Ventura Plein Air Competition 2015

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.  

"Sunset at Deception Pass" ©

Last September drifting along the shores of Whidbey Island I found people sitting and watching this sunset at Deception Pass park.  I joined in and with not enough time to capture it in paint took a few photos with the idea to paint the view one day.  Since our home is "in construction", actually destruction came first, now we are in the remolding stage and it's coming along, painting views that have haunted me is the perfect escape.  

Oil on linen,  14" X 11"

"Softly Setting" ©

Today a collector and friend called and mentioned that he and his wife were waiting for me to paint some skies once again. Sounded like a great idea to me and so I spent the day in fluffy clouds and juicy paint.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Until Tomorrow" ©

The painting in France adventure continues: As the sun left us each evening, sinking below the treeline we would watch in awe, tired from painting all day, happy a dinner, wine and conversation would follow. We knew it was only "Until Tomorrow" till we would feel the sun again.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"