Down River Road again (15 x 30)

Here is a version of one of my favorite motifs. I started it last week and completed it today. It's a view looking south down River Road south of Salinas. (it still has some dirt in the left corner of the sky)

Back Home

We are finally back in Monterey County. The difference between the limpid misty coastal air and the dry Eastern Oregon air is remarkable. I can't wait to get painting again. Today is July 18th and the opening reception for the latest MBPAPA show is this evening. I have the two accompanying paintings ("Bottom Lands" and "Tor House Garden") in the show.

Leaving Pendleton

We are leaving Pendleton on Sunday July 13th. It's been a great 4 weeks here, but it's time to get back to the Monterey Bay. Here are a couple more things that I've done recently.

Pendleton, Oregon

I have been in Pendleton Oregon for the last three weeks. Pendleton is typical small-town America with lots of early 20th century bungalows, old cars and trucks on the streets, roses in every garden, and doors that aren't locked at night. While I'm here I have been painting a lot. I had a small opening and demo at Incidentals, a shop that shows my work. Here are some of the things that I had in it.

Some more new things

I have been painting a lot recently, both in the field, in the studio, and at events. Saturday I painted at Mimosa in the Carmel Crossroads Center (a still life of coffee cups and roses) and Sunday I was at Robinson Jeffers' "Tor House" in Carmel. The Mimosa event was a lot of fun and I met some new folks plus a lot of people who have collected my work in the past. The Tor House painting was a little tougher. It was a cold and windy day and I didn't seem to have my painting chops going like I would have liked. I had never been to the Tor House before, and there was a crowd of about 200 people there for the annual Garden Tour. It was a little unnerving. After one false start I manged to do a decent painting of some wicker furniture on the lawn. I will post pictures of both these paintings soon. In the meantime here are a couple of my other new works. The stacked teacups is a 10 ' by 10' painting called Red Table (such a creative title), and the other is and 11 x 14 still life entitled "Spring Arrangement".

A few new paintings

Here are a few new paintings. I have been painting a lot lately in preparation for all the upcoming shows.

New work

It's been about 6 weeks since I last added a post to this blog. I know that some people look at it, so it would help me if you make a comment or two when you do. I recently attended a workshop with Santa Barbara artist Marcia Burtt on plein air landscape painting with acrylics. It was a good workshop and Marcia is a good instructor. I don't think I'm going to switch to acrylics but I have included them in my tool kit. I will post a few of the images that I have been working on lately.
The still life painting is an 8 x 10 oil , one of a series of 4 that I did last weekend . The landscape painting is 18 x 36, and was painted en plein air in acrylic, then re-painted in oil.

Dude! Where ARE you? 30 x 30

This is one of the new surfing paintings., I have been wanting to give these paintings more narrative content, so I included the impatient surfer with his cell phone.

Surfer Cutout

This is a fairly large (1/2 life size) cutout on 3/16 " steel. I did this in 2004 but I'm including it now because I am doing a series of paintings that are inspired by surfing. They need a special outlet and none of my present galleries is right for them. I will have to market them to more contemporary galleries.

Before the Storm, 24 x 30

This is a painting that was done in mid January just before a storm came in to the Salinas Valley. It was painted from one of my favorite spots on River Road.

Roses in Blue Glass ( 8 x 6)

It's December 30th and I think this will be my last post of the year. I'm getting ready to take a short trip to the Los Angeles area and I won't be back for a few days.
I started this composition very simply; just the knobby blue glass and the yellow roses. It didn't feel right so I included the foreground red rose. That left the right side of the glass feeling too stiff, so I added another red rose behind the glass to balance it and carry the red through the glass to enhance the transparency. A lot of adjustments for such a small painting. (I think I've got about three paintings here)

Roses and Vase (10 x 8)

This is a vase that I've painted many times. Today I decided to mix it with my silk kimono. It's a pretty complex pattern, but I think it works ok.

Teapot & Rose (8 x 10)

I decided to combine the little iron teapot with a rose and the silk kimono. I like the combination of pattern, color and texture.

I am finding that the pressure to get out approximately one painting a day is forcing me to paint quicker and to fuss and noodle less with the work as I'm doing it. The outcome is more work, quicker progression of ideas, and a steeper learning curve.

Iron Teapot (8 x 10)

This little oriental iron teapot was given to my wife and me by a family friend for our wedding. I really love it and it has appeared in the background of several of my paintings. I thought I'd showcase it.

Butter Warmer ( 10 x 8) and Bottom Lands (22 x 28)

I'm posting these two paintings today (Dec. 21st) because I probably won't get another one done until Sunday the 23rd. The butter warmer is a small 10 x 8 painting. I'm a little disappointed at the "fussiness" of the painting, and I think I need to get rid of the soft brushes.
"Bottom Lands" is a plein air painting done in November out at the Elkhorn Slough. It's done in more of the "Early California" style that I like.

Roses in Plastic Glass (8 x 10)

This seemed like a good idea when I started it but now it looks like it's too complicated a composition. I should have probably settled for one rose.

No Place Like Home (8 x 10)

Ok, I think that's it for the red shoes series for a little while. I like the shoes, and the paintings have been popular, but I'm starting to get a little too tight when I'm painting them. My goal has always been to keep the paintings loose and painterly, but I think I'm loving the objects too much. I find that I am trying to be really faithful to the shoes and the glass balls rather than to the painting as a whole. Putting the shoes aside and concentrating on some other objects for awhile will revitalize my approach to them when I return. (PS; The title has to do with the clicking heels)

Lunch in San Juan (14 x 11)

Well, here it is Monday evening and I haven't finished my daily painting yet. (too much Christmas shopping) It's about 2/3 done but it's too late to finish it this evening. I thought I'd substitute a painting that I did earlier in the fall. It's part of a series on San Juan Bautista. I'll try to post two tomorrow.

Amy's Keens (8 x 10)

My wife, Amy, isn't a "high heels" kinda gal. She's more of an athlete and an outdoors woman. But she loves her wild shoes and colorful socks so I decided to do a few of the more colorful pairs. Here's the new Keens. They are the latest in casual/hip/athletic wear. The photo isn't too good (lots of light reflection).

Mimosa Still Life (8 x 10)

Today was a real test. I spent the day at my gallery, Mimosa, painting a still life and speaking to people who came to see my work or just to shop. It was a little difficult to maintain my concentration, and I was working under changing light conditions. Despite that, it was a fun day and I met some really nice people who appreciated my work. I sold some paintings too and I look forward to doing it again. Thanks to Pam, Deanna and the rest of the staff at Mimosa. The photo was taken in the gallery before I left and something cast a little shadow on the lower left side. Oh well...