Edgar Payne

Last Saturday my family and I went to the Crocker Museum in Sacramento to see the Edgar Payne show "The Scenic Journey". WOW! It was my first time to that museum -- lots to see. And the Payne exhibit was big and really, really good. I think it's up until early May before it moves to another city. If you get the chance, go see it. It's definitely worth the effort. I came home after the show, looked around my studio and felt like SUCH an amateur! That dude could paint. I bought the accompanying book at the show for $60 and love it.

Plein Airs

Lately I've been trying to do more work outside (just when it started to rain around here). I don't always have time to drive around looking for stuff to paint, so sometimes I just set up in my back yard. My neighbors probably don't like that I turn up the music in the studio so i can here it outside, but hey, I don't  like to hear their dog bark all day either. Pansies 6x8"

This is a demo painting I did last week for a small group of 4 students in what I'm calling "semi-private" lessons. This house in Nicasio has been painted a thousand times I'm sure, but this is my first. As you can see, it was overcast, but fortunately not raining.  Go Left  9x12"

One day I drove around town for 20 minutes looking for something to paint, came home, and ended up painting this just down the street from my house.  Spruce and Park 10x12"

Pink Birds

New painting I just sent to my Florida gallery. They like their flamingos down there. I added the ocean and beach, and the flamingo on the left. It ended up being tighter than I like, but just kept working on the reflections to make them clear. I also invented the horizon in the reflection. There was a big truck blocking the whole thing. I often move things and almost always edit things out, but it's never comfortable for me to invent things or add things that are not actually in the scene.

American Flamingo 18x24"

Knowlton Gallery demonstration

This is the demonstration painting I did last weekend during the opening reception for the California Vernacular show at the Knowlton Gallery in Lodi. The upper image is what it looked like after the 1 hour demo. The bottom image is the finished painting after working on it in my studio for another hour. "Morning Calm"  8x16"

see the whole show www.knowltongallery.com

Painting Workshops

I'm putting together my workshop schedule for 2012 and wanted to list them here. I'll be adding a couple more summer workshops in California within the next week, but wanted to post what I have so far. More details can be found on my website.

Greenport, Long Island
3-day workshop, June 1, 2 and 3
$385 per student
Contact The South Street Gallery to register (631) 477-0021.
8 spaces left

Monhegan, Maine
5-day workshop, September 5 - 9
$500 per student
Send me an email to get on the list, then confirm your spot with a $100 deposit.
2 spaces left

Swimmer Walking

Had a lot of fun painting this. Such a great model to paint, though i wish her suit had a little more going on, like polka dots or flowers or something. November, Naples, Florida. 12x12" (no title yet)

I need a title!

Just finished this 16x20" painting of a beach in Naples, Florida. Please post any title ideas you may have. Funny how in this photo, the sky looks very cerulean, when I only used cobalt with a little bit of ultramarine.