Point Reyes Layers

This was also inspired by the same set of plein air sketches I spoke about in my most recent post. Below are the sketches completed on site.

I recently purchased a set of oil pastels made by Caran D'ache. I think the next paintings will be with this medium. I will keep you posted.

The Patch

The plein air sketch that inspired this pastel was done on the Point Reyes National Seashore. I have since completed paintings in pastel, watercolor and oil. I find plein air sketches far more useful than just using a photo. Its almost as if the sketch done on site etches the scene in your brain. That is what it does for me at least.

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.

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.

Point Reyes Repose One

I have this thing about many things; one of which is cows. I love the animals of the Point Reyes National Seashore. These guys were hanging out just when the drought was breaking in Northern California a few years back. I have made reference to these guys because this is one of two paintings.

The second painting. Both are sold.

Dinner For Five

Pam was kind enough to pull over and let me get the initial line work in on site in ink. I worked on a 5 by 7 piece of Fisher 500 pastel paper. Recently I treated myself to a set of Henri Roche pastels so I took them for a test drive on this piece. I also used my Diane Townsend Wolf Khan inspired set for balance with the lights.

California Calm

This painting was inspired by a car sketch and Frank Reaugh. I often execute small ACEO trading card paintings and sketches while Pam is driving us around. We were exploring the Point Reyes National Seashore and I made a small painting of three cows. We also went to see the Frank Reaugh exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center on the University of Texas campus. I took that small painting and what I learned from the exhibit to create this piece.

This is the car sketch.

Hiking Point Reyes

The photo that inspired this painting was taken during an unexpected hike on the Point Reyes National Seashore. We decided to go out to this area on a holiday. Of course the parking was limited, so we had to take this rather long trail to the ocean. I liked the way the sun lit up the overhanging trees and shrubs. I used a piece of black Strathford paper with a gouache underpainting.

Beach People Below

I painted this piece on my birthday which we spent part of on Point Reyes. It was a huge mistake to go there as everybody else decided to go there too. Most parking areas were full so even getting to this area above the beach took quite a hike to get to. I needed the exercise anyway. Pam not so much. We did have a bench to sit on at least.

Point Reyes Poppies 2

I'm still inspired by the photo that I used for this painting. I am dividing it up into individual sections as I tend to print 8 by 10 photos to paint from. Photoshop was also utilized to bump up the color and saturation. A watercolor under painting was the first layer followed by pastel. I intentionally left some of the watercolor showing. I am now doing some plein air work whenever we visit Point Reyes. I think that informs these paintings. This week I am in training to meet my license requirements. I hope to fill my sketchbook and start some 6 by 6 watercolors before it ends. Maybe I will give a peek into that sketchbook too.

Point Reyes Poppies

A while back Pam sent me some photos of the poppies on the Point Reyes National Seashore. She was out enjoying the area so she shared her joy with me. I bumped up the saturation a bit in photo shop. I started out with a watercolor under painting which looks a lot like the study posted below. I then used a variety of pastels to finish up. I intentionally left some of the watercolor uncovered.

Red Swimsuit

I took the photo that inspired this painting on my birthday last year. We were visiting the Point Reyes National Seashore. The subject was watching her son. Her son was the inspiration for "Joy By The Water". I completed this painting during our recent studio tour.

Joy By The Water II

I posted the study for this larger version last week. The setting was a new beach (to me) on the Point Reyes National Seashore. The beach was filled with people enjoying the water. This little fellow was being watched closely by his father. This version is 20 by 20 inches. The water in this one seems more ominous that the original study which is posted below.

Joy By The Water

This little boy's dad was close by so don't worry he wasn't by himself. This is a part of the Point Reyes National Seashore that I had never seen. To get to the area we had to walk through a wooded area. The trees had this beautiful moss hanging from them and the light was amazing. The beach was filled with people enjoying the water. It was my birthday so I was sketching and painting. I used a photo taken that day as inspiration for this little painting. 5 by 5 inches $45.00 unframed.

Sign of Weather

We stopped for Pam to stretch on the way back and I painted a 3 by 5 inch image of these cows at rest. My Mom always told me that cows laying down foretold rain. Point Reyes is where we were. It was my birthday too. Anyway I worked on a larger piece this weekend and came of with this painting from that 3 by 5 inch inspiration.

Line Them Up

I love the dairy farms in the Point Reyes National Seashore the cows are beautiful as is the landscape.

Sunshine Point

This scene was initially painted onsite. We were exploring the bay side of Point Reyes last year and stopped just as the sun was travelling down. I painted a small oil painting and took a few photos with my phone. I loved the light on the buildings the sounds and peace.

Roadside Point Reyes

I worked on larger paper during my most recent trip to California. I wanted to force myself to simplify things and also gather more detail. We stopped in a parking lot for this scene. Pam explored while I painted. The bay side of Point Reyes is ripe with subject matter. I can spend a day in just one place.

Bayside Point Reyes

We ended up on the bay side of Point Reyes National Seashore. I painted this in the afternoon as it was getting cooler and the breeze was picking up. I sat down on the ground with my Guerrilla paint box and committed this scene to my memory. I didnt take many pictures with my camera this visit. I relied on my own camera with my hands, eyes and paints.