Who Needs Sunshine

"Morning Mist"

12x6  Oil on Paper

$135

I seem to be drawn to water, no matter which coast, rain or shine.  Give me a view of the water & I'm good to go.  Hoping to get lots of painting done this week & hope to share some news by weeks' end. 

Pedal On

"Pedal On"

6x8 Oil on Paper

$95

"Mornings on Green" series continues.  I love my corner coffee shop.  It's so much fun to watch as people start their mornings.  Some are in a hurry, on their cells, grabbing a cup of coffee with wrangling their kids while others seem to take their mornings a bit more leisurely.  I just have the privilege of being an observant bystander.  

Mornings on Green Street

"Morning Deliveries"

5x5  Oil on Paper

$95

 

I'm taking my drawing & oil painting classes to my neighborhood to observe the mornings on Green Street.  We can sit quietly and people watch. Observe the changing light, the colors that come to life as the light hits them and watch them quickly fade as the sun passes. Capture people going about their day lives, hear the sounds as the morning begins & soak it all in. Doing painting series is usually hard for me because I lose interest quickly but I already have 5 paintings to share just from Tuesday's class. More of "Mornings on Green Street" to follow. Click here to see my latest Art Tips post about Observation.

No Snake Charmer

"Fire Road, Cherry Canyon"

5x7 Oil on Linen Panel

$95

This morning's hike was in Cherry Canyon.  I start up the fire road and then take a turn down to a lovely oak grove.  It's a pretty hike but today as I started my descent, I saw a snake. I am a WIMP when it comes to snakes, so I headed the opposite direction.  I was able to only scream in my head so I didn't startle other hikers.  Despite the wild life, I love this view.  Hope to get more paintings from here.  Have a great week.

Colorado Street Bridge, Pasadena, California

"Colorado Street Bridge"

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

$225

I painted this shortly after arriving in California, just forgot to post it.  This bridge is located in Pasadena and it has such lovely architecture I couldn't resist painting it.  

Among the Blooms - SOLD

"Among the Blooms

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

Roo Time - SOLD

"Roo at Max Patch"

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

$135

Painting dogs is usually not my subject of choice.  But when my cousin 

shared a photo of her dog, Roo looking so regal, it had to be done.

Palm Trees - SOLD

"Distant Hills"

5x7 Oil on Linen Panel

I enjoy painting these really tall palm trees.  I find myself searching my California photos for palm trees in the hope that there will be a scene to support painting the trees.  Weird, I know.  But whatever floats your boat.

Anticipation - SOLD

"Autumn on the Bank"

5x7 Oil on Linen Panel 

It's another 4 to 6 weeks before the colors show up but I
couldn't wait. Come on autumn!

Cast Shadows - SOLD

"Cast Shadows"

9x12 Oil on Linen Panel

A new subject for me.  A challenge color wise because I haven't painted in a 

primary color palette. I enjoyed painting the shadows as much as the buoys.

Windswept - SOLD

"Windswept"

6x12 Oil on Linen Panel

SOLD

I was excited to paint the Golden Gate Bridge but the 

foreground ended up being the most fun of all.

Art Tutorial 

I'm happy to share my process in creating fresh & painterly works in oil.  In this PDF downloaded demo, I will offer my approach in eliminating unnecessary detail, keeping your colors clean & your brushwork descriptive.  I discuss my process from the initial selection of my subject to the final brushwork.  I include how to avoid mistakes, a section about color mixing & brushwork.  It's a great tool to print & keep beside your easel as you work through your paintings. This art tutorial is available for $10.  Click the buy now button below & once the purchase is complete, you will receive the tutorial by email.  I hope to have a new tutorial each month.  

Breaking My Comfort Zone - SOLD

"4 O'clock"

7x8 Pastel 

$110

My comfort zone is oil painting. It took a new student wanting a class in pastels to push me.  It's been about 8 years since I worked in pastels & boy have I learned a lot since then. Not about the medium but about painting fundamentals in general. I thought I would struggle but in the end it came down to the basics. Composition, value, color theory. I'm now eyeing my watercolors.  Lord, help me.  

After the Rain - SOLD

"After the Rain"

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

$135 - SOLD

Love how everything is softened after the rain.  Certainly getting 

inspiration daily with all the rain this summer.

Sally's Cottage - SOLD

"Turquoise Door"

8x8  Oil on Linen Panel

 

This was today's demo for a student (hence the title).  I lost a lot of information from the photo to help highlight the door.  Students want to include much more than is necessary to make a good painting.  Remember less is more.  Therefore, no cobblestone walkway, no fence line, no bizillion plants in the yard.  Deciding what your painting is about makes the editing so much easier. 

Abstracted - SOLD

"Splash of Hollyhocks"

12x12 Oil on Linen Panel

$325 

After many years of contemplating painting some abstracts, I finally took the plunge.  It was a blast!  I struggled for a starting point but found that inspiration from my last painting "Garden Shed II".  

Keeping some basic rules in my sight, I let color drive this work.  Color harmony, shape variety, calm & chaos were floating through my mind.  Stopping before I overworked was a challenge.  In the end, I was pleased.  I think it successful because I started with a sound foundation & hopefully, never lost sight of it.   Check out my Art Tip Blog post for Tuesday, it will be about what makes a good abstract & a few other thoughts.  

Back to Back - SOLD

Garden Shed II - SOLD

8x8 Oil on Linen Panel

I guess I wasn't quite finished painting hollyhocks & sheds.  So some
 back to back garden shed paintings.

No Green Thumb

"Garden Shed"

6x6 Oil on Panel

$95 + s/h

You'd think with as many flowers as I paint, that I would have a garden full of flowers.  Not so much.  In fact, I can't keep anything alive.  I killed a cactus once.  So I just rely on those more talented gardeners to supply me with the gorgeous subject matter.  

Go visit my Art Tips blog to see the latest post.

Go with the Flow - SOLD

"Abundant Peonies" - SOLD

6x6  Oil on Panel

$95

It appears that I'm firmly on a path of painting florals again.  I guess I'll just go with the flow.

Colors of Spring

"Hollyhocks"

10x10 Oil on Linen Panel

$325

Love the colors of spring!

Click here for today's Art Tip #103.