"Sundown" ©

I'll be showing this weekend at the 49th Annual Sierra Madre Art Fair, May 7 - 8, 9:30am - 6pm Saturday, 9:30am - 5pm Sunday Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA. If your in the area come on by, there will be live music, fair food, tons of art and fantastic weather.

Oil on Panel, 8" x 10"

"Whitney Canyon Trail" ©

This scene in Whitney Canyon, is just before you come to the water falls. One of the newer protected spaces of the Santa Clarita Valley it's a great place to hike. I photographed this painting while painting a few times so you can see the progress.

At this stage the entire canvas has paint on it. As I paint each element I will adjust the value and color, to support the idea of the piece and be assured of variety.

Large masses of color notes begin to create a road map of how the painting will proceed.

Beginning to find the composition, I roughly marked the canvas as to where the big elements would be placed.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 24"

"Unconditional Love" ©

Technology has changed the art business of commissions. A cell phone photo, emailed to the artist and "taa daa" a commissioned portrait of a well loved pet.

I am still tweaking this little guy, while packing to leave in the morning for the Mission Federal Artwalk in San Diego. I have about 30 new paintings to show and am excited about the weekend. If your in the area stop by, I am in booth #125.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

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"Summer Day" ©

The wind was so strong today the plan to go out painting, blew away. In between varnishing and framing I spent a little easel time with an image from Acadia National Park of a summer day.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"A Bit Curious" ©

Next weekend I'll be exhibiting paintings at the Mission Federal Artwalk in San Diego. If your in the area please stop by and say HI (booth #125). This is the first time for me and I have heard that the art walk is blocks of great fine art, delicious food and fun entertainment.

I'll bring 25 paintings, including "A Bit Curious".

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

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"Emu" ©

Adding to the painted menagerie this week I explored a prehistoric looking bird, an Emu.

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 6"

"Loyality" ©

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, affectionate, patient and loyal.

Oil on panel, 10" X 8"

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"Orange Marmalade" ©

There are cat people and there are dog people, I love both!

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 11"

"Tempting Trail" ©

This weekend I had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Museum of Ventura County (www.venturamuseum.org). The museum is a gem along the Pacific Coast and if you have never visited I would highly recommend it. Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Colors That Echo" ©

There are a lot of sounds in the Arizona desert canyons, even the colors seem to sing.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Sand Dollar Beach, Sunset" ©

This little study of Sand Dollar Beach at sunset was one of the "ideas" that I came up with while in Big Sur recently. If I design the rocks and really explore the color I may have the makings of a decent larger painting.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

Art Show at Gale's

Today Belinda Del Pesco (www.belindadelpesco.com) and I delivered 40 paintings to Gale's Restaurant in Pasadena for a 2 month show. Belinda paints stunning watercolor paintings that I had appreciated on her blog but in person are breathtaking. If you are in Southern California, we would love for you to attend the reception tomorrow (Sunday) from 4pm - 6pm, wine, food and art!

Gale's Restaurant, 452 S. Fair Oaks, Pasadena, CA 626.432.6705

This photo shows one of the many walls we covered with paintings!

"Ocean Bluff Trail" ©

Imagine the path still damp from the recent rain, the ocean singing in the distance, walking under the canopy of eucalyptus trees along the bluff above the sea and you'll feel the spot where this painting was born.

Oil on canvas, 16" X 20"

"Sand Dollar Beach" ©

With Highway 1 closed at Carmel and Gorda, the Big Sur stretch was vacant last weekend, along with the camp grounds. This must have been what it was like in the 60's. Another week and all the wild flowers will pop open, I saw bits of red, purple, orange and yellow announcing what was yet to come.

Oil on Linen panel, 8" X 10"

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"Rushing River" ©

Early in the morning, snow melt rushed past, drowning out all distractions. Watching the water is as hypnotic as ocean waves or a campfire leaping. With this painting I wanted to capture that hypnotic draw of the water on canvas. Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

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"Oak Glen Canyon" ©

The path heads to an apple orchard, just ready to blossom. Homesteaded decades ago the inhabitants long gone but the orchard continues it's life cycle, a testament to the lives long gone.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7" (study for larger painting)

"Still Life" study ©

When you surrender to an instructor and paint exactly as directed with all of your heart the painting created is a complete stranger to you. I had the pleasure of working with C.W. Mundy recently at the Scottsdale Artists' School, thanks to the generosity of P. Riggs. C.W. freely passed out nuggets of painting truths for us to chew on all week. Here are a few: The difference between a “scene painting” and a powerful painting is the resolve of the piece – darkest dark and lightest light in the centrality of focus. A quality artist is an excellent director. A series of mediocre decisions creates a mediocre painting. If there is a problem in a painting, it's usually with the values. The two most important things I learned is to keep my values closer together, say 3 -7, rather then 1 - 10 and that "I" am the director and can paint in what ever way my passion leads me.

