Bodega Barn

Acrylic on Panel - 9 x 12 inches Ω

All right, it's not really a barn, but a garage. In fact the garage to our host's house on Bodega Bay.  Things had brightened up a bit, but not exactly "sunny" yet so I was trying to keep it a little on the cool side. Not an easy task when the subject is a cream colored building surrounded by straw.

Tomales Bay

Acrylic on Panel - 8 x 10 inches  Ω

I took a short trip to Tomales Bay to paint with some very experienced and well known Plen Aire painters. You've probably heard of some of them, but I'm not dropping names here. One of them wrote two of my favorite painting instruction books.

In any case, it was a little intimidating at first, but everyone just got into their own thing. Well, almost everyone. My dad and I couldn't resist having a look over everyone's shoulder, now and again. There was a wide range in styles and technique. Really interesting to see.

This is my first for the day, a view of the foot of the Bay (if that is the term), as seen from our hosts' property. It was a bit overcast, and I think I got that, but I'm so into my oranges now that I think the warmth I put into the fields is a bit much for a grey day.

Primarily

Acrylic on Panel - 5 x 7 inches - Sold

The latest submission to the Daily Paintworks' Paint It Primary Challenge. As suggested, I tried to use just three primaries and white. I did use a tad of black, which rarely use, to town some things down a bit, but even my grays are either warm or cool and not neutral. The scene is a photo I took in Golden Gate Park. 

Umbrellas

Acrylic on Panel - 6 x 6 inches - Click Here to Bid

Up in the hot, hot countryside, and taking a break from the pool, by doing a quick sketch of the hills. I decided to include the umbrella to hint at being poolside. My manager was on hand, so she did her version (below).

Red Face

Acrylic on Panel - 9 x 12 inches - Click Here to Bid

Another painting from the workshop I did with Timothy Horn (I'd left it behind and only just retrieved it). I think I'm finally getting the knack for those medium oranges. I don't use cadmium, but I am approximating it here, with a mixture of the reds and yellow I've got on my acrylic palette.

Lunchtime "A Moment's Rest"

Acrylic on Panel - 9 x 12 inches - Sold

This weeks submission for the Daily Paintworks "Paint Your Muse" Challenge.  You can read all about the theme there, but in selecting and painting this, I realized, though I love the great outdoors, it's the juxtaposition of man made elements in nature that really get me.

The scene can therefore be seen as a muse of sorts, and more than just "man with nature", for me it has the personal as well. Lunchtime, teatime, at your parents house, is that moment when you all take a break from the days tasks and sit for a bit, together. Never long enough, but always welcome.

This is the seating spot just outside my mother's kitchen. We don't eat here often, but it's always relaxing when we do. So close to the house, and yet your mind can wander, over the field of straw, past the trees, and the creek beyond. Ah.

Online Interview

It's interview Thursday. The wonderful painter/designer/teacher Marla Laubisch interviewed me last week for her blog. The interview is boring, because it's about me, but you should check out her website not only for her work but she also has a great tip section and lots of great links.

Read the interview on Marla's blog >>

View Marla's gallery on Daily Paintworks >>

Water Tower

Acrylic on Panel - 9 x 12 inches Ω

Ok, it's an ugly little wood, milk-bottle-shaped thing, but it caught my eye. I'm not proud, but there, it is done. This photo is also terrible. The trees are really a lot greener than they appear here.

The best part was that there was a juvenile falcon that appeared in the window, watching us intently and debating wether today was a good day to try flying or not. He did eventually glide (more than actual flying) to the far end of the field. Not sure how he was planning on getting back up in the tower.

Phone Photo

Acrylic on Cardstock - 4 x 6 inches - Click Here to Bid

Getting a jump on the Daily Paintworks' Phone Photo Challenge, so I can git outta town. Hopefully I'll get some field work in while I'm at it.

The challenge this week was to take the provided phone photo and see what we could do with it. I wanted to try two. With the first one, I tried to keep it in the temperatures it looked like in the reference, and in the second one, I wanted to try and warm it up, to represent a sunnier day.