Holiday Party

Posted on December 12, 2019 by

Our model today wore a mink coat and hat, which I painted purple with a filbert brush, a brush I use most often for grasses in landscapes. I added in the couple and the tree in the background to suggest a party setting to go with the outfit.

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Winter Green at Miramar Reservoir

Posted on December 11, 2019 by

Now that our California winter has given us three storms, greenery is making its annual comeback in San Diego County. I got out to the lake mid morning and the shadows were dramatic against the bright green. I liked the long wedge shapes and built the composition around them.

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Looking Forward

Posted on December 10, 2019 by

I liked the way that the light caught the edge of the model’s forehead and glasses as she sat in a chair. The light was so bright that the rest of her seemed to be shadowed and the details were hard to make out.

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A Canyon Trail

Posted on November 26, 2019 by

There is a canyon near Balboa Park in San Diego that I have painted several times. It has a stark footpath that zigzags up to the mesa from the canyon floor. Runners and hikers love it and I do too.

This the the first time I dared to use a full sheet of watercolor paper (30 x 20 inches) while painting plein air and I got a bit lost in the expanse of it.

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Looking Sideways

Posted on November 24, 2019 by

I liked the flush on this models’s face and the way her eyes were so large as she looked sideways off to her right side.

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Eucalyptus Woodpile

Posted on November 22, 2019 by

I painted this morning under eucalyptus trees in Del Mar. The air was damp but clear and the eucalyptus colors were strong.

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Woman in Blue

Posted on November 21, 2019 by

A model can make all the difference in a painting. The poses she chooses, the way she channels attitudes, and the clothing she wears can make all the difference to the way the artist interprets a scene.

This morning we had a particularly expressive model, and as a result, I had a very productive three hours of painting. I liked so many of my 20- minute gouache sketches that I had trouble picking a favorite to share, which is an unusual experience for me. I eventually chose this one because her lowered head and steady gaze conveyed a brooding attitude that was accentuated by the blue clothing.

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