By the Lake

6 x 8 oil on canvas panel

Fall is usually the best time of the year for light here in Southern California. Clear skies, warm light, low sun angles. But this Fall it's been all about fog. Yeeesh. So when I woke up to more cloudy skies this morning I decided to take action and head inland until I found some sun. Fortunately, I didn't need to go too far...

Bataquitos Lagoon

8 x 12 pastel on hardboard

Sometimes we have our best weather in Fall here in Southern California. The Summer fog and heat are gone and the skies are clear. We just had one of those great Fall days so I headed down to the coast to see what I could see. And paint it.....

Valley of Fire

9 x 12 oil on canvas panel

Just north of Las Vegas is a wonderful but often overlooked Nevada state part named the Valley of Fire. It's an incredible place to paint! This painting was done as the sun set behind the distant mountains - setting off an explosion of yellow colors. 

If you ever get out to Las Vegas, add an extra day to visit this park. Well worth it!

Evening Hike

9 x 12 pastel on hardboard

I was all ready to pack up and head back out to Joshua Tree NP but then our good buddies on Capitol Hill decided to shut down the government -- and the National Parks. Good move, children.

I'm sure it will re-open soon but in the meantime, here's one from a past trip to the park...

Into the Canyon

9 x 12 pastel on hardboard

Well, Fall is here so it's cooling of in the local deserts. Time to get out and off-road into some fantastic places to paint!

Sunset - Bishop, Ca

6 x 8 oil on canvas panel

I just returned home from a workshop with Frank Serrano in the Eastern Sierras. We had a great time. One evening after returning to the hotel I went for a stroll down a side street and saw this sunset coming on. So I ran back and grabbed my painting gear and dashed off this little study. Man. it happens fast! 

Rock Garden

11 x 14 pastel on hardboard

I definitely have the desert on my mind today...