Santa Monica Pier - a commissioned painting in oil

oil 9x12 inches sold magnify I used several photo references for this commissioned piece. The design required quite a bit of invention, which made it one of the more difficult paintings I've done. The client is happy, so I'm happy!

Commissioned Window and Door, plus ART UNCORKED!

Open Window, oil 14x11 and Hobbit Door, 8x10 SOLD These are the other two paintings commissioned by my brother for his friend. All three have the pink canvas tone I mentioned in my last post. I haven't gotten to visit this house yet, but I sure would like to go inside that little hobbit door! EVENT NEWS: Thursday night, November 13th there's an art event right here in Chino! The Chino Community Center Corporation, a non-profit organization is sponsoring "ART UNCORKED": Food, wine tasting, artisan beers, music and eight artists displaying their work for sale. The proceeds will be used to promote visual and performing arts in the Chino Valley. Location: Brinderson Hall, Chino Jr. Fairgrounds. Hours: 6:00-9:00pm. Tickets available online HERE at Eventbrite.com It's going to be a great evening! If you're local I hope you'll consider attending. Join the fun and support the arts in our community!

Zen Garden -a landscape painting in oil

oil 8x10 inches sold magnify I've been working on several commissions since mid September. This is the first, commissioned by my brother. He commissioned three pieces depicting the home and gardens of a good friend. Now my brother is busy building custom frames for them. Knowing they would be a special Christmas gift made painting these extra fun. Painting tip: Sometimes I tone my canvas with transparent pink; a mix of Thalo Red Rose and Indian yellow. I learned this from Jennifer McChristian, who paints fabulous urban scenes, and anything else fabulously also! I have used it for urban scenes, but I think it also works well for overwhelmingly green scenes such as this. The little bits of pink showing through here and there (and underneath too) help temper the greens.

Haystack Rock View -sold

oil 8x16 inches This is a commissioned painting for a client who contacted me by email. Her husband took a great photo of Haystack Rock while they were on vacation, and the painting is a surprise birthday gift for him. I really enjoyed working on this one, partly because I've visited haystack myself, but mostly because of the client's excitement about the commission. It was such fun to take part in a special birthday surprise!

Pasta Prep

oil 12x12 This is a commissioned piece I finished about two weeks ago. I snapped the photo reference for this at Il Fornaio Italian Restaurant in Pasadena. This is the first of three cafe scenes for my client. We had ten days of non-stop family fun, and now our Idaho son and family are on their way to Mammoth Lakes. With being sick the week before, then all the activities, I've been away from my easel for two weeks. I'm hoping to pick up a paintbrush today while working through 43 loads of laundry. It's all good. 102 degrees outside...a great day for laundry and still life inside. UPCOMING EVENTS: BALBOA ISLAND ART WALK, Sunday May 19th. 100 artists and live music along the sea wall, 9-5pm. I'll be near Pearl Drive. SO looking forward to this!!! Come see me!