Rain

This afternoon I did this sketchbook watercolor of the clouds and rain showers that moved through Sonoma County this afternoon.

Watercolor; 6 x 9.5 inches

Winter Waves

A painting I did a couple years ago of Schoolhouse Beach on a winter day.

Schoolhouse Beach, Oil on Panel, 12" x 16"

Detail view.

Mount St. Helena

This morning I did a plein air oil painting of Mount St. Helena, as it appears looking across Lake Benoist.

View of Mount St. Helena, Oil on board

I have been planning to do this painting since last May, when I did a preliminary watercolor sketch at the same spot.

Mount St. Helena, Watercolor and pencil on paper, 9 x 12 inches

Note:  Since setting up at this particular spot on the lake shore requires carrying all my paint gear for a twenty minute hike from the parking lot, (and back again with a wet painting in hand), I probably wont be re-visiting this spot again in the near future.

Clearing Up

Oil on Paper, 8 x 10 inches

This a small painting that I did last spring when the sun finally came out after several dark, rainy days.  I tried to show some of the interesting cloud shapes that were moving around when the cloud cover was clearing up.

In Full Sun

"In Full Sun"

Oil on panel

8x10 inches

This is a plein air study that I did during a walk along the west edge of Annadel State Park.  It shows a mound of brush catching the warm  rays of afternoon sunlight.  I will be glad to see some warmer days like this again.

Picnic Table

Oil on canvas, 8x10 inches

Here is a small painting I did last spring of a picnic table and trees at Spring Lake Regional Park.  In this piece I concentrated on using strong colors and thick paint with minimal detail to show the effect of afternoon light coming through the trees.  (Click on the image to get a closer view of the heavy paint texture).

Calistoga Plein Air

This is really old news but...back in October (when I was not keeping up with this blog), I participated in the 1st Annual Calistoga Plein Air Paint Out competition.  The weather was perfect, I had a great time painting and met some really talented artists.  I look forward to taking part again next October.

"City of Calistoga", Oil on Panel, 9x12 inches

On the first day of the two-day event I painted this view of the Calistoga City Hall building.  I spent more time trying to "fix" the palm tree behind the bell tower than on the rest of the painting.

Third Place ribbon

I won third place for this painting.  I was very excited to receive the award.

"Pioneer Park", Oil on Panel, 11x14 inches

On the second day I painted this gazebo in a city park, not far from the City Hall building.

Quarry Rocks and Pool at Spring Lake

Oil on Panel, 8 x 10"

Here is a small oil study that I did of a small pool of rainwater, found along an out-of-the-way path inside Spring Lake Park.  I chose this subject because of its interesting combination of colors, shapes and textures found in the water, rocks, uprooted tree stumps and wildflowers.  I managed to include the sky in this close-up view by showing it in the reflection of the pool.

Healdsburg Sketch Crawl

Today I sketched at the Plaza in Healdsburg, CA. for the "World Wide Sketch Crawl 34". 
Because of rain and wind, my drawings were confined to views obtained from the shelter and comforts of "Flying Goat Coffee".

Here are two sketches I did over cups of light roast coffee.

View from Flying Goat Coffe

Pencil on paper

5.75 x 8.5"

Two Readers, Flying Goat

BBB charcoal pencil on paper

3.5 x 5.5"

January - Farmers Market

Oklahoma City Farmers' Market

Oil on Panel
8x10 inches

This is a small painting I did a while back, based on a photo I took of a small building at the Oklahoma City Farmers' Market.  It was a clear, sunny day, but bitterly cold!  This seems like a good painting to post this week.  It is still one of my favorite pieces.

Luther Burbank House

Luther Burbank House
3.5 x 5.5 inches
Pencil on Sketchbook Page

This afternoon I did a quick sketch of the Luther Burbank House in Santa Rosa.

Tomales Bay

A page from my sketchbook, Size 8x10-7/8", Pencil and watercolor.

Doyle Park Corner

Sold

8"x10"

Oil on Canvas

A study of trees in the neighborhood park.

Oklahoma Red Rock

"Red Rock Canyon"


This is a small painting I did a while back.  It is a view of the sandstone formations in Red Rock Canyon, (located south of Hinton, Oklahoma).  I recently added this painting to my  Etsy store.

A Rainy Afternoon on My Street

Medium:  Oil on Panel,  

Size:  10 x 8"  Sold

Here is another view from my studio.  The day was too wet for outdoor painting, so I did the next best thing from the comfort of my studio, standing at my easel looking out the window. This painting was recently purchased by a local art collector.

Plein air painting of boulders at Spring Lake

"Spring Lake Boulders"
Oil on panel, 11"x14"

Old and New, Oak Knoll

Oil on Panel, 8 x10 inches
My easel set-up as I was getting ready to paint "Old and New"

Spring Green

Oil on Panel, 8 x10 inches

Spring Lake Study

Oil on Masonite, 8"x10"

Truck and Trailer

Oil on Panel
Size 10 x 8 "