Garden Painting 1

I painted this watercolor at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Usually I will shoot photos for painting later. On this visit I painted and didn't get too far into the gardens before I found this grouping of flowers. A beekeeper from New Jersey walked by and told me to include some bees. They didn't make it in to the painting.

One Side Of The Creek

I'm in the process of painting a large watercolor of this scene. This is a color study of part of the image done in pastel.

Which Path

This is one of the larger plein air sketches that I completed on my most recent trip to northern California. I was sitting under the perfect shade tree with my supplies. We were in a nice little park with people and animals. I chose this scene because I loved the graphic feel of it.

On The Trail

The beauty of this surface is that you have to let it and watercolor do what they want. You are merely the spectator watching them work after you apply the paint. This is terra skin paper which is a surface made of stone. Last month I spent time with a friend in Zilker park on a Sunday afternoon. I did this sketch while sitting on a bench on the hike and bike trail. I did the initial drawing on site and added color later.

Mellow Yellow

I have started painting flowers again from life. For some reason I tend to focus on a few flowers rather than the entire setup which includes a lemon, squash, cup, etc. The flowers are now almost gone and that will be a painting too.

Woods Overwhelm

I took the photo that inspired this painting during my most recent visit to Fort Bragg, California. The mediums used were graphite and conte. I recently purchased a roll of drawing paper and decided to do some large (for me) drawings. This one is 30 by 30 inches. I used extra large graphite made by Derwent.

Sunday Brunch 2

The second painting of Gloria's restaurant. I like this place because of the brunch activity. People linger, talk and the staff is always busy. Plus with the increase in population, people are all over the place. I used a number 6b pencil. I sat on some steps and got in two drawings. I added color later at home.

Sunday Brunch 1

I did the sketch on site about 2 weeks ago. I had finished my workout and had some extra time on my meter. I sat on some steps and did this little sketch of Gloria's on 6th street here in Austin. They have a great brunch. I like that they have the outside space. I fully intend to get some sketches inside too. I added color later.

Sharp

This is a family friend that I have painted before. The earlier painting sold to a collector from South Carolina. I saw him recently and of course photographed him. He always dresses well. The first painting of him also included my oldest nephew.

Sunday Fishermen

I painted this one from one of my plein air sketches. I had this small sketchbook with me while on my last visit to California. This one is a panoramic watercolor.

Wood In Redwoods

We had left Point Reyes and were going through the Samuel P. Taylor Park. Pam pulled over in one the only spots you can pull over on that road and I got out and walked into the woods a bit and found this spot. I took numerous photos of the area. This is a larger piece measuring 29 by 37 inches. I want the viewer to be able to walk into the painting. I recently bought a roll of paper paper and I intend to explore this image in the pastel medium.

Richmond Still Life

I like painting items in Pam's kitchen. The light is great and she has a lemon tree out front and a garden which includes tomatoes. The tin was new to me. I set the fruit and tin up in the kitchen and frankly painted the piece from multiple perspectives. That happens when I multitask. I played with color a bit too.

Wave Meditation

After years of painting these I have just now realized that these are meditation paintings. I usually paint these after a full day of painting. By then my brain is free to just paint the feel of the wave. I think its a good thing to memorize the crashing of a beautiful wave and then to put it down while its still fresh in your mind. I'm usually sitting on the balcony painting the waves and sunset until its too cold and windy to paint.

We have had a few cool days here in Austin. On those mornings these flowers come out. I love the color of this flower and I enjoy the surprise they give me when they come out.

Town Lake Fun

A few weeks ago I went over to Zilker park with a friend to do some sketching. We ended up under the bridge near Barton Springs road. I enjoyed trying to capture the kayakers as they paddled by.

Natural Dryer 2

This is the second attempt with this image. The first version was on canvas board using casein as the medium. For this version I used Terra Skin paper and watercolor. This is my baby sister hanging out clothes in Commerce. Before I finished this series of photos on my phone, she told me not to take her picture. I didn't after that.

Commerce Nocturne

Last weekend was spent in Commerce. This is the scene behind the hotel I normally stay in. I was standing outside and saw this beautiful sky. Of course by the time I got my paints and paper the sky had changed. I painted it because I liked the light and the way it fell across the bushes.