Just a few notes…want to send a big hug to my friend Steve who is helping the folks in Haiti…he is a great friend and a wonderful painter. Happy Holidays Steve!

Next… I have to admit that I have given up on my attempt to post a painting daily. I didn’t even make one month. But, I realized yesterday as I sat on the beach and inhaled the incredible salt air of the Pacific Ocean…I need to spend less time in front of the computer screen and more time in front of the ocean. My new goal is to spend more time doing things that I love and being with people that I love… sounds good, huh? My painting is going great by the way and I am excited for Art at the Source coming up next weekend. It’s always fun to chat with people who love art.

Red Barn and Trees

Here is a new piece that I finished for our new show at Graton Gallery…opened this week. I always try to have new work every six weeks for our shows…I’ll post the others soon. Now the true test, to see if anyone reads this thing. I just quit my gallery this week.  Really. And I am so, so happy I did.  Yes,  it’s true that I have been super successful there but it was time to go. It is honestly one of the best galleries in Sonoma County BUT it was feeling oppressive for me.  My work will still be there during Art at the Source. Then lots of time for painting, camping, running, gardening…YES!!

Chicken House in Spring 36" x 36'

Here is a new chicken house painting. I like the feeling of open space as is often seen here in West Sonoma County. Tall hills of green grass stretching for miles, dotted with barns and edged with fences.

Just hung this at Graton Gallery today for our new show opening tomorrow featuring Pam Lewis, Rik Olson and guest artist Hester Zoutendijk called “Up on the Farm”.  The work in this show is refreshing with Hester’s lovely detailed graphite drawings of farm animals.. Something you don’t see too often in galleries these days are drawings. Pam Lewis and Rik Olson are both highly skilled artists and this show promises to please.

Mittens watercolor sketch

Yikes! After spending the day making notecards, I had only time to re-paint the sky…for the 4th time! on my painting posted yesterday.  First there was a pale blue sky, then a cool dark blue sky, then a yellow/green and today finally a pink sky. Arrgh! The painting has certainly lost some of its original primitive freshness…but I finally don’t cringe everytime I see it. I think the sky is finished.  I will post it tomorrow. Meanwhile…here is a mitten. I have an idea to do a series of mitten paintings…why? Why not? My sheep herder friend and wonder woman Hazel has been hired to knit me 2 pair…similar to the “vision” I had here. Can’t wait!

Red Barn with Chimney

This one isn’t quite finished. I got a bit frustrated with it last week when I was painting with my two painting friends….both great artists;  Olga Storms www.olgastorms and Bonnie Rosen.  So I randomly scraped off paint at the bottom and of course I like it better now. Some times you just have to let go of everything to make a painting work.  This one needs a little fine tuning but its got the potential to make me happy, which is really my ultimate goal for each painting.

Got in some painting today in spite of an unexpected trip to the vet. Poor doggie had to be sedated but is fine… thank goodness.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can make painting my priority for the next 4 weeks. Only have a few gallery days this week and then my schedule is open until after Art at the Source.  Here are the  paintings I did from the sketches posted yesterday of the Eureka Fisheries in Bodega Bay. The first one is large…20″ x 20″ and is done with knife in oils. The second is 12″ x 12″ and brush plus knife in oil.  I am happy with the larger one. The small one (#2) needs a little fine tuning…too much of the same color in the water.

Eureka Fisheries Building in Bodega Bay

Eureka Fisheries #2