Lunch At Point Richmond

This painting was made in January of this year. We were hanging out at Point Richmond and this group of birds were foraging for food. I tried to capture a variety of poses as they flew in and out of the area. I worked with a variety of pastels on Canson paper.

Clouds Through Treetops

In the evening I like to sit outside and watch clouds if we have them. I like how they dominate the tree tops with color and what appears to be volume.

Point Reyes Dairy Occupants

This is simmering on the easel. I have already spent another hour on it since this picture was taken. California dairy country on Point Reyes.

Second Tree (Commerce Landscape

The second half of the picture.

The Muse (in pro)

Another painting inspired by the many music festivals in and around Austin. It was getting dark and the light was fun across their faces.

First Tree

I divided the image above in half and worked in pastel.

A Little Elegance

I saw this lady walking around downtown Boston. What struck me about her was the bright red outfit and the one flower sticking out of her bag.

Steep Drop

I like taking pictures of the ocean from a cliff as long as its safe (lessons learned). I think this area is on the Point Reyes National Seashore or Fort Bragg. I used the smooth side of a piece of Canson paper.

Small Town Square

I grew up in a small town that still had the most quaint town square. The area reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting because their are no people. There is only the evidence of people. I have painted this scene many times in watercolor. This is the first attempt in pastel. Those of you in Commerce should recognize this area.

Surfing Fort Bragg

In 2008 the bridge between the Beachcomber motel and some condominiums was opened. It enabled us to watch the waves from a cliff as opposed to a hotel balcony. We spent the afternoon photographing the surfers from the cliffs above them. This is the first "surfer painting" in a series. Its on Canson paper.

Scared Pigeons

After the Avedon, Okeefe and Ansel Adams show at the San Francisco MOMA we walked around downtown. I was looking down this side street and saw this older man out walking his dog and the pigeons flying about. What attracted me to this was the dog and the pigeons. I painted it on Canson paper but with a twist. I placed stacks of paper on my painting surface to make the strokes a little smoother. I saw Desmond OHagan do that during a workshop and read an article in International Artist by another pastelist who uses the same technique.

Domino Fool (in progress)

As you can see I'm defining the shapes a little better and making them (hopefully) "read" as a young man smacking down a domino in a fast paced trash talking game. His cigarettes and shades are to the lower right.