Winter Garden

 

acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

This is a winter scene from the property in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico where I lived in 2018.  It was a magical 4-acre property, a sculpture garden with both natural and man-made sculptures dotted throughout, one of which (a wood totem) is visible beyond the stream on the right.  

Algae-covered Rocks, Waimanalo Beach

oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Waimanalo Beach is maybe my favorite beach in the world.  It is a gorgeous, pristine expanse of white sand beach on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for it, so here's a small memento.

Russian River at Jenner

oil on gessoed textured hardboard panel, 6" x 12"

This started as a plein air painting on a mostly overcast day, but I was none too happy with my effort, so I reworked it in the studio.  It didn't help that the panel I had chosen was damaged in the upper left corner and was one of those textured surface panels made to emulate canvas that I don't care for, but it was the only 6" x 12" format I had brought with me.  It seemed that no matter how much paint I applied, the texture still showed through.  I prefer to work on actual canvas or a smooth hard surface, the simple reason being that I want the paint application to form the texture, not the prepared surface.  Lesson learned, in the future I will either sand down the textured surface or gesso a layer or two over it so as to smooth out those ridges.

Red Rock by a Pink River under an Orange Sky

oil on canvas, 6" x 9"

This was just for fun, exploring warm-to-hot color combinations in a landscape. 

River Rock Rose

oil on hardboard panel, 6" x 6"

I've been working on several paintings simultaneously, all of which have presented challenges.  One is a closeup of the Eel River near Black Butte River Ranch in Northern California.  I thought I had finished it, but when I looked again with fresh eyes, I felt the need to rework it with a different palette.  Instead of mostly blues, greens and pinks, I want to see what I can do with blues, browns and oranges.  This abstract painting was created using the leftover paint from that one.

Schoolhouse Beach

oil on canvas, 8" x 6"

This started as a plein air sketch along Highway 1 north of Bodega Bay.  I was unhappy with it, but before giving up, I gave it the "Rushton treatment," and with a palette knife, some cold wax medium, and a hot air gun, managed to transform it to my liking.