Thursday, December 29, 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Muir Beach 3 Revisited




I worked from the plein air sketch I posted a few days ago. Pam was a trooper that day because it was windy and cold. She sat with me while I got in three little paintings.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Pond Reflections 2



I worked from a plein air study to get this one. No photos just the sketch and my memory. I plan to go back to this little pond in the botanical gardens here in Austin as soon as we get out of this drought. We are getting rain every week and that helps a lot.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Botanical Garden Path 2



I used the plein air sketch completed on site for this one. I skipped the photo and just used the study. Working from sketches completed onsite is far better than working from a photo. Its easier to recall the scenery, light, sounds etc.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Mist From The Water

This lake in the morning has this beautiful mist that floats up. When I sat painting this scene I actually focused on some water weeds. I took a few pictures to capture more scenery. This painting was from a phone photo.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

California Swimming Hole 2

I worked on this one yesterday during my gallery sitting. I worked with oil on copper for this version. The light is always better in my studio/gallery.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Surf Puddles

My depiction of what the beach looks like after the waves go back out. When the beach is rocky water tends to settle into openings or the tops of rocks. This is a portion of the larger picture. I find it good to work on sections of a painting before committing to a larger version.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Shadows and Surf (study)

This a a preparatory color sketch for a larger pastel. Of course its Northern California and more than likely this is Glass Beach (one of Pamela's favorite places to go). She normally looks for shells and glass for her collection. I take pictures and sketch.

Monday, December 5, 2011

California Swimming Hole Study

On our way up to Leggett, California to drive through a tree (thanks to Pamela) we crossed over this body of water. People were in their canoes and swimming. We stopped to check out the bridge and well as the body of water. I liked the blue green of the water and the contrast of the white rock formations and the water reflections. I want to work larger on this image in pastel and watercolor.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Drive By Extension 4

This is from one of my car sketches. The coastal highways in California are hilly and curvy. Two things that freak me out while driving as well as riding. It seems as if the road disappears.



Friday, December 2, 2011

Heavy But Unyielding

I painted this one on one of those many days were we expected rain but didn't get it. This was the last one done on my most recent trip to the botanical gardens here in Austin. I won a nice set of pastels and finally opened them. My sense is fresh.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Lunch Hour

Another interior painting of Little Joe's. Pictured in the background is the second cook and in the foreground is a patron. I just got in from our annual 12 buy 12 show. The gallery was packed with people and the featured art was very strong. In my opinion our best 12 buy 12. Its up until January 7, 2012 at Austin Art Space go check it out.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Scrutiny

The Blanton Museum is a great place to sketch people scrutinizing and appreciating art. If you go they only allow for pencils that they provide. The painting within the painting is a San Francisco city scene not a part of the Blanton collection.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Orders Up

This is one of the cooks at Little Joe's Restaurant. He was preparing more pasta dishes after orders had been put up for delivery to hungry patrons.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Berkeley Marina Sail

I used my value sketches completed on site for this one. I worked again with Copic markers of three values. I did the sketch during the July 4the weekend.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Ellison Trial 4

Yesterday the defendant was sentenced to another life term in prison. Another 20 or so years added to his stay in prison. In this painting is Bryan Case the lead prosecutor. He was questioning the ballistics expert. Next to him is the court reporter documenting the proceedings.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Botanical Pond Reflections

I really need to spend more time painting water reflections. I was sitting on the edge of the pond in an uncomfortable position while painting this one. As a result this one isn't as rich as the scene was. Note to self get comfortable before I settle on a scene to paint.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011

Drive By Extension 1

This one is from a drive by sketch I completed on the way back from Fort Bragg. I worked primarily with Copic Markers in three separate values.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Morning Commute Review

The man seated on the fire hydrant was watching people pass by on their various ways. I watched him for a while. At times he would get up and hold his cup out to ask for money. I liked the fact that he was wearing a tie and suit under his hoodie.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Botanical Garden Path

On Monday Pam and I went over to the Austin Botanical Gardens for me to paint and for her to explore the gardens and nap. This was my second painting made during the outing. The koi pond and waterfall were closed due to stage two water restrictions. It made me sad. The light was beautiful on this path that leads down to the dinosaur garden.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Anderson Valley Impression 1



During our recent birthday trip to and from Fort Bragg, California I divided a sketch book page into fourths and did sketches of the scenery as Pam drove. This weekend I took a few and painted from them. Here is the first effort. We were in the wine country when I caught the sketch which is posted below the painting.



Monday, November 14, 2011

Rythm Sweat

My philosophy is that if it isn't framed it can be reworked. I was getting ready to frame this one and saw the need to clarify the female musician. Its still unframed so stay tuned. I spotted this musician at the Pecan Street Festival.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Annie's 1

This is the sketch I did last weekend sitting across from Annie's on Congress Ave.. I used Inktense watercolor pens on Arches watercolor paper. The light was a lot cooler than conveyed in the sketch.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Ellison Trial 2

The major challenge in this case was that it happened in the eighties. Many of the witnesses had passed away or moved on. It was a trial for wizards of the rules of evidence. The lawyer in the forefront actually has hair that red. The witness was from the crime lab. CSI is so not true to life. In real cases the crime scene guys do not interview witnesses or defendants. They gather the evidence (without house music) analyze and testify if needed. In the best of situations they are not invested in the case or the law enforcement officer tied to the case.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Onion 3

I used Terry Ludwig and Rembrandt pastels on black Canson cover paper. This onion needed painting. I'm trying hard to use more bold and aggressive color. So be warned.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Ellison Trial 1

This is the lead prosecutor Bryan Case in the Ricky Ellison murder trial that occurred last week. The jury found him guilty on Friday. The crime was committed in 1981. I was two years out of high school then. He apparently went on a crime spree that left two civilians dead and a police officer paralyzed. The police officer later died. The defendant has been in prison but he has been up for parole. To prevent him from getting out we tried him on this cold case that was still pending.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Onion 1

I finally got to painting this vegetable. Its been screaming to be painted/explored. I worked with Shizen professional grade watercolor paper and Pelikan watercolor paints. Working method wet on wet to try and keep it fresh...excuse the unintended pun.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

Ancestry 2

Yep I'm still playing with this image. My latest challenge to myself with regard to watercolor is to use the brush to draw the image. I think the graphite lines are good for tight paintings. I'm trying to loosen up.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Fierce Break 1

We were on the beach in Half Moon Bay, California. This area I think had a huge rock formation just below the surface. The waves were explosive and you could actually hear the break of the wave. I have yet to get the entire length that I captured in the photo into a painting. This scene would translate well into a pastel or oil on copper...I will keep you posted.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

New 147th Judge

I don't have many cases in the 147th Judicial District Court these days. As such, I really haven't had a chance to get some drawings of Judge Cliff Brown. Last Friday I spent most of my morning in his court working a case out. In between negotiations I penned this one. I used Inktense pencils on the new Canson watercolor boards.