Days of Future Past...

 

 Ebb Tide (24x30) o/c

I was able to paint several times in California this year, and grateful for it - the land of my nativity...and first 26 years. Interesting how the environmental imprints of your youth have an effect lasting the whole of your life. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I naturally miss the sunshine thru the winter months, but not the crowds... Still, I find I need to visit as often as possible the older I get.

 

Canyon Morning (9x12) o/c

Instead of a little red sports car or a tawdry affair, I can quell any mid-life crisis with a painting trip to Southern California - especially the coast. Even the coast of Oregon will work if the whether permits (summer time mostly). As parents and relatives pass away,  it's becoming more and more important to visit those places of my youth and connect to the memories of the past.  Painting does that on an entirely new and often deeper level - satisfying and enriching. And I appreciate my encouraging wife who supports me on these trips; I don't believe she understands it fully, but that doesn't matter as long as I get recharged and back home to her again. 

Our daughter who is building her own memories for the future will experience this longing too; memories that will haunt her back home to Oregon someday when she's grown and gone...

Fall Colour in Plein Air!

 

(9x12)

These are from earlier this Fall, painting with my friend, Anton Pavlenko in Washington state. It was actually a nice warm Autumn day and the colours were turning everywhere -- a great time to paint in the Pacific Northwest!

 

Unfinished (16x20)

This one I didn't get finished on site, but got a good start -- sometimes time and sun light are taskmasters that work in your favor, causing you to stop before you normally would in the controlled light of the studio... I'll finish it later (and with as few strokes as possible to not overwork this foundation done from life).

On the Easel...

 

(24x48" o/c)

This is a new piece I'm working on that needs a title -- any ideas?

Secret Spot

Flat Rocks, Oregon Coast (12x16) o/c

This is a favorite spot on the coast near Pacific City, just north of Neskowin, Oregon. I got there at minus tide which reveals a whole maze of rock channels that are usually partly submerged even at regular low tide. The high sandstone wall of Cape Kiwanda (local popular surf spot) is just to the right, out of view -- in the distance is Cascade Head at the north end of Lincoln City...

I know a lot of plein air painters from other parts of the country who would love to paint the central Oregon Coast (if they knew such a place existed). 

 

For now though, we'll just keep it a secret between the two of us...

    "The Curve" (20x24)

This is a new piece for my figure show coming up in January at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ.  I plan on having 18-20 new pieces on display opening 1-23-14.

 

(detail)

 My model, Kira posed at our friend's house who had a claw foot tub -- do you know how hard it is to find a claw foot tub when you need one!!  Not easy... Anyway, I like the colour harmony in this with the natural overcast daylight coming thru the off-camera window.

Laguna Plein Air Painters Invitational

 "Autumn's Reprise" (16x20)

Here are a couple of my paintings from the recent Laguna Plein Air Painters Association's Invitational event held in October. It was a great week of painting in summer-like weather, and seeing friends & family in So Cal... I grew up in that area and have many fond memories going back to my early childhood when we would visit my mother's best friend there.

"Laguna Gold" (16x20)

In the mid 80's I had a small studio space in north Laguna and lived just south of there in Dana Point. A lot has changed over the years, but the charming character of Laguna remains along with the beauty of it's rocky coves that lured William Wendt and Edgar Payne there a hundred years ago... I hope to return to next years event and do it again -- never tire of that beautiful place!

Progress shots for "Mending"

 (about 45 minutes into the start)

This is a 16x20 painting of my friend, Pam. This was done from a photograph in between other projects, so I spread it out over 3-4 sessions. Being a fan of the Russian impressionists, I really had fun doing this one.

 (a little over 2 hours in)

I find it odd though, that galleries are hesitant to show this subject matter. The fact is, I have received quite a number of compliments from all over the internet for this series. I sold another painting of Pam to a couple in the south, another one to a collector in Los Angeles, had another one featured as an Honorable Mention winner in Southwest Art magazine last year and had yet another one purchased by the hosting gallery's owner in last years American Impressionist Society's Annual Exhibition...

Finish (about 5 hours total)

Even though Pam isn't Russian, she sure looks the part... AND people have responded favorably. Thanks again, Pam for all your help! And to those galleries who think they know the pulse of ALL art buyers, take another look; there's a collector for every subject -- especially a beautiful one like this...

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.