Day 29 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Beau & The Oak | Pastel | 9x12

This is something I have long wanted to paint.  Met Shannon Martinez of Winters told me about this huge oak tree in her family's vineyard over a year go and she kept mentioning it.  Tried two times to capture the huge span of this oak but just couldn't find the right angle.  A month ago, she sent me several pictures of the oak but more importantly, the Lab named Beau.  He's a little bigger in this rendition, or maybe the Oak is a little smaller, but none the same, they seem happy with each other in this painting.

Day 29 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Beau & The Oak | Pastel | 9 x 12

Too Bad, so sad...can't upload my painting photo.

Took a 6 day hiatus - not really!  Just had 2 competitions, 1 ARTIST IN RESIDENCY application, and a rental inspection to deal with.  Oh well... Such is life.

If ever I can get this painting to upload, it is something I have long wanted to paint.  Met Shannon Martinez of Winters over a year go and she kept mentioning the magnificent oak on the top of the family's Winters property filled with vineyards.  Tried two times to capture the huge span of this oak but just couldn't find the right angle.  A month ago, she sent me several pictures of the oak but more importantly, the Lab named Beau.  He's a little bigger in this rendition, or maybe the Oak is a little smaller, but none the same, they seem happy with each other in this painting. 



Day 21 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Ozol on Carquinez Straits | Pastel | 9x12

I delivered painting to Epperson Gallery in Crockett two days ago.  It was a lovely sunny day and, after visiting the gallery, I drove out to Port Costa where I'll be stayng overnight with my arty buddies, Suzi Long and Sterling Hoffmann after the Opening Reception of the show 'Small Works - From the Heart'.  Drove out a bit further along the road that Port Costa turns off of and revisited this pull out on a curve above a defunct industrial site just below this view.  I recalled a lovely day spent painting this and came home to revisit it as it was only 65% complete.  Took it out, pulled the photo up on my iPad and set about finishing this up.  That's Mt. Diablo in the distance.  The long pier with the ?fishing boat? at its end is an unincorporated area in Contra Costa County called Ozol.  Doubt many people know this is its name!

Day 20 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Saturday at the Barbershop | Pastel | 11x14

Tidied up this painting today in order to deliver it to Epperson Gallery this afternoon for the upcoming show 'Small Works - From the Heart'.  Delighted to be a part of this juried show as such greats as Brian Blood and Laurie Kersey, Sandy Delahanty, and my best buds Suzi Long and Sterling Hoffmann are going to be in it also.  In fact, the three of us plus one are rendezvous-ing in Port Costs that day to do some plein air painting, then on to the Reception (January 31st - 4-7 pm at the Gallery, followed by dinner and a raucus slumber party with Suzi's friend Teresa who is coming from New Mexico to play with her/us!  For me, it's the kick off of the art season!

Day 19 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Knarly Dude | Pastel | 12x9

Reworked this painting today as it's on its way tomorrow to Epperson Gallery in Crockett where it will be a part of his upcoming show: "Small Works - From the Heart".  Added more branches, made the rocks rockier, added more sky holes for a more see-thru look and highlighted the sunlight by adding some purpley shadows. I like it much better now and am ready to pop it into a lovely frame!

Day 18 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Under the Waterfall | Pastel | 8x6

A quickie tonight as day filled with framing for 3 upcoming shows.  Love the murky mystery of the deep back part of this waterfall.

Day 17 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Heavy on the Branches | Pastel | 4x6

Cheated today - spent my painting time on refining yesterday's Lost Trail Lodge painting as it is destined to be delivered to Rootstock Gallery on Tuesday when I make a sweep of deliveries - Davis, Winters, Crockett - all my upcoming shows.

Like the refinements so much more and had a real kick painting snow on trees!

These branches are so heavily laden with recent snowfall (2010) than they merge with the ground snow.  What is so grand about conifers is that they spring back up; measurably in their thaw and yet look so magnificent when weighted down.

Like painting any object, the 'rule' I try to follow is: Use three similar colors for every major value change.  This is simplified here - 3 shades of snow - mid-blue, light-blue, white; 3 shades of dark - black-green, forest-green, dark olive green. 

Oh what fun!  Do wish someone was reading this!!