Berlin's

This image is from Charleston, South Carolina. I was there years ago and the trip and images taken there still inspire me. I walked around a lot with my camera and sketchbooks. As usual its a place that I really need to revisit. I like painting storefronts with mannequins. The photo was taken right at dusk.

Grill Fire Up

My stepfather Milton has been the subject of many of my paintings. He loved cooking for friends and family. This home made grill cooked up many meals for just us or a huge party of friends. He would start early, unlike me, and the best was the food first off the grill. He liked to have beer while cooking. So by the end of his cooking, he would have barbecue toast. Thats what my mom called it. It is my hope that you are happy and healthy as you read this. Its been a rough patch for all of us. We will get through this better as a world. Remember even if you are not present for the holidays you are always with family in your heart and mind.

Mixed But Beautiful

This is my nephew's son that is mixed race. I am biased but I think he has a modeling career ahead of him. He is very photogenic and his look screams paint me. I'm sure as he matures you will see more images of him here on my blog.

This is another version of the Driskoll Hotel in downtown Austin. With this painting, I chose Khadi paper which is made in India. It has a nice rough texture. I like subject because its complex and forces me to play with perspective. Plus its a pretty building. Pre pandemic I would see this building a lot. Its across the street from the gym. I havent been to the gym since March. I'm not sure if I will return to the gym. Things have really changed. I continue to feel optomistic about our future even now.

Southern Fruit

This is another painting from Charleston, South Carolina. This was the view from my hotel room. When I first arrived, I did a small 5 by 7 watercolor sketch of this view. This paint was completed this year. The steeple is the church where the killings occured. The statute is probably a confederate soldier or "hero". I really need to visit this place again. Somuch subject matter.

Fulton Avenue Flag

This painting is part of my Charleston, South Carolina series. I really should go back to do more plein air work. Its a special place and it did leave a mark on my artistic eye. I want to focus on the people for my next art trip there.

Elk Crossing

 

I was last in Northern California in January. We took a trip to the Point Reyes National Seashore. The elk were all over the place plus other forms of wildlife. At times we would literally stop for a herd to cross the road. I was shooting in manual mode on my camera and some of the shots didnt get the details of the elk. I used one of those images as a jumping off point with regard to color. I did the initial drawing with a Keurotaki brush pen on St. Armand paper. I then added the pastel.

Close Of Day

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The recent clouds have inspired me to look up for inspiration. I do a lot of walking lately. The clouds and light have been amazing to witness. I open the back portion of my car and paint away. I get shade and the plein air experience.

Grove Building

This building is on 6th street here in Austin. With this series, color usage is intentionally unconventional as well as perspective. Stay safe and healthy out there.

Stream

I'm obsessed with painting the surface of water. I'm not good yet but the struggle is worth it. You have to look deep and come forward with the image. The photo that inspired the painting was taken at Samuel P. Taylor Park in Northern California.

ATX Musing During Walks

I've been walking a lot in the mornings before working. During these walks I have been sketching. The subject matter varies. I've sketched people walking their dogs, vice versa, construction equipment, construction workers, etc. I've also been attracted to the morning atmosphere and how it affects the greens and sky. Transformers and telephone poles are showing up in a lot of my musings. They demonstrate connectivity.

Corner Music

I love revisiting old photos especially those taken during SXSW here in Austin. During the festival I keep my camera with me because of scenes like these. I remember these two young men were performing outside the Whole Foods on 6th street. I was in my car heading home and caught a few shots of them. They saw my camera and posed for me. It will be nice to see what happen next year for the festival. I'm optimistic.

Cutting Avenue

I painted this image because I like the color of the building and of course the light. Cutting Avenue is in Richmond, California. I would have to say that it's one of my many muses (that would include the entire state). We have passed this building many times going here and there. I have always wanted to paint it. Last year I challenged myself to paint more buildings. One thing I have learned thus far is that structure to me does not matter. I still go for the feels.

Last Haul Noyo Harbor

About three years ago we were hanging out right at dusk near Noyo harbor. I was concentrating on photographing people fishing and the boats coming in for the night. What struck me most about this image was the lone fisherman on the top near the light and the red lobster traps in the back of the vessel.

Tide Pool Buddies

When I can, I want to get to California. The place inspires me and I get to see Pamela. A few years ago, we were out and about on the Point Reyes National Seashore and I was busy sketching people. I was working on 8 by 6 pieces of Khadi watercolor paper. I liked how their bodies reflected in the tide pools. I used quick gesture work to get the overall form down and added watercolor later. I moved a few years ago. I threw away about a third of what I was hoarding and did a lot of reorganizing. I found an old sketchbook with value studies from 2007. Yesterday I did a small pastel from one of those studies. I was amazed at how much of the actual scene came flooding back into my mind.

In 2007 I spent the weekend in Fulton, Texas painting and sketching with a painting group. This pastel put me back in that place by the water watching the shrimpers coming in and going out. The birds of course were feeding.

Church Muse

Last week I found a box of photographs from 2001. It contained some photos of the old Mount Moriah Temple Baptist Church building before it was torn down and made into a parking lot. I have done many paintings of this old building. I call it one of my many muses. If she were alive today, my mother would laugh. She knew how much I disliked going to church. Some would say that that revokes my "black" card.

Almost A City

A lot has happened since my last post. We are now in full pandemic mode. Almost all of my life takes place online with very little physical human interaction. The new normal. I am using this time to reflect, paint, photograph my world, etc. I'm an introvert by nature so this sort of suits me. The threat of the virus looms everywhere. My hands are dry from washing them so much. I'm spending time in my sketchbooks too. This is an Austin image. My take on the over development of a little town. My hope is that this post finds you healthy and well.

Berkeley Botanical Garden

Last year we went back to the Berkeley Botanical Gardens. This was my first visit in over ten years. The views were still breathtaking. I was sporting a new camera with a wide angle lens. I was drawn to the palm tree and the overall atmosphere of the landscape . I was amazed at the quantity of vegetables that they had growing on the grounds. They had beautiful patches of collard greens. I was tempted to pick some to cook. That, I assume, would have been frowned upon.

Over Developed

This is another take on downtown development. My perspective is off on purpose. The crane is off too. Maybe too much development throws everything off.

Music Capitol

I'm having a love hate relationship with Austin right now. Change is a given in our world. In Austin it has meant more traffic and people. The constant construction and it's affect on traffic can make one scream. The landscape and new buildings inspire my painting and sketch book habit. I love the new pens and markers that I have acquired. I am starting to use them in my more finished pieces. I am also showing more respect for the line. So, my work will sometimes look unfinished. This painting is a downtown Austin scene. This town is such a muse.