Midnight Teahouse -a plein air painting from Tustin

oil 12x12 FRAMED For a closer look and purchase info click here. Here's an honest story about being an artist: This piece was part of Old Town Tustin Art Walk and Plein Air Contest. I drove an hour to Tustin and spent several hours choosing my subject and waiting for sunset. I painted this on the street after dark wearing a headlamp. It was a ton of fun, but when I finished at about 10pm I realized that I was very cold and my bad neck muscles were in spasm. Two weeks of daily headache followed. Maybe an award from the judges will make my effort worth it. Nope. The last straw was very poor sales on Tustin Art Walk day. Thus, I had spent a lot of effort for nothing. All this to say that being an artist is not all fun and games. "That must be relaxing," I heard recently from a passer by while painting on the street. Well sometimes it is just plain hard work, disapointment and even self-doubt. No, not relaxing. Except that your mind is so engaged that you don't even know you're freezing or you have to pee until you sign the painting. Maybe you could say the focused mind is a diversion from the news and personal troubles, but no, not relaxing. What keeps me going? I love to paint. I love paint, color, light and shadow. There's paint in my blood. I know I was made to do this. Today I'll teach a children's class. This weekend I'll teach an Advanced Still Life workshop. I'm so excited about both!

Armstrong's Fountain

oil 16x12 inches (painting), framed. click for purchase information and zoom feature I loved this fountain the minute I found it in the courtyard at Armstrong's Nursery. The lion heads got me first, and then the sound of the water. The dappled light was appealing and challenging too. This is one of those pieces that invites your eye to wander rather than making a simple bold statement. Though I think it's well painted, it received no recognition in the plein air competition. Ah well...there's always next year. I'll just keep on painting.

The frame is wood, 2 1/4 inches wide, dark cherry.

Logan House -sold

oil 12x9 inches Last Sunday in Tustin I met up with Brent who commissioned me to paint his lovely historic home built in 1928. His grandparents purchased it in 1934 after they married, and the original furniture is still inside. Amazing! Below is the unfinished field study. When I got home I realized the pink canvas tone was a problem. I started over with a light burnt umber and executed the work using my sketches and photo references. I have a dream of someday living in an historic home. It may never happen, but I feel honored to paint a few. Tomorrow I'll be out at the Tustin Art Walk with lots of fellow artists. It's a great day, so if you're local, don't miss it!

Red Grapes Go Green SOLD- Old Town Tustin Art Walk

oil on canvas panel 6x6 inches

Today my Aunt and Uncle from Fayetteville, Ark. are coming to visit for the weekend. Yay! We have lots of family fun planned, but alas, no time to paint or post until maybe next Tuesday. Today I offer this grape painting from...wow...I guess it was August. What happened to September? Grapes are among my favorite subject for their subtle color shifts and translucency.

A heads up for those of you in Southern California: Next week I'll participate in the Tustin Plein Air Contest. I'll paint in Old Town Tustin Thurs. and Fri. and then be at the Art Walk on Sat. the 22nd with all my daily paintings. Hope you can come out and say hi! More information here.

Tustin "Storybook House"

oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
not for sale
It was cloudy skies over Tustin again today. When I started the above painting there was no sunlight except what was diffused through thick clouds. I used colors only from the cool side of my palette. I edited out the hedge because it lacked the organic quality of the rest of the foliage. I started at 11:00 am and took the picture below at 2:30 when I finished, so you can see the sun had started to come out by then. What a charming little "storybook house." Kinda reminds me of pea soup...I could have used some, it was a little chilly! I'd like to come back and paint it again on a sunny day.

Under Gray Skies

"Warm Inside"
oil on canvas panel 9x12 inches
Awarded Third Place, Tustin Plein Air Contest, October 23, 2010
SOLD
Chances of rain today: 60%. I decided to go on the other 40% for no rain, but just in case I set up right under the open hatchback of my car with my painting umbrella up too. Not a drop fell! With very gray skies, the warmly lit interior of this little "oldest building" in Tustin made for a nice subject. The photo of my painting is terrible. It seems that gray skies gray down everything...even paintings I try to photograph outside. On a sunny day, I'll get a good shot and post it later. I had a great time painting and talking to the few people who stopped by.