Holiday Art Sale

Getting ready for my second annual art sale.  This year several of my artist friends are joining me at my Sebastopol Art Studio. Great art and there is something for everybody! 

En Plein Air Again

After grad school, which I spent the majority of my time painting late nights in my studio, I found myself struggling with getting myself outside painting.  Plein air painting was what originally made me want to be a painter. It was the adventure of not knowing what I was going to paint and all the discoveries that came from the exploration of new territories. It made me see light and color with "new" eyes.

Then there was that exhilaration of racing time and capturing a moment. Those paintings, unlike my studio ones, bring me right back to that day's experience where almost all my senses are engaged.  Happy to report that I am plein air painting once again with a small group of painting buddies. The above was painted last month in Tomales.

An Amazing two Months, Got my Mojo Back

The last two months flew by following a turbulent year, and I am happy to report I found my groove again. This fall, I recommitted to trying some plein air competitions.  It has been awhile.  Grad school followed by a job change along with family and jc classes, I was overwhelmed. So I started slow, and entered a Mendocino one and Capitola.
 They were wonderful!  I got to explore the west cost North and South and met to really kind and generous people.  Plus I got paint ten hour days!
 Here are a few paintings from the events.

Catch Up from September

The 2015 Great Petaluma Paint Out was a success.  We had over thirty amazing artists turn out and create some beautiful artwork around Petaluma.  Thank you to all the businesses that contributed including: the Three Twins Ice Cream, Aqus Cafe, Dempsey's, Powell's Sweet Shoppe, RileyStreet Art Supply, and Basin Street Properties.

The Great Petaluma Paint Out is Coming

With only ten days left, I spent the morning making cold calls for extra prizes for the artists. Looking forward to seeing Petaluma inspired art on Saturday September 26th.   Even if you do not paint, come join the celebration of art at the 3:00 at the Theater District Courtyard.  You can vote on your favorite painting then dance the evening away to the French Gypsy Funk placyed by the awesome Brothers Gadjo of Djiin.

Get ready to paint the town.  Artists are invited to come sign up for this one day painting event "The Great Petaluma Paint Out".  Artists of all levels and mediums paint around the downtown turning basin then gather in the theater district courtyard for prizes, live music and hors d'oeuvres. Those interested in participating please email me at braytonart@yahoo.com.

Seeing Green

 During my final review for my masters one of the people on the review panel said they did not like the color green in one of my paintings.  I remember feeling offended but later when I went home and thought about his response and then spent time checking out his artwork, I realized that he lived in San Francisco and his paintings were a reflection of the colors of his world not mine.
   Sonoma County dazzles in its winter cloak of emerald green sprinkled with golden mustard flowers and then mixed with the rich aroma of damp earth. For me, this world of spectacular greens is the most inspiring time of the year to paint. I actually wait with anticipation, each year, for the first rains to wash over our brown hills.  Then like magic, that green velvet returns and its beauty is breathtaking!