Hidden in the Trees

This little painting was inspired by a value sketch completed on site. Pam saw a vineyard and hillside hay bales and pulled off the highway to let me get in some sketches and photos. Unfortunately my camera battery was not properly charged so I used my phone and copic markers to document the scene. This was across the street from the hay bales. $25.00 plus shipping.

Window of Opportunity

I liked the light on the curtains.

A Long Way Down

I did the value sketch standing on a cliff overlooking the surf. Once I got to the painting stage it was windy and cold. I had on shorts so I painted from the backseat of the car using my trusty Gorilla Paint Box.

Hillside Hay Bales

On the first painting excursion my camera battery was dead. A lot of the scenery was captured via value study and camera phone. Pam saw this scene as we were driving to Bodega Bay and pulled off the highway. The value sketch is below.

Afternoon China Camp

During my afternoon painting session on my first day at China Camp State Park, I met an artist associated with the North Bay Landscape Painters. During our brief chat she told me about where she would be painting. When I had finished I found her and she too had included the sailboat in her painting. I could spend days painting there but that can be said about just about all of California...Texas too.

China Camp Tenant

This vessel appeared to be abandoned. While I was painting it two men showed up and started looking at it. One man appeared to know the owner. It had many holes in it and to me that screamed paint me. I also liked the light on the hillside and the water. I sat in the shade for this one as I forgot my hat and didn't wear sunblock like I had intended. Yes, sunblock is a good thing to wear for African Americans too.

Without An Easel

This one was completed without an easel. It was at the end of our excursion to Bodega Bay in Northern California. If memory serves me correctly it was the only pastel that day. Pam saw this scene and pulled over. She looked down and saw this little scene and suggested that it would make a nice painting. I pulled out the pastels and my paper and went to work. I held the board in my hands and put the pastels on the ground. I didn't take the time to do a value sketch as I was tired and ready to head home. I did work on it a little after we got back home.

China Camp Timed

I love a time limit. When Pam gets tired hanging out when I'm painting,she will come up and say you have 40 minutes to finish. I produce some of the best paintings when she challenges me. This took about 25 minutes from value sketch to completion on site.

Emulsion Clarity

I have been away for a while painting and without access to my blog. I had a good time painting in California these past few days. It was warmer than usual but more manageable than Texas. I worked in all mediums this time. Bodega Bay and China Camp State Park were the focus of my attention this visit. China Camp State Park was due to close due to budget issues. People came together and kept it open. It's a nice place close in proximity to Pam's home. I am sure we will explore it more in the years to come. This one has been brewing for a few years. It started out as a failed emulsion transfer. The image is from the grave yard in the Norris Community in Commerce, Texas. I finished it last week. Many years in the making.

Lone Bale

I liked everything about this composition. Of course the hay bale but the sky and trees overhead were all in the mix.

Springs Bounty

Yes I am still playing with the hay bales. I just love the shapes. I'm working with a view catcher and 8 by 10 color photos to design my composition along with a value sketch. I usually work with copic markers for my studies. I decided on pencil just to change it up a little.

Turner Trail Painting Four

Whenever I can I watch a little bit of a trial to steal ideas from other lawyers and to sketch. I've posted about this trial before. It involved a young woman accused of beating a child to death. The person in the foreground is a local defense lawyer and in the background is the judge that presides over the trial.

Watercolor Go Away I'm Busy

The watercolor version of Go Away I'm Busy.

The Tree

Over the years I have created images using alternative process photography and processing. This was a polaroid transfer on watercolor paper. This year I made the marks I needed to in pastel and here we are. Its brightly dark.

Highway Hay Bale 2

Study number two. I decided to leave out the wires and such and simplify the design a little.

Fellow Tourists

Fellow tourists taking pictures and enjoying the ocean. The values need some work. I'm enjoying the 8 by 8 inch format for studies and final pieces. The format also translates well en plein air.

Highway Hay Bale

On my most recent trip up to Commerce, Texas I noticed the plentiful hay bales that were on Highway 34. Of course I had to pull over and get a couple of pictures. This was the first painting from those photos. I love hay bales. It looks like our livestock won't have to go hungry this summer. I played with the image in photoshop a little to bump up the contrast a bit.

Timid

While the other birds were in the water fighting for food. This little one perched him/herself on the top of a boat. Timidly waiting for scraps. I worked quickly before he/she flew off.