“Yosemite Autumn”
15″ x 22″ watercolor on paper

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The colors of fall dazzle when caught, reflected in the serene waters of the Merced River. This large (half-sheet) watercolor takes advantage of the range of Yosemite’s beauty and is a preview of some new work I’ll be showing this year, both in watercolor and in oil.

When I’m exhibiting at a public show, one of the questions that people ask me most frequently is “which do you prefer painting, watercolor or oil?” It’s a hard question because the two media are so different in some ways, yet so similar in fundamental ways. For the sheer excitement of painting with all the unpredictability and opportunity for “happy accidents” you just can’t beat watercolor. Take a look at the luminous reflections in the water, for example, they were created with a wet into wet technique. You can certainly paint water in oil (and I do it all the time) but you can’t get a look exactly like that. Oil allows you the luxury of correcting mistakes more easily. Watercolor (especially when working with staining colors) can be very unforgiving. The short answer is, I love them both, for different reasons and I find that what I learn in one medium can often be applied to the other even though paint handling is different. The basics … color, line, shape, value, feeling, interpretation, composition … these things do not change and translate easily from medium to medium.

Here’s a closeup of just a detail of one of the trees. This would actually make a nice painting, enlarged, all on its own. Hmmmm, wheels turning … stay tuned.

“Good Morning, La Canada”
9″ x 12″ oil on canvas on board

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In our small town, the streets aren’t usually this deserted in the morning, but during the holidays and early weekend mornings there’s definitely less traffic. I decided to leave out the random cars for the sake of reducing clutter.

La Canada Flintridge is a “bedroom” community of Los Angeles. Just 20 minutes or so from downtown, Foothill Blvd. is our main street. This is a view of the corner of Foothill and Oakwood, quite near the Vons market on the left, and La Canada Presbyterian Church on the right (that’s the spire that’s visible.)

After all the paintings I’ve done of Pasadena, the Arroyo Seco, Eaton Canyon, Hahamongna Park, Glendale, Descanso Gardens and other local sites, it’s really about time I got around to painting more of LC itself.

The last time I painted a vertical cityscape it was El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, near the Pasadena Playhouse. This one. So maybe it’s about time for another one.

Ojai Valley View
11 x 14
Oil on linen on board

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This time of year always brings me feelings of nostalgia and reflection. Not only do the holidays recall memories of times past, and the imminent New Year prompting resolutions for the future, but my holiday birthday prompts another opportunity for stock-taking.

All things considered and the economy notwithstanding, I’m very satisfied with the events of the past year. I kept my commitments to paint more, to study hard, to enter more competitive events and to make the most of every art-related opportunity.

Here are some things I’m looking forward to in 2009

— a solo show, May-July at Gale’s Restaurant in Pasadena (Reception May 31)
— attending at least one week-long plein air workshop. More, if my schedule allows
— my annual fall show at Descanso Gardens (mid-Sept to mid-October)
— travel to new northern California locations for family visits and painting
— continued volunteering with the California Art Club, an outstanding organization
— getting involved with Oil Painters of America, where I was recently juried in as a new associate
— doing more local paintouts and sketchcrawls with friends
— selling at of local shows and festivals - including Sierra Madre, Pasadena ArtWalk, Montrose Art Walk and some new venues
— painting from time to time at a local figurative workshop
— doing more commissions, which I really enjoy

Lake Casitas Sunset
16 x 20 oil on canvas
Available

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One of the best bass fishing spots in California, so I’ve been told, is Lake Casitas in Ojai, not far from the Pacific Ocean and Carpinteria. The lake is formed by Casitas Dam and offers year round camping and other recreational activities. The day we were there it was late fall and more than a little crisp. I’m looking forward to returning again to be inspired by a different light and season.

What appealed to me about this location were the soft muted colors, slightly warmed by late afternoon light. Just an hour before or after it would not have revealed these jewel like tones.

California’s Rolling Hills
9 x 12 oil on canvas panel
Available

I can’t count the times we’ve driven back and forth through California’s beautiful hills, decorated with stands of live oak trees. When we were first married we took many photo trips up and down the coastline, and these canyons and byways around Monterey were some of our favorite haunts. I never tire of painting them. Soon, these curvaceous hills will be covered with green grasses, a harbinger of spring. It doesn’t take long for the gold to turn to green.

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Cottonwood Dawn
(near Bishop, California)
16 x 20 oil on canvas
SOLD

Ths painting is sold but I have others of the Sierras in the fall. Write me.

Although the leaves are now fallen and scattered by the wind, the eastern Sierras still call me and evoke memories of golden glory. I understand that snow sometimes falls in Bishop, in the Owens Valley, but that it doesn’t stay on the ground long. How I’d love to go back there and see these meadows and cottonwoods clad in downy white. Maybe later in the season - I hope!

Carpinteria Bluffs Sunset
16″ x 16″
oil on canvas

This is one of the paintings inspired by our recent trip to Carpinteria, on California’s central coast. The late afternoon marine layer had come in, shrouding the Channel Islands in a misty glow that reminded me of those tales of Arthurian Avalon. The sky colors were both delicate and intense their various layers, and this stately eucalyptus tree was bathed in all that glorious light.

I had not had the pleasure of visiting Carpinteria Bluffs before, but it’s a place that I want to return to, especially late in the day. So many beautiful vistas to enjoy.

Poppies and Mandarins
14 x 18 oil on canvas
Painted from life

The brilliant but delicate iceland poppies form a backdrop for the mandarin oranges. Or perhaps they were tangerines or clementines. I can never be sure about citrus.
There is some glare on this painting because it’s soaking wet, but I hope it conveys the general idea. I’ll shoot another picture in a week or so when it is dry.

It has been pouring rain here, which we dearly need. Tomorrow morning I hope that I wake to see snow on the Angeles Crest mountains. If so, it will be a good day to go out and paint a rare scene. These mountains are infrequently dusted, and sometimes subsequent rains wash it away if there’s not sufficient cold. Blue skies, white snow and a few scantily-clad sycamore trees still holding onto their leaves like fan-dancers protecting their modesty. Brrr.

Pomegranates and sunflowers
11 x 14 oil on canvas

I was interviewed yesterday on Creative Liberty, a wonderful blog about living creatively. Liz Massey, the blog owner and a creative coach asked me some good questions for her “In the Studio” series, and I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about my work flow, staying “unblocked” and keeping my creative fires lit. Click the “creative liberty” link to read it.

Blue Skies Ahead
(Round Valley, near Bishop, California)
16 x 20 oil on canvas

I received the very good news yesterday that my big Batiquitos Lagoon painting”Brighter Tomorrows”, the largest canvas I’ve done so far, 20 x 24, sold over the weekend at Descanso Gardens. I haven’t had a chance to meet the buyer but I’m looking forward to it some day soon.

This new painting, Blue Skies Ahead, presents a different view of California but one that I hope is equally optimistic in outlook. Because we really need optimism right about now, don’t we?

Something occurred to me as I was painting this. When we see a sky with clouds it can be used as a mood barometer in the same way as the half glass of water. Is it half empty or half full? So is a storm clearing or is a storm coming in this scene? I choose to see it as blue skies ahead, which is why I’ve named it as such. It’s my belief that how we see our skies (or our glasses of water) will determine our outlook and our resilience in the face of distressing events.

I’m hoping that someone will adopt this painting as a reminder that even a partly cloudy sky still lets a lot of sunshine through.

What do you do to stay optimistic during troubling times? And how does art play a part in that?