Kayaking on Back Bay – Newport Back Bay Oil Painting

Kayaking on Back Bay
acrylic
11 x 14

When I was painting this, I liked the scene, but I liked it even better when some kayakers glided through the bay. There was a good place for them so I put them in.

This is one of two paintings that I painted for the upcoming SoCal Plein Air Painters Association Juried Show at the Muth Center, in the Upper Newport Bay next Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25. In addition I will be exhibiting about 18 other paintings of Southern California in this 50 artist outdoor group exhibition and sale.

I’ve decided that in addition to getting around the state and exploring different areas, I should also explore some places closer to home. Orange County, and the areas around Laguna, Newport Beach, San Clemente and Dana Point are among the locations that I’ve been painting at, and will continue to appreciate in paint.

Through the Bowers Museum show and various California Art Club events, as well as through the San Clemente Plein Air paint out and studio painting opportunities at Randy Higbee’s store and gallery… I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a number of SoCal PAPA artists. It was the right time to join the group and have fun participating in some of their shows, too.

Here’s one thing that’s tricky about classifying a painting like this. It’s an estuary, so technically it’s a marine painting. But is it a seascape? A landscape? A sea-landscape? I’m going to list it in both categories, just to be contrary.

Roses and Hollyhocks Floral Painting

Roses and Hollyhocks
6″ x 8″ acrylic on canvas
Floral botanical painting

A miniature painting, 6 x 8″ – of some hollyhocks which are currently blooming near where I live. Ruffles and flourishes in a summer mood. I’ve been experimenting with acrylic and doing some plein air painting with it, too. Although it handles much differently from oil, there are similarities with both oil and watercolor, two media that I feel comfortable with. I especially like the brilliant color which doesn’t seem to muddy as much as oil does.

Belmont Shore Pier – Long Beach Marine Seascape Acrylic Painting



Belmont Shores Pier
12 x 16 acrylic
Currently on exhibition at the Long Beach Museum of Art
in a California Art Club group show celebrating the Long Beach Bike Festival

Interested in this painting?
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See more of my paintings on my website

The past month has taken me to San Luis Obispo for a paint out with the California Art Club, then home for a few days, then out to Phoenix to paint a wedding reception for a lovely couple. Along the way we took in the sights of red rock country as well as some beautiful desert areas.

Last weekend, the California Art Club held a reception for artists participating in the Long Beach Bike Festival, and I was pleased to find out that the above painting, Belmont Shores Pier, was accepted along with 19 others to be displayed at the Long Beach Museum of Art until May 24. Maybe we’ll take the Metro Blue Line down to see the show and I can sketch some of the riders on the way.

This coming Sunday, the California Art Club will present the opening reception for the exhibition of Ring Festival paintings at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The reception hours are from 5-7 pm. Parking is $5. I will be there with my handsome model, who you will see is actually a much younger man than one-eyed Wotan.

Now, I’m working on commissions and painting for several other upcoming competitions and welcoming new clients to my studio. This painting, “San Gabriel Sunset” went home with a new San Marino collector today – it’s a surprise for a loved one.

Crystal Crag -Mammoth Lakes California Snow Sierra Landscape Painting

Crystal Crag (view from Lake Mary)
Mammoth Lakes, California
5 x 7″
acrylic

Interested in this painting?
Write me.

See more of my paintings on my website

The first snow at Mammoth Lakes, California, dusted the Crystal Crag formation overlooking Lake Mary. More storms would follow creating tall drifts contrasting vividly with the blue of the water. This seemed to be a good subject for a winter scene, although the time was truly in late fall. The late afternoon sun gave a slightly warm glow to the white snow. In nature, white is rarely, if ever, pure white. It is always picking up color from the environment, including the warm light of the sun, or cool skylight in shade.

Pasadena Skyline Oil Painting – Pasadena California City Hall complex

Pasadena Skyline
11 x 14 oil on hardboard panel

SOLD

Although this painting is sold, I have more Pasadena area paintings at this link:
See more Pasadena paintings here

I am also happy to paint on commission.
Click this link to write me.

Sierra Madre Wistaria painting – California mountain landscape painting

Sierra Madre Wistaria
5 x 7 inches, acrylic


Interested in this painting? Please write.

