"Huddled Up" ©

Herd animals have a unique way to huddle, some facing out, others buried deep in the pile of hide.  This little study explores the idea of a small group of cows huddled up in the warmth of the early morning light glazing the snow.  Anyone that had ridden a horse can imagine the amount of heat generated by a large animal and appreciate the "huddle".  

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"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"

"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"

"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" 

"Peace and Quiet" ©

Last night was the artists reception for the Contemporary Masters Exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of History. The show is beautiful and if your in the Pasadena area would be worth a peek. Today I painted this little piece purely for the fun of it.

6" X 8", Oil on canvas

sold

All of these boxes contain framed paintings for my solo show in a couple of weeks. There are about 10 more now that aren't in the photo and you can see that I have been working hard even if my postings have been slow lately. I don't have a box for the large seascape and will sew up a custom "bag" to protect the frame, for delivery. The show is at the Segil Gallery in Monrovia, the reception is Saturday March 24, 5pm - 7pm. I am really excited to present all of these new paintings to my friends and collectors.

"Winter Puddle" ©

After the last couple of days of rain there are a few puddles left standing in the sandy canyon soil.

Oil on Canvas, 6" X 8"

"Kern River, Morning"

Winter mid-week on the Kern River, completely quiet and void of human activity. A nice place to sit and think for a while.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Morning on the Kern River" ©

You would never know that we were painting in downtown Kernville. A short walk though the park, down the little bank and your on the sandy beach watching the lazy river drift by. It's a bit of an illusion, it's a very dangerous river to stick your toe in. There is a strong current running under the serene surface that will take you down river into the rapids very quickly. Marian Fortunati, Diane Nelson Gold and Sharon Weaver were my painting buddies on this trip. We all painted this morning scene from different vantage points. After we finished, looking at our morning efforts I was once again amazed how artists will approach the same subject so very differently.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 12'

"Ruffles of Leaves" ©

Anytime I see an arch of tree limbs over a path or road, it's a painting, even if it's just in my head. This is a spot I painted last summer and recently a lovely patron said she would like a small version of this scene for a gift.

Oil on canvas, 9" X 12"

"Teton Valley Creek" ©

Don't mind the bugs and dirt mixed into the paint. I am sure you have heard of "chick" magnets, oil paint is a "bug" magnet. speaking of bugs and dirt, I am headed out to paint at a dude ranch for a few days with about 20 other artists (fun). From what I hear there isn't any Internet available so I'll be off the grid for a bit. Sounds great to me. Consider the "gone painting" shingle hung......

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Santa Paula Farmland" ©

In reality the cloud was all by itself, hanging above the mountain on a clear blue sky and that was what attracted me to the view. And as usual I spread it out a bit to make a better painting, playing goddess, at least that is what my family says. That is one of the many thrills of painting landscapes. Artists can move mountains with the stroke of the brush.

Oil on panel, 8" X 6"

"Fall Cottonwoods" ©

An artist buddy dropped off thousands of slides that her father had taken over the years, for me to mine for painting ideas. I wish I could have met him, obviously an adventurer and fisherman. One of his trips to the high country in the fall inspired this little painting of "Fall Cottonwoods".

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Newcomb Ranch" ©

About 20 plein air painters gathered at Newcomb Ranch today to paint. The Angeles Crest Highway from La Canada to Palmdale is open once again. The road is perfect with many turn outs that painters can use for unusual vistas of the San Gabriels from inside the range. We painted all morning, ate lunch in the cafe and shared our paintings with one another.

Helpful hint to artists: Taking a horrible cheap panel I primed it with Gamblin Ground to see if the panel would work better. Absolutely!

sold

"Sunny Afternoon" ©

Another sunny afternoon in Malibu, what can you say, other then paradise.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Afternoon at Leo Carrillo"

Today was Art Day at Janet's house for August. She had the great idea of inviting artists to come and just create for a day at her home. Since most artist work solo this is a welcome chance to connect with other artists in a casual setting. I had been to Leo Carrillo beach the day before painting and with my memory and reference info I painted what I remembered of that lovely late afternoon.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

sold