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.

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.

Across The Roadway

Whenever we stay in Fort Bragg this is the view across from the hotel in the morning. I'm usually the one that goes to fetch breakfast so I get this treat. Hopefully, I will get to see it next month for my birthday. Nothing fancy here just straight up watercolor on a large piece of paper.

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.

About Peace

The title comes from where I go when I see a beautiful sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I got a new sets of Terry Ludwig Pastels for the holidays. I've been taking them for a stroll. The under painting is watercolor and the surface is print making paper.

Sunset Colors 1

We were in Fort Bragg, CA for the new year. It was great. I got in a lot of painting relaxing and ocean gazing. I of course got in many paintings of the ocean at sunset.

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.

Sky Complex

I love when the sun is reflected in the ocean. The sunsets were beautiful up in Fort Bragg this past holiday. We were treated with nice weather and beautiful cloud formations. I was able to paint on the balcony up until nightfall without a jacket. That place gives me peace.

Beach Tent

I painted this one the first day in Fort Bragg. I was on our hotel balcony looking down at the people on the beach. I worked mostly in watercolor for this trip as it was easy and what I'm into lately. I saw a flier for a paintout in Fort Bragg as I was leaving. Next year maybe I will plan our annual trip around that paintout.

Fence Breach

I found a plein air painting from about 6 years ago and used it to inspire this painting.

Sunset Over Ocean

This is my impression of the sun setting over the ocean on September 2. I was standing on the balcony of our hotel room.

Inspired by Fog

I was searching for a painting to show to a client yesterday and came upon yet another painting of this tree from a few years back. This is this years version with it surrounded by fog. I was experimenting with the new Arches paper for oil paints.

Above the Surf

I painted this on the day we arrived in Fort Bragg. We were sitting above the ocean on a cliff. Pam was napping and I was mesmerized by the ocean yet again.

Fog and Surf

I painted this at sunset from the hotel balcony. I used the new Arches Oil paper. The paint application wasn't very smooth so next time I will use a little linseed oil. It's nice not to have to carry around canvases but I will frame it under glass when the time comes.

Water Play

I tried to include more people in my plein air paintings from my most recent trip. I was sitting up on a cliff looking down at people playing in the water.

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.