"Montana De Oro" ©

I am still noodling in the cliffs but the bones are there for a small painting of "Montana De Oro" on the California coast.

Oil on Linen, 14" X 18"

"A Break In The Clouds" ©

It's been raining in Southern California since Monday, on one hand we sorely need the rain, on the other folks are suffering, threatened with mud slides and flooding. While my fingers are crossed for my friends at risk I am also thinking about the wild flowers that will follow the rain. Yesterday around 3:30pm I was near Malibu and there was a sudden "Break In The Clouds".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Ribbon Of Orange" ©

Before starting in on a large studio painting I warmed up with this little fantasy painting of "A Ribbon Of Orange".

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Desert Palms" ©

Flicking through old images, looking for something inspiring, I found these old desert palms. Perfect for a quick study before packing to paint at Randy Higbee's studio tomorrow.

Oil on Panel, 6" X 8"

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"Tujunga Wash" ©

Driving along the 210 Freeway near Lake View Terrace/Sunland the Tujunga wash provides seasonal delights. Sometimes it's a field of Yucca plants blooming, other times spring greens with rushing water and my favorite a blaze of reds.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"California Pacific Cliff" ©

Today I finished a studio/large painting of the smaller Pacific Cliff. The palette was beautiful full of purple and peach, almost edible.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Last Of The Green" ©

Evidence of winter has blanketed the Santa Clarita Valley landscape, gray, lavender, rust and the "Last Of The Green".

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Turning Pink" ©

Up in Maine, at just the right time of day the whole world looks as if it's "turning pink".

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Ashley" ©

Painting from life is always a challenge, whether landscape or portrait. The land seems somewhat easier then the simple human form. Yet painting a person is so interesting, all of those color shifts within one surface that gently curves this way and that. Yesterday I was lucky to have the opportunity to paint "Ashley", a lovely lady, engaged to be married and it was her 28th birthday.

Oil on panel, 10" X 8"

"Bishop Gold" ©

Before the winter storms completely strip the golden leaves, all of Bishop is gold.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

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"Path To The Sea" ©

I have so missed my brushes and paint, over the last week or so. The holiday festivities took over for a brief time and so to get back in the saddle I painted a favorite scene, the bridle path to the sea within the Montana De Oro park. It's interesting to revisit a subject with a few hundred canvases in between, a new approach and a bit more skill.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

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"Pacific Cliff" ©

My goal in this small painting was to capture warm sand and the cool shadowed rocks of a Pacific cliff.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"June Bug" ©

Down at the ranch, June Bug decided to model her blue blanket for me. Last week it was down in the high 20's and it happened so fast the horses coats were still in summer mode, so out came the winter blankets. A friend told me that as a child her horses ear tips popped off in the winter back east. Glad we're in the land of sunshine and palm trees!

Oil on panel, 10" X 8"

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"Ring Cycle Model" ©

Yesterday I had the chance to paint a portrait of a model dressed in a costume from Wagner's Ring Cycle. With this study and my digital references, a larger painting will be born.

Oil on Panel, 9" x 12"

"Seaside" ©

Such a Californian, snow one day, the sea the next, I am proving how native I really am. Rain is coming in tomorrow, I am planning to hunt the clouds. Having some true weather systems blow in is really exciting!

"Snow At Sunset" ©

Every time it snows up on the mountain I seem to be drawn to this subject. The clouds last evening were glorious yet so fleeting, any hope of painting them was via complete recall.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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"Last Leaves" ©

Last Friday afternoon a small group of us painted in the oil field next to my house. Finally today I unpacked my kit and pulled out my attempt at capturing the last leaves on a large sycamore tree.

The weekend was full of art events from a Kevin Macpherson talk on his new TV show, "Passport and Palette", to the opening of "The Beauty Of California Painters" show at Carter Sexton, to "The Red Ribbon" opening at Segil Gallery and finally the opening of "Precious Gifts" at the Pasadena City Women's Club.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Winter In Willits" ©

Thanksgiving weekend my family headed to Willits, California for the annual Turkey Run of speeders on the Skunk Railroad. My little painting, sitting on the easel is one of the winter views that we saw along the rails.

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

"Kern River Fall" ©

Exceptional during the fall the river is draped in gold, the last display of color before barren branches declare winter has arrived.

Oil on canvas, 8" X 10"

"Fall's Gold" ©

Lately I have been painting all sorts of scenes and subjects. Not being concerned with a finished painting that I can exhibit but spending time experimenting and thinking. Most of these attempts will never be seen, heading for the dumpster quickly and yet I am learning a great deal though the exercise. This painting was done Friday at the SCAA paint out in the Summit Park of Valencia. It's simply a portrait of a tree in "Fall's Gold".

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Vineyard Road" ©

Last weekend we trailered our rail car up to Santa Maria for a run on the Santa Maria Railroad. More and more, vineyards cover the hillsides of central California.

