Sunday, September 30, 2012

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.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

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.

Monday, September 24, 2012

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.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

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.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

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.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

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.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Sunday, September 16, 2012

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.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

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.

Friday, September 14, 2012

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.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

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.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

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.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

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.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

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.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

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.