Justice Through Trees

I have to be a lawyer in this building. I made the sketch from my office and added watercolor later. This is from the corner of 11th and Guadalupe.

Home Cooking

I did the sketch for this painting while sitting on my sister's porch on Thanksgiving day. My work lately has been focused on lines and color.

Fresh Sea Air

The jumping off point for this painting was a photo taken over the labor day holiday. This young man was part of a church group from Sacramento, California. I took photos of him on his skate board from the hotel balcony. They occupied a large percentage of the rooms. They were easy to spot as they all wore yellow hoodies. They had adult supervisors too and lots of activities for the young adults. This young man would hang out on the deck while I painted from it in the mornings. Uart paper and a variety of pastels.

Copper and Fruit

I love painting still life pieces. I like to work from life rather than photos. Pam always has interesting objects around the house plus she has an organic garden and lemon trees. Add the California light and you have instant inspiration. I worked on Canson paper.

Rain And Tourists

I am doing a lot of studies in my sketchbooks. I think its good to play around with ideas for compositions. Plus it adds to the painting miles. This is the front of a hotel on 6th street.

Thanksgiving Moon 2015

My sister called my attention to the moon on Thanksgiving night. I took photos with my phone. This is the first painting from that series of photos. Night time paintings are really a great challenge with regard to values.

Beach Sport

One of many paintings completed in early September. I worked in ink with watercolor washes on Garza Papel (paper). I love handmade papers. I enjoyed the group dynamics of this set of people.

California Calm

This painting was inspired by a car sketch and Frank Reaugh. I often execute small ACEO trading card paintings and sketches while Pam is driving us around. We were exploring the Point Reyes National Seashore and I made a small painting of three cows. We also went to see the Frank Reaugh exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center on the University of Texas campus. I took that small painting and what I learned from the exhibit to create this piece.

This is the car sketch.

Hurt

My friend Roy lost his mother recently. I was in Commerce and stopped by his place to pay my respects. He was clearly hurting and all I could do was listen and offer hugs. Losing your Mom is very hard; I know. I really needed to capture this emotion so of course I drew him.

Dusty Peace

Dusty Peace came from my thoughts about the beach. Its peaceful but the dust can be a pain when you return to the room. The people were good models because they didn't move much. I was happy.

Vessel No Name

This is a painting from the Noyo Harbor area of Fort Bragg, California. Ink drawing on site and painted later. I liked the reflections in the water and the background.

Creature Comforts

I sat on my sisters porch on Thanksgiving day and did a number of small sketches. I added the watercolor later. Commerce has lots of nooks and crannies that need to be painted. I try and take advantage of the scenery and the live models that are my family members.

Pasture Ritual

This little painting was inspired by a Facebook post. I love to paint cows.

Headlands Light

I was on the bridge above the headlands when I did this drawing. Pam was waiting in the car. I was able to get two drawings in before we needed to leave. I added Daniel Smith watercolors later. I think working with sketches done onsite is increasing my memory muscle. I have to recreate the scene and emotion behind the scene when I later add color.

Sausage Wraps

The underlying sketch was completed while I was waiting for my order at Green Mesquite here in Austin. The sausage wraps on the counter were mine. I added watercolor and gel pen to complete the painting. I like this place so I try to document it with each visit in sketches. I like the immediacy of the sketch and the later watercolor contemplation at home.

Blight Of Condos

We are going through a lot of growth here in Austin, Texas. Condos are going up and being filled to capacity. Our city has lost a lot of its old feel. It takes longer to navigate the city these days and we sit in traffic a lot longer. I still love living here. I took a break from work on Tuesday and did this sketch standing at 11th and Guadalupe using a fountain pen on watercolor Garza Papel (paper). Daniel Smith watercolors were applied later.

In Need Of Redemption

I don't want to identify this person because he did a horrific thing and I don't want to give him the attention he seeks. On the day that he committed his crimes, I saw many images of him online. I drew him in one of my sketchbooks. Later I made this painting using that sketch. I used watercolor as the under painting and added the pastels over that.

