Pool Square

Acrylic on Canvas

A little paint-by-numbers looking, and a little stiff, but it's fairly representational of the vibrant and rich color of early Summer in Sonoma, before things start drying up and turning straw-colored. The reflections are interesting, but not convincing. If anything, they look like plants floating on the surface. Hmmmm.

Front Porch

Acrylic on Canvas Board Ω
On location in Sonoma, this is very boring and flat. It 's almost as though there's no light source at all. The trees are nice and lose, and show the effect of light, but nothing else does.
Actually, its because the light changed so much during the painting of this that I couldn't fix what I really wanted to capture. In fact, I'm still not entirely aware that that is an option open to me. I'm still kinda hung up on "paint what you see."

Pool House

Acrylic on Canvas Board Ω
On location looking back at my usual shady spot (not shady right now) by the pool house. The shadows on the roof were what caught my eye, and yet I've failed in capturing what interested me. Intellectually I know they should be cooler, but it's still a bit hard for me to go that blue. Yet.

Rust Tree 2

Acrylic on Canvas Board

Pretty dang similar to the other Rust Tree. Actually, I think I have these reversed. This is definitely late afternoon, but the other one is later in the day. You can tell by the almost frigid quality of light in the other one. I'm going back and adding notes to that piece...

Pool Umbrellas Again

Acrylic on Canvas Board - 11 x 14 inches - sold

Now the reflections make sense.

Pool Umbrellas

Acrylic on Canvas Board

Another of many. This works a little better. Looser, not so paint-by-number, the tree has more volume.

The Pool

Acrylic on Canvas Board Ω
Another in a many visited subject, mostly because it has (a) reflections, (b) I'm painting from a shady spot by the barn, and (c) it's hot in Sonoma, so I can jump in any time. Bonus: since I'm using acrylics, I can also jump in if I get paint on myself. I do. Often.
It's hard to tell what the focus is, because I didn't really decide on one. Way too  much going on with no real point. A little paint-by-numbers looking in the end. And what are those long white reflections in the pool supposed to be? Phantom umbrellas?

Barndiva

Acrylic on Canvas Board  SOLD
On location in Sonoma, looking at Barndiva. I never did finish this one. Just ran out of time, and I'm not big on revisiting pieces, though this may have to change soon.
An elderly gentleman passed by to look at my progress several times without saying anything. When I was packing up he came back and said it looked pretty good. He said that he wanted my card, because he liked to buy some up and coming art whenever he had some spare money. I told him that I was just learning, but that my father is a local painter, and he should buy one of his paintings. He then said he preferred student painters because they were much more affordable!

Rail Bridge

Acrylic on Canvas Board

On location in Sonoma with my dad again. Trying to keep it loose. So why did I pick a steel truss as the subject matter?!? 

Sonoma Vineyard

Acrylic on Canvas Board

A plein air study while on location with my dad.