White Magnolia

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

Another in my white flower series, this one a quick digital sketch to keep me going until my studio is ready.  I'm anxious to go back to the easel, which I can do starting next Tuesday.  Yay!

Plumbing the Depths

iPad painting, 14" x 10"

Old Farmhouse, C Street, Petaluma

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

I painted this view of an old farmhouse from the church parking lot on B Street in my neighborhood.

Mill Creek at Covelo Ranch

iPad painting, 14" x 10"

This was done on site at my friends' ranch outside the town of Covelo in Mendocino County, in between storms, which left the creek a beautiful orange/brown color.  I am hoping to do some plein air paintings there this spring.  They have about 21 sheep, 3 border collies, 2 horses, and 100 acres of wild, natural landscape.  That adds up to a lot of painting possibilities.  Now, if the weather will just cooperate, . . .

Seated Nude Study

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 10"

This was a quick tonal study of a nude that I have had in mind to do a painting of for quite some time.  

I have been in limbo for the past month, as I had to move out of my beloved art studio and into a smaller space on the same property.  They just installed electricity in the unit and now I await the installation of a sink and the removal of their storage items.  I will likely be able to set up my space early next week, which I am anxious to do.  Although smaller, it will be warmer, and the light is just as good.  I will also be able to share the space and yet retain privacy, something I could not do in the other space.

Nicasio Cow

oil on masonite panel, 6" x 12"

This was done on site a few months ago and somehow never got posted, so here it is.  

The Crevice

acrylic on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Working from a photograph for this one, an exercise in creating distant atmosphere.  Not much painting this month, as I came to the sad conclusion I could no longer afford the art studio I've enjoyed for the last 22 months.  However, I may have found a happy solution to my dilemma by moving to a smaller space on the same property, with a great view and lots of light, that is sharable and will still allow me the peace and privacy I need for creative inspiration.

Bolinas Marsh with Eucalyptus Tree

acrylic on hardboard panel, 12" x 9"

This sketch was painted en plein air in acrylics, which means I had to work even faster than with oils.  It was really just an excuse to paint that eucalyptus trunk with all its beautiful color variations.

Oneanta Gorge

acrylic on canvas, 30" x 15"

Well, I decided I didn't like the painting of my previous post, Pierce Point Cypresses, enough to drive to the art supply store and buy another 30" x 15" canvas, and so I painted over it with this, which took me all of an hour to do.  Oneanta Gorge is situated near Portland, Oregon, along a section of the Columbia River Gorge.  Mystical.

Pierce Point Cypresses

acrylic on canvas, 30" x 15"

I painted this sketch from a photo because I loved the shape of these trees with their pale trunks and wanted to see blue and yellow together, another color pairing favorite of mine.  

Plum Trees with Vineyard

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

From my imagination, once again playing with the color pairing of aubergine and olive green.  They even sound good together, no?  

While Visions of Sugar Plums Dance in My Head

oil on masonite panel, 6" x 8"

Another abstracted landscape. The thought of certain color pairings sometimes pulls me to my easel.  This was one of those times.  I love the pairing of purple and green, or to be more specific, aubergine and olive green.  I find aubergine a tricky color to mix, so that it's dark enough and still has red in it.  I tried and failed here to execute my vision, but I still like the result.

The Hills are Alive

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Like all artists at one time or another, my inspiration dries up and I am left with a void.  When this happens, I can reclaim it only by becoming like a child again and resort to just playing with paint.  That's what happened with this one.  This is no place in particular, just a simple scene from my imagination of hills and sky.  

Blue Window

iPad painting, 14" x 10"

Prelude to an Orchid

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

An abstract done while lying in bed thinking of a white orchid.

Sonoma Hills with Cloud Bank

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

Mossy

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

Another tree-lined pathway.  I love the mystery of a woody trail.

A Central Park Stroll

acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

This painting was done from a photo I took in Central Park on my recent trip to New York and Vermont.  I loved the lavender walkway, which I was happy to achieve without using blue.  My palette for this one was smalt, violet oxide, viridian, hooker's green, cad yellow medium, titanium white, and mars black.  I know it's a rather weird palette, but it seemed to be working well with this composition, so I stuck with it and I'm happy with the result.

Wild Horse

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

Done from a photo I found online just 'cause I wanted to.

Topiary Tree, East Petaluma

oil on gessoboard panel, 9" x 12"

This is a palette knife painting I did in the studio from a photo I'd taken while walking along a trail in East Petaluma.  I've walked this path often, and each time I have to stare at this lone tree and its sweet, bulbous shape.