Tree in Fog

Painted during Pam's nap on the cliffs of Jug Handle State Park. I had a beautiful weekend. I went to Commerce and hung out with the family. We broke bread, listened to great music, danced and enjoyed one another's company. The rain was nice too.

Boat Maintenance

Another painting from the Plein Air Austin retreat in Fulton, Texas this year.

Firecracker Watching Bay

Another image of the little girl in the big family. She was playing in the ocean with her big brother watching closely.

Little Fire Cracker

When we were out at China Camp State Park this little girl caught my eye. She was the smallest person in the family but she had the strongest presence. Her hair was wild and everyone paid attention to her. Did I mention her hair was wild. Members of her family kept coming by to see what I was painting.

Couple in Fog

Even though the fog was thick lots of people were walking around Jug Handle State Park. This couple stood briefly over a cliff looking out at the ocean. I quickly got their impression down in watercolor.

Oat Valley Vineyard

On our way up to Fort Bragg we stopped a lot to give Pam a stretch break. I think we had just gotten onto 128 and this was our first break. It was part of the Oat Valley Vineyard. Of course I focused on the barn. I stood outside the car and got this one in in about 15 minutes or less.

Into The Fog

A little trading card painting from Jug Handle State Park. From where I sat on the cliff I had potential paintings everywhere. It was peaceful just sitting there in the fog and listening to the waves crashing below me.

Water Play 3

These two were standing on some of the large underwater rocks. She fell and he held steady.

Water Play 2

It was warm on our first day so lots of kids were enjoying the surf down below us. One of my goals during this painting session was to include people in the landscape. I had to work from memory a lot as these girls really moved around a lot running away from and to the surf.

Above the Surf

I painted this on the day we arrived in Fort Bragg. We were sitting above the ocean on a cliff. Pam was napping and I was mesmerized by the ocean yet again.

Dick's Place

The first painting of the day on September 3, 2012. It was Pam's birthday and we were in Mendocino, California. The fog was heavy and after I started this piece, I began to wonder why I had picked such a complex scene for my first painting. I soldiered on and rewarded us with a lunch at the Mendocino Hotel. The crab cakes and salad were yummy.

Sleep Fireman

On my way back from Oakland, California via plane we had about 35 firemen en route to College Station, Texas for fire training. This young man sat to my right.

He slept for quiet a while. This was from the sketchbook. The above image is a trading card image. Its easy to sketch in watercolor if you have the trading cards as well as a Koi watercolor pen and paint box.

Fog and Surf

I painted this at sunset from the hotel balcony. I used the new Arches Oil paper. The paint application wasn't very smooth so next time I will use a little linseed oil. It's nice not to have to carry around canvases but I will frame it under glass when the time comes.

Iceplants in Fog

Another plein air piece from Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California.

Fisherman and Sons

This is the fisherman that was down on the beach fishing with his sons. After about an hour they climbed back up and appeared to be looking for another spot to fish. I grabbed a quick sketch of them as they were walking by in the fog.

Jug Handle State Park 1

After hanging out in Mendocino for a little painting and lunch at the Mendocino Hotel we headed back toward Fort Bragg and decided to veer off to visit Jug Handle State Park. Pam took a nap and I painted from a cliff. A father with his two sons was just below us fishing. Those are the specks of color you see just before the surf. Once they climbed up I did a little trading card image of the father with his two sons following.

Foggy Birthday

On Pam's birthday we went to one of her favorite beaches which is Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. She combed the beach for glass and shells while I sat and painted this little piece. The fog was heavy that day.

Water Play

I tried to include more people in my plein air paintings from my most recent trip. I was sitting up on a cliff looking down at people playing in the water.

Nice Light at China Camp

I chose to have limited contact during my holiday. I didn't blog here and it was nice not to have to do something. I instead enjoyed moisture in the air, fog, painting, etc. I was in Fort Bragg, California for my annual birthday trip. I painted ten paintings on Pam's birthday. She is truly my muse.