palette and easel

Quarry Rocks and Pool at Spring Lake

2012-02-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Quarry Pool, Oil on Panel, 8 x 10"

Here is a small oil study that I did of a small pool of rainwater I found along an out-of-the-way path inside Spring Lake Park. I chose this subject because of its interesting combination of colors, shapes and textures found in the water, rocks, uprooted tree stumps and wildflowers. I managed to include the sky in this close-up view by showing it in the reflection of the pool.

Keep Drawing

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

All last week, since taking part in the latest sketch crawl event up in Healdsburg, the importance of keeping a regular sketching habit has been on my mind. To that end, I have started doing some sketches of whatever I happen to see around me. I'm not especially looking for interesting subjects; rather, the important thing is to keep drawing.

A few days ago I did a small pen and ink study of some plant containers outside on our deck.

A minimal studio

A drawing with minimal hatching

Stormy Day at Bodega Head

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Bodega Head Rocks"

Oil on Paper

8 x 10"

This is a painting from a snapshot I took while standing on the Bodega Head cliffs on the Sonoma Coast. The water was very green and there was this very orange stripe of sunlight cutting straight across a dark overcast sky. Here's my attempt to capture some vivid color effects lasting a only a few minutes.

Pottery and Potatos

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Pottery and Potatos"

Oil on paper

7 x 10"

This is another winter still life that I did a while back. I like to set up these compositions during times of the year when the weather is not so good for going outdoors to paint landscapes. With a still life arrangement I usually like to take some extra time to draw a several preliminary sketches before starting the actual painting, especially if there are no flowers or fruit that will wilt or rot in the meantime. Note how in this painting, one of the potatoes has started a couple of green sprouts, which show that I had this arrangement set up for more than a few days! The pottery mug shown here is my favorite coffee cup.

Healdsburg Sketch Crawl

2012-01-21T23:04:00.000-08:00

Today I sketched at the Plaza in Healdsburg, CA. for the "World Wide Sketch Crawl 34".
Because of rain and wind, my drawings were confined to views obtained from the shelter and comforts of "Flying Goat Coffee".

Here are two sketches I did over cups of light roast coffee.

View from Flying Goat Coffe

Pencil on paper

5.75 x 8.5"

Two Reader, Flying Goat

BBB charcoal pencil on paper

3.5 x 5.5"

January - Farmers Market

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Oklahoma City Farmers' Market

Oil on Panel
8x10 inches

This is a small painting I did a while back, based on a photo I took of a small building at the Oklahoma City Farmers' Market. It was a clear, sunny day, but bitterly cold! This seems like a good painting to post this week. It is still one of my favorite pieces.

Luther Burbank House

2012-01-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

Luther Burbank House
3.5 x 5.5 inches
Pencil on Sketchbook Page

This afternoon I did a quick sketch of the Luther Burbank House in Santa Rosa.

2012-01-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

Two library books I just started reading:

Lee Krasner: A Biography by Gail Levin
Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange by Elizabeth Partridge

I like to read biographies of artists in order to get a glimpse into their creative process as well as learning about the obstacles they overcame and the conditions of the times in which they lived.

Notebook Page

2012-01-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

India ink and acrylic wash on paper.

A page from one of my notebooks with pattern ideas for a future project.

Christmas and New Year's Greetings

2011-12-29T02:18:00.000-08:00

India ink, acrylic and gouache on paper

Wishing everyone a joyful Christmas and happy new year.

Tomales Bay

2011-08-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

A page from my sketchbook, Size 8x10-7/8", Pencil and watercolor.

Doyle Park Corner

2011-08-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

8"x10"

Oil on Canvas

A study of trees in the neighborhood park.

Oklahoma Red Rock

2011-08-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

"Red Rock Canyon"

This is a small painting I did a while back. It is a view of the sandstone formations in Red Rock Canyon, (located south of Hinton, Oklahoma). I recently added this painting to my Etsy store.

