At The Party

This is number three in the portrait series. This person was checking his phone at my sister's birthday party. He didn't know that I was taking his picture of course. I liked how he had isolated himself in a room full of people.

Resting His Eyes

This is the second of my 100 portraits challenge. I left the blemishes because it show that this little painting took some time to complete and that it sat around on my art table unprotected. It demonstrates how vulnerable we all are especially when we rest our eyes in public.

Being Nosey

This is the first of 100 small portraits that I want to complete in the next two months. I want to sharpen my people drawing skills a bit. This is a family friend hanging out at one of our many family gatherings. There are very few limitations to this individual challenge. Some will be from my sketchbook and others will be individual paintings.

No Talking Needed

Today was a hard day. I will just leave it at that. This painting title came to me because I have friends that know when to be silent. I appreciate those friends. I sketched this scene from the hotel balcony. I had a device that gave me a good view of the people on the beach. I love drawing relaxed people. It reminded me of those days when the sound of the ocean was all that was necessary to put me into perspective.

Last Haul of The Day 2

Another little painting inspired by my last visit to California. Of course it has fog and sea vessels. I like working from my sketch books and changing up the medium and color scheme. I will use photos on occasion, but I think its easier to capture the feel of a place if you sketch it. I found myself reaching more for my sketchbook than my actual camera during this most recent visit to the Bay area.

Burger Above

This is one of the views from the Littlefield garage on 6th street. I painted this before those two cars drove through the garage cables and to the ground. I was attracted to the shadows and point of view. I'm sure they weren't.

Last Haul Of The Day 1

I can recall the moment and feel of this little painting. We were sitting on our hotel balcony. The fog was rolling back in and this vessel was heading in to Noyo Harbor. I love this little town of Fort Bragg, California. It has so many spots of awe.

Fog Tease

I call this one "fog tease" because that is what the fog was doing on the morning I painted the plein air study that inspired this painting. It would recede and then come back even thicker.

Water Tower

I usually paint when I visit my home town. For those of you who grew up in Commerce, this is a familiar image. When you first come into town from highway 50 you see a dorm and this water tower. I don't know much of the history behind it. I was drawn to this scene because of the drama in the sky. A storm was coming through and the contrast in the sky was amazing.

I made this little painting in the spring at the botanical gardens here in Austin. I was working in the center garden as you enter. I used red Canson paper as my surface.

Vacation Gouaches

This a page of sketches is from my most recent trip to Fort Bragg, California. Pam indicated that I spent a lot of time with my sketchbooks this trip. I usually try to focus on individual studies on panel, paper or canvas. I like the energy I was able to capture in these. The line work was done on site and gouache was added later from memory.

In Deep Awe

Given our recent weather here in Austin, I would love to be here right now. I used one of my gouache plein air pieces as a jumping off point for this painting. Its fun watching people appreciating the ocean. Have a great week everyone.

Young Americans

I love painting old photos especially if someone else took them. This is a very old family photo. It depicts my stepfathers aunt, husband and children in front of their home. I did about three paintings of this image they all have different feels.

Rushing Pedernales

This one is from my archives. It started out as a block print on printmaking paper. I later added the gouache which ,in my opinion, took over the block print. This is a view of the Pedernales River here in central Texas.

1996 Abstract

I was desperately searching for a painting that a collector was interested in purchasing and came across this old painting of mine. I don't know who or what was motivating me back in the late nineties. I like how this one tricks the eye a little.

Men In Caps

I enjoy the energy in Austin during the festival season (its always festival season here). The people take on this energy. I liked the center characters sense of bravado. I'm enjoying just drawing for the fun of it theses days. I have not posted much but I will remedy that soon enough. I'm producing a lot of work however, and that keeps me happy. One has to be seen in order to be heard.

Port Aransas Alley

This painting was inspired by a sepia photo taken years ago in Port Aransas, Texas. I was attracted to the shadows, background and bicycles.

Jade In Repose

My girl Jade loved sleeping on my couch like this. She could peek at me if she wanted and be ready for action if need be.

Cypress Branches

Cypress trees remind me of whimsy. The branches and leaves are delicate. This spot on Red Bud Isles has great water reflections and shadows too.

Poppie Explosion

A little painting of northern California.

Pasture Family

On my last visit to Commerce I took the time to take some photos of the farmland between Commerce and Neylandville, Texas. The animals were out as were the wildflowers. Unlike a lot of artists, I love using green especially in the landscape. My mom always told me that if you see the cows sitting down, rain is coming. Its funny how I have retained so many of her musings.

Non GMO

The country girl in me loves cows and the landscape.

Meandering Shadows

This is a small color study for a larger painting. It is based upon a scene in northern California. I liked the way the shadows played with the light.

Collard Greens

This image was born while I was washing collard greens. I thought why not make an image of what I was looking at. I took a few photos and this is the first of a series of collard greens inspired paintings.

