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.

Town Lake Foliage

I started this image on site and added pastel later. I liked the reflections in the water and of course the plant life above it. I worked on a 5 by 7 piece of Uart paper and a variety of pastels.

A Commerce, Texas landscape. I think this is highway 178. I used St Armand canal paper and a variety of pastels

Yellow Irises 2

I was able to get quite a few paintings out of this bouquet. I liked the challenge of trying to get the colors and values right. I should do another wet on wet to get some soft edges for the background. Anyway, I worked with Daniel Smith watercolors on Canson's Moulin Du Roy watercolor paper. I like how the surface takes the paint.

Sea Rocks

I was sitting on the beach at Point Richmond and decided to paint this scene after the fishermen that I posted a while back. I liked the light reflecting on the rocks and the various reflections in the water. Looking back on this I am reminded of how the water sounded coming in and going back out.

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.

Painted Ladies

The photo that inspired this painting was taken on my recent visit to San Francisco, California. Pam drove me around while I took photos and sketched (yep I sketched from the car). I have always loved the way this bush wraps around this house. Pam said it reminded her of the "painted ladies" hence the title. I worked on 6 by 18 Shizen professional grade watercolor paper.

Fog In Retreat

I often paint the fog as it starts to recede. The changes in light quality are a challenge to commit to paint. This scene is across the street from a hotel that we frequent. It's a painting of morning light and shadows with fog as a filter on the left. I used a small 8 by 8 inch casein painting completed on site as inspiration.

Golden Glow

I love painting barns and the summer grass in California which in some places is golden brown. I love how it contrasts with the trees which are dark green with deep enticing shadows. This is the largest version of this image after multiple studies.

Inside The Floral

Another small painting of one of the flowers on my counter. I soaked my paper with water and let the color just mingle. I worked on multiple pieces because I was experimenting with how the paint would flow at various stages of wetness. I also chose to work on small 3 by 5 pieces of paper.

I went to Green Mesquite Barbecue last weekend for some sin food. While waiting for my order, I sketched this guy sitting at the counter waiting for food. I liked the blue scarf on his head and the black ring in his ear. I used St-Armand watercolor paper.

Alley Shadows

I really enjoyed drawing this scene. It was the first one post workout. I sat down across from the Littlefield building and drew this view of the alley and fire escape. I added the watercolor later at home.

Afternoon Coffee

I made this painting in the Starbuck's at 6th and Congress last weekend. I was enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and sketching people in the shop. I liked how the people facing the window had the sun reflected on their faces.

A Bridge At Sunset

This painting is from South Carolina. I was there last year and was smart enough to sketch and photograph as much as I could. This painting was inspired by a photograph. I hope to visit again just to paint and sketch.

Close Friends

Last week I had both tulips and daisy's to paint on my kitchen counters. This is a grouping of four tulips. I worked in casein on a Creative Mark seafoam toned panel.

Up Close And Personal

I found some toned panels in California. I bought green and grey panels in multiple formats. This is an 8 by 6 floral painted right in my kitchen. I worked in casein.

Midday Tree Shadow

We got to the park at about 3 in the afternoon and the light was grey and a little flat. Pam asked if I could get anything out of the light. My response was that I could work in any light...as long as I have some shadows I enjoyed the light in the background because it challenged me to see the various greys in the atmosphere.

Tree Reflection At Sunset

The sun was going down and I noticed the reflection on the water. This is the resulting painting. I am on day two of an art challenge from a Facebook friend. My intent is to nominate people who don't think they are artists and have them share their work.

Afternoon Tree Shadows

I did the drawing and under painting onsite in black, white and grey paint. I allowed the oil stain to dry and then added the pastels. I tried to stay within the original value scheme that I established with the oil paint. The surface was the arches paper that accepts oils. I worked primarily with Terri Ludwig pastels.

Robust

Tulips don't last as long as the daisy. I got in some sketches before I had to throw this bunch out. I tried to get more of a purple in the tulips on my scanner. The original is a little different in color. When I made this painting the tulips were scattered all over the place. I focused on single blooms as I was working with black 6 by 6 inch Art Tiles.

He Likes Hats

This is my youngest nephew from my siblings. He is now getting taller than me and the voice is changing. I would call this stage the contemplative stage that I assume we all go through. I was sitting around my sister's home after Christmas dinner and Casey sat down. The initial sketch was in ink on Canson paper. I covered that sketch in pastel while on vacation in California. I took liberties with colors because I can.

Daisy Waning

I enjoy painting from life and I also like to make the most out of my money. I have been known to keep flowers for three weeks to paint. Each stage of the life of a flower or piece of fruit is interesting to me. As to background colors I am experimenting a bit with color and color theory. I guess all art is experimentation with color and color theory.