"Hooper Creek" © study

Driving home from the Train show in Filmore, I glanced out the window and saw this view flash by. A U turn and I was out of the car, capturing the creek. I am painting the scene on a 18" X 24" canvas because I think Hooper's Creek deserves more easel time.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

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"Clouds For Pennie" ©

This painting is a commission that will be heading to it's new home tomorrow. The idea was to paint a large gallery wrapped canvas as if you were looking through a window, seeing clouds and a blue blue sky. Clouds are very enjoyable to sculpt in paint, simply put I had fun.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 30"

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"Oaks Under Clouds" ©

Clouds are still drifting over the Oaks in the valley. Even now, close to evening the wind is cutting through the leaves. Today was a banner beautiful day, or what you might call a "mayors day". This was the kind of day you want photographs taken of your home town for publicity.

Oil on Canvas Board, 5" X 7"

"Stormy Sky" ©

Clouds blew in and out of our valley with ease today. A cold nip reminded me that even with the light change, summer is far away.

Oil on board, 5" X 7"

"Oaks" ©

Spring green is sprouting all around now. This bunch of Oaks are down at the corner of Sierra Hwy and Placerita Canyon. There has been a truck in the field lately and usually that is followed by construction. Hopefully they will save these old oaks.

Oil on Canvas

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"Another Day" ©

This painting is titled "Another Day", simply because as I was walking down the trail and spotted this view I thought to myself, "geez another day in paradise". I am so fortunate to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. "Another Day" is part of the exhibit "Chasing Open Spaces II" that will hang till May 6th. The show is exclusively paintings of the natural areas of the valley with the purpose of showing people how beautiful it is and that it is worth preserving.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Tree Trunk Study" ©

This small tree trunk study was a luxury for me. My only goal was to capture the light bouncing around on these lovely trunks. I wasn't working towards a framed finished painting, just simply painting the light that I saw.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Midday In March" ©

The sun is still a bit to the south, so even midday you see lovely shadows. This is one of the advantages of painting during the winter and spring in California.

A footnote: A few days ago I found a new way to photograph the blog paintings and the images are now looking very close to the originals on my computer, for which I am very pleased.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Gotta Itch" ©

Last Saturday while waiting at the William S. Hart Park for my painting buddies I was watching this goose. There was something really pestering his belly that far outweighed any interest in me. Today was raining and painting this goose seemed like a wonderful way to spend the day.

Oil on Raymar panel, 6" X 8"

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"Trail Shadows" ©

San Francisquito Canyon, late in the day, on the bridle path watching the rabbits dart across the trail.

Oil on Raymar panel, 6" X 8"

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"Glowing Clouds" ©

The idea for this little painting was to capture the clouds as sunlight burned it's way along the edges.

Oil on Canvas Board, 5" X 7"

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"Winter Pastels" ©

Soft. Everything this day was soft, the sky, the sand, even the brush. The colors of winter are becoming more and more pastel.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Winter Grass" ©

These grasses will soon be replaced by waving strands of green. I think the drastic contrast between the oak trees and the silver grass is what captured me in this scene.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"


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"March Midday" ©

Spring, really is just around the corner. Looking into the brush winter and spring are battling it out and spring is winning! On the trees small tufts of green are unrolling and it won't be long till our hills are a carpet of green. This painting is of Rice Canyon in the middle of this March day.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

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"Palms And Clouds" ©

Last evening was the city of Pasadena's Art Night, a twice annual event. I was lucky enough to exhibit paintings and demonstrate at the Pasadena History Museum, during the event. The museum is hosting the "Who Was Sam???", Sam Hyde Harris exhibit presented by Maurine St. Gaudens Studios. Just knowing that his paintings were a few feet away was great inspiration. This painting was my demo piece.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Above The Arroyo" ©

The "Thursday Irregulars" plein air group gained access to an estate overlooking the Arroyo, in Pasadena, today. This little painting was done entirely with a palette knife, and no, I didn't forget my brushes. I really am enticed by the action I can get with the knife on the panel. It doesn't photograph well, as the thick paint catches the light.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

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"Pico Canyon Morning" ©

Even with just a couple of inches of rain the hills have a green glaze as the bits of wild grass reach for the sun. This view is just at the mouth of Pico Canyon, looking South West, towards the sea.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 16"

"Near Rocking Horse Road" ©

This little painting is all about the light caught in the brush along the road.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Sanctuary" ©

Deep in Descanso Gardens there is an overlook where wild birds take sanctuary. This scene is early on a winter morning, with just a few ducks floating in the shade. From the other side of the lake you could see through the brush several very large white birds. If you were a bird this would be a bit of heaven.

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 24"

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"Early Morning, Pico Canyon" ©

Very early in the morning it's difficult to get the oil paint to "move" on the panel, due to the cold. Today I experimented with working exclusively with a tiny palette knife. It felt wonderfully juicy and powerful.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

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"San Simeon Seals" ©

I have been painting a large piece for 2 days now. I just can't bring myself to take it down off of the easel and paint a small daily painting, just yet. Today for your pleasure I am posting a section of a painting that is hanging in my dining room that I painted previously. These seals stack against each other, basking in the sun up the coast, near San Simeon. Every time we go camping we stop just to watch their antics, guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone.

