"TIED-UP"

Hanging around back bay in Newport Beach one morning with calm waters I couldn't help but photograph the colors reflecting back at me of gear and other stuff on the boats.  These made for some wonderful happy abstract shapes for me to paint.  I thought "this will be fun to do".  I kept it loose to feel the joy in the dancing shapes of colors floating on the waters surface.  This is an original 6x6 inch oil painting on a finished wood box with no framing required: $125 + s/h (Sold)

"MALLARDS IN LOVE"

Setting quietly close to the water for sometime, I watched these two swim around, stopping to eat, drink and swim some more was a delight.  They both had this quiet little area all to themselves but for I,  and the male mallard being her protector kept a keen eye on me.  I stayed for a time enjoying there company, I took one photo, rose up slowly so as not to disturb the couple I then bed them ado and wondered off to see what else I could find.

This is a 6x6inch original oil painting on a varnished wooden box with no framing required: $130  

"DRAGONFLY MORNING"

In Newport Beach there is this place called "Back Bay".  Most everyone just drives by and glance over at it, after all, we are in such a rush to maybe stop and look.   I parked my car and walk down to the water, sat and let my mind soften as I drift into the quiet ripples of a dragonfly morning.  This is a 6x6inch original oil painting on a varnished wooden box with no framing required: $130

"COAST HIGHWAY"

Traveling southbound on coast highway I began to remember (which by now seems like a lifetime ago) parts of my past along with all the stuff at that time could easily be made into one of today's reality TV shows.  If I told the truth of just one story, one would think that I am making it all up, but not so I smiled and thought, "There is no need for embellishment".  With my memories and the lights from Newport Beach both vanishing into the distance I say to myself "What a ride it has been"!
This 8X6inch original oil painting on Birch wood is mounted to a finished wooden box with no framing required: (Sold)

"ROSE" & "PURPLE SILK"

"PURPLE SILK"

"ROSE"

Playing with shapes and color I painted these two faces both with the intent of my love for painting women and a wonderful departure from my skies.   There are aspects of each that I will use in some future works, but for now I am really liking them and the change of pace.

This is a 6x6 inch original oil painting on Birch wood mounted to a hand finished wooden box with no framing required.

"FOREST LITTER"

With a light rain, fallen leaves and twigs the forest floor comes to life.  I could not take a single step without seeing beauty in each.  Moss, lichen an occasional mushroom, rainbow colored beetles, all forming an incredible tapestry for my eyes.  How can I not paint this magic from just an afternoon walk in the forest litter.  With no framing needed, this 6x6 original oil painting on Birch wood has been mounted to a varnished wooden box:  (Sold)

"IN HARMONY"

An endless landscape. A house nestled in the protection of trees.  Clouds drifting lazily.  Shadows quietly finding their way along the ground..  In the elements of this painting my goal was to provoke memories or feelings of all kinds. From the mixing of pigments, to deciding which color would work with another, to how big should the house be?  Should it be a little to the the left, a little to the right, so many factors come into play.  Painting, like writing notes for  music, each has its place, it's rhythm, it's tempo if you will, all must work in harmony.  This is a 6x6 inch original oil painting on Birch wood that is mounted to a varnished wooden box:(SOLD)

"ELDORADO SUNDAY"

This painting is from time I spent in the Palm Springs area looking for a subject matter to paint.. 

In driving around, paying attention to the road, I would hold my camera up and aim without looking and take a picture.  When it was safe I peered into my camera and I spotted this shot. Smiling, I knew I had my next painting... This is a 8x6 inch original oil on Birch wood mounted to a varnished wooden box:  Also on YouTube

(Sold)

"LONGWAYS TO GO"

With the sun dipping down, shadows crossing the road and music fading into static, I had much time to get inside my mind and ask "what shall I paint?"   It's always an interesting question to ask oneself while an endless procession of colors & shapes go gently floating by in my head.   As I stare at the road an idea begins it's journey forward and then...  "THERE, I'll paint you"!  With more thoughts streaming of what color will go here or there a painting began if only in my minds eye.   I was glad I still had a longways to go on this road as I wanted to finish the painting.   This is an 8x6 inch original oil painting on Birch wood that is mounted to a finished wooden box: (Sold)

"BURNING FIELDS"

From a trip to Kansas City somewhere in the middle of Nebraska they where burning fields to clear for new crops.  The sun was going down and the smoke mixing into the clouds made for some fantastic coloring.   This original 6x6: oil painting on Birch wood is mounted to a varnished wooden box: $140

2:57

"HEADLIHGTS & SHADOWS"

Heading north.  I couldn't help but notice that everything was in shadows.  Hillsides, trees, roads and especially the clouds, that's what really caught my attention.  It was not just the fact that the sun was lowering in the horizon forming long shadows over a color saturated landscape, but the clouds were adding it's own mix of colors to it.  I had to stop and get out of my van and fill my eyes.  I was excited about getting back to my studio knowing I had to paint this.

