New plein air sketches...

 Summer Landscape (12x16) o/linen

Been out sketching lately in preparation for Sonoma Plein Air, the only plein air event I do anymore (it's my California landscape "fix")...and a wonderful area to paint!

 Foothill Colour (8x10) o/l

These sketches were done during August in northwest and central Oregon. Summer weather usually arrives after the July 4th holiday and runs thru September, and I'm looking forward to getting some autumn colour while temps are still nice when I get back from Sonoma in a few weeks~

Helvatia Fields (8x10) o/l

Smith Rock (8x10) o/l SOLD

Smokey Sky Landscape (16x20) o/l

Recent California Sketches

 "Laguna Canyon" (9x12) o/c 

Here are a few small paintings and studies I did on my two recent road trips to southern & northern California... In August we went down to L.A. for the opening of my solo show, "End of the Trail" at Maxwell Alexander Gallery, and also for family vacation time that took us to Mexico to visit my folks...

In September I drove back down for the Sonoma Plein Air event, which I enjoy immensely for it's beautiful hill-covered vineyards and rugged coastal scenes. I also got to paint with friends I only see once a year...

 "Blue Eucalyptus" (8x10) o/c

Painting in Sonoma is a kind of California "fix" for me as I miss my roots living in the northwest part of the country now; anytime I can get down to my home state (especially to paint) I take it!

"TwilightMoon"(6x8) o/l

 Laguna Beach is another favorite place for me having visited there since I was a kid in the 60's and 70's and then rented studio space in the 80's. It's not quite the same as back then, but still has a charm and beauty unlike any other on the west coast...

"Three Arch Bay" (9x12) o/l

I was fortunate to hook up with a childhood friend who now owns a quaint little beach cottage in Three Arch Bay (a very exclusive and hard-to-get-into place with it's own secluded beach). We were able to spend a couple of days there, swimming and painting; it was a beautiful and memorable visit -- thanks again Danny, see you next time!

Northern California and Sonoma Plein Air 2015

 "Autumn Morn" (18x18) oil on linen SOLD

 Just got back from Sonoma Plein Air -- had a wonderful time painting surrounded by rolling hills of undeveloped land -- what Orange County used to look like back in the 60's...beautiful coast there too!

                                             "The Scarlet Conclusion" (9x12) oil on linen

 Had the opportunity to paint with friends, which was a real treat, and it only rained half of Wednesday but the rest of the week was perfect weather. Looking forward to going back next year!

"Blue Sonoma" (6x8) oil on linen

 "September's Glow" (crop 12x16) oil on linen

"California Road" (8x10) oil on linen

Back to Sonoma Plein Air!

Summer Dusk (6x8) oil on linen

Looking forward to participating in the Sonoma Plein Air festival again next month! The event runs September 14-19, and this will be my 6th year. I love the landscape there, connecting with my California roots and painting with friends to benefit art programs in the local schools!

Down Comes the Night (12x16) oil on linen

Thru rose-colored glasses...

"Rose Colored" (12x16) oil on linen

The smoke from recent fires in the Pacific Northwest drifted over our area creating a filter for a couple of days, colouring everything pink and orange. Anything in sunlight seemed more intensely warm, while the corresponding shadows were cooler and more colourful than usual. I noticed the effect on our (white) fence that morning as it had an amber tone to it and the shadows were a soft, warm pastel blue...it was a very unusual, but beautiful and eye-catching effect.  I never before said, "Hey, look at the colour on that fence!" or, "Wow, check out the shadow on that driveway!" Everyday objects suddenly had a superficial interest they never had before...

It was kind of like what I imagine a colour-blind person seeing full-spectrum colour for the first time would feel -- as if a new hue was suddenly added to the natural range we're used to; yet this wasn't a new hue, but one short range of hues (red to yellow) being turned up above the others... While the sunlight was more unifying, it was also weaker (or limiting) in it's range because of the filtering smoke; much like a photographic range is unified or limited by adding a filter to a camera lens...

I imagined a "colourist" like Henry Hensche (1899 - 1992) and his students appreciating such exaggerated hue, and went to a nearby park to paint the effect I was seeing. It was hard to not overstate the candy-coloured bubblegum effect and keep the intensity in check, but I did like the fact that the filter was making colour choices easier by limiting the range of both hue and value.  Local objects were tinted as well as middle-distance objects, while the furthest forms seemed to have a bit more colour than usual (or at least they appeared warmer than normal) and contrast was reduced as well... 

Interesting conditions,  but considering the cost of what caused it, I'd rather things go back to normal ASAP.  God bless those who have lost homes and land to the fires this year -- for them right now, life is certainly anything but "rose-colored"....

New Stuff...

 The Mystic (16x20) linen

 Passing By (8x10) o/c

 Daisy (16x20) o/c

Garden Path (8x10) o/c

 Sonoma Coast (9x12)

Here are a couple of the 10 pieces I painted last week at Sonoma Plein Air... The weather was perfect at the beach when I painted this one above; no wind, sunny and warm. The rest of the week went pretty much the same until the dreaded outdoor sale day -- it rained, no poured ALL day long! They gave us plastic to put over the display boards that our paintings hung on, but they still got wet as the water blew around...  All in all though, it was a good experience. The volunteers and SPA folk did a great job taking care of us and really put on a nice gala dinner on Friday night (as usual). 

Vineyard Spirits (16x20)

My "collector" Tina Shone, who bought my grand prize winner from last year stepped up to buy my silent auction entry this year (both of which have full moons rising as the subject matter -- thank you, Tina!!). I also sold 3 more pieces on the 'rain day' and had a good time seeing my painter friends... Even though the weather no doubt kept a number of would-be buyers away, the ones who did make it out had a great selection to choose from, and little competition to buy... Glad a few of them chose my work -- made the 9.5 hour drive home a bit easier...

Winner in Sonoma!

 

   Artists Choice Award: "Valle De La Luna" (16x20) o/c

I've just returned from a week of painting in California, at the 10th Annual Sonoma Plein Air where I was fortunate to win their top honor of Artists Choice Award.  Each artist brought their best piece of the week to the Friday night gala held in the newly constructed "train barn" on John Lasseter's estate, the founder of Pixar Animation.  There were many excellent paintings on display and mine could have been easily passed over for many of them, but it was sure nice to be awarded validation from my peers...

 Silent Night, Sonoma (8x10)

The weather was warm in the mid-90's the first half of the week, but this years event also landed on the full moon, so the clear skies made an excellent opportunity for nocturnes (which many took advantage of).  

Saturday's show day was beautiful too, and sales were quite good considering the lingering economic slump.  Thanks again to my third time hosts, Bill & Bev Raaka, I had a wonderful stay and great time with artist friends painting in the beautiful wine country of central California.