Mugs Coffee Worker

This is another sketch of the interior of Mugs Coffee Shop in Commerce. I was in town for my nephew's graduation. During my off time, I roamed around the downtown area. There was a farmer's market that I also sketched. Mugs has beautiful antique furniture. It offers a nice contrast to the blue collar often eclectic customers. Graduation weekend was packed with celebrations and multiple sketching opportunities.

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.

Giving Direction

This is an old fishing buddy of my Stepfather's. He loved moonshine, gin (always had a bottle), beer and fishing. He was always at our family functions and would frequently just hang out at our house. He was very old school. I seem to remember him playing dominoes with my father and his friends and talking plenty of trash. That is customary when one plays dominoes. The two kids are one of my nephews and one of the neighborhood kids. His nick name was John L.

Three Ducks

I love this little lake and its birds. I often paint this area as opposed to the ocean across the parking lot. This was inspired by a photo taken with my phone a few years ago.

Sky Prism

Another little plein air watercolor from my recent trip. I always have issues with the straight horizon. The sky had lots of colors that were reflected in the ocean.

Corner View

I saw this man on my way to work one morning. He was at time holding up a sign. Usually that sign is a request for money or help.

Recent Rains

I worked outside one day in between storms. I loved how the clouds were heavy with rain. My palette was on the bright side.

Lucas Wharf Bodega Bay

This was the first painting of our trip to Bodega Bay. It may be Lucas Wharf as opposed to harbor. Pam thought that this building was a restaurant. While I was painting this couple with two boys walked up to chat. The father was teaching the boys to fish for crab. His youngest had just caught a crab. The oldest focused on me painting. I sat on a bench to avoid the chilly wind. Once finished we dined at the Lucas Wharf Restaurant.

True Scrutiny

When I have trouble focusing on what to paint, I randomly choose an old family photo. The image has to be painted before it goes back into the file.

At Night

I revisited some Chicago images this past weekend. I tried to simplify the shapes and to minimize detail.

Annie's Bartender

Another painting inspired by my lunch with my friend Aaron a week or so ago. She was busy preparing celery for bloody marys.

Lone Bale

I liked everything about this composition. Of course the hay bale but the sky and trees overhead were all in the mix.

Watercolor Go Away I'm Busy

The watercolor version of Go Away I'm Busy.

A Morning Snack

Another longhorn study from images captured at the Walnut Creek Preserve. This beauty actually crossed the dry creek and came over to watch us painting. He/she got pretty close to one of us. I of course was ready to abandon all painting gear if he/she got too close to me. I'm a country girl in a lot of ways but not so much when it comes to some farm animals and critters like snakes.

Hotel Inspiration

On the first night in Fulton, Texas I still had a little painting energy to burn. I finished this small watercolor before heading off to bed.

The Tires

After lunch I completed this one. I had cooled off and cleared my head of wind. Afterwards, I headed back to the harbor. This painting was the first of the afternoon.

Rock Reflected

Rather that focus on the surf for this painting, I focused on this rock and the reflections from the cliffs above. I worked on a 12 by 16 piece of watercolor paper which is large for me when working in the field. It's amazing what the camera doesn't pick up like the small ripples in the water from the breeze.

Wave Pose

Another study of wave formations in watercolor. Its a process of taking in the formation and putting it down on paper while the image is still fresh in your memory. I need to start working some of these up into larger paintings. This weekend I intend to gets some plein air work done in my hometown. I am also thinking about a project involving portraits of various people from my hometown. My goal will be 200 paintings. I will keep you posted.