"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"

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"One Lane Home" ©

Painting along side this one lane dirt road, some folks drove slowly past giving us the one finger raised off the steering wheel greeting with a nod of their heads and some drove past at 50 miles an hour leaving us in a huge dust cloud.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"

"Mirrors to the Sky" ©

The California Art Club is having an exhibition this fall with an Asian theme and so I researched ideas coming up with rice paddies mirroring the sky above for my submission painting. A painting adventure to the Pacific Asian region is now on my wish list....

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"August Afternoon" ©

The Cottonwood trees up in Wyoming are tall creatures full of personality. Around my home they are short and wide, it's all about the water source. Makes sense as nature always does once you understand her.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Summer Storm Passing" ©

Over 2600 miles driven, 2225 unread emails, 1600 photos, 17 paintings and 2 weeks later I am back in Southern California. One of the many truths about painting I learned was "too much variety causes chaos, not enough variety causes boredom and it takes 1000's of inspired decisions to find the right balance".

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

Teton Valley Paintings

After painting for 10 days with Scott Christensen, he asked that we bring a group of paintings into his studio so he could see a "body" of work to critique. While hunting though my wet panel carriers for paintings I found pieces I had done a few days ago and completely forgotten already. Miles of dirt roads, rivers and clouds made time speed up, living months in days.





























My animal of the day was a moose, moving really fast across a field of hay. She is the little dark dot in the hay.

"Kids Fishing Pond"

The weather turns quickly in the Teton Valley. Starting out a painting in full sun, a few minutes later the sky turns dark, the wind kicks up and light rain gives warning to the coming rain. Tonight a complete rainbow arched over the fields, just before a golden glow blanketed the world.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Pine Tree Overlook"

10" X 10" panels are perfect for the landscapes of Idaho. Room to play up the mountains or sky, which ever is more exciting at the moment.

This morning heading out to paint, I had my creature adventure of the day with 3 horses wandering down the road. You can see them in the photo below. I knew that it was not a good situation, pulled over and took them home.


10" X 10", oil on panel

"Pine Creek Road"

5 painting marathon today, ending at Spoons Bistro for a well deserved Cobb salad and bottle of wine with co-marathon painter Janet. I have moved up from multi-legged creatures to a 4 legged orange tabby without a tail that takes care of the local brewery's rodents. She adopted my travel studio, aka the trunk of the Honda to hang out while I painted.





Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Rainey Access"

"Fishing was great, catching not so good", was the answer yelled out from a passing boat by a fly fisherman. I had to laugh and enjoy the idea that we were both loving the day, no matter what. At the end I had 3 paintings, mosquito bites and my easel tried to fly (it survived).

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Summer Wind"

The wind picked up tussling the tops of these trees. The movement became my focus for this little painting. Again today I had a painting buddy with many legs. His photo is below, as he was lounging on a Source Tek panel. When I was packing up my gear I had to shoo out another 3 spiders. You wouldn't believe all the bugs in the wet paint.

Scott Christensen's studio, full of art and books, truly a dream studio.

"Within the Apens"

First day of painting after driving 1,000 miles. In the shade of Aspens and under the protection of serious deet, the variations of green seemed endless. I did have a visitor on the edge of my palette for a long time and was so happy when the temptation to hop into the oil paint (certain death) passed. He posed for the photo below.

Oil on Linen, 9" X 12"

"Turp Can" ©

A few weeks ago I "won" some classes with David Gallup. David currently has an exhibit of his paintings exploring the Channel Islands at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum on the Pepperdine Campus in Malibu. Artists today are so very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from current master painters. This week the class painted this turp can, last week a shark's head. Yep, a real shark.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

"Bailey Canyon" ©

Matilija Poppies blooming in Bailey Canyon greet you at the beginning of the trail heading up to the waterfall. In the early days of the canyon, local trappers snared fox and coyote and shipped the pelts to furriers in Chicago. In 1875, R.J Bailey homesteaded the canyon. He left little but his name. (Source: John McKinney, Dan's Hiking site)

