Afternoon Crab Special

This is a plein air piece that I completed on my most recent trip to Fort Bragg, California. We were hanging out in the afternoon and these birds were hunting crab. Pam actually "rescued" one and threw it back into the ocean.

Dad's Watchful Eye

I did this sketchbook spread in Fort Bragg, California while sitting on a cliff over looking the beach. The person lying down had on jeans and wasn't paying too much attention to girls playing in the water. I used my larger Illo sketchbook with a fountain pen for the initial drawing and added watercolor later.

Flowers In The Fog

This years birthday trip to Fort Bragg, California was a success and challenge in many ways. We had a beautiful place to stay that overlooked the ocean and we decided to step out of the box with our dining habits. I did a ton of sketching and photographing. This sketch is of the flowers that grow along the beach and the ocean in the background. Fog was setting in but the flowers were still crisp.

Since I don't drive well on curvy roads, I get to be the passenger. I sketch the road as we go along. As I was drawing this one Pam asked me if I ever got car sick. This is a double page spread in my Rabisco sketchbook from Portugal. I almost finished this sketchbook during our trip. The paper is top quality and its perfect for sketching.

Beach Sport

One of many paintings completed in early September. I worked in ink with watercolor washes on Garza Papel (paper). I love handmade papers. I enjoyed the group dynamics of this set of people.

Dusty Peace

Dusty Peace came from my thoughts about the beach. Its peaceful but the dust can be a pain when you return to the room. The people were good models because they didn't move much. I was happy.

People Rocks And Waves

Yes I painted a lot in California. I did about 30 ink sketches on the Garza Papel when I was sitting on the beach. Its a good place to practice drawing people, animals, rocks and vessels. The ink dissolves and gives me a nice value pattern. The color is the gravy.

Beach Puppies

I just returned from my annual birthday trip to Fort Bragg, California. It was a great time and I got to make many paintings and drawings while I was there. We spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach. I took those opportunities to sketch people and puppies. I did the initial drawing on site with a Parker fountain pen. I worked on handmade Garza Papel watercolor paper. Daniel Smith watercolors were added later.

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

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.

Colorful Cove

I have painted this cove many times. With this attempt I wanted to play with color a bit. I also tried not to blend in the area that I wanted the viewer to focus on.

Two weekends ago I was downtown sketching. One of my favorite places to do that is at 6th and Congress. All types hang out on that corner.

Beach Rock Shadows

One of my favorite beach coves near the hotel. I am enjoying painting on the Strathmore Artist Tiles. The format is fun and a great size for studies.

Too Close

I was sitting up on one of the cliffs at Glass beach painting this rock and the waves crashing into it. People were a little too close to the waves with their kids in my opinion. That didn't keep me from painting them into the scene. I love painting people from a distance it forces me to leave out distracting details.

Watch Him

On New Years day we decided to stay in Fort Bragg for an extra day. We of course spent some time on Glass Beach. I sat in a good spot to draw and paint and Pam went exploring for rocks and glass. I did a few paintings of people hanging out on the beach. I always get concerned when I see kids walking away from their parents because those waves can be aggressive.

Rock Solid

People and animals enjoying the beach and water. I used one of my plein air sketches as inspiration.

Beach Tent 2

I used my plein air sketch for this larger painting. I was painting from the hotel balcony looking down on the beach. The weather was warm and someone had put up a blue tent for shelter.

Birds of a Feather

While painting I saw these seagulls sitting together on one of the large rocks. I did a quick value sketch and a small watercolor before moving on to other subject matter. I was attracted to the back lit birds.

A Long Way Down

I did the value sketch standing on a cliff overlooking the surf. Once I got to the painting stage it was windy and cold. I had on shorts so I painted from the backseat of the car using my trusty Gorilla Paint Box.

Fellow Tourists

Fellow tourists taking pictures and enjoying the ocean. The values need some work. I'm enjoying the 8 by 8 inch format for studies and final pieces. The format also translates well en plein air.

The First Of 2012

This was the first painting of 2012. Before packing up to leave I stood on our balcony and painted this piece. I was emotionally at peace. It was meditation. It flowed from a good place and that was how my year began.

Beachcomber Inn Foggy View

I tend to paint in any weather when my life is not threatened. It was foggy but the light in the foreground was very clear.