A Rainy Afternoon on My Street

2011-08-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Medium: Oil on Panel,

Size: 10 x 8" Sold

Here is another view from my studio. The day was too wet for outdoor painting, so I did the next best thing from the comfort of my studio, standing at my easel looking out the window. This painting was recently purchased by a local art collector.

Art Notecards on Etsy

2011-08-13T09:15:00.001-07:00

If you havn't yet visited my new Etsy store, please take a look at the notecards that I'm offering for sale there. My notecards are...

quality digital prints of my artwork
individually signed by me
blank inside to write your own message
with a matching white envelope
individually wrapped in a plastic sleeve for gift-giving
"affordable art" and suitable for framing

See below some cards that I've listed for sale.
(Click on each title/link to go directly to the item in my store).

"Bottle and Lemons"

"Gleason Beach Rocks"

"Market Turnips"

My Pocket Drawing Kit

2011-08-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated to learn about what other artists consider their essential tools to carry with them at all times. Currently, I have been making it a habit to always have a sketchbook and drawing supplies with me wherever I go. In this post I want to share a little bit about the drawing kit that I have put together and carry with me, and how I use it.

The drawing tools I've selected allow me to make basic monochromatic sketches and drawings which can be developed into more finished pieces later on. I use pencil, charcoal,watercolor and gauche, which allow me a range of media to capture different transient effects of light and form. At the very minimum, a few quick pencil lines jotted in a sketchbook are of more value to me than a photograph for recording the fleeting impressions that I may later develop into a painting.

My drawing kit consists of a "Moleskine"-type notebook and a small metal tin to hold my drawing tools. Together these two items easily slip into a jacket pocket or side compartment of a courier bag, etc.

Everything must fit inside this tin, or it stays home. Since there is no room for pen and ink, I learned that if needed, I can add ink-work to drawings later on at home.

Inside:

1 small "Altoids" tin with four colors of watercolor pigment
1 tube of opaque white gouache
3 "Utrecht" brand travel-type watercolor brushes, sizes 1, 5 and 8
4B Conte crayon
an eraser
BBB charcoal pencil with pencil holder
Hardtmuth flat sketching pencil
No.2 pencil stub

(the ruler is for scale)

The watercolors that I use are sepia, Naples yellow, Venetian red and Payne's gray. I use colors for laying in cool and warm neutral washes to establish masses, rather than to record particular colors. Since finding containers and water for brush washing is usually easy, I normally don't carry these, unless I know that I am going to be out in the field somewhere. Drawing and painting away from home still require some planning.

Lanuched my Etsy store!

2011-08-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have just launched an Etsy store to handle all my on-line art sales!
Visit me at this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/paletteandeasel to see the wares that I have recently listed for sale. I will be adding more pieces soon and plan to add note cards and other items that are in the works.

South Jetty Beach

2011-07-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here's another page from my sketchbook. This is a view of the dunes on the south jetty of Humboldt Bay on a cool, misty July afternoon. (My wife and I had just traveled from a part of the country undergoing a massive heatwave and drought). What a contrast!

Size 8-1/2 x 11"
Watercolor and pencil

Pier 39 Sea Lions

2011-07-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is from one of my sketchbook pages where, at my wife's request, I did some quick sketches of sea lions that gather around Pier 39 in San Francisco. It was a while back and the first time that I saw these sea lions. I was impressed by their interesting postures and movements; not to mention sounds.

Size 8-1/2 x 11"
Ink and Conte crayon on paper

Entrance to Doyle Park

2011-07-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Medium: Graphite stick on paper
Size: 9 1/2 x 6 3/4"

One of several recent sketches I did of this view for a possible future painting. Over the summer I have been doing a series of on-site sketches of places that I may later develop into paintings.

Plein air painting of boulders at Spring Lake

2011-06-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

"Spring Lake Boulders"
Oil on panel, 11"x14"

Pewetole Island Sketch

2011-06-04T01:21:00.000-07:00

Here is an older (circa 2000) watercolor sketch I did of Pewetole Island near Trinidad, CA. A camera malfunction meant that none of my photos of this scene developed, so this sketch is all I have to record this trip.

