Ruler He Thinks

This is another painting inspired by photos by my bosses daughter. They have a lot of animals and she loves photography. One Easter my mom gave me a baby chick that grew up to be a rooster. That rooster tormented me. He would attack me on sight. One day, I wouldn't go home because he was waiting for me. My mom finally figured out what was causing the delay in me getting home from school. I think that rooster ended up on someones dinner table.

A sketchbook page.

Highway Still Life

I am making myself use the art supplies that I haven't touched in years. I admit it. I'm an impulse buyer when it comes to art supplies and cameras. I bought this Yupo paper back in 2014. I also have another batch from 2003. I made the drawing with a Pentel brush pen which I later dissolved with water and let dry. I added watercolor after the underpainting dried. This a random scene on I H 35.

A peek into my current Khadi sketchbook.

2016 First Tulips

I purchased tulips last weekend and got in quite a few paintings before the flowers transitioned. I worked on Garza Papel with Daniel Smith watercolors. The initial drawing was done in red ink. I haven't been posting enough. I am painting and filling sketchbooks but not posting. Not good. When I get home lately I just want to sketch, paint, chores and not be at a computer. From my Union Square sketchbook.

Show Prep

This montage represents what the various actor/models were doing before the show began. I started sketching before the show. I really could not resist being around that many models one has to take advantage. It was an honor to participate in the production of this wonderful event. Thanks to the Paper Chairs Theater Collective.

This is a page from my Khadi paper sketch book. The subject is my nephew Jeremy. The initial drawing was done with a fountain pen. I later dissolved the ink lines with water to establish grey scale underpainting. I later added watercolor.

Tracey Hay Bales

I must admit that I buy a lot of products as a result of reading and watching blog and vlog posts. I bought some french made pastels by Roche because of a recent post. This was the first test of those pastels. I love the density of color and size. The painting was inspired by sketches and photos taken during my ride through the Central Valley of California.

A sketch of my baby sister.

Downtown Bay Windows

This is another building scene I forced myself to tackle. I'm am trying to get better with composition and perspective. I started out in ink and finished with Daniel Smith watercolors. I think this is a scene near Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sky Works

I did this little painting of a Commerce, Texas landscape a few visits ago. I slow it down a bit when I go home. Its nice learning to appreciate my home town as an adult. I see why my mom loved the place and never left. I used part of my gaza papel stash as a surface.

A sketch from my Crescent sketchbook.

Plant From Below

While thinking of a title for this picture, I thought plants are abstract by nature. Maybe that's why I like painting them. They make for nice portraits. I chose the vantage point below the plant to get a view of the sky.

Here's a peek in one of my sketch books. I love playing with ink and markers.

Structural Challenge

This is another piece from the theater event that I was part of. The ink drawing was done during the actual event on strips of Yupo paper. I later added more ink and watercolor. I think I spent about 1 minute on the sketch. I used a Parker fountain pen.

Intersection Companions

I found this old sketch during a recent cleaning binge. I added watercolor and here we are. I think the photo that inspired this painting was taken by my cousin who lived in New York at the time. I like how we become small groups when we cross the street.

Struttin It

Years ago I would walk around downtown Austin taking random photos of people. This lady stood out because of her outfit and confidence. She also reminded me of both my mom and grandmother. Her image has appeared in many of my paintings. I was cleaning out my upstairs spare bedroom and came across her photo. Here she comes again.

Steeple Shadows

This is my challenge for the year: to paint more structures in the urban landscape. My perspective has always been off so I will try and improve the weakness this year.