"Until Tomorrow" ©

The painting in France adventure continues: As the sun left us each evening, sinking below the treeline we would watch in awe, tired from painting all day, happy a dinner, wine and conversation would follow. We knew it was only "Until Tomorrow" till we would feel the sun again.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Brilliant Blue Promise", St. Loup-s Thouret, France

While setting up to paint on the river bank the skies opened up for the first time since landing in France. The skies parted revealing a brilliant blue promise for the days to come.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Fields Of Frontenay" ©

I arrived home from France happy and tired. Painting and living with a group of women artists from across the U.S. was an experience of a lifetime. This painting was the first piece of the trip and a typical view for the region. While painting the church bells rang out the time, at one point I thought a cow was singing with the bells. Later I found out that the cow just knew that it was the "dinner" bell and she was really hungry.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Lake Tahoe Stream" ©

Driving around Lake Tahoe last weekend we saw several small streams allowing snow melt to feed into the turquoise waters of the lake. Hiking in a bit off the road this view of the Aspen trunks reaching up amongst the pines to bask in the sunlight on the bank of the tiny stream caught my brush.

Oil on Panel, 6" X 8'

I am hanging my "gone painting" shingle out once again. Heading to France, near Poitiers to paint for a couple of weeks. I will have my laptop and hope to post to the blog. I'll do my best.

sold

"Cottonwoods" ©

Today unpacking from the Tahoe trip and starting to pack for France I thought I would take a quick break and get the brush wet. Thinking of the Teton Valley's lovely Cottonwoods, this little study took shape. Oil on panel, 8" X 6" sold

"Malibu Lagoon Evening" ©

The Malibu Lagoon is golden this time of year, summer is ending and fall is looming around the corner. The mountains glowing in the distance caught my attention when finding this scene. I am traveling over the next 4 days and hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

Oil on Canvas, 14" X 18"

"Cold Creek" ©

The morning sun is just grazing the cold creek at the start of a new day.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 20"

"Ram" ©

Framing paintings ate up most of my day but I did manage to paint this little Ram in between drilling, boxing and wiring.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

"Marilyn Posing" ©

I had the chance to paint Marilyn again, on a smaller panel. What a face she has and you can't turn your back on her. I have no clue what she will do, bite, trample, lick? The folks at the Gentle Barn just told me not to and with an animal that big you don't question the authorities.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 12"

Sold

"Goat" ©

A gallery called looking for some of my animal paintings, so I have the opportunity to paint more fur and feathers. This goat lives out at the Gentle Barn in Canyon Country and was willing to pose.

Oil on Panel, 12" X 9"

"Waiting For Rain" ©

Tonight I shot this painting on my studio easel because the Canvas is 12" X 12" and photographing tighter (just the painting) I lose part of the painting. I know you photo folks are giggling at me.

All of the natural Southern California landscape is starting to droop. The greens have turned gold, the rusty brush is gray and the sandy riverbed sinks under foot. I think we are all "waiting for rain".

Oil on Panel, 12" X 12"

sold

"Inland Trail, Catalina Island" ©

This painting may be the final version of "Chasing The Sun" (posted June 8th and August 8th). I am still working on small transitions and enjoying the details. In the morning with new eyes I'll have a better idea.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Vasquez Rocks, Summer Evening" ©

Making every area of the painting interesting was one of the things that Scott Christensen repeated often in his teachings. It's a delicate dance to keep the little areas of the painting interesting but not so interesting as to distract from the main idea (focus) of the painting and at the same time keep the edges of the painting a bit duller and so on. I keep those thoughts preforming a jig in my head while painting the "Vasquez Rocks" on a summer evening.

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Hot Rocks" ©

Painting in the Vasquez Rocks park is always a challenge, especially because the rock formations are quite bizarre. All at once they are stunning and strange. My painting buddy and I went out at about 4:45pm. The wind was calm and cool, not one snake, an absolutely lovely evening amongst the "Hot Rocks".

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Approaching Storm, Teton Canyon" ©

Eventually the skies opened and rain poured out. Until then thunder pounded sounding like angels roller skating around the big wooden rink in the sky.

This painting had to be quick with the impending weather. I premixed all the colors that I was witnessing and then just moved paint from the palette to the canvas as fast as I could. The mood appeals to me and I am glad there was just enough time to capture the feel of the moment.

