"Zion, Morning" © Zion National Park, Utah

After 6 years of blogging I have finally reached my goal of 1,000 paintings on this blog.  In this posting I am showing the process working from the small original to a larger studio painting.  Leave it to the family to spot an area that needs addressing.  My daughter suggested that I change the width of the river  as it recedes from the viewer and I agree with her.  Fortunately working in oil I have the luxury of making changes as long as needed to create a decent painting.  So I'll keep after this one.

This is the very beginning of the painting process.  On the left you can see the little study that has all the information for a larger painting.  Sometimes the larger paintings never measure up to the little guys but I am going to give it a go here. 

At this point I have paint all over the canvas and each shape is addressed in large flat color.  

Slowly I am fine tuning each area, checking values , color and design.  If the painting is lacking in any of those areas I have the option of pushing or pulling until the piece works thanks to working in oil paint. 

"Zion, Morning", 20" X 24"  Oil on Canvas  

"October Light" ©

It's nice to be able to walk out the front door and paint the brush late in the day.  With the wind kicked up the amount of dust in the air is elevated and the world has a golden glow till the sun sets.  

Oil on Canvas,  11" X 14"

"Cottonwood Cove, Lopez Lake" ©

   

Painting very early in the morning on the edge of Cottonwood Cove the only company I had were several mule deer and about ten wild turkeys.  When I was packing up my gear I turned around to see  two large birds warming their wings in the morning sun.  It was difficult to decide if they were Condors, Turkey Vultures or one of the other 150 species of birds that inhabit the lake.  I was reminded of the lesson to keep a closer eye on what is going on around me while painting in the bushes.

Oil on Source Tek Linen Panel,  12" X 16"

Maybe one of you know what type of bird these are?  They were huge!

Before and After, 21st Annual Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend

After a day of driving, unloading and hanging here is my little booth and home for the weekend.  I am exhibiting my paintings at the 21st Annual Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend show at the Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena, CA, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.  The paintings are hanging on Pro Panels and those were one of the best investments I have ever made. I took these photos with my cell phone so the paintings are somewhat washed out but you can get the idea, I hope.  

This is what you get when you walk up to your space at the convention center.  I moved the table behind the curtain and will use it for wrapping paintings that have been purchased during the weekend.  The chairs will probably never be used.  Somehow the days fly by and eating/sitting never happen.  It will be a great weekend and I am looking forward to talking to everyone about the paintings.

If you are in the area stop by:

The Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibition Hall B

300 East Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91101

10am - 5pm

"Morning Fog" © San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival

During the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival I left my hosts home at dawn every morning so I could set up my easel for the early morning light.  I was driving out a ranch road in Arroyo Grande and saw the fog just lifting allowing the sunlight to backlight the distant trees.  All the color in the fog was too much to pass up.  The original painting has subtle hues of violet, viridian and ochre in the fog.

Oil on Linen Panel, 9" X 12"

This is how the little "Morning Fog" painting looked after I framed it for exhibition in the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.  

"Pismo Dunes" © San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival

This plein air painting is a view from the Pismo Dunes looking inland towards the Monarch Grove.  The ocean is to my left across the dunes and sandy beach offering slow rolling waves sparkling in the distance.  What I wanted to capture was the morning light just grazing the distant dunes and trees, from the cool shade of the pines and cypress trees.  This was the largest painting that I created during the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival.  

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

On Friday morning each artist turned in six plein air paintings from the week to the museum staff and chose three to be hung for jurying.  After the exhibition opening night the artists could hang additional artwork to their portion of the walls.  The exhibit was hung beautifully and the staff could not have been more professional in handling the artwork.  It was a real pleasure to participate in the event.

"Monarch Grove" © San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival

Early in the morning I was hunting a painting spot, turned around and spotted this view.  I ran back to my car and gathered up my gear.  Then standing with the ocean singing to me from behind I painted the distant trees where the Monarch butterfly's hang in golden clumps on their journey south.  

My original view long gone with the time passing here is an image of my little set up.  The umbrella is an addition to my standard gear.  For years I used John Cosby's advice of just turning your easel away from the sun, rather then dealing with an umbrella.  My friend Lorelle and I were discussing umbrellas and the advantages and so I thought the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival would be a super time to try out using an umbrella.  I think from now on it will be a a permanent addition to my gear.  I purchased this one from EasyL and it was a piece of cake to adjust as the sun shifted.  The vents on top help it resist blowing away and there is even a small leash to ty to the tripod leg so if it did start to fly away it wouldn't go far.  This was very comforting painting up on cliff edge tops.  

Oil on Linen,  11" X 14"

"San Luis Creek" © San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival

Last week at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival I participated in the "Quick Draw".  For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, artists are given a set amount of time in which to have their canvas stamped, set up an easel, paint a painting, frame it and deliver the finished piece to the staging site.  Talk about pressure, at first you feel as if you have "hours" to get the job done, then you glance at your watch to see only 20 minutes remaining to pull the painting together.  Meanwhile people are watching and chatting with you about your choice of paint, subject, what they are painting at home and about the process.  I enjoy the whole event and especially the people.  I painted in the creek beside the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and in this image you will see my finished painting hanging on my EasyL Easel.  

Once all the artists were told to set down their brushes we all framed our paintings and brought them to the mission walkway for display.  People walked up and down looking at each one deciding on which paintings they would like to win at the auction.  At the same time a judge picked a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner of all 34 paintings.

This is my painting at the auction.  I was in the back sitting on a rock wall watching the action.  It was a real thrill to see several people bidding on my painting, trying to win it as the price kept climbing like crazy.  I felt giddy, grateful, excited and relieved when it was all over.  What a rush!

I won 3rd place and received a ribbon which I gave to the collector that purchased the painting, a King of Frames gift certificate and a bundle of SourceTek panels.  In case you are curious about the other winners my friend Raymond Harris won 1st place and a new friend John Guernesy from Georgia won 2nd place.  It was quite a day and nice way to end the week.  

Oil on Linen Panel, 12" X 9"