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 18"

"Though the Trees" ©

Today a discussion came up with a group of artists about critiquing our own paintings and taking the time to make the very best decisions. The paintings I blog are very rarely never touched again and I thought it might be interesting for people to see what happens in the studio after reflecting. Here is "Though the Trees" finished. Below is the original posting. This is like a game, what did she change? I'll tell you, I took out the tree that I so loved in the middle of the painting. Usually the one thing you love is the item that is of most concern. I gradated the sky, added light in the foliage of the trees, warmed up the trunk of the main tree, brought the path down out of the canvas, lit and warmed up the brush in the foreground, carried the brush to the edge of the hill and lit the tips, pushed the distant trees in the hills further back and warmed up the distant hills a bit. OH, and pushed a bit of the darks back in here and there.

Now I have a painting that I would hang on my wall.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Mountain Stream" ©

A Facebook friend told me yesterday that "the beauty in nature happens when God sighs". Such a lovely thought, it's been on my mind all day. I like to think artists see more beauty in the world then most of humanity. We are allowed to sit and observe nature for hours while attempting to capture the beauty or sigh on canvas. Not a bad gig.

Oil on Canvas, 20" X 16"

"Mt. Pinos Meadow" ©

Today a small band of plein air painters were given the gift of a new location to explore and capture on canvas. An email started it all, announcing a meadow of wild Irises in bloom, thank you Susan! Amazingly, only an hour from the Santa Clarita Valley at 8300 ft. the air was cool, birds were singing and everywhere you looked was a painting. A perfect painting day!

Oil on linen, 8" X 10"

















Ernie Dollman, painting in the forest, above the meadow.



If you look closely you can see Marian Fortunati on the path, while she was deciding where to paint.

One of thousands of wild irises, blooming in the meadow...

"Eaton Canyon" ©

Late in the day, Eaton Canyon is still hot in the shadows, small critters skitter around and the hawks make their last passes. It's a peaceful time to wander the canyon, saying goodbye to the day.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

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"San Gabriels"

This holiday weekend I painted our San Gabriels from the Art Center School of Design parking lot. The cropping job comes from working on a borrowed lap top without my software, sorry about that. Hope your 4th is full of sparklers!

Oil on canvas, 18" X 24"

"Cape Sunset" ©

Imagine sitting on a woven blanket, next to the fire dug into the sand, eating a fresh lobster, French cheese, sipping a glass of wine and watching the sunset over the Cape. This painting was the view, after several dark days.

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

"Jennys Pond" ©

Finally I am home and unpacked from traveling to Cape Cod for the opening of Inspired Synergies at the Addison Gallery. This little painting was my demo piece on Sunday. I had a great time demonstrating an approach to this subject, the guests were delightful, asking questions that allowed me to talk while painting. Addison Gallery is the top gallery on the Cape, I had no idea till I got there.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

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"Asleep on a Paris Street" ©

Before dawn walking down to the Seine River though the streets of Paris I saw this sleeping soul, rain softly falling turning the sleeping bag into a glistening cocoon and a bouquet of yellow flowers waiting for the sleeper to awaken.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 16"

"Morning Fog" ©

A photographer sent me this image as a gift of inspiration to paint. At first I was lost, missing my own reaction to the scene, the cool morning air, the sky changing by the second, since she had taken the photo. Then I just decided to imagine myself being there and came up with this little painting. The lesson learned was that I really need to experience a location first hand to paint as well as I am capable.

Oil on canvas, 14" X 18"

"Malibu Creek" ©

Standing on the bridge over looking the creek late in the day, it's so peaceful and quiet you can almost hear your heartbeat.

Oil on canvas, 20" X 24"

"Bosco" ©

Bosco is retired now from a career of endurance rides. At 36 he still has a spark, showing how much spirit his life has held. Bosco's owner asked if I would paint his portrait to add to their family treasures and I was honored to accept the commission.