This 6x6inch original oil painting is on Birch wood that had been mounted to a box that I get to finish:

(Sold)

2:20

"BACK IN TIME"

Several years ago when I was doing road shows out in middle America I needed to stop and gas up, stretch my legs and give my sis Millie a break after long hours of road time.  Spotting a sign of a town I never heard of I pulled off and drove down this road to find a gas station.  Well, what I found was a wonderful little farming town that looked like we stepped back in time.  A gentleman at the gas station/market tipped his hat to my sis (when was the last time you saw that)?  There were no sidewalks, no traffic lights or stop signs.  The school house ( red in color) was little bigger then my studio... I think there were a total of twenty homes, that was it!...  Driving back to the highway I couldn't help smiling and thinking how glad I was to know places like this still exist. This is an original 8x6 inch oil painting on wood that has been mounted to a finished wooden box:(Sold)

"EARTH"

For over a year or two I have gone into this painting and added a little here and a little there, tweaking this and that.  This time I got into the furrows and added far more color and texture.  I added the trunk on the tree at the far end of the plowed field and brought out the leaves, I think I'm finished now.  I had to remake the stretcher bars so they will come apart so that I  can roll the canvas to fit into my van and re-stretch it at this summer's show in Laguna Beach, "THE FESTIVAL OF ARTS".  This painting is a 60x48 inch on custom prepared canvas. For more about its location on how I came to it you can read up on it by going to "MY CANVASES"

"HEAR THE SILENCE"

Sometimes I would pull off on the side of the road and just listen... That time of stopping on the side is long gone, even a great portion of this road is gone, progress they say, speed limit is 55 but everyone moves far faster then that... lot more cars now... but I do remember... remember parking on the side, shut the engine and... "Hear the Silence".  This is an 8x6 inch original oil painting on Birch wood that's been mounted to a varnished wooden box: (Sold)

"DEPOSIT 10 Cents Please"

Wanting to capture a feeling of nostalgia I painted this as a sepia photograph.  I first made a deep burnt umber to get it as dark as possible and still keep the rich reddish shade.  I then tinted the white with this mix which allowed me all the middle tones needed to make it work.  It was at this point the painting began.   This is an 8x6 inch oil painting on Birch wood, mounted to a finished box: (SOLD)

"HEAD ON HOME"

With the sun in my eyes, my camera full of photos, I head on home looking forward to the paintings I will be doing.  This is just but one of the fantastic skies that are above us all when we stop to see and enjoy.  This is a 6x8inch original oil painting on wood set on a varnished wooden box: (Sold)

"FIRST STOP"

On one of my many road trips looking for the right subject to paint (which by the way is a battle with the changing of my taste and what I want to say in each painting). It is a constant hunt for the right sky as that is my muse to talk about in my work. So, on this last trip after driving around for hours I finely make my first stop at this motel and take a photo of "you guessed it" the sky.  This is a 6x6inch original oil painting on wood mounted to a varnished wooden box: (SOLD)

"TRAIN #887"

Given this photo some time back I finally got to it.  Playing with color and shadows I began this painting on a fairly layered surface of oil.  I waited until the surface was almost dry and with a soft watercolor brush began to paint the train.  Not being able to apply much pressure with the brush for I would go through to the under-paint, I worked slowly. A little more time consuming than my usual manner but, it made for a wonderful experience in giving this the mood I sought. .  The painting is on Birch wood that is mounted to a 6x6 inch varnished wooden box:   Showing at the "Randy Higbee Gallery" Sold at the show

"FIRST DAY BACK"

Last year in Minnesota I kept spotting yellow school buses that jumped out at me. The contrast of dark tree backgrounds and the glare of snow was exactly my kind of subject.  It gave me the mood and the challenge to record a memory and the feeling of "First Day Back". 6x8 by 2" deep box original oil painting: $140 (SOLD)

"GOODBY SUNSHINE"

