Sometimes i dont have the luxury of setting up my easel to paint on location, so i must resort to taking photos....this was a nice picture of an older couple looking at the map in balboa park just after the rain had stopped..... i am happy with the result...and i dont think i couldve captured this moment on location anyway...so sometimes it works out! 
Having painted a couple of pieces with people in them...i have begun to look for images or situations when i photograph to find interesting scenes with people in them....people always tell a story and this piece is no different! 
Before my brush ever touches a canvas, i have sketched a quick value study to make sure i have the subject matter that i want to focus on in the correct position. it also helps with composition and what detail to keep and what detail to eliminate! My buddy Norm Daniels introduced me to the idea of using gray scale marking pens to illustrate value and keeping things in the foreground more intense and as things move out from the painting using lighter values to show distance!
There are times when i need to get away from my plein air work and just express myself with color...Abstract is always fun because there is really no subject matter its is just fun to play with color and design and texture! Rules still apply ...like using complimentary colors and such but it is a freeing experience. this piece is titled "Passionate Expression"
A friend of mine went to India and captured this photograph of a mother and daughter having a conversation....i loved the image and wanted to paint it. this is my first attempt but i am not happy with the result....i am welcoming input here on this one as i came to a stand still and had to put it down. anyway, i welcome your comments.
