Sun Kissed Ocean

A plein air piece done during a recent visit to Fort Bragg, California.

Holiday Sail

Fourth of July I think and the boats were out. Oil paint drawing sticks and tempra paint.

Night Flight

I always go back to revisit old plein air paintings for additional inspiration. We made a visit to the Point Reyes National Seashore a couple of years back. I remember this visit because I sketched in the car to avoid snakes. Long story short, I encountered two snakes in one day at this location a few years back and it still haunted me. I sectioned off a number of squares on a page of mixed media Canson paper and completed about 5 little plein air sketches. I pulled that page out recently and did some pastels. I will try and post the sketches later. Of course I took liberties with the time of day or night.

Fort Bragg Storm Clouds

Happy New Year all. I spent some time in one of my favorite spots at the beginning of the year. It was rainy and foggy a couple of days, but that makes for dramatic skys and waves. I painted a lot. Great way to start the year.

Albany Bug Cove

I follow painting groups online and that is how I found this fine painting spot. I was attracted to the atmosphere which for me is the fog. Depicting fog for me is a fun atruggle.

Bulb Entrance

We went back to the "Albany Bulb" for some different scenery. This time we walked around a bit before I got this sketch in. One reason, I had a new modified full spectrum camera to play with. I really liked that the eucalyptus tree provided a natural entrance into the area. I threw down the intial lines in ink and moved on to the next sketch/photo op.

Mendocino Overlook

I really miss going places just to be there. I can't wait for us to get back to something we call normal. This overlook always puts me into perspective. Find some peace everyone it's out there.

No Talking Needed

Today was a hard day. I will just leave it at that. This painting title came to me because I have friends that know when to be silent. I appreciate those friends. I sketched this scene from the hotel balcony. I had a device that gave me a good view of the people on the beach. I love drawing relaxed people. It reminded me of those days when the sound of the ocean was all that was necessary to put me into perspective.

Last Haul of The Day 2

Another little painting inspired by my last visit to California. Of course it has fog and sea vessels. I like working from my sketch books and changing up the medium and color scheme. I will use photos on occasion, but I think its easier to capture the feel of a place if you sketch it. I found myself reaching more for my sketchbook than my actual camera during this most recent visit to the Bay area.

Daily Magic

This is one of my many "sunset over the ocean" paintings. I call it daily magic because it is.

Sketchbook share.

Beach Family Time

During the most recent visit to Fort Bragg, Ca., I actually spent a lot of time just sitting on the beach as opposed to the patio of our hotel room. I was able to sketch people on the beach from a perspective I enjoy. I love exploring this town and state in pen, watercolor, pastel...I was drawing as fast as I could on a beautiful piece of paper in ink. I was drawn to how tall the dad was and the baby on his shoulders. I loved the action in the waves too.

Coastal Peace and In The Eye

Okay I know we just had some horrible flooding but today I wanted to be near the ocean. I walked 10 blocks to and from the gym today and the heat is here. Add to that I walked in work clothes and shoes. This is a scene from Fort Bragg, California that I painted a few years ago.

One of my many flower portraits. I started out with an oil underpainting. After that dried I applied pastel and left some of the underlying stain visible.

Wave Meditation

After years of painting these I have just now realized that these are meditation paintings. I usually paint these after a full day of painting. By then my brain is free to just paint the feel of the wave. I think its a good thing to memorize the crashing of a beautiful wave and then to put it down while its still fresh in your mind. I'm usually sitting on the balcony painting the waves and sunset until its too cold and windy to paint.

We have had a few cool days here in Austin. On those mornings these flowers come out. I love the color of this flower and I enjoy the surprise they give me when they come out.

Perched Seabirds

I have come to appreciate the Noyo Harbor area of Fort Bragg. I went down to that area at night during my most recent visit. I got a lot of material to work with. The photo that inspired this image was taken about 7 p.m.

The Process Begins

I painted this little study over at the harbor area of Richmond. The sun was still up but it was beginning its descent. I first did a gouache study in my sketchpad and next did this small watercolor. Lots of vessels, people, doges and birds walking around.

The gouache study.

Melted Rock

The original intent with this piece was to do this watercolor underpainting and then cover it with pastel. The boss (Pam) liked this and said leave it alone. This is my interpretation of the sun setting over the ocean. The title is based upon the rock in the foreground that seemed to melt away each time I laid paint on paper.

Pacific Green

I was sitting on the captain's deck of the hotel and looking down on this beautiful ocean. I was playing with some ink and gouache too. It was the new year and inspiration was abundant.

Sunset Colors 3

The second painting completed at sunset on the cliff. I loved the colors that I was able to see that day. Can't wait to make a larger version in multiple mediums.

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.

Creeping Nigh (Fini)

I'm done. Throwing down my pastels.