A View of The Woods

This is a spread from my larger Illo sketchbook. I was sitting on the grass over looking the beach at Mackenricher State Park just outside of Fort Bragg. It was foggy and very atmospheric. This was an attempt to capture that. Fog really forces you to see values.

Masculine Quandry

I am continuing to explore my sketches done during a performance by Ballet Austin. I love sketching during any event. I have even gotten good at sketching in the dark. I like the line quality you get when you really can't see much of what you are drawing. Masa paper with gesso was my surface of preference because of the irregularities in the paper. It makes one want to explore and get close.

Men In Caps

I enjoy the energy in Austin during the festival season (its always festival season here). The people take on this energy. I liked the center characters sense of bravado. I'm enjoying just drawing for the fun of it theses days. I have not posted much but I will remedy that soon enough. I'm producing a lot of work however, and that keeps me happy. One has to be seen in order to be heard.

Good Seafood

I love the way that wait staff are dressed in some restaurants. They are dressed better than the patrons. This place is one of my favorite Cajun food places. I liked the young lady's hairdo on the right.

Sketchbook share

Daily Magic

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

Sketchbook share.

Hay Day Study

This painting was inspired by a photo taken by my high school classmate Roger Jones. I did this color study after a notan study created on my Ipad. I was attracted to hay bales (as usual) and the light on the vehicles.

Large Canson Sketchbook Share

Which Is Less Travelled

A little painting of the tracks that used to separate African Americans and whites in my home town. Its strange to have been part of segregation and desegregation. Now we have more of a mixed community which is good.

Sketchbook share.

Lights In Fog

This scene is from my morning commute. It was a foggy morning in Austin that I wanted to document in pastel. This is West Lynn at 6th street. It can be beautiful in fog.

Sketchbook share.

Deep Still Water

This scene is part of a river near Jenner, California, I was attracted to the rock formations and the colors in the water. We stopped on the side of the road for me to take photos. I recall it was near an old bridge.

Sketchbook share.

Hay Harvest

This is an older piece that I finally varnished. Its a northern California scene in the Anderson Valley. I worked on copper with really thick strokes in some areas. The attraction was to the shadows and the hay.

Sketchbook share.

Arched Water Path

I am sharing some of my oil on copper paintings. I have finally gotten around to varnishing them and now they are ready to show (some of them). This painting is of a beach in Mendocino, California. I was attracted to the arch in the ocean. I hope to be there for the new year.

Sketchbook share.

Garden Sketch

I took a few days off last week and spent some time painting in the local botanical garden. The rains we have had have really boosted the gardens. The elephant ears were huge and the flowers were just amazing. Having been through a drought here for quite a few years, it's a joy to see what water can bring.

Sketchbook share.

The Fog Was Warm

Over the years, I have spent many foggy days painting in Fort Bragg, California. This was painted from the balcony of our room. I recently completed varnishing a lot of my pieces on copper. It's fun to share and remember the circumstances under which they were painted.

Last year I observed and sketched this trial. It involved a lady that took medication and drove under the influence. She killed two people and injured others. She was found guilty.

Austin Spring Light

This painting is finally ready for a new home. When you paint on copper you have to make sure that the painting is protected from the elements. When dry, it has to be treated with a combination of Galkyd and odorless mineral spirits. I made this painting at the botanical gardens here in Austin. One of many painted there. I was attracted to the spring light on the path and trees.

Sketchbook share.

Diners Needed

When I had to give this painting a name I immediately thought "no cows". Thus the title. Those of you who follow this blog know that I love hay bales. When I was home recently I actually stood out in the bot sun to sketch hay bales. I was drenched in sweat when I got back to my car. Yes I wore a hat. The scene is from Northeast Texas. I like how the copper peeps through the paint.

Sketchbook share.

Colorful Forest Floor

This park is such a beautiful place. It smells good, the light is just right and its cold. I actually went down a small hill to get to this area. I should have worn different shoes etc. It was worth it just to see the stream.

Sketchbook share.

Shoal Creek Anderson Lane

I like this view of Shoal Creek. It is on Anderson lane close to my gallery space. This is a small watercolor exploratory study.

A page from one of many ongoing sketchbooks.

Pink Window

A little plein air sketch on copper. I was attracted to the windows and light on the buildings. I used both a brush and palette knife because I liked how the paint looked directly from the knife on the copper. The morning and afternoon light in Pam's neighborhood is amazing.

Sketchbook page from one of my toned tan sketchbooks.

Flowers Near The Library

Painting two from my little visit to the grounds of our neighborhood library. I drew the images on site and painted them later from memory.

A page from my Khadi sketchbook.

Model on Blue

This painting was started earlier this year when I was filmed painting this model in my studio. The initial sketch was in graphite on Fisher 400 pastel paper in a square format. I later added the pastel from memory.

Sketchbook page.