A 2 day painting

I've been wanting to concentrate on paintings from reference photos I took earlier in the year. Here's day 1.

And I came back today and worked into it more. I always see Edward Hopper when looking straight from the street like this. I'm not sure it's finished but will let it rest for the week end.

12"x16"

Oil on canvas

Bridgeport, California

I'm interested in the old structures in Bridgeport. I have a bunch of reference photos and am headed there next week end to paint. Would so love to give a workshop up there. 

12" x 12" 

oil on canvas
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My studio

I have the nicest studio on earth. The view is amazing but the light is also wonderful. I started a study of my African Violet's and some colored bottles that I love to paint

12" x 12"

Oil on canvas

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Wednesday afternoon in the studio

I had time between classes and found a bunch of radishes at Ralph's. I've done this one before but it's been years. Going outside tomorrow so this is my warm up!

8"x8" 

Oil on canvas

Final Life Drawing Workshop

We start the final life drawing workshop of the summer on Monday August 7 at 9:30am. There are a few spots left. Enroll here! 

Life Painting

This is the second evening this summer that I've gotten together with artist friends, hired a model and just painted. There were four of us and the three hours flew by. It's energizing to work on my own projects. Have to remember this as teaching sometimes takes precedence,



This is the underpainting in burnt sienna.



About an hour or so in. I'm working on gessoed water color paper.


2 1/2  hours. Don't want to overwork but I'll most likely go in and fix the ear but not much else.

Summer Workshops

This is a gesture paint painting that studio student Melissa Yi did during our summer workshop. She's been in the studio for the past year and a half with one on the passes I sell that let's the student attend every class I give. She's a fantastic artist and is headed to college. She'll be missed on the studio! For info on the classes here Summer Life Drawing Workshops.

Touching up

I've been out doing some small paintings and as usual bring them back to the studio about 80% finished. Here are four I just worked on again.

I feel like they are resolved.

 

Antelope Valley

Oil on canvas 

6" x12"
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I got lucky enough to get out to Palm Springs to see my friend Lynda Keeler's show also in April. Just had time to do two little paintings from her yard.

Afternoon Light

8"x6" 

Oil on canvas
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Then a couple of weeks ago I went out to find these palm trees on the road between Valencia and Ventura. I was going to paint them last year on a freezing cold day. I didn't know if I could find them again or if they were as cool as I remembered. So glad to see them again on a beautiful warm day.

  

"Palms at Fillmore "

6"x8"

Oil on canvas
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Palm Springs

 

Friday afternoon

I haven't worked this small in a long time. It wasn't working and wasn't working and then suddenly it was done!

oil on canvas 5" x 5"

Wednesday afternoon

I have some of beautiful glass bottles in the studio that sit by the window, The light was so nice on them yesterday that I just had to do a little painting,  5"x 5" oil  on canvas.

Wednesday in between classes

I had an hour in between classes . Tried to paint deliberately and loved all the purple underpainting that shows through.

 

12"x12" oil on canvas

A slow day on Monday

Sometimes Monday is a very slow day in the studio. Just Melissa came and she had a project so I decided to paint.

I had some Trader Joe's daffodils, a blue bottle. And great natural light at the end of the afternoon. Will finish up tomorrow.  12" x12" 

Poppy Season

I headed out to the Antelope Valley last week to look for Poppies. I found a few near the Poppy Reserve but nothing is in full bloom yet. There's a great dirt road that I've explored before that had gorgeous views across the valley. So I stopped and painted for a couple of hours. Lucky to have such pleasant weather. More to follow!

A little study for a larger painting

The winter light across the skyline is so stunning from the studio. I never get tired of looking at it and trying to figure out the right palette. I have a nice big canvas in mind ( 24" x 36") for the a larger painting but want to start with studies. Here's the first.

"Studio Study"

6" x 8"

oil on canvas

more from the Eastern Sierras

This is a painting that I started last summer on site at the property in the Eastern Sierras.

I didn't finish it because I didn't have the scenery right in front of me but finally accepted that I'd have to work from a photo and now it's 99% finished. I can't wait for summer.

