"Palm Tree Trio" ©

While I was painting this one, a comment made was that the palm trees were "scruffy".  Looking around at all the palm trees I thought they all look a bit scruffy this dry hot summer.  I did add a little more to the fronds for the paintings sake.  One of the many advantages of painting, just putting down what we wish to see in the end.   

Oil on Linen,  16" X 12"

"Calm Waters" ©

The whole idea of this painting was to suggest calm water flowing gently around the bend.  I had painted this scene before not knowing how to handle a some of the passages, this time the piece is better.  

Oil on linen,  16" X 20"

"Coastal Cypress" ©

The Museum of Ventura County is planning their 3rd bi-annual "Art Alfresco" fundraising event on Saturday August 17th.  I was invited to exhibit my artwork for sale, so all of the construction work on the home front will have to wait a bit, while I paint new work for the show.  Looking at my collection of available paintings I decided a few more coastal/water scenes would compliment the group for the event.  

Oil on linen,  16" X 20"

"Coastal Cliffs" ©

Home from Colorado it was nice to get back to the ocean.  Next month I'll be exhibiting at the Ventura Museum and thought a few ocean scenes would be nice for the show.  

Oil on Linen,  16" X 20"

"Sunrise on the Rio Grande" ©

The Rio Grande works it's way south though Alamosa Colorado heading for the gulf of Mexico.  If I lived in Alamosa I would be on the banks painting often.  Only in town for a few days it was a race to get a feel for the area.  One morning this was the view as the sun was rising over the LaVeta pass.

Oil on canvas,  14" X 18"

"Navajo Land" ©

Headed from Durango Colorado to Canyon de Chelly Arizona we crossed into the Navajo reservation.  These rocks were a common sight along the highway.  I loved watching the light change, the weird shaped rocks and distant mesas.  This little 9" X 12" painting will never be a studio piece but I had good time figuring out how to create the illusion of separation between the formations.  The Navajo land is open range, so we had to keep an eye out for cattle on the road.  Here is a little photo so you get the idea....looks like she is trying to hide behind the sign.

"Summer Waters" ©

The Rio Grande river is still flowing, even though our country is so very dry.  This was the scene early in the July morning headed from Monte Vista to Center Colorado on the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad.  

Oil on Linen,  12" X 16"

"Alamosa Sunrise" ©

Walking out the back door of the Comfort Inn in Alamosa Colorado last week, this sunrise view greeted us.  One of the other travelers giggled and said "hey, that looks like a painting", I grinned back with a "OH YEAH".  

Oil on Linen,  16" X 20"

Cleaning out the studio...

Just before leaving on a 2 week adventure from Ely Nevada to Canyon de Chelly Arizona, I decided to figure out what canvases warrant studio space and which canvases need to be "recycled".  I have talked to many artist buddies about how to not get buried in paintings that you really aren't comfortable showing or selling.  Artist Kathryn Stats suggested using her favorite tool, the palm sander to to sand off the brush stokes of old paintings.  This works well for me, since part of my painting process includes having the brush work follow for form of whatever I am painting, whether I am painting a mountain range or tree.  

Here is the collection of canvases that I found that could be sanded and used again.  Most are older or experiments that I learned from but would never show to another person.  

Out on the patio I have a table set up, ready for sanding cavases.

All the brush work is gone off of this panel, yet you can see a "ghost" image of the original painting.  

Next step is using a foam brush from Home Depot I use to spread and cover the panel in Gamblin ground.  

This is the can of Gamblin ground.  Painting on this ground is lovely, very simular to an oil primed canvas.

Here are 5 supports (canvas and panels), drying and almost ready to be new paintings.  I am home now and will start posting the paintings of my adventures.