In The Shade Made

These days getting a picture downtown without people is pretty hard. During the pandemic, not so much. Downtown was literally just buildings and a few cars. I hope our attempt at returning to "normal" will be sucessful this time. For all of you visiting our city for the Rodeo, SXSW etc..stay safe, healthy and enjoy Austin.

SOCO Coffee Buzz

South Congress in my opinion is more like an inner city vibe than anything else. The pace is fast and the people are young and unique. That is unusual for a small Texas town like Austin. Even though it has grown in population and density, it is still a small Texas town. This is the companion piece to "SOCO Boots On The Ground ."

SOCO Boots OnThe Ground

This is a little slice of bustling South Congress (SOCO) Avenue. Its a very popular spot as its where you will find coffee and the "I Love You So Much" sign.

From South Congress

This is from South Congress looking towards the Capitol. I just wanted to have fun with color and mediums. I used the blue toned paper and played with paint, markers, pens, watercolor etc.

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.

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.

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.

Bowie and Sixth

This part of Austin like all has undergone a lot construction. The bulk of it has been condos and mixed use buildings. My gym has recently bought out another gym in Austin. I'm frequently at this intersection in the early morning. I like the reflections and light of early morning.

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.

Monday Morning

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

Free Entertainment

The photo that inspired this painting was taken in early two thousand. The guy in the foreground was a down and out university professor and the background person was the "King of Sixth Street". I haven't seen him in years. Rumor is, the space was purchased by an upscale restaurant that didn't want him in front of their establishment. I thought he added flavor and he didn't beg for money. He just played his instrument and sang.

Justice Through Trees

I have to be a lawyer in this building. I made the sketch from my office and added watercolor later. This is from the corner of 11th and Guadalupe.

Rain And Tourists

I am doing a lot of studies in my sketchbooks. I think its good to play around with ideas for compositions. Plus it adds to the painting miles. This is the front of a hotel on 6th street.

Blight Of Condos

We are going through a lot of growth here in Austin, Texas. Condos are going up and being filled to capacity. Our city has lost a lot of its old feel. It takes longer to navigate the city these days and we sit in traffic a lot longer. I still love living here. I took a break from work on Tuesday and did this sketch standing at 11th and Guadalupe using a fountain pen on watercolor Garza Papel (paper). Daniel Smith watercolors were applied later.

Corner Joint

The gym garage is right above P Terry's burgers. The photo that inspired this painting was taken from the roof. The initial line drawing was in ink. I used Daniel Smith watercolors for the wash. I liked the shadows and cars below me.

City Recreation

I love how people in Austin enjoy themselves. This was a Sunday and I had situated myself in the shade under the bridge. I did the ink drawing on site and added watercolor later.I liked the calm of the lake as people rode by on their various forms of water transportation.

Green Mesquite From H2O

A few weekends ago I went to the local H2O car wash to get my car cleaned up. While waiting I drew one of my favorite dining spots Green Mesquite on Barton Springs road. I later added watercolor at home. The signage was probably the hardest part of the rendering.

The Flags and Seasonal Bloom 3

This is a scene from downtown Austin. Its a view of the Capital through the two flags. I don't like whats been happening in that building these days. In my opinion, the halls are filled with hateful men and women who want to stamp out my rights even though I am a taxpaying citizen of this country. But I digress. I enjoy walking around the town sketching various scenes and people.

A daffodil portrait.

One Of Us

When I finished this painting one of my first thoughts was the song "What If God Was One of Us". I try hard not to prejudge people so I tend to treat homeless people with respect. You never know. I drew this sketch downtown at 6th and Congress while sitting on the steps of Starbucks. I used my current favorite paper Moulin du Roy made by Canson.