Morning Fog Lifting

On our last day in Fort Bragg we went to one of our favorite spots. It was raining off and on. I was filming timelapses and sketching. When we get here I tend to stay in this spot. I love the atmosphere. I used oil paint sticks and tempra paints on canvas.

Bay Bridge Vantage Point

This birthday season we did a lot of local parks with different views of the Bay Bridge in California. Years ago I would never have tried the bridge because I found it intimidating. As I have grown older, painting is more about joy and fun and not selling. As I post paintings from this visit. You will notice that I used tempra paint and paint sticks in some on the many paintings that I managed this visit.

Rain Over Mono Lake

I completed the underlying sketch and added watercolor later. We were at the visitor's center which was right next to the lake. I was attracted to the lines created in the sky from rain in the distance. Mono Lake is a saline lake that does not contain fish. It also has limestone formations called tufas. The island in the center of the painting is called Negit Island.

Through The Trees

I was experimenting with new paper and with using a lot of water. I like this yellow building near Point Richmond. The light in that little park area is beautiful. Even when its a bit flat you can still find some rich shadows.

Quick Shadows

I made this painting standing in my younger sister's yard in November of last year. I was interested in capturing the foreground shadows and the green tree entryway into a field. Commerce has beautiful trees too they are almost lyrical in this area.

Commerce Nocturne

Last weekend was spent in Commerce. This is the scene behind the hotel I normally stay in. I was standing outside and saw this beautiful sky. Of course by the time I got my paints and paper the sky had changed. I painted it because I liked the light and the way it fell across the bushes.

Melting Waves

A watercolor from my recent vacation. This one was really fast with very little time between paint applications. Pam was collecting sea glass and rocks. I did this one alla prima with no time for drying.

Cliff Bush and Waves Below

Another painting from the balcony. The sun was setting and the paints were melting onto the surface for me. One of those zen paintings done with my eyes half closed.

Captain's Deck Morning

I painted this view of the field from the "Captain' Deck" of the hotel. I plan on some nocturnes on my next visit. This is one of the looser paintings of the holiday. I think my eye has changed a bit. The paintings from this trip represent a shift for me. As I look at each one I see study and improvement. This series had a few good ones.

Swim Hole

This painting was done on my second outing on a very hot day last week. We spent the morning in the botanical gardens and the afternoon at McKinney Falls State Park. I didn't include the swimmers and sunbathers. The surface I worked on was Masa covered with gesso. I will do a painting with the swimmers. That will be a fun series.

Just Off The Path

This past week I painted over at Red Bud Isle here in Westlake Hills. We settled on this spot because it was shady and by the water. This was my second painting of the morning and I had it sitting face up and taped to a board. A young dog ran up and stepped on this painting, my pastels and the sketch. If you look close enough you might be able to see the paw print. The owner apologized and complemented my paintings. This was my first time visiting this area. When I visit again I will be prepared for four legged visitors.

The practice sketch.

Photo Arch/Seminar Sketch 4

Pam and I were hanging out in the botanical gardens on Sunday, I was able to paint the painting shown above in about twenty minutes plus 52 years. This is an arch that many photographers use. A lady stopped to talk to us while I was painting. She seemed lonely. Pam and I invited her to sit with us. While I painted and Pam read she told us her story.

A sketch from the "Baby Prosecutors" course.

Young Skeptic/Fuel Storage

This little girls mom sat next to me at one of our family functions. She found me to be very interesting as she could not stop staring at me. I drew her of course and added the color later. I painted it on one of the 4 by 4 inch Stratmore artist tiles that I tend to keep with me for small sketches on site. I drew her dad the same day. He is the subject of the "Rhasta Rules" painting that I posted recently.

I will paint anything if it has interesting light. This is a plein air sketch of fuel storage tanks in Richmond, California. I was at the Richmond pier with Pam and turned around and saw the light on the tanks. I had been painting most of the morning and this was the last one of the outing.

Botanical Vines

As I was painting this, mosquitoes were eating my lower legs up. I forgot the cardinal rule of always having bug spray. I did enjoy myself and I left with a feeling of peace that day. I spent a few hours in various places. I plan on a visit this weekend to the trail (Hike and Bike) and the garden.

Spring Shadows

I painted this in early May. I was visiting (annoying) my youngest sister and helping cook our family feast. I sat on her back porch and painted this view of a shirt hanging on her clothes line. In my opinion, the light in small towns is somewhat spiritual. I love the city but my home is special. I can smell the earth in Commerce; not so much in the city.

Approaching Wave

This is watercolor and gouache together. I realize that painting seascapes en plein air exercises the memory in a very good way. When painting a seascape one is forced to take a quick visual snapshot for the brain and then duplicate it on whatever surface one chooses. I saw a documentary on Wolf Kahn today. I love how he approaches his work. His wife is also an artist. Emily Mason, if my memory serves me correct. I am in the process of understanding why I am drawn to his work. Hans Hoffman was his mentor.

I Like This Cloud

Anyone that follows this blog knows that I follow my partner Pam's advice on when to stop painting. I was going to add more layers and more detail in the ocean. Pam told me twice to leave it alone. Here it is. This cloud I painted as it appeared on the horizon and added it while on site to my painting. The initial cloud sketch is below.

I did my studies in gouache for this visit. I like having a color study as a road map. This cloud floated by as I was painting this seascape. I did a sketch of the cloud in my sketch pad and added it to the painting.

Sunset Colors 4

Painted from the hotel balcony. We had been out all day at the beaches and my painting muscles were warm. I had a bunch of paper taped to boards so I could work on multiple pieces at the same time. Painted during the sweet light hour.

Birthday View

I sometimes just record my view as opposed to designing a painting. This composition is a tad weird and I must admit I wasn't loose enough. For some reason I was not in the proper mode yet. My focus was the mood of the weather. It was foggy in places including this new beach area we found on Point Reyes.

Plein Air Choppy Waters

This is the plein air version of Choppy Waters (watercolor) which I posted a few days ago. On site I used Golden's Open Acrylics on primed Gator board. I was perched on this cliff above the water looking down at the beach and surf.