Beachcomber Inn Foggy View

I tend to paint in any weather when my life is not threatened. It was foggy but the light in the foreground was very clear.

Hotel Still Life

This is the lamp in the room from my most recent hotel stay. A few more adjustments and I will call her done.

Muir Beach 3 Revisited

I worked from the plein air sketch I posted a few days ago. Pam was a trooper that day because it was windy and cold. She sat with me while I got in three little paintings.

Pond Reflections 2

I worked from a plein air study to get this one. No photos just the sketch and my memory. I plan to go back to this little pond in the botanical gardens here in Austin as soon as we get out of this drought. We are getting rain every week and that helps a lot.

Anderson Valley Vineyard Study

This is a color study for a much larger painting. I think its near the winery that makes a nice champagne.

Botanical Garden Path 2

I used the plein air sketch completed on site for this one. I skipped the photo and just used the study. Working from sketches completed onsite is far better than working from a photo. Its easier to recall the scenery, light, sounds etc.

Muir Beach 3

A plein air study completed at Muir Beach on a cold, windy and foggy day. It was a beautiful thing.

California Swimming Hole 3

Still exploring this image.

Water Sports

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina.

Mist From The Water

This lake in the morning has this beautiful mist that floats up. When I sat painting this scene I actually focused on some water weeds. I took a few pictures to capture more scenery. This painting was from a phone photo.

California Swimming Hole 2

I worked on this one yesterday during my gallery sitting. I worked with oil on copper for this version. The light is always better in my studio/gallery.

Morning Commute Review 2

He has gotten up from the fire hydrant to hold his cup out. Another downtown San Francisco street corner. An observation: I paint corners a lot.

From The Pier 10

A revisit to this series. I'm adding more greens and still trying to stay loose with the paint application.

Ocean Tunnel

Another seascape for you enjoyment. This scene screams to be painted again.

Surf Puddles

My depiction of what the beach looks like after the waves go back out. When the beach is rocky water tends to settle into openings or the tops of rocks. This is a portion of the larger picture. I find it good to work on sections of a painting before committing to a larger version.

Shadows and Surf (study)

This a a preparatory color sketch for a larger pastel. Of course its Northern California and more than likely this is Glass Beach (one of Pamela's favorite places to go). She normally looks for shells and glass for her collection. I take pictures and sketch.

California Swimming Hole Study

On our way up to Leggett, California to drive through a tree (thanks to Pamela) we crossed over this body of water. People were in their canoes and swimming. We stopped to check out the bridge and well as the body of water. I liked the blue green of the water and the contrast of the white rock formations and the water reflections. I want to work larger on this image in pastel and watercolor.

Drive By Extension 3

Another painting inspired by my drive by sketches. The hillside values are what drove me to paint this one.

Drive By Extension 4

This is from one of my car sketches. The coastal highways in California are hilly and curvy. Two things that freak me out while driving as well as riding. It seems as if the road disappears.

Heavy But Unyielding

I painted this one on one of those many days were we expected rain but didn't get it. This was the last one done on my most recent trip to the botanical gardens here in Austin. I won a nice set of pastels and finally opened them. My sense is fresh.

Lunch Hour

Another interior painting of Little Joe's. Pictured in the background is the second cook and in the foreground is a patron. I just got in from our annual 12 buy 12 show. The gallery was packed with people and the featured art was very strong. In my opinion our best 12 buy 12. Its up until January 7, 2012 at Austin Art Space go check it out.

Stepping In

Another Blanton patron looking at one of my paintings. Its a good usage of a study for a larger piece.

Scrutiny

The Blanton Museum is a great place to sketch people scrutinizing and appreciating art. If you go they only allow for pencils that they provide. The painting within the painting is a San Francisco city scene not a part of the Blanton collection.

Orders Up

This is one of the cooks at Little Joe's Restaurant. He was preparing more pasta dishes after orders had been put up for delivery to hungry patrons.

Berkeley Marina Sail

I used my value sketches completed on site for this one. I worked again with Copic markers of three values. I did the sketch during the July 4the weekend.

Ellison Trial 4

Yesterday the defendant was sentenced to another life term in prison. Another 20 or so years added to his stay in prison. In this painting is Bryan Case the lead prosecutor. He was questioning the ballistics expert. Next to him is the court reporter documenting the proceedings.

