Calming Redwoods

I took many shots on my camera on our way down the mountainside from Fort Bragg, California.

The Standout

This piece in addition to quite a few other miniatures will be on display and sale tomorrow from 11-6 with a small gathering from 2-6 at Austin ArtSpace. We are located at 7739 Northcross Drive Suite Q, Austin, Texas 78757. We are also open today if you want to stop by ahead of time. On December 23rd we will also be open for those last minute shoppers. In addition to paintings we have notecards, t-shirts, prints, stickers etc. Hope you can stop by.

Fort Bragg Revisit

I just got back from a long stay in northern California. It was a very fruitful visit in many ways. I did a ton of sketching, painting, photograpy, video and of course relaxing with Pam. This painting is from a visit in early 2000. Before my trip, I was doing a series of oil paintings from old sketches. I used a Sourcetex wood panel for my surface.

Turkey Geese 1

Birds and people are similar subjects. Both move around and frustrate the hell out of your artistic ego. They both force you to use your memory muscle. These geese were hanging out at the Richmond marina in January of this year. Pam warned me not to get too close because they can be aggressive. I listened to her advice.

Owl Nest

I spotted this "screeching house" while Pam and I were hanging out at the botanical garden. I was attracted to the way the light kissed the leaves and the side of the structure. I completed the sketch on site and added paint later. The garden has grown even more luscious due to the drought ending in recent years.

Tree Reflection At Sunset

The sun was going down and I noticed the reflection on the water. This is the resulting painting. I am on day two of an art challenge from a Facebook friend. My intent is to nominate people who don't think they are artists and have them share their work.

My Hood

You have seen this scene before in watercolor. My oil version is above. I don't paint in oil much but I probably should as the paintings sell better. This is the Sulfur Springs highway near my home Commerce, Texas. If it wasn't dangerous I would set up in one of the fields and just paint. I would need a guardian as I don't like snakes, etc. I love the landscape because it is me.

Looking Up Upper Falls

This was the last painting onsite from my recent visit to McKinney Falls State Park. I got down a nice skeleton onsite and fleshed the rest out at home.

Forest Ballet

This weekend at McKinney Falls State Park I focused on the trees because there wasn't much water to paint at the Lower Falls area. This section was fun to paint as it reminded me of a complex dance routine.

That Last Light

I was chasing the light with this one. Standing on the back porch painting quickly to get that light that made my heart skip...

Richmond Inner Harbor

This is a painting of the inner harbor of Point Richmond. Another day of freezing while painting.

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.

Jug Handle Fog

Yet another study of this image from a plein air painting.

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.

Iceplants in Fog

Another plein air piece from Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California.

Foggy Birthday

On Pam's birthday we went to one of her favorite beaches which is Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. She combed the beach for glass and shells while I sat and painted this little piece. The fog was heavy that day.

Sky Changing

I like painting just before the sun starts to set. I will work in multiple mediums to get the most out of it. This was one of the three oil sketches completed during my visit to northern California last month.

Botanical Garden Path 2

I used the plein air sketch completed on site for this one. I skipped the photo and just used the study. Working from sketches completed onsite is far better than working from a photo. Its easier to recall the scenery, light, sounds etc.

Water Sports

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina.

Barn

A barn