Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational

"Trabuco Canyon Nocturne" (16x20)

Off to Laguna Beach this week for the LPAPA Invitational...been wanting to do this one for awhile as that is the area where I grew up. I had studio space in North Laguna for a couple of years back in the mid-eighties, and have been going there with family since the 1960's -- many happy memories of that beautiful town. Hoping to get a last grab of summer weather while I'm there too... The sale day of the show is Sunday Oct 20th, 10am to 3pm at Aliso Creek Inn in Laguna Beach, CA.

 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...

Blue moon in August

August Moon (8x10)

Painted this during a "blue moon" in August... A blue moon is when you have a second full moon in one month, or a fourth full moon in a season. This one was rising as the sun was setting, so it made for some beautiful colour!

SUMMERLAND show opens tonight!

"Land Patterns"

Tonight my landscape show, "SUMMERLAND" opens at 

Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, Oregon! 

23 pieces in all - runs thru October 2nd, 2013

 

The Hour of Romance...

"The Hour of Romance" (30x30)

This piece will be in my show opening September 6th at Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, OR.

23 landscapes in all... (the new work will be on their web site shortly at which time I will post a link).

Peace in the Valley (24x30) o/c

This plein air painting will be in my show, "Summerland" opening September 6th at Brian Marki Fine Art in Portland, OR. 

I came across this scene in Banks, Oregon; a rural community west of Portland that butts up against the east side of the Coastal mountain range... It has a kind of northern California feel to it since I reshaped the trees a little once I got it back in the studio.

I have eucalyptus (which are rare up here) on the brain right now...should probably see a specialist about that...

Plein Air in the Columbia Gorge

 Idyll Hour (20x24) o/c

The Columbia River divides the States of Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest and has one of the most scenic drives known as "The Gorge"...a beautiful cavernous section of forest-lined cliffs carved by water over thousands of years. The mountains there turn an almost unbelievable brilliant rich blue with the moisture in the air on overcast days. I recently painted these pieces on sight there with my Russian born artist friend, Anton Pavlenko...

Blue Grandeur (24x30) o/c

I usually desire a sunny day for plein air painting, but after experiencing the gorge on a day like this, I will definitely be returning on the grey days!

Delicate Hands progress shots

 Day 1; block-in...

 Day 2; adding detail, adjusting value...

"Delicate Hands" (20x24 o/p)

This piece was juried into the American Impressionist Society's 14th Annual exhibition and will hang at M Gallery in Charleston, South Carolina from Sept, 28 thru Nov 2nd, 2013.