Owl Nest

I spotted this "screeching house" while Pam and I were hanging out at the botanical garden. I was attracted to the way the light kissed the leaves and the side of the structure. I completed the sketch on site and added paint later. The garden has grown even more luscious due to the drought ending in recent years.

Just Learning To Walk

One of the kids as they were learning to walk and be independent.

Different Clouds Passing

Whenever I can, I get outside to sketch clouds. I work on small pieces of paper or canvas. I rarely if ever enlarge them. I like the challenge of getting them to be transparent.

Monday Morning

This is an abstraction of my daily commute to work. The colors just came to mind.

Supermarket Onions

I bought these onions because I wanted to paint them. I eventually threw them out. I should have made a stew or stir fry with them. Or, I could have planted them.

Caught Lurking

My lens found this black cat lurking behind a house in Commerce. I liked the light, of course and the contrast of the dark feline.

Scratch The Surface

We were getting ready to leave Red Bud Isle and I decided to sketch this tree that was in the lake. I was attracted to the color contrast with the water.

Doing Aunties Hair

This is my niece doing my sister's hair. I took liberties with the colors. I did the initial drawing a few years ago. I just added color this year. I used a handmade paper by Shizen.

Caught In Thought

I saw this young man just standing with a book. I had to draw him before he left and I did. Like Pam and I, he did not have a pet (dog) with him. When he walked past me, I revealed my sketch. He was pleased.

Garden Path Austin

The preliminary work and structure of this painting were generated in the botanical gardens here in Austin. I worked with a Pentel brush pen on a copper panel. I liked the light and the flower bush in the background. I later added color from memory.

Flood Prevention

This is a scene inspired by the many little creeks that run through West Lake Hills, Texas. It's fun to watch the waters run through after the rains. To prepare, I did on sight sketches, watercolor paintings, I took and relied on a few photos. Pam has called it finished, so the brushes are holstered.

Snake To My Left

Pam and I went over to Redbud Isle the other day to explore. This sketch was done while I was watching a snake in the water to my left. A man was chasing his dog while the dog was trying to catch the snake. Pam, being the wiser one, walked away. You can tell that I was a bit harried in my strokes.

American Decay

I am still rattled by the results of the election. I really feel like a stranger in my country of birth. This small painting is a study of the urban landscape in California. A few years back I took some train trips with Pam to the Central Valley of California. I took the time to snap a few photos of warehouses, ports, etc. from the train.

The Charmer

This is prosecutor during closing argument. I called this piece "the charmer" because that is what she did to this jury. Voir dire was a little rough. The evidence however, was strong and she knew how to get it in. The jury imposed a hefty prison term.

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Cloud Nine

I am challenging myself in oils again. I have some the arches paper that one can use oils with. This is a little cloud study from a few weeks ago. I walked around outside looking up. My neighbors are used to me painting and sketching outside so they don't call the police when they see me. I am fascinated by clouds.

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Good Seafood

I love the way that wait staff are dressed in some restaurants. They are dressed better than the patrons. This place is one of my favorite Cajun food places. I liked the young lady's hairdo on the right.

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Daily Magic

This is one of my many "sunset over the ocean" paintings. I call it daily magic because it is.

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Hay Day Study

This painting was inspired by a photo taken by my high school classmate Roger Jones. I did this color study after a notan study created on my Ipad. I was attracted to hay bales (as usual) and the light on the vehicles.

Large Canson Sketchbook Share

Which Is Less Travelled

A little painting of the tracks that used to separate African Americans and whites in my home town. Its strange to have been part of segregation and desegregation. Now we have more of a mixed community which is good.

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Slice of Spring

I saw these daffodils growing by a tree in my hometown.

Sketchbook share. Characters from a recent trial.

Lights In Fog

This scene is from my morning commute. It was a foggy morning in Austin that I wanted to document in pastel. This is West Lynn at 6th street. It can be beautiful in fog.

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Deep Still Water

This scene is part of a river near Jenner, California, I was attracted to the rock formations and the colors in the water. We stopped on the side of the road for me to take photos. I recall it was near an old bridge.

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Tied Up Veggies

I really haven't figured out why I like to paint radishes. I rarely if ever eat them, unless they are in a salad.

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Morning Fog Bay Area

The sketch that inspired this painting was made while I was a passenger in Pam's car. We were headed into San Francisco. The fog was beautiful and I tried to capture as many sketches as I could.

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Hillside Segment

I have painted this scene many times. I am attracted to the light and shadows. It's on the way to Fort Bragg, California.

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Hay Harvest

This is an older piece that I finally varnished. Its a northern California scene in the Anderson Valley. I worked on copper with really thick strokes in some areas. The attraction was to the shadows and the hay.

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Building Side Flowers

A scene from San Francisco. I was attracted to the flowers that covered the side of the building. This of course is a study for a larger piece. I love flowers and buildings so it will be fun to explore the image further.

Sketchbook share Richmond, California Marina

Arched Water Path

I am sharing some of my oil on copper paintings. I have finally gotten around to varnishing them and now they are ready to show (some of them). This painting is of a beach in Mendocino, California. I was attracted to the arch in the ocean. I hope to be there for the new year.

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Garden Sketch

I took a few days off last week and spent some time painting in the local botanical garden. The rains we have had have really boosted the gardens. The elephant ears were huge and the flowers were just amazing. Having been through a drought here for quite a few years, it's a joy to see what water can bring.

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The Fog Was Warm

Over the years, I have spent many foggy days painting in Fort Bragg, California. This was painted from the balcony of our room. I recently completed varnishing a lot of my pieces on copper. It's fun to share and remember the circumstances under which they were painted.

Last year I observed and sketched this trial. It involved a lady that took medication and drove under the influence. She killed two people and injured others. She was found guilty.