Vineyard Relic -sold

oil 8x8 inches click for purchase information and zoom I had fun with this one, an old truck at the Galleano Winery just 9 miles from my house. Painted from a photo I took, now I'm itching to go back for a plein air day. The painting is much better in person. I know...heard that before, but really! The lit side of the truck is a yellow orange, not the garish yellow in the photo. I tried all kinds of camera settings and computer editings, and still this is as close as I could get. Would much rather paint! Painted on 1 1/2 inch deep gallery wrap canvas, ready to hang.

Fruit On The Vine -sold

oil 10x8 inches After painting at Galleano Winery one day I spotted these near the road. They were mostly in shadow under the leaves, but the afternoon light was striking just a few. Below, I'm in my little (I mean little!) corner of the Fair painting away. To step back and look at my painting, I release the rope, step off the platform and walk back. Haven't fallen off yet! Besides painting, I also volunteer in the gallery store where I'm learning to work the dreaded cash register. Despite that, I'm having so much fun talking to fellow artists, visitors and children on field trips.

Old & Dusty Galleano

oil 9x12 inches Click to Purchase I paint what excites me. Sometimes I'm surprised by what excites me. Here, bottles and fake grapes are covered with a hearty layer of dust. The scene had an old world feel to it. My scruffy bristle brush made nice rough edges where I wanted them. Drawing the bottles, I used Roos Schuring's mirror trick to check for accuracy. Worked wonders. This shelf is outside, in the carport at Galleano Winery. Painted from a photo reference.

This painting is available at Vander Molen Fine Art, Arcadia, CA

Galleano Windmill

oil 10x8 inches Click to Purchase Recently I discovered the work of Dutch plein air painter, Roos Schuring. I stayed up late one night pouring over her work and watching her videos. Painting in extreme weather and covered in paint, she gets down on canvas a powerful impression of light and atmosphere. Incredibly inspired, I adopted just one of the many ideas gleaned from her and for this painting simply used a different brush! (Duh) I put aside my perfectly shaped synthetic bristlons for a scruffy hog bristle. A not-so-perfect mark sounded good. Out at Galleano Winery about 5pm I scrubbed on the paint and had a ball. The light changed dramatically. I kept painting and goofed up all my values. I decided to take it home and look at it the next day to correct it or wipe it off. Here you see the finished painting, the photo of the scene and the field study. To check out Roos' work, click here.

Winery Shadows

oil 8x8 inches Click to Purchase This is the Galleano Winery building, painted on location this morning. I should have peeked inside, but I got wrapped up in my painting. Next time. Olive trees have an interesting silvery blue-green color that I like. I can't get over the friendliness of everyone at Galleano. What a great place to paint. They have shade, a little park with a restroom, tons of historical stuff and the wine is delicious. Click here for more info on Galleano.

Old Galleano -sold

oil 10x8 inches click here to bid This morning I went out to the Galleano Winery with my new Coulter Plein Air System. I was really exited to try it out. After picking my spot, I discovered I had no paper towels! Dang! Driving to a store gave the sun a chance to come out. Yay! Almost finished with my painting, I heard a voice behind me; "You're pretty damn good!" It was Don Galleano who long ago proclaimed another painting I did out there "damn good." This time he introduced himself and invited me into the tasting room for a glass of wine. Well how could I refuse? :-) He insisted I take the glass, the wine and a bottle to go, (!) and "get back out there". What a nice guy. Everybody else out there is just as friendly. You can see my Coulter System supported my wine glass quite nicely.

Old Thingamajig -sold

oil on canvas panel 8x6 inches

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Out at the Galleano Winery today this red thingy caught my eye. The big eucalyptus cast an interesting shadow on the window and side of the barn. The wiggly wires and slight lean seemed to add something too. I had never tried to paint eucalyptus bark before...it has so many subtle colors it could be a painting in itself! So today I painted something, but I don't know what it is!

Galleano Winery Plein Air

oil on canvas panel 8x6 inches
click here to bid
The Galleano Winery is about 5 miles from my house in Mira Loma. This was my first visit, and it's a gold mine of plein air subject matter! I can't wait to go back! When I found this old gas pump the morning light was hitting those horseshoes and the blue made a nice foil to all the warm reds and oranges. Please forgive the glare in the upper left corner. At least it's not gnats like yesterday's painting! Three fellow artists were there with me...thanks, Ellen for shooting pics, Mary Jo for showing me what my camera can do, and May for our interesting discussion on greens. Just now I noticed I forgot the tail on the pegasus! I'll add it tonight. One of the Winery owners pronounced my painting "Damn good!". That's a first!