Being safe in this pandemic has meant painting around my home or seeking out places where I can keep distance from others. My friend Richard and his wife Gay have an amazing estate with gardens, lily ponds, and Koi. Last week he offered a small group painting event on his … Read More
A dear friend and painting buddy, Karin Leonard, a few years ago created a website to support and preserve parks – whether neighborhood parks, local preserves, state parks, national parks, or parks throughout the world. The idea – artists creating paintings in parks anywhere join and then donate a portion … Read More
I have recently been perusing a book on color theory. It’s called Perfect Color Choices for the Artist, written by Michael Wilcox. There are many different theories about color harmony, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It appears “perfect” is a relative term. One system that I … Read More
Preparing to paint plein air requires some forethought and action. I need to have canvas, easel, and all my brushes and tools packed up to carry with me. Once on location, I need to evaluate the scene from various angles, to determine just what I want to paint, and how … Read More
Often I choose to paint out in a new location, but with the quarantine in place, I have stayed home, choosing my subjects as the spring comes on. I planted a magnolia tree several years ago. It is the first large tree to bloom on our property in Soquel each … Read More
When I harvested a black walnut tree in Massachusetts to have a memory of my childhood home, I had no idea of the adventure ahead. Now I have a stack of rough sawn boards here in Soquel. I decided to make some frames for my paintings, but little did I … Read More
Saturday and Sunday, October 12-13, 19-20, 11am-5pm. As I write this, I am preparing my studio walls with paintings for display in our county’s Open Studio Tour. I will have many of my paintings which I created in the past year. You will also be able to see my working … Read More
During the month of July, a number of plein air artists were invited to paint at several farms, vineyards, and ranches, to highlight the beauty of our productive lands in the Pajaro Valley. The month of painting will culminate in an exhibition at the Pajaro Valley Gallery, 37 Sudden Street … Read More
For the past ten years, I have enjoyed 4 straight days of painting on the Big Sur Coast. During these four days, I paint like a fiend as there are no other responsibilities. I have been accompanied by some combination of nine friends, as we share meals, art books, and … Read More
All the rains of winter have given way for a spectacular spring wildflower bloom as the sunshine warms the land. Poppies on the hills in So CA. My garden was also in bloom with drifts of calla lilies, forget-me-nots , rosemary and clematis. On our return trip from San Diego … Read More