"Summer Breeze"

Painting on the Teton Valley floor, midday, the summer breeze gently pushed the clouds overhead. And added the 2 bugs in the sky of the painting. I'll get the little guys off the painting when it dries.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Lembert Dome" ©

It's time again to hang my "gone painting" sign on the door.

The last few days I have been packing for my predawn drive tomorrow for the Tetons. I'll be painting in the Teton Valley where Idaho and Wyoming shake hands, for a couple of weeks. My plan is to blog from the motel if I can get a connection. Cottonwoods, streams and mountains under clouds lazily drifting over the land should show up soon on this blog.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Descano Palms" ©

Descanso Beach is to the West of Avalon and experiencing a face lift now. The sand is so white it appears to have been brought in providing a pristine beach alla the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the big island of Hawaii. These palms were catching the last light of the day. (Dear painters, place your finger over the yellow sky in the right corner and see how much stronger the focal point becomes. Tomorrow I'll push the sky to a darker value. Thank goodness for blogging.)

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 12"

"Lover's Cove" ©

Lover's Cove is just a 2 minute walk from Avalon on Catalina Island. Trying to research the origin of the name I came up with nothing but there has to be an interesting story, the name opens the door to all sorts of scenarios, love lost, love found, romance on a sailboat?

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 10"

"Rabbits and Hawks" ©

Another practice painting using only the three primaries, with the addition of some warm grays. In a couple of weeks I am heading up to a workshop in the Teton Valley and my anticipation is growing daily. Today painting this little piece the rabbits on the ground and hawks in the air were constant companions.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Above Avalon" ©

I am still working on these lovely lanky eucalyptus trees but I think you can see where I am headed today with this painting. It's another Catalina Island view high above Avalon on the road to the airport. One morning around 7am, as I headed out there was a buffalo beside the road and he was still there when I trekked home at 7pm. I wondered if they have a few staged around for the tourists. Nah, he moved his head a bit and wiggled his tail.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 12"

"Along the Santa Ynez River" ©

This is the second location I painted last weekend near Rancho Oso. I was trying to convey the warmth of the sun radiating off the river rocks and the character of the Sycamore tree.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"

sold

"Rancho Oso Pathway" ©

Home from Rancho Oso, safely. Our horse didn't lose any shoes in the river which is great, no horrific falls into the rocks and no snakes this year. One morning I went out to feed and a huge wild turkey was in Jessie's (the horse) pipe corral hanging out with her. They seem to have made friends, go figure.

This little painting had to be done very quickly the light was fleeting at this time of day so I chose to paint with the three primaries only. Boy does that speed things along and add to the color harmony naturally. Great way to paint if your in a hurry.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"San Onofre Bluffs" ©

Late in the day, painting what I saw, this is one of my paintings that I didn't enter or show anyone from the week in San Clemente. The haze was coming in off the ocean, it was very quiet except for the sea far below me. Little lizards darted constantly between my easel and the tiny brush as I painted. It's amazing how many different body styles lizards come in, from sleek and lanky to chubby and short, just like cars.

I am off to Santa Ynez for the holiday weekend, horse and paints in tow. Happy Holiday to you too!

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"