Between Jackson Hole And Yellowstone

watercolor on paper 7x12 inches
not for sale
Driving from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone about a year ago I photographed this scene that was already a great composition for a painting. This painting will be a small part of a silent auction to benefit Recording For the Blind and Dyslexic, May 30th. I'm honored to have been invited to participate along with many artists much more accomplished than I. As a Milford Zornes Memorial Event, I must apologize to the memory of Milford who staunchly opposed painting from photographs (for good reason). He would have painted this from memory...he was amazing. For more info on the event which is open to the public: www.rfbd.org

Head Study

oil on linen panel 12x9 inches

This study is from the live model at my figure painting class last night. Still using the Zorn palette: yellow ochre, black, white and cadmium red medium, it allows you to just concentrate on value and temperature. I'm happy with the result and painting the stole was lots of fun too.

Tomorrow I'll get my work together to participate in the 2nd Annual Chino Arts Festival and Centennial Celebration on Saturday. It runs from 9:30-4:30 Saturday, May 1 at Aquire Square, which is kinda behind the library. Lots of performances are planned as well as art, craft and food vendors. I'll have my daily paintings, watercolors and giclee reproductions if you would like to come out and see them in person. I'll be there all day painting---come on out and say hi!

Two Rusty Trucks

oil on canvas panel 8x10 inches
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It was plein air day at La Verne Heritage Park. Lots of history there and plenty of subject matter. I painted these rusty relics looking slightly down at them from a hill under a shady tree. What a quiet peaceful morning...cool and breezy, cloudy but no rain.

Patchwork Sunflowers -sold

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches
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This fabric caught my eye while shopping for still life drapery. I knew right away I wanted it to complement sunflowers. In reality the grays are more blue and make a nice contrast with all the warm tones. This was one of those few paintings that seemed to paint itself. So much fun!

Head Study

oil on linen panel 12x9 inches

I've neglected painting and posting the last few days due to some fun times with family and friends. Hopefully I'll get back to painting tomorrow. In the meantime, here is my first ever attempt at painting from the live model, done a few weeks ago. I'm in a figure painting class taught by a fabulous artist, Joseph Todorovitch. It is an honor an privilege to learn from him. To see his work go to www.onejoseph.com

Red Fruit With Greens-sold

oil on canvas panel 12x16 inches
SOLD
Here's the final painting, finished at 1:00am this morning. I hope you like it. My favorite parts are the cup, apple and olives. My mother gave me the cup and saucer which are decorated with dogwood blossoms. I love painting the decorative elements on ceramic pieces....especially this one. The legend of the dogwood is worth looking up. The blossoms have a crown of thorns in the center, and red stains at the end of each petal. These resulted as part of a curse on the tree after Jesus was crucified for us on a cross made of dogwood...reminders of what He did for you and me.

In Process

oil on canvas panel 12x16
Here's a shot of a larger still life I started yesterday. Things are looking pretty good so far. It will be interesting to see how it all comes together. I hope to paint late into the evening tonight to finish it while the paint is still wet.

Hot Pink And Green -sold

oil on canvas panel 8x6 inches
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Here's the painting I mentioned yesterday. I liked the green in my set-up, but perhaps it's a bit garrish in the painting. In spite of my aforementioned difficulties I can see progress in my handling of jars compared to my last post, which was the first jar I attempted. The carnations were fun. I might work over the background when it dries. What do you think? Your comments and constructive criticism are welcome.

Peach Blossoms-sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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This is a painting from a couple of weeks ago. It has grown on me, so I decided perhaps it is worth posting. Still practicing flowers and jars, the one I did today gave me fits! It wasn't the flower, or the jar, but the background and shadows that I struggled with. Years ago I read a book on knitting by a particularly humorous author. The title of one chapter was, "Buttonholes Are Bastards." For me this sometimes applies to backgrounds! Maybe I'll post it as is, or make changes after it's dry. Who knows.

Geraniums SOLD

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches

I probably have an endless supply of geraniums in my yard--might as well paint them! I tried to paint them simply though they are a complicated flower. I'm really happy with how the jar turned out.

Reds SOLD

oil on canvas panel 8x8 inches

Maybe it's the sunshine, but I woke up this morning and thought, "great day to paint something RED!"

Chocolate Bunny -sold

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches
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Easter has come and gone, but we have lingering candy. The bunny is so cute, and I thought painting chocolate, cellophane and ribbon for the first time might be a fun challenge. It was lots of fun!

Santa Fe House

watercolor on paper 7x14 inches

For this little watercolor I used a photo reference from a trip to Santa Fe and Sedona in 2009. The southwest style architecture there seemed so peaceful and earthy. I tried to capture that feeling with an initial wet glaze technique using just three primaries...(I did "cheat" by using in an extra yellow!) Chris Van Winkle, a fabulous watercolorist, taught me this...a really fun approach. It really creates a soft unifying look that I enjoy.

Japanese Irises -sold

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches
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These pretty little flowers grow near my front door. I think they're called Japanese Irises, but I'm not sure. Here I am practicing the subtleties of white flowers. The painting is better than the image here--the centers have deep crimson, violet and pink.

Fruit And Shine-SOLD

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
sold
I didn't post Sat. or Sun. due to some fun times with family. Yesterday I painted outside at Joshua Tree National Park. There are SO many good things to paint there, but I tried to get too much in one painting and ended up with a "wipe out"! Determined to get a painting done, I came home and painted this in the evening. Grapes are so much fun!

Arkansas, Old Place

watercolor on paper 9x12 inches
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I worked from a photo reference for this watercolor sketch. While visiting relatives in Southern Arkansas in 2008, my aunt directed us around to see and photograph scenes I might want to paint. I hadn't worked from a photo in months-- a nice change from my oil still lifes.

Antique Jar And Strawberries

oil on linen panel 8x6 inches
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A friend gave me this beautiful jar which had belonged to her grandmother. I just love the color. In this painting I have a more subtle use of that superpower--thalo blue. (Whew!) The strawberries are from a field just a few blocks from our house. I added the avocado because the stem added an interesting contrast to all the round shapes. I'm very happy with how this jar turned out. I took my time and really enjoyed myself. Thank you, Paula, for this great little jar!

Flowers

oil on linen panel 6x8 inches
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Flowers from an Easter bouquet, and some creeping fig from our back fence. With this one I'm practicing white again...the flower and the cloth.

Pepper Jar

oil on canvas panel 8x6 inches
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I took a little break from painting and posting to celebrate Easter. It was great family time, especially this year as we had relatives visiting from out of town. I painted this before my break, and now I see the blue is absolutely obnoxious! Perhaps this painting has finally gotten all the attraction to thalo blue out of my system. Later I may try a similar one with another more civilized background color. It was good practice painting a jar its distortions.

Fruit Tart -sold

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches
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The Local Baker in old downtown Upland makes these pretty little tarts. You know you're crazy about painting when you think "great subject to paint" before you think "yummy!" Well, it was both. If I had painted faster, it would have been fresher...but it was still yummy. You sure can't go back and "fiddle" some more on your painting when you've eaten the subject!