Odd Man Out

oil on panel

8" x 8"

I managed to get one more painting done before 2012.  Happy New Year!

Three Sisters

oil on panel

14" x 11"

These trees are from Lundy Canyon in the Sierra.  I'm reminded of my three daughters who are firmly taking root in the world and standing strong.  Happy holidays, everyone!

Winter Oranges

oil on panel

8" x 10"
Sold

I picked up these oranges this morning at our farmers market and decided to do a quick painting alla prima (in one sitting).  I limited myself to two hours.  A nice exercise for a Saturday afternoon, kind of like practicing the piano.

CAT

oil on panel

12" x 16"

This is a plein air I did last summer but just now got around to finishing it off in the studio.  Most of my plein air paintings are completed in the studio since the field paintings look more like sketches and are very rough.  Besides, I'm a studio painter by nature and find I have more control over my work that way.

This painting came about by accident.  I was taking a plein air class and we were out on the shore in East Palo Alto, all the students fanning out to find the ideal landscape to paint.  I saw this bulldozer in the middle of a field and was immediately taken by the way the blade reflected the sky colors.  It was beautiful and I spent the next two hours "roughing it out".  My fellow students thought it was amusing that I chose to paint this as a subject, but a lot of the time I'm more interested in what is inhabiting the landscape rather that the landscape itself.

Just Off Old Stage Road

oil on panel

11" x 14"

As the  year winds down I'm busy finishing off some incomplete paintings in order to clear the way for new projects for 2012.  I've got a show scheduled for October and I need to  clear the deck in order to get busy with the work for it (because we all know just how fast  a deadline like that is on your doorstep in no time at all).  Also, I'm going to spend more time focused on working this blog and  developing a more online presence through sales.  Basically it's time to push harder and get my work out before more art lovers.  Stay tuned!

Rockaway Beach

oil on panel

11 x 14

This is the finished plein air from the post below.  Tomorrow I'm participating in a plein air paint-out with the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park and the artists are allowed to bring a finished work to include in the sale and exhibit following so I'm thinking this might be the one I'll bring.

Hit one of my favorite places today to paint- Rockaway Beach.  Struck up a nice conversation with a couple of cool surfers and got to pet a dog.  People like to see an artist painting outdoors, it brings folks together, if only for a few minutes.  I'm still getting used to "being on stage" when doing plein air in a public area, but mostly it's fun chatting it up with folks.  I've got a paint-out in a few weeks at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, so I'm trying to make good use of this great weather to get my painting chops down.  I'll finish this study of the rocks in the studio and will post it if it turns out halfway decent.  Cheers!