African Spoonbill

oil on panel, 14" x 14"

A straightforward portrait of an African spoonbill wading in shallow waters.  I have painted a roseate spoonbill previously, and I just find these birds to be so exotic, with their long legs and bills.

Old San Luis Facade, with Salvia

oil on panel, 10" x 8"

It's back to New Mexico with this one, or rather, Colorado.  San Luis is reputedly the oldest town in Colorado, just over the border with New Mexico.  I've painted this structure before but from a different angle.  I found it very intriguing from a painting perspective, and so of course, I had to paint it again!

White Roses by the Window

oil on panel, 24" x 24"

This painting of a bouquet of white roses from my garden was an attempt at partial abstraction.  I didn't want to fully define each flower, opting for a loose impression instead.  Color harmony and creating a sense of depth were the overriding concerns here, and I'm happy with the result.

Hoo r Yoo?

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This is a painting of a barn owl I had fully intended to experiment with, but life intervened and, by the time I could turn my attention to it several days later, the paint had partially dried.  This is why I consider myself an alla prima painter.  I like to work a painting to completion while it's still fresh.  Still, the result, at least to my eyes, is not without merit.  I think he's a cute little guy (girl?).

Tigery

acrylic on canvas paper, 18" x 12"

I've been contemplating lately painting a tiger but haven't yet settled on how I want to treat the subject.  In the meantime, I had the urge to do an abstract painting using only Indian yellow, burnt sienna and ivory black, plus white.  The result looks a bit tigery to me.

Becoming

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just experimenting here with the abstract shapes of a rose unfolding.

Purple Pansy Study

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Another flower study done with the idea in mind of going big on the next version.  

Moon Over Rivertown

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

This is a study done from a photo taken at dusk of the Rivertown section of Petaluma along the river. 

Taos Mountain with Cows and Clouds

oil on canvas, 12" x 36"

This was a scene that I passed by daily in Taos, NM.  Every time I drove past it, I had to stare at that magnificent mountainous landscape.  The photo I worked from was taken in July, so this is a summer scene.  The mountain has many moods within each season, however, and I am not done with it, not by a long shot.  

Holy Cow

oil on panel, 24" x 24"

I started this painting in New Mexico and finished it here in California.  This is one of those iconic Southwestern sights, and a reminder of our temporary status here on earth, that we, too, are just passing through.  I find the bones themselves to be luminous and wanted to accentuate that quality. I also love the curvilinear shapes of those horns!

Blue Raven

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another bird painting, one of my favourite subjects.  Experimenting, teasing abstracted elements, finding a balance between realism and abstraction:  these are the things I'm working on in this piece.  Also, taking some care with the focus.

Fall Colors at SSU

oil on panel, 10" x 8"

This piece was started en plein air and finished in the studio.  I get more satisfaction when painting on a hard, smooth surface such as this one, giving the paint itself a more prominent role in the picture.  The sheer variety of trees at Sonoma State University makes for a challenging and exciting painting experience.  I try.

Pedernal with Cottonwoods

iPad painting, 10" x 10"

Here's a plein air digital sketch I did last fall, facing that famous Cerro Pedernal from Ghost Ranch, just west of Abiquiu in New Mexico.  My perspective was not far from the cottage that Georgia O'Keeffe rented with a direct view of Pedernal, so this would have been her view as well.

The Sun Feels So Good

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

I'm going to be posting some digital paintings from my year in New Mexico on this blog until I've finished creating a separate blog to house them.  This is a digital painting I did of a sculpture by the same name on the compound where I was living just north of Taos.  

Indian Summer Dusk, West of Petaluma

oil on panel, 8" x 16"

This painting of the hills of West Sonoma County near Petaluma was done from a photo I took in the early evening on my drive home from work recently.  I love the pink and orange hues in it, as I was trying to conveying the warm glow emanating from those velvety hills.  I never get tired of this view.

Ridgecrest View on a Sunny Afternoon

oil on cradled panel, 9" x 12"

This plein air piece was painted the other day along Ridgecrest Road in Marin County.  It is a spectacular road that wends its way along a ridge of undulating hills, with incredible views in all directions.  This is quintessential California to me.  It was a warm, sunny, windless day, perfect for painting at this spot, made even more perfect by the companionship of my dear friend and fellow artist Joyce Creswell, who painted alongside me.  There is truly something special about the practice of outdoor painting with friends.  The act of being fully present in the moment while painting with friends infuses the moment with deep meaning.  A memorable day.

Dairy Queen

oil on panel, 24" x 24"

Lordy, it took some labor to birth this baby!  She made it clear to me early on:  don't mess with my face.  So, I messed with just about every other part.  And I may not be done messing with her, poor thing.  Oh well, at least she's got a comfy chair to sit in.

Denman Roses

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Here's a little afternoon plein air sketch I did the other day of one of the rose bushes here at Denman Ranch.  I love the eastern view, with the light violet hills as a backdrop to the knoll on which this ranch sits.  The baby grape vines are just starting to show in the mid ground.

The Marsh at Doran Park

oil on cradled panel, 9" x 12"

This is a scene I've been wanting to paint for quite a while.  It lies just south of Bodega Bay, on a bluff overlooking the bay, and is home to lots of birdlife, especially egrets and herons.  The marsh itself is a riot of color and has a walkway that circles it.  I take my dog here often to walk the loop and contemplate nature.  I painted this scene alla prima (in one session) from a photo I had taken and decided to leave it in its sketchiness.  My favorite pieces are often the ones I've done alla prima, those that convey a visible sense of spontaneity.  A singer doesn't sing half a song one day, then finish it the next; a poet doesn't recite half a poem one day, then finish it the next.  A painting like this is of a moment as well, so why not paint it in one go?  

A Portal to the Soul

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is what I'd call an intuitive painting.  It started as an abstract done with a 3-inch brush, which is big for a 12" x 12" surface.  Using only ivory black, alizarin crimson and white, somehow it turned into this rose.  I'll admit, I've been looking at lots of flowers lately, but because I used no reference for this, it feels closer to a form of personal expression.