"Janet's Boat" ©

What could be better then a day of art making at a friends house?  My buddy Janet make a Greek dessert platter, fashioned from a description in a book she is reading about the building of the ancient aqueducts of Europe, for all of us to dip into now and again.  Having just returned from a trip Janet shared a photo she had taken of a little boat listing on the beach in Scotland and allowed me to paint a little painting of the scene.  I'll fiddle with it a bit then she can have it for her collection.  A nice way to end a perfect day.  

Oil on linen, 8" X 10"

"Estuary of Carmel" ©

Twice I have stood on the sandy beach beside the spot where the Carmel River greets the ocean painting as the sun sank behind me into the Pacific Ocean capturing this view.  It's a tough scene with all the rocks and shifts and yet so very inviting I can't help but try to get it down on canvas.  I used the little plein air pieces to work out this larger canvas.  Those little babies are worth their weight in gold.  One time I was told to never sell the plein air pieces because of all the information they contain and I understand the thinking better now then ever.  Meanwhile I am preparing for a trip to Lake Arrowhead to paint in the event "Paint the Lakes" starting Thursday morning.  I can't wait to meet the other artists and explore the 3 lakes we are allowed to paint.  

Oil on Linen,  18" X 24"

"Art Alfresco and El Matador Beach" ©

Today was the monthly California Art Club paint out, hosted by George Malone.  George picked El Matador beach for our gathering spot and the day couldn't have been more perfect.  With most children back in school the parking lot and beach had plenty of room.  So you don't think I paint with sun on my palette and shade on the painting you should know I turned my easel for the photograph, since I had my back to the sandstone cliff as I couldn't get back far enough for you to see the whole spot from where I was actually painting.  One thing I learned today is not to set up so close to the cliff as the wind blew sand off the cliff onto my painting.  It's covered in sand and the paint as some chunks floating on the surface.  The other thing I learned today is Gamblin's new warm white is a luscious and good replacement for Titanium white when painting outside.  I can't wait to try their other newly introduced colors.

What grabbed my attention was the lone big rock lit from above with the shadowed bigger rock behind it adding to the drama of the scene.  

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

Last weekend I showed paintings at the Ventura Museum for their event "Art Alfresco".  Below you can see my booth set up, before they opened the doors to the public.  I was able to meet several new art lovers and collectors and the weekend was a success for everyone.  I'll be back in two years for the next event.  If you are ever in Ventura looking for a dinner spot, try out Sushi Marina.  The service and food couldn't have been better.  

"Elsmere Sentry" ©

There is a moment at sunset, when everything turns brilliant orange and lavender above the park and ride at the Elsmere Canyon entrance.  I have wanted to try to catch that moment in time and finally took a break today from framing and packing for a show tomorrow in Ventura to give it a go.  If you are in the area of Ventura on Saturday I am showing 25 paintings at the Ventura Museums event, "Art Alfresco" from 12noon to 5pm.  Anyone is welcome to come from 12 noon - 2pm there are tickets available that include lunch and museum admission.  From 2pm - 5pm there are $5.00 tickets for admission.  If you come please say HI!

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Summer Evening" ©

Hard to believe this spot is behind the Jack In The Box restaurant in Lebec but you can see it while you munch on a burger, right off the 5 freeway.  

Oil on Canvas,  24" X 30"

"Point Dume" ©

Point Dume is one of the many beautiful beaches in the Malibu area with long stretches of white sand  rimmed by majestic cliffs welcoming long walks alone or a day at the beach with friends and family. 

Oil on linen, 11" X 14" 

"Rocky Mountain Retreat" ©

Last month driving to Leadville Colorado in the Rocky Mountains we came across this view.  The spot seemed so perfectly peaceful, accented by a few squirrels and birds I knew I wanted to paint it.  It has been a while since I posted my process and so with this painting I took a few shots as I went along.  You can enjoy my struggle, along with me.  

The canvas size is 18" x 24".  At this point I am just locating the various elements and deciding on value patterns and placement.  I prefer to work on a white canvas so that any of the lighter values are as clean and bright as possible, allowing the canvas to contribute to the success of the piece in the end.  The paint is very thin and I am using mostly transparent paint.  Rembrandt and Gamblin manufacture my favorite transparent oil colors.

At this point I have paint all over the canvas.  I have located my darks and lights and decided that the main focal area will be the sandy beach and the secondary focal area will be the distant mountain, bouncing the viewer between the two with little side trips into the trees.  

Now that the canvas is covered and I have all the different elements figured out I need to start really finessing the paint quality and placement.  What I am going after is a variety of brushwork, edges and areas of the painting making sure that every move supports the main idea and that particular element that I am painting.  I had difficulty painting under studio lights so I painted the rest of the painting outside in natural light.  That is something that might be helpful to artists, take your painting outside and look at it, up close and from 20 feet away.  Critiquing is much easier and you will spot issues that had eluded you inside.  Another reason plein air painting is so wonderful.  

