Bodega Bay

We had great weather last weekend and I was able to go paint at the ocean. I just finished the last touches of this painting yesterday at the studio.

Painting in Progress

I had a wonderful day at the studio yesterday. I did a warm up painting of the view from my studio and started a large tractor painting for my series. Usually I carefully sketch large paintings before then grid and transfer. I feel sometimes the composition looses some of its magic as it gets overworked. Lately I have been sketching onto the black canvas then rearranging lines on it until it feels right. Here is the one I started yesterday. I am trying to capture some of the great clouds I have been seeing.

More Amazing Sunsets

There was another amazing sunset this evening. I spent six hours painting at the studio working on the edges of the commission piece. It rained off and on. The clouds would occasionally break to reveal golden edges and glimpses of blue beyond. Just like magic the hills have already began to turn green. I have the best view from my studio doorway. My studio sits on a hill and looks across smaller hills towards the Sonoma Mountains.

Purple Cow

I am in the process of finishing a commission I earned over the summer. It was a large painting divided into four canvases. I am going to finish the last details today and spend the rest of the day organizing my much neglected studio. This month I will start offering classes to small groups in my rural Petaluma Studio. I am also preparing for a show at Stanford University this January. I am hoping to create one very large piece to include in that show.

Amazing Sunsets

The last few rainy days have brought the most inspiring sunsets. There is something magical about this time of year. The air feels so clean after the rain and I wait with anticipation for the brown Sonoma Hills to become green.

This painting was recently completed for a commission I am working on. It was one of four local country scenes.

Nothing But Blue Skies

This painting was donated to the Art for Life Fundraiser for Face to Face. This organization helps get services to those who are suffering from HIV.

The Great Petaluma Paint Out 2008

For the past two months I have been working on putting together a paint out in Petaluma. This Saturday, September 20th, will be the first "Great Petaluma Paint Out 2008". This will be a day for the public to come celebrate art in the downtown area. There will be dozens of plein air painters participating in the painting competition throughout the day around the Turning Basin. At 4:00 PM, the paint out competitors will gather in the Theater District Courtyard (located across from the Boulevard Cinemas on 2nd Street). There they will be celebrating and sharing their creations. At 5:00 judging and music will begin and at 5:30 awards will be announced. There will be live music by “Dgiin” whose danceable music is best described as French-Gypsy-Funk. This is the perfect music to complement a “plein air” event. “Plein Air” is a French term meaning in “open air”. This public celebration of art will include prizes for artists and great company. The public will have the opportunity to participate in the judging of the People’s Choice Award.