Sunday, May 31, 2015

Cooney Lake

Here's another little study from Cooney Lake in the Sierras, up above Mono Lake. I could spend all Summer up here!

6 x 6 oil on Gessoboard


Another Gray Morning

More cloudy weather this morning. But that's the way it is here this time of year. They call it May Gray and June Gloom. Time to "embrace the gray".

6 x 8 oil on Gessoboard



Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Desert Wash

Been painting small for a couple of weeks but today I felt the need to stretch my arms a bit so I went a little bigger....

14 x 18 pastel on board


Sunday, May 24, 2015

Caribou Ranch

​Today's painting is from a recent trip to Colorado. This is one of the many open space parks scattered through the Rockies. Great places to paint!


6 x 8 oil on panel


Saturday, May 23, 2015

Kolob Reservoir Road

Time for one more before calling it a day. 

This is a late afternoon view from Kolob Reservoir Road which runs along the back side of Zion NP. A great drive!


6 x 12 oil on panel



San Pasqual Valley

More little daily paintings. Trying to create more "brush time".
It was still raining early this morning but when the clouds finally drifted off for a while it was very hazy. I like hazy....

6 x 8 oil on panel



Friday, May 22, 2015

Borrego Springs - Palm Canyon

Today's and yesterday's paintings are from a recent trip to our local desert. The early and late light is always worth the trip!

This first one was done as the morning light was clearing the mountains and lighting up the head of the valley while the canyon was still in deep shadow.

The second was not far from the first - a little later in the morning.


6 x 8 0il on panel



6 x 8 oil on panel



Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Virgin River

It's been pretty cloudy around here lately. I was in the mood for some sun so today's painting is from my last trip to Zion NP. One of my favorite (and most frustrating) places to paint.


8 x 6 oil on panel


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Which way do we go?

I put the oil paints aside for the day and did today's small painting in pastels. Man! It's hard making broad marks on a little 6 x 8 piece of pastel paper!



6 x 8 pastel on Pastelmat paper


Saturday, May 16, 2015

Bishop Creek Canyon

More little paintings! This one is from a photo and some sketches I did last Fall in Bishop Creek Canyon. It was a spectacular year for Fall colors!


8 x 6 oil on board


Hotel by the Bay

Southern California's been in a terrible drought but for some reason we just started having a series of Winter style storms. Pretty unusual for almost June. But we need the rain. The positive side effect to standing and painting in the rain has been the incredible clouds we've been having. Fun stuff.

Today's painting was done down by the bay looking toward one of the resort hotels. Hoping for sun tomorrow....


6 x 6 oil on board


Friday, May 15, 2015

Almost Daily

So... I've decided to start doing an almost-daily painting session. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy working small and how much it helps develop your skills. 
I'm not naive enough to think that I'll have the time to do one every day but when I can make the time I know it will help me work on some skills and bad habits and keep the "miles and miles of canvas" going. We'll see how long it lasts... wink emoticon
I actually started this a few days ago but here's today's effort....

6 x 8 oil on panel