Cactus Flowers

These flowers were blooming in a neighbor's yard. I did some sketching on site and took a few photos. This piece was inspired by one of the photos. I used Shizen pastel paper. I like it because it forces you to get it down and done in as few passes as possible. Another advantage is that it comes in multiple colors. Lately I have felt a lot of freedom with my art. It's for me and my joy. More like my playground.

Tulip Grace 2

I always enjoy purple tulips. The petals have beautiful shades to them. I made this painting about three days after purchasing this bunch of flowers. By then each tulip has its own posture and personality. Each bloom to me is a portrait.

Counter Top Portrait 2

I enjoy painting from life especially flowers and people. I will buy a bouquet and paint from it for about a week. I just keep the flowers well watered and on the kitchen counter. This blue bottle is my latest favorite vase to paint. I am again experimenting with color and background shapes. The surface is a 6 by 6 inch art tile made by Strathmore.

Make My Day

This painting has been sitting on my floor waiting for a finish for a while. I took it and another painting with me to the gallery yesterday and finished both. This is yet another in my kitchen counter top series. I started with a watercolor under painting for the first layer . I went in with a layer of pastel which I dissolved with an alcohol wash. The final pastel layer was added with some blending.

Really Wild

I still going through my flower phase and I'm working from life. I feel as if there is more energy in a painting done from life as opposed to from photos. That is just an opinion that will change when I next work from photos again. I started out with an under painting in watercolor and then covered it with juicy pastels.

One Orange Flower

I revisited this image last weekend during West. The first painting was in acrylic. This is the pastel version. I liked the contrast between the blue and orange. I will work with this image again in a larger format. My goal was to convey a sense of depth and light.

Wild Ones

Another study of my friend Kim's flowers. When she officed next to me I would almost always photograph the flowers her husband sent her. He has great taste in flowers for a guy.

32521012 Botanical Garden 2

This is the second flower painting from my outing at the botanical gardens this past weekend. Its was a little warm for the season but shade was plentiful.

Gentle Flowers

I am in the process of organizing and storing off site some pastel paintings. I finished this one in 2009. Yes I have them from that long ago sitting on tables and every other surface I can find in my living space. The goal this year is no more clutter.

Large Floral Interior (WIP)

I found something that I wanted to clean up after photographing this piece. So one more session and its done.

Another Unknown

The raw data.

Flower Interior

Back to pastel for a bit with the florals. This one is yet another flower that I can't identify. Believe it or not I think I took botany in high school or maybe biology II.

Yellow Unknown Flower

Playing with pastels again. This flower is from the Fort Bragg, CA botanical garden. I have yet to document the names. Maybe this year I will write the names down.

Yardwork 6

The nasturtiums in Pam's yard just begged to be painted. The flower is delicate but its color is strong and bold. These three were close to the concrete. The leaves are unique in shape also. I spent about an hour on this one with the majority of it trying to solve value problems. Available if you like.

ACEO Sunflower

A small sunflower study done on an Artist Spectrum ACEO trading card.

ACEO Sunflower
3 1/2" x 2 1/2" (8.9cm x 6.4cm)
Pastel on Art Sprectrum ACEO card
$25 plus $1 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.

Balboa Flowers

Balboa Park in San Diego, California is an artist's mecca. Beautiful landscapes and structures surround you. Every inch is a painting waiting to happen.

Balboa Flowers
6" x 6" (15.3cm x 15.3cm)
Pastel on canson paper
$75 plus $9 shipping and handling in the US
E-mail me for International shipping rates or other inquiries.