walking or running on the beach from Marina Del Rey to Venice Beach this would be your view, early in the morning.

16" X 20", Oil on Linen

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"Venice Beach Floater" ©

Canals weave in and out of homes for a few blocks in Venice Beach. This duck was floating in a small pond that fed into the canal, along with many others. She however chose to float in the early morning sunlight.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10

Purchase ($200. shipped, unframed): from the artist

"San Onofre Sands" ©

This little painting has little specks of sand all over it. One of the many treats of plein air.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"Summit Park" ©

When Valencia was developed thought was given to preserving a lovely strip of land in the heart of the "Summit" housing tract. The wild grasses under the oak trees are whacked off as a tool preventing fire, which to painter looks strange. We look forward to painting all the little shoots that usually surround a tree trunk. I am sure that brush clearance is a good thing as a couple of teenagers asked me for a light, while I was painting away. Imagine that, and even though I said "no", they liked the painting of "Summit Park".

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 10"