Oil on Canvas, 36" X 36"

"Palms" ©

I can hear you, "Palms again?". Well, it's sunny California and everywhere you look these beauties are dancing in the sun. So, every once in a while they are going to pop up here because I love to paint them. Actually the palms in my valley suffered greatly in a few days of very low temps. Most of them are brown but at sunset the brown turns rust and they glow. Maybe they will be next?

Oil on canvas, 9" X 12"

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"Corgi" ©

This little Corgi has the largest ears you can imagine. He is a ranch dog and is willing to let me pet him as long as I would like. He will also fetch a stick just so that I can keep throwing it. His eyes speak volumes.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

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"Ocean Air" ©

Down by the sea the air acts like a veil, creating more and more layers as you look to the distance. Capturing that effect was my goal with this piece. I was in Malibu with the ocean singing behind me.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Summit Park Trail" ©

Summit park starts out with tennis courts, then a large grassy area and finally a path into the wilderness. It's right smack dab in the middle of town and yet most people don't even know about the back area. There is a small sign warning about snakes and coyotes. During the day coyotes lay low and it's to cold for the snakes. So it was a perfect painting day. My buddy Sandy and I chatted, painted and chatted some more. She painted a lovely watercolor and it was nice to have the company.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Eaton Canyon" ©

Today the "Thursday Irregulars" painted Eaton Canyon. When you are plein air painting, not much can distract you from the task at hand. Not 40 children singing, not the hiker with a pit bull straining against it's leash, not even the couple that want to offer advice. But today a small mouse was running from one clump of brush to another, back and forth, the whole time I painted. I almost named the little fellow. He managed to distract and endear me to him. Finally the rain drove me out of the canyon and back to my car.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12" sold

"Koi Fountain" ©

One of the first sights that greet the visitors to Descanso Gardens is lovely Koi pond with fountains. Painting daily allowed me to spend my morning engaged with the water bouncing off this beautiful fountain.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Rice Canyon" ©

Rice Canyon is part of the Santa Clarita Woodlands. Even though it's still winter the canyon is stunning. In spring it bring us to our knees with beauty. The photo is washed out on the right due to the size of the panel and wet paint, my apologies.

Oil on Panel

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"Little Red Cabin" ©

Lately my family has been discussing our summer vacation plans during dinner each evening. These talks spirited this little painting, as I was day dreaming of a perfect vacation spot today.

Oil on Canvas Board, 8" X 8"

"Lake At Descanso Gardens" ©

Today I painted out with a group called "The Thursday Irregulars". "Irregular" is in the title, I was told because all of the artists are professionals and depending on their show/travel/commission schedule they attend irregularly. We met at 9am to paint in the famous Descanso Gardens till 12 noon, and then gathered together at the cafe for lunch and a critique. What fun!

I painted at the far end of the garden, past the cactus garden, looking over the bird sanctuary towards the San Gabriel Mountain range. This is my mornings effort.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Colors Of Malibu" ©

Last Sunday, on the beach at Malibu these were the colors flying. It's no wonder that Malibu has such a reputation for beauty. I feel so fortunate to have been born in California and so lucky to have the opportunity to see this sight in person.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"



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"East Mountain" ©

I have been working on this painting, while "blogging" the smaller pieces, the last couple of days. It's close to the finish line, now. Posting it allows me to see it with new eyes.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 30"

"Sun Dappled Gray" ©

A large berry tree stands just outside of Neo's stall, shading him most of the day. His is the first stall in a long row, so he greets or ignores every visitor depending on his mood. I was captured by the sun splashing here and there over his back. I was being ignored.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"


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"In The Arroyo" ©

Saturday the California Art Club held one of their quarterly paint outs in the Lower Arroyo Park, just south of the famous Pasadena bridge. The weather was suppose to be horrible (for painting out), I just don't think the clouds would dare to pounce on a CAC event. So, a fabulous time was had by all. Artists painted the casting pond, hills or the bridge and I chose this wonderful path through the trees. I walked quite a ways down the path, as it pulled me further and further along. This is the feeling I wanted to pass on to the viewer of my painting.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10" sold

"Highway 126" working title ©

This view is near Filmore, out Highway 126. Houses are planned for this lovely land. In a few years this view will be history.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20" sold

"Golden Sycamore" ©

This tree must be one hundred years old. It stands along the bank of the Placerita Creek. Now it's naked, but painting just the bear "bones" felt so cold, so I dressed her up.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10" sold

"Valencia Palm" ©

We have had a couple of very warm, summer-ish days in sunny Southern California. Most of the palms have a tinge of rust because of the cold snap a couple of weeks ago. This little beauty is hanging on to some green.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

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"View From Rancho Deluxe"

Late last spring I had the opportunity to visit Rancho Deluxe in Sand Canyon, just down the road. This was the stunning view from one of the ranch houses. The painting is not entirely finished, I'll tweak the piece tomorrow morning with fresh eyes.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 30"

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"Evening Light" ©

This view is Placerita creek, dry as a bone, late in the day. This painting will be part of the "Chasing Open Spaces II" exhibit, in a couple of months. Two painters and myself are painting the undeveloped areas in our valley, in order to expose and document the beauty that surrounds us everyday. I still have a bit of tweaking to go but this is what I painted today.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"After The Rain" ©

The storm clouds are heading to other lands, leaving behind puddles, dark bark and wet asphalt. New storms will march into the valley before February is past, giving our creek it's chance to run.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

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