Gone Astray

oil 8x8 inches Click to Purchase Out painting hills one day, slowly from a great distance came 1800 sheep. I know the number because when they finally reached us beside the road I asked the shepherd how many there were. I think he spoke Portuguese. He reached down and with his finger wrote the number in the dirt. They were right up beside the road where cars passed at about 60 mph. Some were scratching themselves on the streetlamp posts. I was afraid they'd get into the road, but they never did. I think they have the cutest faces. On another note, I'm having a terrible time getting good photos of my paintings lately. Maybe it has to do with seasonal light. With every post I want to say, "The painting looks better in person." Might sound cheesy, but it's true.

Over 60

oil on canvas panel 8x10 inches
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Friday my friend, Lisa McDill and I got outside to paint. She knows all the cool overlooks in the Chino Hills area. I have an eye for detail which is both a blessing and a curse...hence this busy painting. Even so I like the brushwork, the overall pattern and the loops and curves. Her fabulous painting is visible in the photo, or click here to find it on her website.

Prado Pond Field Study

oil on canvas panel 6x8 inches

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As I mentioned a few days ago, Susan Denison from Arizona paid me a visit just before my trip to Denver. One morning we headed over to Flo's Airport Cafe for breakfast, then Prado Regional Park to paint. The weather was terrific as was the company. Wish I'd had someone take a picture of us...too wrapped up in the painting and fun. So here's a shot of her painting in Colorado. She travels all over in her camper-van going to workshops and painting here and there. Man...she left me with a case of camper-van envy!

Field Study SOLD

oil on canvas panel 6x8 inches

Last Saturday morning we had some unusually wild weather that offered great cloud formations for painting. Lisa and I climbed another hill, this time in the late afternoon. We had a great time! I felt so blessed to be up there in the wind, listening to the birds and painting with a buddy who could help me when I needed it.

Associated Artists Of The Inland Empire's OPEN JURIED ART SHOW is this weekend at the Rancho Cucamonga Cultural Center located at the Victoria Gardens Shopping Center. Come by my sales table and say hi! I'll be painting there most of the weekend. Over 350 pieces of artwork will be on display. If you live in the area, don't miss it! For hours and address, click here.

Grazing, Chino Hills-sold

oil on canvas panel 6x8 inches

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We'll be heading home from Sedona tomorrow morning. Today we drove up to Jerome, an old mining town, now a funky artsy historical and magical place. Wow! There were a million things to paint, and the sun was out!!! I didn't get a chance to shoot my truck painting so I offer the above painted from a photo on my laptop inside the Sedona Art Center yesterday afternoon when a few of us took refuge from the hail. The reference photo is from hills just a few miles from home. I was painting with Lisa McDill that day when 1800 sheep came over the hill. What a sight!

Our workshop ended today with a great critique from Jennifer. Below you can see my work laid out on a board. All in all, it was a great experience painting in good weather and bad, meeting artists from other parts of the country, and learning from such an accomplished painter.

Plein Air Chino Hills

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches

This morning I painted on a Chino Hills hillside with my plein air partner, Lisa. Plein air is not my forte (yet...but I'm making progress), so I approach every outdoor session as practice. On this one I practiced getting atmospheric perspective: distance, middle ground and foreground. The grasses in the foreground were problematic. They were almost white--as light in value as the distant snow and sky. I never did solve that problem, but it was a great day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, a nearby hawk kept an eye on us while flying from tree to tree. Three gnats came home with me stuck in the painting--(upper left). I felt so thankful to be out there painting.

Farm House, Chino Hills-sold

oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches

My new plein air buddy and I met at one of the few farms left in the area. She painted the horse and barn and I painted the house. I liked the way the morning sun filtered through the trees and shone on the windows. We had a great time!

Plein Air Chino Hills

oil on canvas panel 8x10 inches

This view is off English road overlooking one of the many horse properties. The bright green grass and violet blooms of Jacaranda trees caught my eye. I finished fairly quickly (for me) and it's a good thing...just about then it was brought to my attention that I was standing on private property. Oops! Next time he said I have to check in at the equine hospital...something about vandalism. I found out when I got in my car that it was 92 degrees. No wonder I was too hot to do any vandalizing, only a quick painting.