Atelier des Chevaux

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a horse paddock on a 4.5 acre property in Sonoma immersed in a vineyard.  The central portion of the paddock was converted to an art studio and for a couple years I was in nirvana there.  I painted Kate there, a painting which seems to have vanished, which is strange, since I love this painting and had her hanging in my kitchen in New Mexico as kind of my badass alterego, someone who took no shit.  I remember carefully boxing her up, yet now that I'm setting up my studio and unboxing all my paintings, there are only a few left and she has yet to turn up.  Fingers crossed I find her.

Sonoma Hills in Summer

oil on canvas board, 6" x 8"

This little palette knife sketch was done from my deck, which faces the western hills of Sonoma, as the sun was going down and lit up the hills in pink and orange tones.  The colors were changing lickety-split, so this scene reflects my impression of it at the onset of dusk.  

Lynch Creek Mustard

oil on panel, 9" x 12"

Painted from a photo taken when the mustard was at its height in April, this scene looks east toward the hills of Sonoma from Lynch Creek Trail in east Petaluma.  It's a scene that I never seem to tire of, always changing yet very peaceful.

Sonoma Mountain Road

acrylic on hardboard panel, 11" x 14"

This painting has been through many incarnations, as I tried and failed each time to capture my vision for it.  I finally got fed up and decided to just "mess with it," using a palette knife and mixing the colors directly on the surface.  I have to say, I like it much better now.  Even though it still doesn't match my original vision, at least it has some life in it.

Sonoma Hills with Cloud Bank

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

Cornerstone on a Cloudy Day

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 12"