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"Live Oak Park Creek" ©

Before the sprinkles fell, a small group of us painted together in Live Oak Park off Sand Canyon. Nice spot, endless views to paint, safe and quiet. Once in a while a motorcycle would come screaming around the bend in the road, driver covered in leathers bent low, but that was about the only distraction.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

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"Fall At Falkner Vineyard" ©

Temecula was gorgeous this weekend. Artists dotted the vineyard, painting the morning marine layer and sunny afternoons, during the Falkner Invitational.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Lombardi Ranch View" ©

Today was gray and hazy out at Lombardi Ranch. I was painting under the power lines, listening to a sympony of black birds. Behind me was the remenates of acres of pumpkins. The shiny orange balls strewn about the fields were tempting, yet somewhat strange for a painting, so I settled on the farm road that loops around brush and then back into the fields.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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Segil Fine Art Show

Finally after 16 months of painting for this show, it's hung. Segil Gallery owner Laura Segil was fantastic today, she really knows her gallery and hung this show beautifully. There are 62 paintings, several will be online early next week for viewing. Now I can just paint, anything that strikes me, the fun begins tomorrow!

"Riverbed Jewels" ©

Taking the recent small 5" X 7" painting of Riverbed Jewels, I painted this piece in the studio. My goal was to capture the way the late afternoon light glazes the dry brush in lavender and rust.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Fall, Hansen Dam" ©

The fall colors are just starting to show in the leaves of trees around the lake. I'll wait a couple of weeks for the "gold". These Sycamores are a short walk down the bridle path leading away from the recreational area. I love the dance of working paint back and forth within the leaves, which I am sure will continue in the morning.

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"Riverbed Jewels" @

Hard to believe this view is just off a major road, with hundreds of cars whizzing by daily. I wanted to try out an idea for this painting to see if it would work on a larger canvas. I think with some minor adjustments it might be nice.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Dave, The Pirate" ©

Last Thursday evening during the Old Town Newhall Artwalk, Dave posed once again for us as a pirate. He's such a nice guy it was hard to image Dave doing any sort of pirateering. (Yes, probably made up a word.) I learned more about "street" painting, especially with the sun sinking earlier but mostly not to forget Cadmium Lemon.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

"Dry Creek" ©

Paintings, paintings and more paintings are all over the place. Some just need signing, others need just a bit more paint, several are drying after being varnished and a bunch are waiting for frames. All of this flurry while I am on the last stretch for my upcoming solo show. It looks like I'll have about 60 paintings to deliver on November 1st, so I am feeling really good. "Dry Creek" is one that I was tweaking today and may still work on just a bit more. I am still not sure if it will make the cut.....

"Who Me?" ©

If they could speak I think this lamb would have asked me if she was indeed who I was painting. You'll be pleased to know that wool is the reason for her being on the farm in Maine.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Foxes Field" ©

Foxes Field is down the canyon from me in the so close to town and yet town feels like a million miles away. Three deer crossed my path and coyotes howled down the canyon. The promise of rain was not kept.

Oil on Canvas 30" X 40"

"Sunlit Bank" ©

A friendly lifeguard at Hansen Dam drove a couple of us looking the just the right spot to paint to his favorite view of the lake. The brilliant bank sparkling in the morning sun grabbed my attention and held on tight.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Schoodic Point Morning" ©

Acadia National Park includes a bit of land across the water from Mount Desert Island. This is the quiet, less traveled part of the park, far away from Cadillac Mountain and Bar Harbor. I painted this scene on the park loop road looking towards Big Moose Island, while a Bald Eagle kept an eye on me. By the time I had finished high tide had hidden all of the rocky shore.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Darthia" ©

One of the many discoveries while painting in Maine was the Darthia Organic Farm. Folks buy into the farm before the growing season, $10. per month in advance for the right to collect all the bounty their family needs that the farm produces during the summer season. My eyes immediately zoomed in on the sheep glowing in the afternoon Maine sun. I named this sheep Darthia, after the farm.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

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"Fall Brush"

Painting furiously for the November show........

"Dave" ©

It's been a long time since I had the opportunity to paint from a live model. Last evening during the first ever Old Town Newhall Artwalk a great guy named "Dave" agreed to sit for a couple of us. We had a super time painting and chatting with guests out for the evening to view art, drink a bit of wine and cheese.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Fall" ©

Last evening I finished this painting in celebration of the opening of "Chasing Open Spaces IV" this evening. Joining me in this exhibit of plein air and studio paintings historically documenting the natural areas of the Santa Clarita Valley are Lorelle Miller, Ernie Dollman, Rod Edwards and Alan Garber.

Oil on Linen, 12" X 16"

"Private Drive" ©

Thru Facebook I was able to connect with a group of plein air painters centered in Acadia National Park. One day a couple of weeks ago I painted with the group at a private home on Mount Desert Island. After looking at dozens of little drives leading into the forest the chance to paint one with permission was a delight.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Manana Island" ©

Painting on Monhegan Island has been a long time dream and my visit was coming to an end. The ferry back to Port Clyde was leaving in 15 minutes and I had to be on it. This image is of my painting looking at Manana Island from the south end of the Monhegan village just before packing up and dashing to the ferry. Artists thrive on the quiet Island, enjoying a very slow pace. I was told that in the past mail arriving via boat was the most excitement known to the locals. I had an deep sensation of peace and separation from the world wandering the Island trails. Returning soon was on my mind as the boat cut across the sea accompanied by Porpoise back to the mainland.