New Paintings

2011-05-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

I will be showing my new paintings during the month of June at Louies Coffee in Santa Rosa.

"Sunflower Array"
Oil on paper, Size: 12x9"

Mount Olive Tower

2011-05-18T01:24:00.000-07:00

"Tower on Mount Olive Drive"
12x9" Oil on Panel

This is a recent painting of an old water tower just up the hill from where I live. It is one of those interesting buildings that I see every day and think what a good subject it would be to paint. At the end of April I finally decided to do just that. I worked from the tailgate of my truck, standing with my easel out in the road. This was the result.

Sketch of Surf at Bodega Head

2011-03-26T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ink and sepia wash on paper, 5 1/2 x 8 inches

It was a cold, windy day when I made this sketch of the winter surf at Bodega Head.

Pewetole Island

2010-11-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

Size - approximately 7-1/2 x 10"
Medium -Watercolor, ink, gauche, Conte crayon and pencil

A page from my sketchbook

2010-06-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Ink and ink wash on paper
6 x 9 inches

A clearing near Spring Lake with White Sulphur Butterflies (Colias eurytheme) and field stones.

After van Gogh's Cafe Terrace at Night

2010-06-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on Canvas, 14 x 11 inches

This is a painting I did earlier this year while teaching a landscape painting class on the use of composition and color.

Garden Courtyard

2010-06-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

India ink and pencil
Approximately 3-1/2 x 4 inches

I did this small sketch last weekend during Art at the Source Open Studios

Russian Gulch

2010-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 11x14 inches

This is a painting of a view of the Pacific coast from near Highway One as it appears during a late afternoon in the fall, just before the winter rains commence. This is a subject that I have painted several times, trying to capture the intense orange and gold hues of the coastal hills. It is signed in the lower left corner and painted on stretched canvas.

Bottle and Oranges

2010-06-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 14 x 11 inches
A simple composition with some found objects. (Note the tube of cadmium red in the lower right corner).

Rock Beach Surf

2010-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x 10 inches
A windy March day. Gleason Beach rocks are seen in the distance.

kalanchoe and oranges

2010-05-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Oil on Canvas, 11 x 14 inches

Schoolhouse Beach - Spring

2010-05-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 11x14 inches, Sold

Painted on a calm day at the Sonoma Coast. The wind was mild for a change.

Sketchbook Trees

2010-05-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

A scanned image from my sketchbook
Pencil, ink and brown ink wash
5.5 x 7 inches
I really like to use small pocket sketchbooks for capturing and working out ideas for future painting projects. This sketch was done on a day that I had originally planned to paint out at the coast, but the wind was too strong for easel work. This sketch is what I ended up with instead.

In Bloom

2010-05-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x 10 inches

In a Clearing

2010-05-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x 10 inches

Old and New, Oak Knoll

2010-04-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x10 inches
My easel set-up as I was getting ready to paint "Old and New"

Spring Green

2010-04-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x10 inches

School House Beach

2010-04-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel, 8 x10 inches

Santa Rosa Depot Siding

2009-11-29T15:27:00.001-08:00

Oil on Panel
8 x10 inches

Two Views from Salmon Creek

2009-07-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Sunday Morning, Salmon Creek",

Oil on Board, 11"x14", Sold

"Salmon Creek Morning", Oil on Board, 8"x10" Sold

1st Place at 2009 Marin County Fair

2009-07-08T16:35:00.000-07:00

"Marin Fair Carousel"
Oil on Board, Size 8x10 inches, Sold

Last week I took First Place in the Plein Air Painting Competition at the 2009 Marin County Fair with this painting of the solar powered carousel.