Here is the finished painting.  After the paint sets up a bit I'll go in and tighten some edges and make changes in anything that calls out to me.  Another advantage of oil paint is the ease in which you can alter the painting whenever you chose.  

"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.  

"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"

"Telegraph Road Ranch" ©

Until the proposed housing development reaches the Ventura Country line this little ranch is safe, just as it has been for the last 80 years.  

Oil on Canvas,  11" X 14"

"Rocky Canyon" ©

What captured my attention with this view was the idea of a pool of water, too small to make it over the cliff down the falls.  At first I thought it would be great fun to paint the rocks but without being able to paint alla prima as usual, it's much more difficult to keep my place.  I should explain a bit, we are under construction and my easel is about 20 feet from the main work.  The otters I wrote about previously were much less of a distraction.  Too bad they can't lay tile.  

Oil on canvas,  18" X 24"

"Kelp and Cliffs, Whalers Cove" ©

I never knew how LOUD otters could be until I painted this painting.  Three otters were floating, slithering over and around each other and eating for the couple of hours I spent painting this one.  Floating and slithering they were pretty quiet, eating on the other hand is a very noisy activity.  One little guy was slapping his catch on another object with relentless patience.   While another little guy was eating what looked like kelp but sounded like raw carrots, for hours.  You can't help but watch their antics and smile.  They moved with such grace and ease though the water no wonder everyone enjoyed the otter show at Whalers Cove.

Oil on Linen, plein air, 9" X 12"

"Sand Shadows" ©

As painters we get pretty comfortable painting what is around us, for me that would be oak trees, dry riverbeds, dusty trails and sycamores.  Sand dunes are not something I have the chance to paint regularly and they are a challenge.  I will take this little "idea" of a painting for a larger piece and move the ice plant decorated dunes so that I can really make the sunlit sand sing.   My family makes fun of me moving trees, mountains and rivers and I have to remind them that my job is to create a peaceful painting, editing nature just a bit.

Oil on canvas,  11" X 14"

"San Antonio Pump House" © Brackenridge Park

Last month while I was hunting painting spots in San Antonio I ran across this pump house in Brackenridge Park.  It was built in 1878, which explained the collapsing roof, in response to a decade of folks suffering from Typhoid fever and Malaria.  The Pump House supplied San Antonio with the first clean running water and reliable source for fire fighting.  It's the second oldest industrial building standing in the city, now abandoned and overgrown with vines.    

Oil on linen,  8" X 10"

"Harbor Night" ©

A while back I traveled to the northern coast of Maine to paint the pink granite cliffs and emerald ocean.  While there I photographed this image, with the idea that someday it might make a painting.  Just for fun today I gave it a whirl and had a good time while the wind is howling outside.

Oil on Linen,  8" X 10" 

"Honey Trail" ©

Just around the bend are piles of white bee boxes, filled with busy bees.  Santa Clarita, my town, has just opened this area as a new open space for everyone to hike.  I have been painting here for years, under the radar so to speak.  Fortunately no one has ever shooed me out, unlike the Newhall Land and Farm property on the 126.  Oh, yes, caught by helicopter painting on the side of the road with Lorelle Miller.  The guy wouldn't even let us finish our paintings.

Oil on Canvas,  18" X 14"

"Evening Glow" © Garland Park, Carmel Valley

Garland Park is the perfect place to paint near Carmel when the coastal fog is thick as cotton.  The park is only 8 miles from the ocean, covered in trails, dotted with ancient trees and clear skies.  The Carmel River flows year round along the edge of the park, headed to the ocean.  I talked to a ranger about the safety of painting alone and he told me it was perfectly safe in the park.  You wouldn't think that painting alone could be a problem but I have had a few of close calls, one mountain lion, the others human.  When I am involved painting a space ship could land next to me and I wouldn't notice.  Well, maybe but you get the idea. 

Oil on Linen,  16" X 20"

"Carmel Beach" © 20th Annual Carmel Art Festival

At the Carmel Art Festival the artists have their canvases stamped on Wednesday night and are allowed to paint until Friday late afternoon.  Then we deliver our two favorite pieces for judging and auction.  This painting was one of my choices for the Friday delivery and it sold.  During the two days of painting I would run into other artists, hiking around, picnicking and painting their hearts out.  Here is a photo of a fellow painter  on the opposite cliff from me.  I have no idea who it is but the umbrella and easel are a dead give away.

"Carmel Sands" ©

The last week painting in Monterey County, specifically Carmel for the art festival we had rain, sun, wind and fog.  This painting was done on the main beach, just a bit up from the ocean in the white sand dunes.  Unknowingly I had set up to paint within the space of a beach volley ball court, at the time there wasn't another soul around.  Slowly as the minutes ticked by nets were erected,  balls bounced past my easel and I became increasing aware of being in the wrong spot for a painting.  Finally, when I was at this point of the process,  a very nice guy asked me when my painting would be done.   OK, I got the hint and packed up.  I promise to post more on the festival tomorrow.  

