Calistoga Plein Air Paint Out -2021

"Autumn Sidewalk in Calistoga", 8 x 10"; Oil on Panel

 

"Napa-Calistoga Valley", 8 x 10"; Oil on Panel

Ducks in a Row

"Ducks in a Row - Benicia Boatyard" - 8" x 16" - Oil on wood panel

Last month (August 24, 2019) I participated in the 4th Annual Benicia Plein Air Paint-Out. This year I painted another view of the Benicia Boatyard, however, I set up my easel in a slightly different location from the spot I have worked from previously.  While painting, a number of ducks were working the shoreline with some other waterfowl. I decided to incorporate them into my painting since they seemed to add some "life" and interest to the overall scene.

Pioneer Street Mansard

This is one of the paintings I did in March for the 2019 Calistoga Plein Air Paint-Out Competition.

"Pioneer Street Mansard" - Oil on Panel - 10 x 8 inches

Benicia Boatyard - 2nd Version

"Carquinez Strait Morning" - 8 x 16 inches; Oil on wood panel

Here's the painting I did over this past weekend for the Benicia Plein Air Gallery 2018 Paint Out Competition.  For this entry I received the "People's Choice Award."  I really enjoyed this event and met some new artists and got better acquainted with ones whom I had met before.

This painting is another version of the boatyard scene that I painted during last year's event.  Though this time around I was able to anticipate some of the light changes and tidal inflows that occur as the morning progresses.

Crane Creek Dry Season

Here's my painting of a dry stream bed at the northern boundary of Crane Creek Regional Park. Based on photos, pencil sketches and watercolor studies done on the spot during several visits to the park during late summer.   

"Crane Creek Dry Season" - Oil on Panel; 11x14 inches

Benicia Boatyard

A plein air painting I did of the Benicia Boatyard showing the Carquinez Strait in the background.

Oil on wooden panel; 8 x 16 inches

Still Life Painting with Blue

Here's a recent still life composition that I completed at the end of April.  In this piece I limited colors to blues and neutral tones, while adding an accent of orange for interest.

"Teapot with Blue",  Oil on panel, 10 x 8 inches, 
Price: $400

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.