Lake Tahoe from Zephyr #3
The photo does not capture the color perfectly but I like this little 6″ x 6″ painting best of the group. It’s all done in oil with palette knife only and was the last of the 3 I did out side that day( see previous post for #1 and #2). I like it because it is very simplified and captures the intense stratification of the color of the water in the lake.
More to come.
Lake Tahoe from Zephyr #1
You know the color of Lake Tahoe is just unbelievable. Even after going there to paint for over 7 years, I am still always amazed at the color of the water. My challenge this year, actually the first time I’ve ever painted the lake, was to try and come up with something that was not a cliche. Because its so beautiful, almost everything you see is picture postcard gorgeous and that doesn’t work in painting…at least not for me. I am not sure I achieved my goal, but here are some of my attempts.
Lake Tahoe from Zephyr #2
These are oils, painted outside. It was a challenge with my limited palette, but in a burst of enlightenment, I bought a small tube of Phthalo Turquoise just before I left town. My usual palette is Ultramarine Blue, Hansa Yellow, Quinacridone Magenta and Titanium White…that’s it. This palette has served me well for many years both in watercolor (less the white and a different yellow) , acrylics and oil. More Tahoe paintings on tomorrow’s post.
I’m off to my yearly painting retreat in South Lake Tahoe with my painting buddies. We get a lot of work done since we are housed and fed for 6 days while we concentrate on painting only. And there are no husbands to call you in from the studio…we can paint until the wee hours of the morning.
Here are a couple more paintings I’ve been working on. More oils. I am into this now. Not sure why I have left behind my love of acrylics for a moment.
Farm House
I like this piece a lot…its 24″ x 12″ oil on panel with a deep cradle.
And here is another plein air piece I did at the Marin French Cheese company a few weeks ago that I finished recently.
Marin French Cheese Company #2
Here are a couple of new oils from a fun morning spent in Freestone with HolLyn. We were right in front of the WildFlour Bakery and too bad they were closed. Apparently an article in Sunset Magazine had folks from all over coming to taste their famous bread…but alas they were closed since it was a Wednesday. H and I could have sold a lot of bread!
Freestone Barns and Silo #1
Freestone Barn and Silo #2
I’ve just worked out my teaching schedule for the first quarter of 2011. Check out the “Teaching” page on my site for details. The Painters’ Studio is back by request…this is an opportunity to come paint, every week, in a clean, well-lighted space where you can do your own thing, but also get inspired and converse with other painters. This session grew out of a desire by students from my previous workshops who wanted to keep painting together. And, honestly, its hard sometimes for people to make time to paint…it feels so indulgent…unless you have a commitment to produce new work (ie; a gallery show, etc).
The workshops are great because they are intensive…two 5-hour sessions over a weekend where you can really dig in a make progress quickly. I have done these both as weekday and weekend sessions and the weekends seem to be more reliably attended. But, if I get feedback that weekdays are better, I will consider adding those too. Class fees are discounted if you are a member of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts…which is a great deal at only $40 a year.
I’m back from vacation. I’m done with my summer cold. FINALLY I got out to paint yesterday with my friend HolLyn. It was sunny and lovely at the Marin French Cheese Company www.marinfrenchcheese.com
The sun was an added pleasure since we haven’t seen it in eight days!! here in Bodega Bay. It’s been cool and foggy, per usual summertime weather. But yesterday we had sun and what a terrific place to paint or visit. So many potential paintings in this park-like setting with old farm buildings, a pond, picnic tables, and a deli. The views of gorgeous Marin and Sonoma counties vibrant grasslands and local ranches are just breathtaking. Here is one of my little paintings done quickly in oil. I feel like I’m back in the saddle!
Summer Pastoral
We returned from 10 days in Santa Fe, Taos and southwestern Colorado…Durango, Pagosa Springs. It was gorgeous and fun…also very high altitude and hot! But we had fun biking, white water kayaking, learning about America’s first people the puebloans from Mesa Verde and Taos and of course seeing great art and architecture. Of course I love the colors of the pueblos and the colors they painted the doors… here is a photo I took at the Taos Pueblo.
Taos Pueblo
Of course it is always nice to be home, at sea level, in Bodega Bay. I can’t wait to get back into the studio…I have images and colors in my head from our trip. And I seriously need to replenish my work after Art at the Source which was amazingly successful. So many nice people came by to see us, talk about art and buy pieces to bring home. Thank you everyone! I really need to get to work and paint although there is so much going on this summer…lots of activity on the beach, in the garden and just a ton of social events! But the pull of the studio is strong.
May Flowers 24" x 24"
We had so much fun this last weekend at Art at the Source. More than 300 wonderful people came to visit me, Nancy and Carol at our open studio (#63) on Green Valley Road in Sebastopol. Lots of art being viewed and sold to people from all over…we had visitors from Florida, Boston, Philadelphia, Oregon, New Jersey, New York and Texas as well as from the Bay area and Sacramento. I demonstrated painting in oils outside near the gorgeous garden and vineyard view.
Don’t miss this coming weekend June 12 and 13th..from 10am – 5pm more than 120 artists show their work to the public!
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.
