Monday, December 28, 2015

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Lismore With Spider

Another ala prima oil sketch on a new paper board that I won at the LA Plein Air event. 8 x 10" oil

Roses With Spider

This is a quick sketch I did to make sure I don't fall behind on my goal to paint a new subject everyday until the end of the year. 8 x 10" oil

Lemons With Spider

I suppose the  next three paintings don't really qualify as "en plein air" because the are done a few feet inside our loft. The lighting is a combination of artificial and available light. 8 x 10" oil

3/2 O'Neill

Our loft has a roll up garage door that doubles as a location to hang my wetsuit and dry small painting sketches. The top two glass panels are clear, the others are frosted. 12 x 12" Oil

Self Portrait

This is a sketch after going to the TRAC event. 12 x 12" oil

Popcorn Sketch

My attempt to make an ordinary subject look interesting. 8x10" oil

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Tower Impression

This was a quick painting because a fog bank moved in while I was working. 12x12" oil

Monday, August 31, 2015

Vineyard Workers

This is another oil painting I have submitted to the Santa Paula Art Museum for the De Colores  exhibit. The show will honor the Campesinas. 12 x12"

Ten Hour Day

This is a painting I have worked on showing women farm workers "Campesinas". 20 x24" Oil

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Neverland Swings

12 x 16" oil 
This painting is another angle on the swings at the fair. A carny told me it was once on the Neverland Ranch owned by Michael Jackson. I intend to paint a larger version of it in the near future.

Carnival Prizes


Here is a view of a stand where you threw a baseball to knock over bottles. I'm sure the advantage was in the  favor of the carnival. The favorite of this stand were the Minons.
12 x 16" oil



Fair Tower

Fair Tower 11 x 14" Oil on Canvas board.... This is the last painting I did at the fair and had developed a practice of catching the rides as they moved. The carnies would test the rides before the public arrived. The red shape towards the middle was activated.

Looking West

Oil 12 X 16"

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Icee Stand

Oil 12x12"

Midway View

Oil 12 X 12"

Monkey Jungle

The view from the front entrance  12 X 12 "  oil

Children's Slide

"August 9 , 2015. 12x 12"
This was a painting that taught me to setup away from the entrance where the workers all entered. They expected a conversation while I was busy working. Headphones gave me a little excuse to ignore their jeers and questions.

Fair Swings #1

"Fair Swings" 12× 12" Oil
The color adjustment isn't quite right on this one. I hope to update it soon.

Fair setup



Here is my painting setup . Most days I look for shade to work in. It helps not having to have an umbrella .

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Ventura City Hall

I like to set up in the shade and paint with an angle on the subject. This is my fourth time I have painted this set of buildings. The challenge is in editing the details. 16 x 16" oil on canvas board.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Banzai Marina, Santa Clara & California

16 x 16 oil on canvas on location with a few touch ups 
@WAV .. new murals are on the rise in Ventura :0

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Palm Road

I have heard it said that a good painter must be an excellent editor. Today was a good example of what I was faced with on this location. . 16 x 20" oil


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Three Quarter Self Portrait

It seems that finding the right composition early and sticking with it makes a painting easier.
This pose was changed three times and I still need to answer some of the value questions I have about it. I may adjust it again and edit this post. 16 x 20" oil/canvas

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Ventura Train Trestle

I have found it takes a few days in a row of painting to get into a groove with my palette. Here is another quick painting done with myself walking back from the beach in a wetsuit.
The thing I learned today was that if you draw a crooked telephone pole you can correct it by adding another line rather than scraping it out. :) 16 x 20"
Here's a photo after I finished. You can see the drawings on the back of the pntg. and my schwinn crusier.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Saturday Morning Mural Painting

This a another version of the Tortilla Flat's Mural in Ventura. I had stable lighting (although it does shift) and was able to get a better finish that the earlier version. 16 x 20 " Oil/Canvas
This is the set up I used today. I rarely use an umbrella if I don't have direct light on me. I use a medium attached on the left side and don't use turpentine except with the ground wash. This location was close enough to ride my bike with everything tied to the basket on back.

School Bus Garage

I have another version of the location from a couple years ago on this blog. The mechanic was nice enough to lift the bus for me while he went to lunch. I hope to execute a few more from the interior in the near future.  16 x 20" Oil on Canvas

Figeroia Street Mural 1

The light changed 45 minutes into this painting, so I stopped. 
16 x20" Oil on canvas

Self Portrait In Hat

It was too windy to paint outside en plein air, so I attempted a self portrait.
16 x 20 " oil on canvas board

Santa Paula Plane

This was an overcast day that ending with a sprinkle. James Martin painted with me after picking up our unsold paintings from the Art Of Agriculture Show.  16x20" oil/canvas