Oil on Panel, 10" X 8"

"Midday Cottonwoods" ©

This is another Teton Valley, Idaho plein air painting where the challenge was to take the view that I was looking at, which was early in the morning, and key the painting as if it was midday, in other words "high key". Geez talk about a brain twister and yet a great lesson. It opened my eyes to a whole new set of possibilities, we already know we can move mountains, trees, add clouds and so on, but to consider that we can actually change the time of day too, well that is something to really think about.

Oil on panel 6" X 8"

"On The Way To Swan Valley" ©

Swan Valley Idaho is full of lovely vistas, a river running down from the Teton Valley and small farms dotting the landscape. This view is on the way from the Teton Valley heading to Swan Valley, the way I traveled on my way home to California last week.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

"Study for Chasing The Sun" ©

At the Christensen workshop, Scott talked a lot about finding the "good idea". I painted "Chasing The Sun" early in June and since have reworked the sky and foreground a couple of times. The painting has a glimmer of a good idea, too much to abandon the piece. In search of the "good idea" I painted a small study of the large painting, changing the composition a bit and the palette totally. Two things I am seeing as I post this is the path in the foreground needs to be brought closer to the viewer and the shift between the distant mountain and the closer mountain is too great. I'll look at it with new eyes in the morning, searching for the "good idea".

Oil on panel, 6" X 8"

"Morning Light" ©

Small streams lace their way throughout the Teton Valley. In the cool of the morning I stopped at this one, entranced by the calm water and morning sunlight just starting to light up the land.

Oil on Linen, 14" X 18"

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"Tree Study" ©

At the recent workshop one of the "assignments" was to paint a tree, paying attention to the values, shapes and the way the top of the tree meets the sky. I picked this interesting stubby tree and enjoyed getting to know her.

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10

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"Summer Afternoon" ©

This little painting is still on the easel in a field in the heart of the Teton Valley, where I spent the last couple of weeks painting. I was participating in a workshop presented by Scott Christensen. I'll post more about it, but to start I would like to say that it's rare to find a brilliant artist that is also a brilliant teacher and Scott is both.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

sold

"Summer Breeze"

Painting on the Teton Valley floor, midday, the summer breeze gently pushed the clouds overhead. And added the 2 bugs in the sky of the painting. I'll get the little guys off the painting when it dries.

Oil on panel, 8" X 10"

"Lembert Dome" ©

It's time again to hang my "gone painting" sign on the door.

The last few days I have been packing for my predawn drive tomorrow for the Tetons. I'll be painting in the Teton Valley where Idaho and Wyoming shake hands, for a couple of weeks. My plan is to blog from the motel if I can get a connection. Cottonwoods, streams and mountains under clouds lazily drifting over the land should show up soon on this blog.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24"

"Descano Palms" ©

Descanso Beach is to the West of Avalon and experiencing a face lift now. The sand is so white it appears to have been brought in providing a pristine beach alla the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the big island of Hawaii. These palms were catching the last light of the day. (Dear painters, place your finger over the yellow sky in the right corner and see how much stronger the focal point becomes. Tomorrow I'll push the sky to a darker value. Thank goodness for blogging.)

Oil on Canvas, 16" X 12"

"Lover's Cove" ©

Lover's Cove is just a 2 minute walk from Avalon on Catalina Island. Trying to research the origin of the name I came up with nothing but there has to be an interesting story, the name opens the door to all sorts of scenarios, love lost, love found, romance on a sailboat?

Oil on Canvas, 8" X 10"

"Rabbits and Hawks" ©

Another practice painting using only the three primaries, with the addition of some warm grays. In a couple of weeks I am heading up to a workshop in the Teton Valley and my anticipation is growing daily. Today painting this little piece the rabbits on the ground and hawks in the air were constant companions.

Oil on panel, 9" X 12"

"Above Avalon" ©

I am still working on these lovely lanky eucalyptus trees but I think you can see where I am headed today with this painting. It's another Catalina Island view high above Avalon on the road to the airport. One morning around 7am, as I headed out there was a buffalo beside the road and he was still there when I trekked home at 7pm. I wondered if they have a few staged around for the tourists. Nah, he moved his head a bit and wiggled his tail.

Oil on Linen, 16" X 12"

"Along the Santa Ynez River" ©

This is the second location I painted last weekend near Rancho Oso. I was trying to convey the warmth of the sun radiating off the river rocks and the character of the Sycamore tree.

Oil on panel, 12" X 12"

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"Rancho Oso Pathway" ©

Home from Rancho Oso, safely. Our horse didn't lose any shoes in the river which is great, no horrific falls into the rocks and no snakes this year. One morning I went out to feed and a huge wild turkey was in Jessie's (the horse) pipe corral hanging out with her. They seem to have made friends, go figure.

