From The Sketchbook

These are some sketch studies from my sketchbook. Some of these you have seen the paintings I have posted here the and the others were obviously done while waiting in court. I have some new Micron pens that I used for these.

Steady As

This is an old one. In 1998 I was into painting the area I lived in. This was the backyard of a place I spent a lot of time in. I always liked the way the light fell across the grass. This was plein air before I knew what that whole concept was about.

Sleepy Barber

This image was just screaming to be painted. This was the first color study after two ink sketches. I think the final painting will be pastel. The barber obviously was having a slow day.

Checking Messages

This is a common site at the courthouse. Since the benches were put in people hang out in the hallways glued to their phones. This person drew my attention because the light was wrapped around their head.

Hostile Witness

I recently had the displeasure of waiting four hours for a lawyer that didn't bother to call or show up. Of course I had my trusty sketchbook with me to pass the time. The person between the two lawyers made the mistake of thinking a subpoena to appear was a mere suggestion. Of course he was "attached" and had to spend the night in jail waiting to testify. I bet he wont ignore another subpoena.

A Moment Tender

Another picture of one of my nephew's sons. This one is Jason the oldest. I caught this shot as my sister was tying his shoes. A sweet little one but of course I'm biased. I worked on Canson paper the smooth side. Unison and Rembrandt pastels were on the palette.

Honey Ham VI

This is another entry in the Texas Honey Ham series. This is Cassandra and two of the many cooks they have on staff. Cassandra was taking orders and checking the status of orders already placed. I worked on Canson black paper on the smooth side with a variety of different brands of pastels.

Wave 29

This is the second attempt at this wave. Its on Canson paper using the smooth side of the paper. I use a variety of pastels. The challenge for the final painting will be getting the almost splashing wave right. In the photo the wave is surrounded by lots of pinkish foam. Maybe working on a larger piece of paper and including the foam will make the image work better.

Courthouse Sweatshop

When you get off of the elevator this is a scene you will encounter. Lawyers and clients milling about discussing plea offers and options. Of course the light is always strong. This is a scene from the 6th floor.

Barn with Silo

I admit I love painting and photographing barns. They bring to mind a Winslow or Hopper painting waiting to happen. This was painted back in 1998. I was using a red under painting and worked in oils more often.

Honey Ham V

This is the fifth installment on the Honey Ham series. I decided to work in watercolor for this version. Great breakfast tacos but you must order ahead.

Wave 28 first

I'm doing a series of one sitting studies of this one wave. This is the first painting. I used the "bumpy" side of some Canson paper. I think this was a Northern California wave because of the dark greens and almost purple shapes.

Hallway Strategizing

The bottom image represents where I currently am on this one. One of the nice things about our criminal justice center is the windows that let in the great light on almost all of the floors. Our elevators (one of the bad things) are incredibly slow. I can get in a sketch or two just waiting on the elevator to come. These two lawyers were conferring on a case probably double teaming the prosecutor.

Bus Stop Revisited

This was a completed watercolor painting that I wasn't satisfied with. I thought pastels would give it a certain umph. This is still a work in progress. Its kind of scary to take out a "finished painting" and rework it.

Icon

I'm finally done with this one. Its available if you are interested. You know the story behind this piece from my previous posts.

Sketchbook Pages

Waiting on Court

A while ago they installed benches on most of the floors that hold our felony criminal district courts. I saw this silhouette one day engrossed in their phone. The sunlight obscured the details of the face making it one dark value with a sliver of light. Not done playing with it yet but I like to show the start.

Taniya Ann

These are the beginning marks on this one. The study is posted below. Her middle name is in honor of our mother who was named Martha Ann. Before she passed my mom got to meet this one. I'm working on Wallis Belgian Mist paper with a variety of pastel brands. I will keep you posted.

Sweetness Acomplished

In my first post of this piece I thought that the eyes were a little to sinister for who I know this child to be. I went back in and tried to soften him up a little more. He really has a sweetness to him that I hope I conveyed in this painting.

Another Intersection

This is another in my drawing/limited pallet series associated with intersections. This one of course depicts a rainy day with cars and trees. I'm just about finished with it. I worked with charcoal and some graphite. The finishing touches will be in light greys and powder blue.

Sketchbook Page 45

This sketch is connected to the post below in that it was from the same string of images that I took of people from my 11th for office. This is the opposite corner from the post below. I like the shadows in that they take on a life of their own.

Cross

I know I should leave this one alone but I want to add some cracks in the road. The lines are why I wanted to paint this image so the cracks in the road are highly relevant. This is watercolor on hot pressed Aches watercolor paper. I shot this one from my friends old office.