Oil on Canvas, 18" X 14"

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"Frontenay Gate" ©

Usually on the blog I just show paintings, and talk about the process and location. This posting is a bit of an the exception. Last weekend was the last fine art festival I'll be doing for a couple of months and the next event is a National show, called Inspired Synergies, at the Addison Gallery in Cape Cod.
Last September I joined twelve other artists in continuing a heritage of American artists who traveled to Europe for inspiration. Here are some of the events tied into the opening weekend: Friday, June 24 5:30-7:30 Preview Party, Savor French wines and cheeses while surrounded by art that follows an honored tradition.
Saturday, June 25 4:00-5:00 Sharing Memories
Share reflections on creativity and France with participants and guests discussing the impact of travel and working communally. Lively anecdotes, local characters and colorful markets provide
stories behind the work.
Saturday, June 25 Opening Reception 5:30-7:30
Meet these established and emerging artists from both coasts of the U.S.
Sunday, June 26 11:00-1:00 Painting Demonstration with Laura Wambsgans

If you would like to preview the show go to Addisonart.com and click on Inspired Synergies.

Oil on Panel, painted on location in Frontenay, France

"A Touch of Spring" ©

The sound of Jake breaks and hawks playing interrupted the cacophony of song birds while I painted "A Touch of Spring" today.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Through the Trees" ©

Central California is blanketed with golden rolling hills, edged with stands of Eucalyptus trees. In this painting the path crests the hill in the shade of the trees, allowing a view though the trees.


Oil on Canvas, 16" X 20"

Here are a few photographs of the process:

At this point the painting is finally taking shape. I have paint all over the canvas in the general color and value.

Beginning the painting, all the time looking for patterns, deciding on how to direct the viewer into the painting to the distant hills. Placing color in a value on each area of the painting allows me to see what I need to push and pull to tell the story.



















Usually I paint on a white canvas but found this one tucked away with a warm wash and thought it would make a good start for "Through the Trees". At this stage I am figuring out the composition and just beginning to punch in the darks.

"May Clouds" ©

High winds allowed masses of cotton clouds to drift overhead. Distractedly painting this weekend in between all the "life stuff", I painted this piece 4 times, scraping down each time to raw canvas. The lesson learned: never paint without full concentration.

Oil on Canvas, 11" X 14"

"Trail Through the Trees" ©

Recently I went to the small town of Ojai to photograph an extraordinary horse for a commissioned painting and came across this tiny trail though the Eucalyptus trees. The way the light filtered down onto the golden grass grabbed my attention.

Oil on Canvas, 12" X 12"

"Creek Demo" Valencia Fine Art Festival

Last weekend at Valencia Fine Art Festival the organizers encouraged artists to demonstrate their media for the public. While visiting with folks I painted a small version of "Heritage Valley Creek" as a demo. It was a perfect weekend of showing, visiting with artists, good weather and best of all, great company.

Oil on Linen, 8" X 10"

"Sunlit Solitude" ©

Packing up the art mobile (Ford Expedition / gas eater) for 3 days of showing this weekend at the first ever "Valencia Fine Art Festival" at the Valencia Town Center Patios in, you guessed it, Valencia CA. If your in Southern California and looking for entertainment come on by, besides tons of art / artists the patios are full boutiques and interesting restaurants.

"Sunlit Solitude" was purchased by a new collector out of the show hanging at Gale's in Pasadena till June 10th. Having a painting find it's permanent home is the perfect end to the process.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 12"

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"Heritage Valley Creek" ©

When nature provides a scene like this you really can't miss, just hand her the brush and stand back.

Oil on canvas, 16" X 20"

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"Desert Sentries" ©

Years ago a seasoned painter was explaining with excitement about painting trees, the different personalities, varied greens and the body language of the limbs. I just didn't understand at that time and now years later, I get it. Experience was needed to appreciate nature. These desert palms sway in the wind, house birds within the fronds and critters find safe haven in their skirts.

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Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

"Evening At Vasquez" ©

Vasquez Rocks, glowing in the final sunlight of the day was a welcome challenge to paint, after wrapping up another weekend showing at an art festival.

Oil on Linen, 14" X 18"