Above The Beach

This is another piece from my vacation in early September. I don't know what type of plant this is but I have always wanted to attempt a sketch. I drew this from the beach in ink. I took liberties with the color which was added later.

Beach Roots

I really liked the tree roots on the cliff over looking the ocean. I did the initial drawing on site and added watercolor later.

Corner Joint

The gym garage is right above P Terry's burgers. The photo that inspired this painting was taken from the roof. The initial line drawing was in ink. I used Daniel Smith watercolors for the wash. I liked the shadows and cars below me.

Stream Through The Garden

This area of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite. The stream flows through and in the background waves smash against the land. The sun and sky and flowers were reflections in the stream water. I did the initial drawing on a 12 by 14 piece of watercolor paper in ink. I added watercolor later. The drawing took about 25 minutes.

Ballet Flowers

I painted this during my first plein air painting excursion in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I have shot many photos there, but this was the first plein air experience,. I didn't get too far from the gate.

Wind Power And Cows

Pam usually drives when we travel in California. I sketch and manage the tunes. We were heading out of the Central Valley area when I sketched this scene. This is the first painting inspired by that sketchbook entry. I used a variety of pastels on cream Sabretooth paper. Like Texas, California is going through drought conditions. Hopefully that will end soon.

We Leave It Behind

I made this painting standing on Pam's back porch. Pam had complained about how one of the workers wouldn't pull up his pants as I was doing the initial sketch. Of course this guy had his underwear exposed and that became part of the pun and painting. On a more serious note, I knew the man who lived in that house. He passed away this year. His house is being renovated for sale or rent. That's how I got the title. Gary left behind his home and belongings. I catch myself looking out Pam's window into his backyard. I miss him and I hope he rests peacefully.

Speak To The Hand

I started out with an under painting in oil on Uart paper. The flowers were on the counter top and I painted each one as a portrait. When I looked at this piece on screen, I immediately thought "talk to the hand". Hence the name. Some of the oil under painting peeks through and adds little interesting passages to get caught up in.

Lone Diner Reluctant Model

The initial sketch for this painting was completed in a diner in Fort Bragg, California. This guy knew I was drawing him. I could sense his discomfort so I did a quick ink sketch and moved on to another subject. The ink was not permanent so I used it to establish the dark and mid tones before adding watercolor. I used the exquisite Garza Papel as a surface and Daniel Smith watercolors.

Beach Family Time

During the most recent visit to Fort Bragg, Ca., I actually spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach as opposed to the patio of our hotel room. I was able to sketch people on the beach from a perspective I enjoy. I love exploring this town and state in pen, watercolor, pastel...I was drawing as fast as I could on a beautiful piece of paper in ink. I was drawn to how tall the dad was and the baby on his shoulders. I loved the action in the waves too.

Barber Station 7 and Before Me

I have been taking my sketchbook with me to the barber shop just in case I have to wait for a cut. I worked on blue St Armand canal paper. I'm still getting used to the surface.

This is the guy that usually cuts my hair. The initial sketches were done in ink on site. The pastel was added later.

Pond Reeds

This lake has many faces. During this visit there weren't as many birds to paint. The lake was covered with what appeared to be pollen (probably wasn't). It was mid morning but the light was still nice. Pam was collecting rocks while I got in a few paintings. I focused on he reeds because of their color.

Cafe One Brunch

I love having lunch or brunch at Cafe One in Fort Bragg, California. The food is good for you in the sense that it is real food. I have sketched in this place many times. I did this one during Sunday brunch waiting for food. I worked with Garza Papel watercolor paper, Daniel Smith watercolors and my Parker ink pen.

At The Office

I drew these two as I was waiting in traffic in Richmond,California. These two appeared to be dealers. The guy wearing the coat I think was the mule (guy who engages in the transfer of drugs). They also could have been brothers waiting to catch the next bus to school. Anyway onward. I used the Parker fountain pen in a Beta series Stillman and Birn sketchbook. I added watercolor later.

