Landscape Variables:

 "Harmony in Silver" (12x16) oil on linen

This piece was painted in Spring near our home in Oregon just before a late afternoon rain storm hit (from behind me). Some of the best 'sky-drama' is right after or right before a storm; clouds are moving, colour is changing -- the design of the sky can determine your entire composition, and often become the focal point of it...I packed up and ran to the car just in time!

 "Sonoma Sunrise" (6x8) oil on panel

This little sketch was painted at dawn (and sold) during the Sonoma Plein Air show in California last October. I knew from the previous morning where the sun would hit first, so I was already set up before light. The intense blue is due to the moisture in the valley and made for a stark contrast of temperature as the sun hit the hilltop -- a very fast, but rewarding execution that I would never have captured with the same spontaneity from a photograph...

"Oak Cluster" (9x12) oil on canvas

This one was done on my way home from the beach in Oregon wine country (not sure what town it was closest to). Early in the evening, I was fortunate to find a spot to pull off the road where usually there is none (as local farmers like to plow every square foot of soil). This was last summer when the sun was low and colour was most intense. Setting sunlight on a subject can make for a more interesting composition with long-stretching shadow patterns like these...

Eric Bowman (1960 - 2057)

(6x8") o/p

Feeling optimistic...

 Red Robe (16x12) oil on panel

We've painted dozens of models in my studio over the years; so many in fact that I can't recall the names of the two depicted here... I like variety, so I try and get different a one each time, but still manage to hire some of the favorites from time to time. Once when I invited a group of friends to paint and the model didn't show up, I felt responsible so I got up on the stand myself (clothed of course)...

Lady in Black (14x11) 

oil pastel on paper

Boy, what an eye-opener! You tend to think (if you think about it all) that a model doesn't have to work that hard -- just hold still. Well about 20 minutes into the first session of a 3-hour long pose, I was getting a whole new perspective! By the time the pose was finished, I was stiff with back, leg and neck pain and very, very tired...and I was sitting in a comfy chair! 

I have had a very healthy respect for artists models ever since...
My hats off to them --

Better than a Love-In!

I'm swingin' the doors wide open for my first-ever Open Studio SALE this Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Drop by for some refreshments, a free signed poster and take advantage of hundreds of original works of art at low studio prices!!

Peace, Love & Plein Air!

Dusk.

"Dusk" (12x16) Oil on Linen

I will take this post to make another shameless plug for my upcoming Open Studio Sale... HUNDREDS (about 350 - 400) paintings and sketches for sale at loowww "studio prices". 

These are pieces that either already had their shot in a gallery, or haven't left the studio yet; some are non-exhibited plein air studies and some were painted in competitions such as Plein Air Easton, Sonoma Plein Air or the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational (among others). 

There are also many figure paintings in oil, pastel studies and small nudes in oil on vellum, along with a number of sketches that were made to assist me in completing larger canvases. 

The sale will be Saturday, June 14th from 9am to 5pm at my studio in Oregon... Please drop by if you're in the area! There will be free posters and refreshments -- hope to see you here!

7311 SW Pine Street  Tigard, Oregon 97223 

Open Studio Sale June 14th...

STUDIO SALE!

I have been meaning to do this for quite a while; after painting for a number of years, you get a back log of paintings, studies, sketches and the like piling up in the studio... Some are smaller studies for larger paintings that went to galleries, some are things returned from galleries that haven't sold -- a lot of competition pieces from various shows,  and some are things I just never let go of because....who knows why? 

Of course the dogs and failures I toss or paint over, so everything in this sale is frame-worthy (according to me anyway). There are between 350 to 400 plein air paintings, figure studies and some pastel drawings (even some old illustrations if you're interested)...

The studio is the big building behind my house in Tigard, OR on Saturday, June 14th -- come by for a snack and a free poster if you're in the area!

9am to 5pm  7311 SW Pine Street 97223 -- hope to see you here!

Born in a Barn?

 "Happy Little Barn" (16x20) oil on linen

I wasn't raised on a farm, but may have been born in a barn (I've been painting so many lately). These were painted outside the town of Newberg, Oregon not far from my house. 

"Catawampus" (16x20) o/c

Was never a big fan of 'barn paintings' before, but lately I've been noticing how the old ones with all the character are going away for good in our area, being replaced by steel structures... Better for the farmers I suppose, but sad to see charm of the old school wood going by the wayside... I guess I've warmed up to them now that they're an endangered species -- might even hug one if they weren't so big (and farmer John wasn't watching)...

A shame to think in a few more years, we'll only have pictures of them...and paintings.