Oil on linen,  14" X 11"

"Morning Haze" ©

Tomorrow I hit the road for Carmel to paint in the 20th Annual Art Festival.  I have a car full of frames,  two easels (one for back up), a case of water, tons of paint, panels and brushes.  The event is one, where your canvases are stamped at the start, you paint for a period of time and hang your two best paintings for bidding and sales.  We are allowed to paint the surrounding area from Big Sur to Monterey and more.  Calvin Liang will be the juror of awards and the paintings will be available for sale online and live Saturday and Sunday.  The artists are allowed to replace the sold paintings with new pieces that were painted during the week.  It's pretty exciting and they give you a cool hat.  

 This painting was painted last year after the event.  The scene is looking across Highway 1 from Monastery Beach very early in the morning.  On Monday I will post new paintings from the week.  

"Central Coast Eucalyptus Trees" ©

Next week is the 20th Annual Art Festival and I was lucky to be included in the roster of artists.  I have been thinking about painting in the Carmel - Monterey Bay- Big Sur area, the different views depending on the weather and adapting to the light that is unique to the area, while painting this little scene that is near Cambria, CA.   For artists I would love to share a book I have been reading, "Traditional Oil Painting", by Virgil Elliott.  If you can only find time to read the introduction, it's worth it.  Elliot writes about all of the truths I have come to learn about the process of painting in such an inspirational way I wish I could copy the pages and send them to every artists I know.  This is a reference book for the bookcase that I will pick up many, many times.  

Oil on Canvas,  14" X 18"

"Sierra Madre Art Fair"

This was suppose to be my demo piece during the Sierra Madre Art Fair.  All the artists were so busy chatting up people and sharing their art that demonstrations were tough to get done.  Most of the time my gear was under a palm tree waiting for me.  It was a very good show, as usual with the rain waiting until we were all packed up.  

Oil on Linen,  11" X 14"

"Sunny Garden Path" ©

Arlington Gardens in South Pasadena is a tiny plot of patchwork gardens of great variety.  I painted along the sunny path lined with a few lupin, red poppies and young sycamore trees.  Many garden vistors stopped by my easel to tell me their story and how they came to visit the garden.  Some were first time visitors but most glowed as they talked about their personal love affair with this special spot.  A couple of days ago I went back to deliver a painting that had sold during the weekend art show and in just that short time the garden looked very different.  New splashes of color had popped and other plants hanging their heads were turning gray.  

Oil on Panel,  11" X 14:

"Spring, Arlington Gardens" ©

 Spring has had a tough time this year due to the lack of rain.  Arlington Garden in South Pasadena has just a few signs of spring a few lupin, poppies and flowering trees.  Saturday and Sunday I will be at the Garden painting and showing a few pieces as part of the foundation annual fund raiser.  By then all the trees and plants should be covered in tiny new green leaves.  

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 11"
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"Arlington Wisteria" ©

Next weekend I will be exhibiting and painting in the Arlington Gardens of South Pasadena.  The artists were asked to paint a few pieces of the gardens for collectors that love walking the garden paths.  This spot is near where gentlemen and boys play bocce ball on Sunday afternoons.  The soft bantering of the men and light click of the balls hitting each other under the olive trees transported me back to Italy.  Segil Fine Art Source in Monrovia is my gallery and one of the Pasadena Art Gallery Association members that is providing the artists for this event.  

Oil on Linen, 10" X 8"

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"Sunset At Vasquez Rocks" ©

Just before jumping on the plane to San Antonio last week I received a phone call from Senator Steve Knight's office congratulating me on being selected for the 2013-2014 "California Contemporary Art Collection" exhibit at the capitol building.  I could hardly pay attention at the Salon International reception at the Green House Gallery, thinking about the canvas waiting for me at home, knowing I need to ship this piece to the capitol by Friday.  The painting is very close to being done, now is when I need someone to take the brush away from me.  It's so hard to back away from the easel......

Oil on Canvas, 30" X 40"

"Lazy River" ©

Last minute I jumped into this painting hoping to get it done by midnight to enter in the CAC Waterscapes exhibit.  Once a painting buddy, Rod Edwards, told me that "green" paintings were the hardest of all.  The difficulty was pulling off the different values and temperatures with only the greens. Years later, Scott Christensen explained to me that you can't have a green tree without "reds" within the greens.  Boy, did he nail that one.  So to begin this piece I started out with a Rembrandt Transparent Red Oxide wash, leaving bits here and there within the distant trees.  It's a great tool to give the viewer the illusion that they are seeing into the forest and provided that "red" bounce for the greens.  

Oil on Canvas,  16" X 20"

"Irises" ©

In a few weeks the Arlington Gardens is hosting a paint out and art sale to raise funds for the foundation that supports the garden.  I'll be one of the many artists painting in the garden.  Last weekend I went exploring so I would know what to expect on the paint out.  These lovely Irises were raising their heads above the spring grasses growing along a path.  Nearby couples were picnicking under striped umbrellas on a flowered table cloth reminding me of Italy.  A gem of a spot that I am looking forward to painting after I get home from Texas.  

Oil on Panel,   12" X 9"

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