Losing Details - SOLD

"Lunch at Lucky's" - SOLD

5 1/2 x 7 Oil on Paper

Lately I've been evaluating everything in my art.  Playing around with a different palette, drawing more and seeing how much detail I can eliminate.  A street scene is the perfect place to try.  With all the signage, cars, people and buildings it can be overwhelming.  But when I start with my 2 value notan, it makes it easier.  Still not reaching my goal yet but I'm further down the road.  Hope you enjoy it.

Hazy Afternoon

"Hazy Afternoon"

6x4 Oil on Linen Panel

$75

Another beautiful view.  Coming from NC where I didn't enjoy painting our mountains, I've found an appreciation for the San Gabriel Mountains.  I see them out my front window and watch the sun as it sets across them.  Their colors range from gold to purple.  Can't be bored with that.  My last painting (see here) also had a view of the mountains, so don't be surprised to see them "slip" into a few more paintings.  Enjoy.

Low Country Revisited - SOLD

"Glow on the Marsh"

18x24  Oil on Linen Panel

There was a time when I painted marshes quite often.  Then I lost interest in the subject but when you come across a scene as beautiful as this...hard not to grab the brush and paint away.  

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.

The First Look

"Familiar View, Catalina"

6x6  Oil on museum quality board

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

A few days ago, I talked about seeing the obvious subject to paint versus taking some time & finding a

different view.  Don't get me wrong, I love painting the Holly Hill House.  It's been a favorite class demo several times.  However, when I slowed down & really looked at what was in front of me, I found an equally, if not, more interesting vantage point, see here.   My students always comment that I'm able to pull so much out of one photo...so here's to really seeing not just looking.

Another Look

"A View from the Top"

4x8  Oil on Canvas

At auction on DPW, click here to bid.

This week I've had my students focusing on doing thumbnail, value & color sketches. I used a photo from Catalina (the Hollyhill House) that I had painted more than a few demos from & in the process found 2 more potential paintings. This is one of them. Sometimes we are so focused on the obvious that we miss the true beauty in front of us. I'm thinking this would make a great diptych.

From the Pantry Series, #2

"Olive Oil Bottle"

6x8   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

This is 2nd in my series "From the Pantry".   However, I have to say in all honesty, that the olive oil bottle wasn't from my pantry.  It was sitting on the counter next to my pantry.  I had something else pulled from the pantry to paint and couldn't remember where I put it.  Does that count?  I'm going to enjoy this series if I can only remember to bring my pantry items to the studio.  My bad memory may be the downfall of this series.

Small Study, Big Idea

"Interlude"

6x8   Oil on museum quality panel

$95

In my classes this week, we're working on a landscape & this is demo from today's class. I'm  trying to work on some larger pieces for my favorite gallery at the coast.  These smaller pieces are letting me work out what I want to explore in larger formats.  I really like the high horizon in this one and playing up the color in the marsh grass.  Now the only question is...how big do I want to go? 

Unexpected Painting Time

"Abundance of Radishes"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

$95

Fitting in 3 whole hours of painting time doesn't exist in my world most days.  But today, my Wednesday students had their lives going in different directions (Hawaii, Kentucky, etc.) and that left me with no students and a quiet studio.  So I managed to complete a previously started 12x12, paint the radishes & almost complete a second 6x6.  I packed in as much as I could today and left the studio feeling great.  Now I'm off to do my favorite chore...grocery shopping.  I can just feel that euphoric feeling evaporating quickly. 

Justification

"Green Bottle"

6x6  Oil on museum quality panel

Available at my Open Studio Sale

Click here for your invitation

Life seems to be getting busier & busier.  I find myself juggling the role of a full time caregiver, trying to paint for 5 different events, teaching & all the other daily chores.  I'm not complaining at all.  I just did something for myself that I would have "never" considered doing.  I just ordered groceries online.  Someone else is shopping for me.  Woohoo!  If you know me, you know how I despite going to the grocery store, except to shop for still life props,of course.  Of all the things that I do, shopping is the most daunting task.  So today, I celebrate a great day.  I painted, cleaned, paid bills & will shortly drive to the store, open the trunk & let someone else load the groceries.  Justification is a beautiful thing.