Sierra Madre is home of the world’s largest wistaria vine. I’ve visited the phenomenon several times when it’s in bloom in the spring, and the color and scent are breathtakng.

This painting is one of 30 San Gabriel Valley paintings that I’ll be showing today at Royal Oaks Manor in BradburyFor show details, visit my events page
There will be music, refreshments, a very nice reception – and I’ll be working on a new painting.

Reminder for tomorrow:

This weekend, Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, I’ll be showing a large number of California impressionist landscape and seascape paintings at the Eagle Rock Plein Air Art Sale at 2222 Laverna Ave. in Eagle Rock.

Here’s a google map to the location

Show hours are 9 to 3 daily, and I will be there most of the time and probably painting. A significant percentage of the proceeds go to support the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful and its projects. Come learn about drought tolerant landscaping, buy some art, support a great cause and have a good time.

It’s on the grounds of the GLAD center – Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness. Plenty of free parking!

Santa Anita Racetrack – Arcadia equine

Before the Race
12 x 16 inches
acrylic on panel

I don’t paint in acrylic too often and I’m thinking that I have overlooked a very versatile medium. I painted this scene recently of the Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia because I needed another painting for a show featuring the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Gabriel Valley area.

I didn’t have time to do an oil painting – because it needs to be shown this Friday afternoon in Bradbury, near Duarte. For show details, visit my events page
But acrylic gives a more opaque look than watercolor, and allows the same sort of brushwork that I’m used to with oil.

The Bowers Museum show was rewarding in every way. One of my paintings got an Honorable Mention award and sold to a new collector who also took one of my Falllbrook landscapes. One of my spring wildflowers went home with another couple. It was fun to meet new artists and enjoy the company of some of my regular painting buddies.

This weekend, Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, I’ll be showing a large number of California impressionist landscape and seascape paintings at the Eagle Rock Plein Air Art Sale at 2222 Laverna Ave. in Eagle Rock.

Here’s a google map to the location

Show hours are 9 to 3 daily, and I will be there most of the time and probably painting. A significant percentage of the proceeds go to support the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful and its projects. Come learn about drought tolerant landscaping, buy some art, support a great cause and have a good time.

It’s on the grounds of the GLAD center – Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness. Plenty of free parking!

A vineyard in Tuscany – impressionist landscape painting

A Vineyard in Tuscany
5 x 7 acrylic on hardboard

SOLD

See more of my vineyard paintings here

I’ve painted this motif before and, in fact, the original painting, which sold earlier this year, has been licensed for use on a wine label. So, I thought it might be time to revisit the theme, a favorite one of mine. This will be a study for a larger painting which I might do this fall.

The fires have left our area of La Canada Flintridge, but I do worry for our friends in Pasadena, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and points east. There are some beautiful areas which are endangered, including Eaton Canyon and the Cobb Estate, two places where I love to go to paint.

The old growth in the forest may be 50 years or older … since there was a large fire. This is the cycle of nature but it is disturbing whenever it happens. Of course the forest will recover, but we will not live to see the replacement of 6o foot pines.

Point Lobos – Monterey Peninsula

Pt. Lobos Rocks
9 x 12 acrylic on paper

We’ve been having a great time seeing some of the natural beauty of Northern California, and this is one of my recent studies from a few days ago at Point Lobos. I’m updating from the road so I don’t have quite as much time for blogging – there’s too much to see and do.

This scene is from Pt. Lobos State Park, on the Monterey Peninsula. It’s a breathtaking place and I could spend days there. We’ve also spent some time in Big Sur, San Francisco and around Paso Robles and the central coast.

I don’t have Photoshop with me on this computer so I can’t tweak the colors to get them exactly like the original, which is a bit frustrating. IPhoto does an ok job, but it doesn’t have the control I’m used to with PS.

Last night we went to see Wicked, a Christmas present from our kids. It was fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. A great musical and one that will surely become a classic in American musical theater.

Santa Barbara Glow – oak tree painting in acrylic.

“Santa Barbara Glow” – near Cielito Rd – acrylic on 140# watercolor paper
7.5 x 11 inches

An oak tree on a hillside above Montecito. I hope the tree is still standing, but I’m not sure in light of the frequent wildfires.