Painting on Copper

I recently was given a piece of copper and encouraged to use it as a painting surface. I buffed the surface first to create some texture and then jumped in with my oils. it was a simple piece and at first very frustrating to paint on. But once i had the first few layers down it became a joy to paint on. and the result was a wonderful luminosity that i had not had with other pieces. I will continue to paint on this surface. i love it. this piece is 6 x 12 and available. Email me for details on the purchase.

Sonoran Desert

I havent posted in awhile! its because my family and i have relocated to the land of the sun! Switching from a coastal pallete to a desert pallete has been an interesting transition and what i am enjoying is the wonderful warm and cool colors that are so plentiful in the desert!

this piece was painted on location it is 9 x 12 and in oil it is called Bulldog Sunrise and painted in Bulldog canyon just outside of Mesa.

At Home on The Range

The more that i continue to paint outdoors, the more i am finding comfort in pastoral settings. Ive never lived on a farm, ive never been around cows that much but it is so serene and peaceful. I guess Psalm 23 is true in that when we are led to green pastures and beside still waters that our souls will be comforted and we will know who the great shepherd really is!

This piece was done for a client as a commission. it is 14 x 18 and in Oil.

Online Painting Challenges

Daily Paintworks is a website that features artists who post a painting everyday. What a challenge that is. But they also offer other challenges for artists who are looking to be stretched or paint outside their comfort zone! I recently participated in one of these challenges. the challenge use only 4 colors. ultramarine blue, cad yellow, cad red, and white. and paint flowers which i do not usually do! and do it all in under an hour. ok. my daughter is asleep...so i thought, here we go! I did a small piece, 6 x 8, in oil. and here is the result. It was a fun challenge and i will be doing more of these!!!!

Pressure Painting

From Idylwild to San Clemente, another painting competition! An artist friend and i went to this one and it was a step up from many other competitions ive done! As my friend commented, "its like playing miniture Golf and now we hit the PGA "..ok maybe not that drastic but the point is made. Ive never been so nervous at a paint out. I don't know what the deal was but there was some pressure. Had a sucessful painting in spite of the nerves. this piece is showing at the San Clemente Art Gallery through friday! it is aptly titled "Pier Pressure" lol it is 9 x 12 and for sale! thanks for looking.

Painting en Plein Air

Recently, i have entered a lot of Plein air competitions. typically it is a 3 hour paint out where the artist is challenged to capture a scene and paint it, frame it and turn it in for judging. It is a bit intimidating since most of my work is in studio. But i love the challenge and the interaction with other artists who are proficient in this type of painting. here is a recent painting i did in Idylwild. it is 9 x 12 and titled "Morning Lily" a painting of Lily Rock. it is available if interested. thank you for looking!

North Park Plein Air comp

Today is the deadline to turn in submissions for the North Park Plein Air competititon. This piece is one of the entries. it was painted on Granada street and is a piece of the New Life laundry looking south. i wanted to capture the palm trees too! my only challenge was the perspective which i am not totally happy with but the painting is finished so here goes! the piece is 9 x 12 oil and the title is "New Life"