Oil on Panel, 16" X 20"

"Canyon Creek" ©

It's no wonder Sedona is known as home to stunning red rocks. Late in the day the stone reflects the sun and radiates the heat collected as the sun passed over head.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

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"Slide Rock Canyon" ©

Heading towards Flagstaff from Sedona the road follows a meandering canyon creek. I found this painting spot late in the afternoon, the red rock cliffs holding the warmth of the day as the temperature dropped quickly.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Rocks of Papago" ©

In Scottsdale Arizona, Papago Park is the closest location I found to paint that was fairly safe and interesting. I painted this rock formation several times, exploring different ways to describe the stone in paint. Too early for snakes, other then one Jack Rabbit, all I had were birds for company.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"End Of The Day" ©

The end of the day cool of the red rock butte with the distant mountain range lit up in the last of the sunlight was what attracted me to this view, while painting in Arizona.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Sycamore Canyon" ©

Some trees feel like old friends. I have painted this tree at least 5 times from different angles over the years and look forward to our next meeting.

I am hanging my "gone painting" shingle again. Heading to the Red Rock country of Arizona to sling paint!

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

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"Coastal Oaks" ©

This spot is just down the canyon from my home and it doesn't seem to matter what season we are in, it's a view that is worth painting.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Breaking Clouds" ©

This February the clouds that have graced the skies have been exceptional, everyday another show.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Hopper Creek" ©

Hopper Creek is one of my favorite painting spots. For months the creek has been dry but with all the rain, mixed with sun, the creek is in her glory.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 30"

On the easel: "Bathed In Light" ©

"Bathed In Light" is how I found this river view in France. It was early in the morning as the sun was just lighting up the day.

Oil on Canvas, 24" X 18"

"Afternoon Nap" ©

Is there anything more adorable then a couple napping in the afternoon, without a care in the world?

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Charolais" ©

Lovely white cows dot the French countryside. While painting French cows, I learned that the farmers truly love their cows and the cows seem to feel the same way.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Frontenay Sheep" ©

In the heart of Frontenay, France the main road splits right where this sheep spends her days grazing in the sunlight. One morning she posed near the roadside for me.

Also this painting is the 800th painting posted on my blog, 200 from my goal of 1,000. And it's working, I have learned a great deal on this journey.

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

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"French Village" ©

On the way to Montreuil-Bellay, this little cluster of French buildings was irresistible as a subject to paint.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"A Serene Moment II" ©

Today's painting is a larger version of yesterday's little study. I made some adjustments and will keep on tweaking till it all makes sense, are we ever really done?

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"A Serene Moment" ©

Today's small painting has become the basis for a larger work that is now up on the easel. The long diagonal of the distant mountain seems to work in the small format but I have changed the composition a bit to accommodate "getting large", varing the shapes. The idea of standing in the shade, looking onto the sunlit valley is the main focus, hopefully I won't lose that.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"River's Edge" ©

Small boats are tucked along the banks of the lazy rivers meandering across the French countryside.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

P.S. A family member has been in the hospital the past week, hence my painting output was on hold. I tried but the white coats and an emotional roller coaster seem to squelch all artistic inspiration. Looks like all will be well in a couple of months and I am back to the easel today with this painting. Thank you for your patience.

"French Countryside" ©

Occasionally early in the morning and late in the day the French countryside looks as if it's dusted in pink.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"Heading Home" ©

Sometimes you have to turn around to see the view you should be painting. In this case I was done painting for the day and heading home. Yep, I scrapped the other two.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 12"

"Santa Clara Riverbed" ©

The Santa Clara Riverbed is a vast expanse of damp sand waiting for rain with the colors of the California winter hanging in the brush.

Working on a large commission in the studio all week, I took a break for this small study.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"As The Sun Sinks" © Malibu Bluff Park, Malibu, California

It's a magic moment to paint, the sea turns silver, the landscape glows with hints of violet, while the sun sinks until tomorrow.

Oil on Linen, 11" X 14"

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"Dry Creek" ©

Trying to outrun the wind I set up my easel in the bottom of the dry creek. So Cal is warm and windy, green bits are popping up amongst the dry rusts and grays of winter. Two seasons colliding in color.

N 34° 22.856'

W 118° 30.165'

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Placerita Canyon, January" ©

The wind helped out with this one today. It was so strong it actually would move my arm, dearly trying to place the brush stroke. Thank goodness for the EasyL, what an easel!

N34 degrees 22.842'

W118 degrees 30.186'

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Saint Loup Reflections", © St Loup, France

Late in the afternoon, wandering the grounds of the Chateau of Saint Loup I could only imagine the lives that passed though over the centuries. A lot to consider while painting the reflections.

Oil, 14" X 18"