This little painting had to be done very quickly the light was fleeting at this time of day so I chose to paint with the three primaries only. Boy does that speed things along and add to the color harmony naturally. Great way to paint if your in a hurry.

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"San Onofre Bluffs" ©

Late in the day, painting what I saw, this is one of my paintings that I didn't enter or show anyone from the week in San Clemente. The haze was coming in off the ocean, it was very quiet except for the sea far below me. Little lizards darted constantly between my easel and the tiny brush as I painted. It's amazing how many different body styles lizards come in, from sleek and lanky to chubby and short, just like cars.

I am off to Santa Ynez for the holiday weekend, horse and paints in tow. Happy Holiday to you too!

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"Downtime at Dog Patch" ©

Dog Patch is a spot on Surf Beach (San Onofre) where I found this lovely Palm along the sand. This is one of the paintings I entered in the competition at San Clemente, it's hanging on the gallery wall till August 14, or until someone decides to take it home. It was a great week of painting thanks to the San Clemente Art Association, Pam Hill, Steve Kell, Ann Marie and all the volunteers that manned the events from the quick draw to the Gala. Until next year.....

Oil on Panel, 9" X 12"

"San Mateo Creek Sentinel" ©

Another painting from the week of exploring San Clemente, looking toward the ocean at Lowers, the 5 freeway in the distance and the dry creek bed below. While painting I listened to our military practicing bombing, at first unnerving, then the power and force blasting though the air was exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"San Onofre Bluffs" ©

I am painting in San Clemente for the annual plein air competition. This painting was started early in the morning, just as the light caught the rim of the bluffs. Folks stopped by on their trek down to the sea and made nice comments. One woman wanted to purchase the piece for her daughter to take to college as a remembrance of their favorite spot. I take that as quite a compliment. It's been a solid week of painting hard everyday. Saturday we turn in our best 2 paintings from the week. Tough decision......

Oil on Panel, 11" X 14"

"Pita" ©

This week I have been signing, varnishing, tweaking and finally painting Pita. All of this flurry getting ready for a week of painting in the San Clemente Plein Air Competition and art show the following weekend.

I bought a new laptop and will post from the little seaside town as much as possible. Wish me luck!

Oil on Panel, 8" X 10"

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"Olivia" © revisted

A couple people asked that I post "Olivia" after making the changes that I thought were needed after first posting her. Finally at 11:45 tonight I think I have captured her. A couple of days ago I had the chance to pet her at the ranch and once again she tugged at my heart.

Now you can have her Jamie......

Oil on canvas, 11" X 14"

private collection

"Chasing The Sun" ©

I am getting close to wrapping up this larger studio painting of the previous post and posted it after feeling that tug of not posting for a few days. Over the weekend I attended "The Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting" exhibit on Catalina Island, which was an inspiring event from the flurry of sales to mastery of the paintings. Last night Gale, owner of Gale's Restaurant in Pasadena hosted "A Taste Of Art" benefiting cancer patients and their families, a huge success, great food (crab cakes and pizza like I had never tasted before) and a very friendly crowd. Donating a painting to the event is an annual event for me along with several other artists (Belinda DelPesco, Nancy Eckels, Karen Winters, Trish Kertes, Karen Hansen, Leslie Saeta, Raymond Logan, Kendra Page and more). It felt good to back at the easel working on "Chasing The Sun" after all the events of the last few days.

Oil on Linen, 20" X 24" sold

"Chasing The Sun" ©

The cool grasses in the foreground were the first signs that evening wasn't far behind. I was chasing the sun on Catalina Island.

I think this study will work well for a large painting, next up on the easel......

Oil on Panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist

"Owl" ©

On a break from painting at the Devil's Punch Bowl I was exploring the ranger station and came across a couple of owls in a habitat. The sign read "Red Tail Hawk", so I have no idea what type of owls they were. While watching, this little guy was quite animated, scratching, fluffy up and preening.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist

"Pacific Sunrise" ©

The soft pastel colors of the suns first light is what attracted me to this scene. Here are two photos so you can really see the small painting, one on the easel and one close up.

Oil on panel, 5" X 7"

Purchase ($100. U.S. shipped, unframed): from the artist Sold

"Malibu Trail" ©

My family never comments on a painting but this one evoked the words, "I want to be there". I put my brush down and knew the painting said what I wanted it to say, that Malibu State Park is a place to be and renew.

Oil on canvas, 12" X 16"