Ventura View, 12X16, oil
The city of Ventura has held an Artwalk for decades and this year added a plein air competition to the event. Artists were invited to paint for a week and then display their paintings, along with some studio paintings for sale during the Artwalk at the Bell Arts Factory. I was one of 17 lucky artists to be invited to paint and enjoyed exploring Ventura.
The painting above was my first effort. I set up on the side of the CVS building on Olive Street looking up the off ramp of the road to Ojai. I left the off ramp out of the painting and just focused on all the elements that felt like Ventura to me.
Surfers Point Wave, 8X10, oil
This little painting was a quick sketch, watching wave after wave roll in. I think it was successful to some extent because of a comment by a surfer. He told me, hey you got our "concrete" water perfectly. I would like to spend more time painting these little waves, soon.
Maricopa Hwy to Ojai ~ PINK! 16X12, oil
Pure luck, catching this view. I was going to head home after painting all day and looking at the clouds I thought something good might happen soon. I headed up to Grant Park, hoping I would have the best view of the sunset and pow! This huge cloud, turned cotton candy pink and it lasted a long time for a sunset. The little valley below, looking towards Ojai, started to twinkle as lights came on. Of course I was unable to get all the little buildings and lights, but put in enough to get the idea across to the viewer.