Standing Ground

One of my many flower portraits. When I first scanned this in the initial thought was this was an image standing its own ground. Hence the title.

People Rocks And Waves

Yes I painted a lot in California. I did about 30 ink sketches on the Garza Papel when I was sitting on the beach. Its a good place to practice drawing people, animals, rocks and vessels. The ink dissolves and gives me a nice value pattern. The color is the gravy.

Old Highway Bridge

I loved this bridge. Pam was driving us back from Tracey, California and out of nowhere comes this bridge. It reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock look in films. I will paint this again as I wasn't able to get the entire bridge in the initial drawing. Maybe I should have done a few notan sketches before plunging in.

Barn in a Vineyard

This is a made up scene from the sketch posted below. As Pam was driving I did sketches of grape vines as we drove thru wine country. I worked on a surface called Sabretooth Cream in a variety of pastels. The sketch is from my Stillman and Birn sketchbook.

Parker fountain pen and watercolor.

A Flower Begins

This was my second visit to the gardens to paint. My agreement with Pam was that I wouldn't stay in one place the entire visit. I saw this bloom midway through the gardens. I did a quick sketch on Garza papel (paper) and moved on. I later added watercolor. I was attracted to the transparency of the petals.

Puppies and Pink Pants

This is another beach sitting sketch. I am taking a course online from Marc Taro Holmes, a well known urban sketcher. The course is about sketching, one of my favorite things to do. In these paintings I am doing the quick drawings onsite in water soluble ink on Garza Papel watercolor paper. I later add water to establish the values in ink. After that, I flood the paper with water and just hang on when the colors move. I respect the water distribution of color and leave it.

Bare Trees Across the Lake

Lake Cleone is a beautiful place. One could find things to paint there forever. I got to spend a few hours painting this beautiful area in early September. The morning light there is awesome.

Life Is A Beach

The initial drawing was in ink. I also used gouache onsite to establish some of the waves. The pastel was added later.

Not A Wave

The first morning in Fort Bragg. I was sitting on the Captain's Deck painting the morning light. It was peaceful with the waves crashing in the background. I used a lot of medium to avoid the matte properties of casein. I chose this format just for grins.

Cloud Over Lady Bird Lake

When I returned to Texas years ago I chose Austin, Texas. 25 years later I am glad I did.

Chasing Morning Shadows

The field across the street from the hotel is ripe with subject matter and great morning light. In this painting that was my primary task and joy. I laid in the initial sketch in permanent ink. I then laid in the colors. I used a lot of casein medium in this painting. I wanted to avoid the matte texture that one gets without the medium. I also executed a color study in my sketchbook prior to starting the larger sketch. It is posted below.

Daniel Smith watercolors over ink drawing done with a Parker fountain pen. Stillmann and Birn sketchbook beta series.

Garden Glow

Pam left her sunflowers in for me to paint. I used casein on a toned panel. I was challenged by the light coming thru parts of the petals. I don't think this effort is bad but I do think it can be improved. This one does deserve another go. I love the density of casein. To me it is denser than gouache.

Pumpkin Patch

I painted this while standing in Pam's garden. These were "volunteers" as they were not planted. Before my trip I purchased an number of 6 by 12 toned panels from Jerry's. I painted with casein paints. I was attracted to the leaves and the pumpkins.

Bay Side Rocks And Shrubs

Of course I paid a visit to the Richmond marina while I was in California. I spent time painting the various vessels in addition to the landscape. The different shades on the rocks are what attracted me to the scene. Garza Papel paper and Daniel Smith watercolors were the products I utilized.

Beach Puppies

I just returned from my annual birthday trip to Fort Bragg, California. It was a great time and I got to make many paintings and drawings while I was there. We spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach. I took those opportunities to sketch people and puppies. I did the initial drawing on site with a Parker fountain pen. I worked on handmade Garza Papel watercolor paper. Daniel Smith watercolors were added later.