Winter Coastal Series

2009-02-10T14:18:00.000-08:00

"January Ice Plant"
Oil on Masonite, 8"x10" Sold

"Duncan's Landing"
Oil on Panel, 11"x14"
nfs

"Duncan's Cove Beach"
Oil on Panel, 11"x14"

"Arched Rock, Winter Surf"
Oil on Panel, 11"x14"

Sold

"Arched Rock Beach"
Oil on Panel, 11"x14"

"Local Color"
Oil on Panel
11"x 14"

Winter Still Life Series

2009-02-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

"Pewter, Tin and Gold"
Oil on Panel, 11"x 14" Sold

"Geranium"
Oil on Panel, 14"X11"

"Yellow and Blue"
Oil on Panel, 10"x8"

Sold

"Peppers & Persimmon"
Oil on Panel, 10"x8"
Sold

"Bottle and Lemons"
Oil on Panel, 14"x11"

"Market Turnips"

Oil on Panel, 11"x14"

Sold
1st Place (Harvest Related Category) 2009 Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Passing Storm, Mount Taylor

2008-11-14T17:09:00.001-08:00

Oil on Masonite, 8"x10", Sold

Spring Lake Study

2008-11-14T17:07:00.001-08:00

Oil on Masonite, 8"x10"

November

2008-11-14T17:05:00.001-08:00

Oil on Masonite, 11"x14"

Truck and Trailer

2008-11-14T17:04:00.001-08:00

Oil on Panel
Size 10 x 8 "

Oaks and Vineyards

2008-11-14T16:55:00.001-08:00

Oil on Masonite, 8"x10", Sold

Fading Sun

2008-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

Oil on Masonite, 8"x10"

October Ice Plant

2008-10-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

8" x 10", Oil on Panel

Painting workshop

2008-10-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended an intensive three-day plein air oil painting workshop conducted by Jeanette Le Grue.

Below are the three paintings that I painted during the workshop.

"Marshall Boatyard", 11" x 14" Oil on Masonite

"Schoolhouse Beach Study", 8" x 10" Oil on Masonite

"Tomales Townhall", 9" x 12" Oil on Linen canvas

October Trees

2008-10-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

8" x 10", Oil on Panel, Sold

Hillside 2, Crane Creek

2008-09-26T01:32:00.000-07:00

Oil on Paper, 8" x 10"

Stillwater Cove

2008-09-26T01:28:00.000-07:00

Oil on Paper, 8" x 10"

Hillside, Crane Creek

2008-09-23T23:33:00.000-07:00

Oil on masonite, 8" x 10"

Bodega Head Rocks

2008-09-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

Oil on Paper, 10" x 8", $100 Sold

Bodega Bay Marsh

2008-09-16T23:35:00.000-07:00

Oil on Masonite, 9" x 12", Sold

Small Boulders, Spring Lake Park

2008-09-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

Oil on Masonite, 8" x 10", Sold

Arched Rock

2008-09-11T00:45:00.000-07:00

9" x 12", Oil on Masonite panel
I did this painting of Arched Rock, north of Salmon Creek.

Study of Salt Point Rocks

2008-09-11T00:43:00.001-07:00

8" x 10", Oil on Masonite, Sold

View of Mount Tayor

2008-09-03T00:03:00.000-07:00

8" x 10" Oil on masonite, Sold

I did this painting at Crane Creek Regional Park, looking north towards Mount Taylor.

Gleason Beach Rocks

2008-09-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

Oil on Panel
8 x 10 inches
Best of Medium award at 2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair

Russian Gulch Bear Claw

2008-08-09T23:29:00.000-07:00

Today we went up to Sonoma Coast State Park where I made a painting of the hillside overlooking Russian Gulch, a few miles north of Jenner.

Oil on masonite,
9" X 12"

Painting at Gleason Beach, Sonoma Coast

2008-08-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Today I went out to the Sonoma Coast to paint some rocks at Gleason Beach.

Here is a view of the painting on a 9" x 12" masonite panel in my paint box.

"To the farther shore"

2008-08-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20", Sold