From the coast

Some recent coastal sketches, all are quick little 5x7's done on site, except the gouache sketch in the mini moleskine, where I'm trying to put into practice the limited palette techniques (three colors plus white) I picked up in the Wyoming workshop.

Summer sketches

Just trying to keep in practice before I hit the road for a painting/workshop roadtrip to Jackson Wyoming : ) Mostly 6x8's and a few 5x7's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not plein air, but Toby is too cool to leave out!

From the hills

Just a quick sketch so I could get home to watch game 3 of the World Series (from a few weeks ago. Go giants!) 

Mt Diablo from the Seaview trail. 6X8 O/P

More from the Valley

Two more little sketches from the Valley

 Last light along the Merced 6X8 O/P

 

Leaving the Valley  6X8 O/P

Postcard from the Valley

Sure it's a cliche painting, but sometimes a view like this is just irresistible. One of a few scenes I did when my sister Lisa (also a painter) came out to visit. She had never been to Yosemite, and we both had a blast painting in the perfect weather.

Valley view 8X10 O/P

Pine Lakes Backpacking Trip

Had one of the best Birthday weekends ever... A short but sweet trip up to the East Side of the Sierra just north of Bishop, Ca. with Kim, Kirkby, and fellow painters Frank Serrano and Andre Nobrega, what's not to like?

Lower Pine Lake at sunrise. 6x8 O/P

 

Waterfall from Lower Pine Lake 6x8 O/P

Shoreline Rocks, Pine Lake. 6x8 O/P

We lost almost half a day painting due to rain, which turned into hail, then rain again, but it was too beautiful to care!

West Oakland Pickup

Been busy traveling lately, but here's one from back in July, just to hold the posts til I can get to the latest from the recent Sierra backpacking trip.

West Oakland Pickup, Peralta@24th. 5x7 O/P

Old and new

Here's one from back in March when I went with my buddy Mike up to Tilden and painted at the Equestrian Camp behind Lake Anza. Got to meet little new baby Elliot too!

Tilden Eucalyptus 6X8 O/P

Next is from a great day out with another painting buddy Richard. We headed out to Fairfax up in Marin to check out Tim Horn's 'Open Studio' and shmooze with a genuinely nice guy and amazing artist. By the way, I'm now the proud owner of an original Tim Horn, a gorgeous little jewel of a painting that he did of an old Cadillac he saw in L.A. I really like Tim's simplification of forms and his strong sense of design, there's lots to be inspired by in his work for sure. So suitably inspired, we left the Horn home studio/garage, and headed West down Sir Francis Drake Blvd. then up Nicasio Valley Rd to the most perfect little farming village in West Marin. We found this ridiculously picturesque scene and set up. A word of warning, if you're painting here and near the road, be sure to go during the week. The noise of day tripping Harleys passing by every other minute, could very easily ruin the bucolic peaceful painting experience of the unsuspecting artist ; )

 

Nicasio Ford 6X8 O/P

Too cool to pass up, but looked nearly black and white when viewed from up front. A nice back lit scene though.

Color Notes

Done super quick because I spend more time wandering around looking than painting, as usual...

 

Among the eucalyptus above Lake Anza.  5X7 O/P

Last light at Wildcat Canyon. 6X8 O/P

For both of these I had just enough time to get the broad colors and values fixed before I lost the light. It seems lately, that once the sun  goes down it's just instantly dark, but, it's not long til the time change. Also, the countless miles of wandering can be a bit dis-spiriting at times, but it's allowed me to find some new spots, and see old ones in a new light. Can't wait to get back to these locations, I'm prepped with my new studies!

Pre-rain

The rains are coming now in full force, here are a few recents from brighter sunnier days.

End of the day glow in Tilden. 6x8 O/P

Arrival of fog at Inspiration Point. 5X7 O/P

Still here!

Just a post of a little painting from this past summer (sigh). I have been painting lately, but...

4th and Camilia in Berkeley, Ca. 6x8 O/P

Still at it

After work paintings that is. I got a little boost from some nice encouragement, and also from this great painting spot I discovered not far from the office. It’s accessed from an easy to pass-by trailhead off of an equally scenic drive heading towards West Marin. I must have driven by this spot millions of times in the decade that I’ve been working in Marin (looking for painting spots no less!), but there it was. Great views of Mt. Tamalpais, the Bay, and of course those quintessentially Californian rolling gold hills. The dog loves it too!

Mt. Tam from the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide
Open Space Preserve 5X7 O/P

Sunset Hills, Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide Open Space Preserve
6X8 O/P

The weather has been gorgeous, even during our mini heat wave.

But it's the light... ahhh...

Caught this moon-rise on the way back down, I'll have to try a nocturne out here soon.

It's always dark when I get back to the car, but what a great hike.

Down by the river

Made a quick trip to Yosemite the other weekend for a friend's wedding. In between all the socializing, I was able to be a little anti-social and grab this little sketch by the Merced river near Mirror Lake.

Shadows on the Merced 6X8 O/P

Some after work sketches

Preparing to say farewell to after work, early evening painting sessions. Hoping to squeeze in a few more before the dreaded time change.

Santa Venetia Marsh in Marin near China Camp 6X8 O/P

Hills above China Camp 6X8 O/P

Fresh Air

Earlier this month, I took a little birthday backpacking trip into the Eastern Sierra (The Big Pine Lakes Basin) with my buddy Frank and my dog Kirkby. It was a tough slog straight up to 10,250 ft. above sea level, and I cursed the heavy painting gear, but it was all worth it when we caught first sight of the lakes. Still, next time I'm hiring the mule train to carry the gear!

Temple Crag at 6:30 am(ish) 6X8 O/P

Beach Rocks at Second Lake 8X10 O/P

I struggled with my paintings as well as the altitude and ended up scraping most of them down. My gear, process and site selection seems to need a little tweaking for mountain travel and light, but I had a great time nonetheless.

My trail buddies

Second Lake from our campsite

Temple Crag from Second Lake

View from Third Lake

Hauled Out

At the Berkeley Marina on a gorgeous sunny day.

The Hazel 'A' 6X8 O/P