Sitting on the bank among the willows and the reeds listening to the crock of frogs, the buzz of bees, sounds of birds and the grace of the crane repeated in the waters. Just beyond lies the Pacific Ocean ebbing and flowing all with there own rhythm against the California Coast here in Newport Beach. So I sit here if only for a brief moment to feel my own rhythm of life and say "Thank You". This is an oil painting on Birch panel that is mounted on a varnished wooden box.
Funny how you can look at a photo for years and suddenly it yells at you "PAINT ME" I took this photograph way before digital cameras where around. This psychic shop has been in this location for 35 years that I know of, its on Balboa island in Newport Beach next to the ferris-wheel that I just posted. I have walked past this place hundreds of times and with each ,I would stop and stare knowing that one-day, I'm going to paint you.... Well, yesterday I was rummaging around in my studio and underneath this long table I spotted this blue box... Opening it, I find photos of past works, portraits, cars, landscapes and even my time with abstracts.. But! in the back of all this, I come to photos of things I was going to paint someday and long behold, there it was, thus! Here it is. A 6x8 inch oil painting on archival board mounted on a varnished wooden box: (Sold)
Yes its a long title but, it fits and thats all that matters... Painting this made me smile the whole time, sometimes things just work out that way.. Listening to the news or even reading the paper they play us like a yo-yo.. First some good new fallowed by bad news, its come to making me watch cartoons but even those can be a bit violent... How about all those pills we should be taking.. lookout! they can make you sick.... So I remembered this photo. Scrambling though CDs more files then I'll ever need, Ah! there it is "Happy" What a find.. I think I'll just have a Root-beer float and stare at this for a while. It's a 6x6inch original oil on wood, you know the rest. (Sold)
Capturing light is such a wonderful challenge in trying to paint.. Even though I'm looking at a photo, the subtlety's of what is happening just fascinates me to no end. I have to look past what the subject is and look deep into what is really happening within the edges of colors next to another. I have to feel the light not just paint it.. It comes down to what color do I put down first, should I approach it this way or that, so much thinking has to happen.... All this makes me aware of how fantastic this planet is and the need to take care of it... Original 6x8 inch oil painting on Birch panel, mounted on a varnished wooden box: (Sold)
Huntington Beach California. I lived about 5 blocks up from this part of paradise. It was wonderful to see the surfers and all that goes on down here.. I myself don't swim yet I have lived at the beach a great portion of my life.. Part of the madness I suppose. So here we have an original oil painting on Birch panel, mounted on a varnished wooden box:
Coffee cup in hand, visor down, morning talk on the AM, I make my way to a meeting. I think of my son and his trips every morning to and fro in traffic... Soon he gets to leave all this as a memory as he gathers his family and heads into a more peaceful way of life... Good for him.. I'm gonna miss him, but, it will give me a really good reason to go back East to give and get a hug.... Original oil painting on Birch panel, mounted on a varnished wooden box: (Sold)
Dark streets, rainy nights, glare, a bit of chill in the air and a touch of mystery... I'm happy... Not sure just what that's about, but never the less ever since I was a kid I loved that look and feel... At an early age when I started to paint, it was that kind of scene that pulled at me, so here I am, many years later and they are still calling to me. My journey is a 6x6 inch original oil painting on Birch panel mounted to a varnished wooden box:
I got an email from my good friend and I must say, "One great art" Tom Swimm that took this shot and sent it to me to paint. Tom and his wonderful wife Rosemary make this two month long show that we do extra special at the Laguna festival of arts. This oil painting is 8x6 inch but I will be making it into a 60x36" canvas painting that will be in next years show in Laguna.. So yesterday I painted this and got a feel for what I will do on a bigger scale. Again, this is a 8x6 original oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box:
While driving around in some back roads one morning like I do, I came upon this one mail box at the end of a dirt road in the middle of farm land.. I look around and in the distance up this road I spot this house who's mail box this must belong to... I stop my car and venture up to this lonely mail box, camera in hand, squat down and fire off one shot.. As I head back to my car, engine still running, the thought crosses my mind, if anyone in the house happened to be looking out there window at that moment had to have scratched there head wondering (what the) even though I waved, holding my camera up, probably added even more to there confusion... I just drove off with thoughts of how I was going to paint this... So here it is.. A 6x6 inch original oil painting on Birch panel, mounted on a varnished wooden box.
When I'm out in the back roads of small towns there is a quietness in those early hours that feels wonderful to me, then breaking the stillness is the sound of the morning paper hitting driveways giving the start to a new day.
With the soft clouds filling the sky as the day begins its end, I say good by to the wetlands and all that it will be... With summer coming to an end I leave this place, go back to cars, traffic, cell phones, emails and a-like.... Could be be worse... I count my blessings.. Lots of under-painting in this one, each stage I let dry then build more color on top till I got what I wanted..
So, my wife walks in with a sheepish grin on her face and at the same time extending her arm holding this bag out to me... I say, smiling back "what's in the bag" as she hands it over ... I slowly undo the folded top just to play the suspense a little longer for myself.... I peek inside and suck in my breath..."Candy Apples"! You must understand... I... LOVE... CANDY... APPLES!... Finding spicy cinnamon candy apples is really difficult or so it seems... Well, I immediately unwrapped the paper, salivating, I prepare carefully to take the first bite.... Fortunately I had the presence of mind to photograph it first... Then the challenge of figuring out how to begin eating this delectable, sweet, scrumptious candy apple.... At 7:14 am I had the second one for breakfast... Just couldn't wait any longer...:) Oil on Birch panel mounted on a varnished wooden box:
Back-bay and its wildlife preserve is truly a wonderful place to be. It is very much like a sanctuary not just for migrating birds, but for us humans that also need to stop and take a mental refuge amongst the waters, reeds, trees and flowers.... So much to learn here when one stops..
Closed! I said to myself in disbelief looking at the gas-gage and hoping I'll make it to the next station.... Yes I found another just in time and could lean back and cruse happily into LA...
Still exploring the wetlands of back bay and what seems like a never ending supply of surprises that I find with every step along the banks.. The sign up ahead says "NO FISHING" and I might add, they are strict so there are very few people that one might encounter. Makes for quiet time and that allows me to really observe the subtlety of shadows as I go on my walk ... The bottom of these waterway's is dark from sediment from runoff, leaves and things makes the surface reflect like a mirror so with the right light and color of the sky and land duel for attention, and rightly so. Oil on Birch panel, mounted on to a 6x6 inch varnished wooden box. $140+s/h
With the sun glaring on my windshield I head east to Palm Springs on a hot summers late afternoon. My trusty camera in the ready, I click off one shot hoping to capture the subject for my next painting. So here it is in all its glory, painted in sepia colors, I handled this almost as a water color on top of lots of under-painting. The glazed color's gave the richness to the shadows I needed, popping the glare to the setting sun. This oil painting is a 6x8 inch on birch paneling that is mounted to a varnished wood box. $140 +s/h (Sold)
Here is another that was lost in the shuffle of galleries... Thought I would never see it again.. It has been a year so it feels good to put it on the market again... This is a 6x8 inch oil on archival board mounted to a 2 1/2 inch varnished wooden box... I love this piece, but then again... I created it... brings a tear to my eye... Can be yours: (Sold)
Going home in early morning fog I was reminded of the subtlety of shapes and color of all that is around me... The location is incidental, but the mood is unmistakably familiar at first glance... Funny how somethings are like that... Loosely painted and fun for me to do I needed to share.
 | Colour, Obsession, Joy and Torment |
