"Downtime at Dog Patch" ©

Dog Patch is a spot on Surf Beach (San Onofre) where I found this lovely Palm along the sand. This is one of the paintings I entered in the competition at San Clemente, it's hanging on the gallery wall till August 14, or until someone decides to take it home. It was a great week of painting thanks to the San Clemente Art Association, Pam Hill, Steve Kell, Ann Marie and all the volunteers that manned the events from the quick draw to the Gala. Until next year.....

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"San Mateo Creek Sentinel" ©

Another painting from the week of exploring San Clemente, looking toward the ocean at Lowers, the 5 freeway in the distance and the dry creek bed below. While painting I listened to our military practicing bombing, at first unnerving, then the power and force blasting though the air was exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"San Onofre Bluffs" ©

I am painting in San Clemente for the annual plein air competition. This painting was started early in the morning, just as the light caught the rim of the bluffs. Folks stopped by on their trek down to the sea and made nice comments. One woman wanted to purchase the piece for her daughter to take to college as a remembrance of their favorite spot. I take that as quite a compliment. It's been a solid week of painting hard everyday. Saturday we turn in our best 2 paintings from the week. Tough decision......

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Pita" ©

This week I have been signing, varnishing, tweaking and finally painting Pita. All of this flurry getting ready for a week of painting in the San Clemente Plein Air Competition and art show the following weekend.

I bought a new laptop and will post from the little seaside town as much as possible. Wish me luck!

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

sold

"Olivia" © revisted

A couple people asked that I post "Olivia" after making the changes that I thought were needed after first posting her. Finally at 11:45 tonight I think I have captured her. A couple of days ago I had the chance to pet her at the ranch and once again she tugged at my heart.

Now you can have her Jamie......

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

private collection

"Chasing The Sun" ©

I am getting close to wrapping up this larger studio painting of the previous post and posted it after feeling that tug of not posting for a few days. Over the weekend I attended "The Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting" exhibit on Catalina Island, which was an inspiring event from the flurry of sales to mastery of the paintings. Last night Gale, owner of Gale's Restaurant in Pasadena hosted "A Taste Of Art" benefiting cancer patients and their families, a huge success, great food (crab cakes and pizza like I had never tasted before) and a very friendly crowd. Donating a painting to the event is an annual event for me along with several other artists (Belinda DelPesco, Nancy Eckels, Karen Winters, Trish Kertes, Karen Hansen, Leslie Saeta, Raymond Logan, Kendra Page and more). It felt good to back at the easel working on "Chasing The Sun" after all the events of the last few days.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24" sold

"Chasing The Sun" ©

The cool grasses in the foreground were the first signs that evening wasn't far behind. I was chasing the sun on Catalina Island.

I think this study will work well for a large painting, next up on the easel......

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist

"Owl" ©

On a break from painting at the Devil's Punch Bowl I was exploring the ranger station and came across a couple of owls in a habitat. The sign read "Red Tail Hawk", so I have no idea what type of owls they were. While watching, this little guy was quite animated, scratching, fluffy up and preening.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist