Purple

I like good shadows in a painting. I've seen them done several ways and some handle them really well. I really don't put much work into shadows and figured I needed to work on them more. This sketch was painted today in about 50 minutes...not bad for a 12"x16". Years ago it would have taken me a week to paint this scene at this size. One thing I appreciate about painting regularly is getting faster at it. Faster of course doesn't mean better so no my head is still being kept in check thanks to my vision.
I see things in this painting that need work and some areas that I like. I don't usually use purple as shadow as much as I use Ultramarine blue but why not work on something else. I like the purple ( violet ) and like going from dark intense purple to the more faded as it heads into the light. I guess I could use Dioxanine purple but I like mixing them with my primaries....sort of like stretching your own canvas or making your own frames...haha. I've been working pretty large lately so going down to this size gave me a feeling of trying to jam what I wanted into the scene. Need to get used to small again. I'll keep doing more of these sketches to work things out....pretty fun. 

Twilight In San Pedro

"Twilight In San Pedro, CGC Stratton"

18" X 24" Oil on Canvas

This is one of the paintings painted from reference material taken on my deployment with the Coast Guard aboard the cutter Stratton. This scene is of the first night the Stratton berthed in San Pedro before heading to her home port of Alameda in San Francisco bay. One of the things I didn't bring and was not told I needed to was a towel for showers. Not long after taking my reference pics on this night I realised I needed to get one so I bummed a ride on one of the vans headed into downtown Long Beach to find a WalMart. Ah the details....

Along Alisal Road

Alisal Trail

18" X 24"

Oil on Canvas

I decided to paint a scene from Alisal Road which leads out of Solvang south to Nojoqui Falls. I have painted here and I like the big clouds that float by over the ridge here. I decided not to include the road in the painting and instead switched it with just  a trail. I'm still at the point of looking at roads in the landscape as pretty boring and not at all as interesting as a trail. Anyway...fun painting to work on.   

Contemporary Masters : Artistic Eden III

"Bridges Over The Arroyo"

30"X40"

Contemporary Masters : Artistic Eden III Show

I was fortunate enough to be asked to enter work into this prestigious invitational show in Pasadena

held at the Pasadena Museum of History on the grounds of the Fenyes Mansion. The show will run from March 9 - July 29, 2012. This looks to be a great show and I look forward to seeing the work of some very talented artists. There are 4 artists who I know well that have work juried into this show too so I'm looking forward seeing their work. I'm hoping to bump into them and chat...it's not like we get the chance to see each other often since we are spread all over southern and central California including one who lives in the high desert.
I'll have my painting above in the show and 2 others. If you see one you like and are thinking of purchasing please contact Jasminka at Galerie Gabrie for info.

Museum Hours  - 12:00 Noon to 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays.

Admission: $7 General; $6 Students & Seniors; Members & Children under 12 Free. Free admission every “Community Wednesday” to anyone who lives, works or is a student in any of the following local communities: Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Glendale, Highland Park, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and Temple City. Please mention this offer and show some form of i.d. in the Museum Store.

470 West Walnut Street ~ Pasadena, CA 91103 ~ Ph 626.577.1660