Botanical Pond Reflections

I really need to spend more time painting water reflections. I was sitting on the edge of the pond in an uncomfortable position while painting this one. As a result this one isn't as rich as the scene was. Note to self get comfortable before I settle on a scene to paint.

Below is the value sketch from the car done with Copic markers. Above is the painting inspired by the sketch.

Drive By Extension 1

This one is from a drive by sketch I completed on the way back from Fort Bragg. I worked primarily with Copic Markers in three separate values.

Morning Commute Review

The man seated on the fire hydrant was watching people pass by on their various ways. I watched him for a while. At times he would get up and hold his cup out to ask for money. I liked the fact that he was wearing a tie and suit under his hoodie.

Botanical Garden Path

On Monday Pam and I went over to the Austin Botanical Gardens for me to paint and for her to explore the gardens and nap. This was my second painting made during the outing. The koi pond and waterfall were closed due to stage two water restrictions. It made me sad. The light was beautiful on this path that leads down to the dinosaur garden.

Anderson Valley Impression 1

During our recent birthday trip to and from Fort Bragg, California I divided a sketch book page into fourths and did sketches of the scenery as Pam drove. This weekend I took a few and painted from them. Here is the first effort. We were in the wine country when I caught the sketch which is posted below the painting.

Rythm Sweat

My philosophy is that if it isn't framed it can be reworked. I was getting ready to frame this one and saw the need to clarify the female musician. Its still unframed so stay tuned. I spotted this musician at the Pecan Street Festival.

Annie's 1

This is the sketch I did last weekend sitting across from Annie's on Congress Ave.. I used Inktense watercolor pens on Arches watercolor paper. The light was a lot cooler than conveyed in the sketch.

Ancestry Half

This is my first pastel of this set of rocks and surf. I'm working with Uart paper and Rembrandt pastels.

Ellison Trial 3

The defendant from the side. He was probably enjoying the fact that he is spending time outside the prison walls.

Ellison Trial 2

The major challenge in this case was that it happened in the eighties. Many of the witnesses had passed away or moved on. It was a trial for wizards of the rules of evidence. The lawyer in the forefront actually has hair that red. The witness was from the crime lab. CSI is so not true to life. In real cases the crime scene guys do not interview witnesses or defendants. They gather the evidence (without house music) analyze and testify if needed. In the best of situations they are not invested in the case or the law enforcement officer tied to the case.

Onion 3

I used Terry Ludwig and Rembrandt pastels on black Canson cover paper. This onion needed painting. I'm trying hard to use more bold and aggressive color. So be warned.

Ellison Trial 1

This is the lead prosecutor Bryan Case in the Ricky Ellison murder trial that occurred last week. The jury found him guilty on Friday. The crime was committed in 1981. I was two years out of high school then. He apparently went on a crime spree that left two civilians dead and a police officer paralyzed. The police officer later died. The defendant has been in prison but he has been up for parole. To prevent him from getting out we tried him on this cold case that was still pending.

Onion 1

I finally got to painting this vegetable. Its been screaming to be painted/explored. I worked with Shizen professional grade watercolor paper and Pelikan watercolor paints. Working method wet on wet to try and keep it fresh...excuse the unintended pun.

Trial Day One 5

The defendant and one of his guards. This trial did make the Sunday papers. He was sentenced to 40 years for murder.

A Patch of Blue

Yet another group of storms that passed us by. The clouds were great though.

Fierce Break 2

This is the second version of the wave I saw in Half Moon Bay. I'm still working with the panoramic format and in watercolor.

Ancestry 2

Yep I'm still playing with this image. My latest challenge to myself with regard to watercolor is to use the brush to draw the image. I think the graphite lines are good for tight paintings. I'm trying to loosen up.

Fierce Break 1

We were on the beach in Half Moon Bay, California. This area I think had a huge rock formation just below the surface. The waves were explosive and you could actually hear the break of the wave. I have yet to get the entire length that I captured in the photo into a painting. This scene would translate well into a pastel or oil on copper...I will keep you posted.

New 147th Judge

I don't have many cases in the 147th Judicial District Court these days. As such, I really haven't had a chance to get some drawings of Judge Cliff Brown. Last Friday I spent most of my morning in his court working a case out. In between negotiations I penned this one. I used Inktense pencils on the new Canson watercolor boards.