"Devil's Gate"

oil on canvas

18" x 24"

Finishing up

"Studio Interior"

oil on canvas

16"x 12"

2017

The start of a new year

Yesterday was a cold gray day but so nice and cozy in the studio. We were supposed to go out to Echo Park but it was just too cold. This is 16" x 12. Will work more on it tomorrow.

Another painting from the Eastern Sierras

This is another piece from the Sierras at Virginia Lakes. I started in July. It was about 80% finished and I hung it in the studio until yesterday. The lake might be a little green but sometimes you do see startling color . I'll live with it for a while and see if it stays like that.

"Virginia Lakes"

12" x 12"

oil on canvas

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finally........

This has been a very long time coming. Part of me wants to really write about my block. I haven't stopped thinking about painting for a day. It's just that there are so many other pressing things, among them the fact that I love to teach. Then other personal demands.

Don't get too excited but maybe I'll keep up. And in the meantime, Why did I have 141 visits from Poland yesterday????

" Blue House"
oil on canvas 

12" x 12"

The painting above is a lovely house right off Hwy. 395 in Bridgeport, California on the north side of town- early in the morning right after 4th of July this year.

Back to painting

I've been super busy trying to get the studio ready for summer classes. And I'm trying to redesign my website and.......on and on. But today there was a block of time and I remembered to get those cute little daisies from the front yard.

oil on canvas 8" x8"

#17

More roses in the garden.

6" x 8" oil on canvas

3 paintings today

I completely missed the fact that it's Memorial Day week end and a lot of people are out of town. I had a wonderful model booked for the Saturday morning class and only two students showed up. Ugghhhh .

But I got to paint. These are only quick gesture paintings but the colors are dramatic because out model had hot pink hair- perfect!

#15

I ran out today to meet with new studio instructor Siri France. Didn't have time to plan a new still life but I feel they are better with each repetition. Here's my 8" x 8" oil painting. 

Also note the new studio class coming up. Portraiture! Thursday afternoons 2-5pm with a model. 

#14

Here's the next one. It was an incredibly busy week end in the studio and I didn't get a minute to even think about painting but today I did!

#13.

I found some roses on the way in to the studio.

We have an exciting schedule of classes ! Stay tuned for a new portrait class in addition to the classes already listed.

Summer Workshop Schedule

      =

#12

I found a pink vase and had to add it to add mix. 

#11

Still gathering things from the studio and am enjoying the challenge of painting glass. 

8"x8" oil in canvas

#10 More Marbles

This will be the last of the marbles for a while. On to more items around the studio but it was good to just look at glass for a few paintings.  

8"x8". Oil on canvas.

Painting day 9

Still working with marbles.

Day 8

Not all paintings are post-able. I worked on day 8 but not something I want to publish.

Day Seven

More stuff from the studio. People brought me lemons on two separate occasions. Painting glass always requires some concentration.

Daily painting. 6

Still not bored with the blue plate and onions with garlic. Oil on canvas 8" x 8".

Keeping up with number 5

 Sometimes I put things out for students that I wish I could paint myself. In the afternoon Melissa worked on an ink drawing of this set-up. When class ended I moved it over to the painting area and painted this oil on canvas 6"x8".

Day 4

I was so tired after teaching all day I almost missed. 

Day 3

Beets are always a great colorful subject . 

Oil on canvas 6"x12"

The beginning of daily painting

Periodically I've started a practice of daily painting. It's hard to start because the beginnings are not as good as they will be in a few weeks. This is number two from yesterday because I scrapped off #1 from the day before. Oil on canvas 8" x 6".

The finished boxes!

Here is how it all turned out. If you go to Larchmont, look out for these!

New signal control box murals in Larchmont Village

I recently submitted these designs for printing. They will be installed in Larchmont Village in the next few weeks. 

This time the process is a little different. Usually I paint right on the boxes. This time the images will be printed on 3M vinyl and installed on the box and hopefully graffiti sealed. 

Will post as it goes up!

Nicaragua

When I finished the box in 1/22, I got to take a weeks vacation in Nicaragua. It was one of the most wonderful trips I ever had. I took my watercolors and did some painting almost every day. Here are a couple of my favorites.