Family Conundrum

This piece is one that has many meanings for me. It is about family and symbolism. I initially posted this image to instagram. As you know, the application crops your image to a certain format. This is the full picture. The images are from Commerce.

Point Reyes Repose One

I have this thing about many things; one of which is cows. I love the animals of the Point Reyes National Seashore. These guys were hanging out just when the drought was breaking in Northern California a few years back. I have made reference to these guys because this is one of two paintings.

The second painting. Both are sold.

March West Austin Sunset

I love the fact that I can just open my door for inspiration. One day last month I noticed that the light outside was extra special. I opened the door and took a few photos. I worked on clay coated paper that I bought a few years ago from New York Central Art Supply.. I am just now learning how to used its unique texture.

Turkey Geese 1

Birds and people are similar subjects. Both move around and frustrate the hell out of your artistic ego. They both force you to use your memory muscle. These geese were hanging out at the Richmond marina in January of this year. Pam warned me not to get too close because they can be aggressive. I listened to her advice.

Daybreak Last Week

I took the photo for this painting about two weeks ago. I had just arrived at the gym for my workout and I saw this morning sky. I took a quick photo and went in for my torture. I did this initial color study at the gallery about a week ago. I think yellow needs to be introduced in the center of interest more. Anyway this is a study of many.

Hay Bales In Fog

Commerce is beautiful in deep fog. I was headed home one Monday and saying my goodbyes to family. This fog surrounded the landscape. I took a few shots from my car on the way to see one of my sisters. This represents two of my favorite things in a scene fog and hay bales. This type of scene and weather makes me feel cozy. I have to give a shout out to my two sisters. One has a birthday and the other has finished chemotherapy both are very strong women.

Ripe Peppers

This is a small plein air painting done out in Pam's garden. I was working on creating mystery in a painting by leaving things inferred but not stated. I'm working on thinking more about making a painting as opposed to copying what's in front of me. I am currently sketching every day. I want to catch a bus this weekend just to draw people.

Two Cardinals

I was sitting on my niece's patio when I did this little painting. I was hanging out with my siblings and enjoying the weather. I just liked the lines of the branches. The two cardinals were added later for a little spice.

Anointed One

I was fortunate to visit Commerce this past long weekend. We cooked, danced, took photos and enjoyed one another. I got to sketch and paint a lot on Sunday. I started out at G Lake on the campus (probably no longer G Lake). The birds were hanging out and eating the food thrown in the water by visitors . I did a few gouache paintings of the birds and visitors. Later in the morning I started sketching family and friends. Overall, very joyful about the entire visit. This is my sister Tammy. The title comes from the stroke of lavender down her forehead. It reminded me of Ash Wednesday.

Somehow Night 1

In searching for a painting, I found this old block print that I hadn't finished. Of course I consider it finished now as I have added color. I still haven't found the painting but I did find quite a few that I pulled out for framing. This was the last print from the ink. It doesn't fully convey the original subject matter and that is why it works for me.

Little Veggies

I love collecting and painting still life pieces. It's working from life; but the subjects are still. Its fun to do preparatory sketches on sulphite paper. I later cover the sketches with markers to create a value sketch. I also make lots of little oil paintings of the set up. I recently bought some 4 by 5 inch copper panels. This is one of the first paintings I plan to have on display at the West Austin Studio tour this year. Small paintings are intimate and much more affordable.

Friday Night Ritual

My parents loved to entertain. If people were around, there was usually a game of cards and/or dominoes going. I usually sat on the couch taking pictures or sketching. The participants had to have thick skin as there was always trash talking.

Forest Meditation 2

I really appreciate painting and sketching in the same area in multiple seasons. This is one of my favorite little parks to ride through. We drive through this area to get to the Point Reyes National Seashore. The underlying skeleton for this piece was done sitting in Pam's car because it was raining. The redwoods were drenched in rain. My goal in this series is to get to that sense of rain and fog that gave me peace that day.

Forest Meditation 1

During the break Pam and I visited Samuel P. Taylor park. It was raining so I did initial drawing sitting in her car. Back in Texas, I am adding color from memory. My goal is to translate how I felt that day in the rain at such a beautiful and spiritual place.

Morning Chat

This is an old sketch of my brother that I finally completed. I made the sketch when he was first getting to know his most recent grandson. We were sitting in his living room and I liked the way the light was hitting his skin. Of course the colors are my added spice. I used ink on Shizen handmade paper for the initial drawing. I added the pastel this year.

Garden Buds

Happy new year. I hope this post finds you well and happy. I painted this piece in Pam's garden. The calla lilies were blooming as well as various other plants. Her front yard is now filled with succulents. It was fun to photograph. I liked these two buds because of the difference in their individual lines. I used a bamboo reed to do the initial sketch.