Owens Valley is most magical of places.  Just about every direction is another eye-popping mind-bending thing of beauty.  So, knowing all this I thought I would give it life by painting less then a fraction of it on a 6x6 inch Birch wood panel, All this has been mounted to a varnished wooden box:  Gift to my granddaughter

"SAN DIEGO EVENING"

So, I'm down in San Diego with some friends overlooking the city from their condo and see this, grabbing my camera and take the shot.  It was all there.  Sunset, clouds, ocean, palm trees, everything was right.  Back at my studio studying the photo I thought "not much to change or enhance".  With that, I mixed the colors and begin to paint. This is it, a 6x8" original oil painting on Birch wood mounted to a varnished wooden box:

"HOME-RUN"

I have seen so many wonderful artist's paint this.  Now, here I am wanting to give my own spin if you will on this "American Icon" "The Baseball".  The thing is, I am not a sports person at all. I don't know one team from another but, what I do know is shapes, composition and color.   I have had this baseball in my studio for years, not sure how I came by it but, that maters not so I approached it with the intent of giving it life. I wanted it to fly through the air like it was intended to do. I wanted it to be a "Home Run". This is an original oil painting on Birch wood that is mounted to a 6x6inch varnished wooden box:  Gift to my grandson

"THE GRAND FINALE"

This last 4th of July at my good friends house in Long Beach, I took this photo hoping to capture something I could eventually paint.  Well, summer has come and gone and now having the time to delve into this along with my fascination with the glare of light and especially fireworks is how this painting came to be.  I do love playing or I should say painting things like this.

This is a 6x6 inch oil on Birch wood mounted on a varnished wooden box:  This painting has been entered into a competition show and is not for sale at this time.  (Sold)

"EVENING GLARE"

looking out from the overpass, the setting sun's light melted the surrounding landscape into an evening glare... For me capturing that moment of light is what it is all about. 6x6 inch original oil painting on Birch wood, mounted to a varnished wooden box: (Sold)

"DAGWOODS at PISMO BEACH"

I must confess, I did this painting months ago and as much as I liked it, I didn't love it.  So! I went and painted out the blue sky, clouds, palm tree and darked the wall the sign is on... A real hundred & eighty degree difference.. Its a real place by the way.. lived up the hill from it in Pismo Beach.. So it's a new post. Want to see the original? "Click Here"   This is a 8x6 inch oil on Birch wood mounted on a varnished wooden box:  (Sold)

"IN SHADOW"

The last bit of light just before the sun disappears up and around Mt.Baldy and the velvet night takes over. A nice departure in painting this for me capturing the subtlety of shade. 8x6 inch oil on Birch wood, mounted to a varnished wooden box:

"STUCK IN TRAFFIC"

From a trip to Minnesota to see my son.  On the way back to his home a light rain began and I got this shot. Looking back, one is stuck in traffic no-matter where you go. Again my fascination with shapes and light comes through in expressing it on this 6x6inch oil on Birch wood panel mounted to a varnished wooden box:  This painting has been entered into a competition show and is not for sale at this time.  

"RAINDROPS"

Riding around in L.A. on a gray and rainy day was just what I wanted.  So I turn my windshield wipers off, grab my camera and focus on the rain drops gathering and forming wonderful patterns.  The abstract shapes of the background mixed with the hard edges of each reflective drop I knew would make for a fun and challenging painting.  Another 6x6 inch oil painting on Birch, mounted to a varnished wooden box: (Sold)

"TUESDAY IN NEWPORT " #2

Same day with my friend Ralph and a walk at Newport Harbor in Newport Beach CA... This was another of those electric boats called a Duffy... Very popular down here with the calm bay to putter in and around multi million dollar yachts and homes.   Truly an amazing spot here in Southern California.

Oh my! I did digress from what this post was about, my painting.. Will! What I liked about choosing this as a subject to paint was the abstraction of shapes.  I didn't see it when I took the picture but then after looking at it I really began to love what was happening and thus! "The painting".  This is another 6x6 inch oil on Birchwood, mounted onto a varnished wooden box ready for a wall...

"TUESDAY IN NEWPORT " #1

So, I call my friend Ralph and I say "Ralph, what say we launch", Ralph replies, SURE!  I drive over to his house and he is standing outside next to his wheels.  Get in he says, where to?  I suggest "Sabatinos"  some of the best home made Italian sausage around.  Ralph being Italian, his eyes light up and off we go.  After filling myself so I felt like a sausage we walked and talked, my camera slung over my shoulder.  We ended up where all the upper crust of Newport keep their yachts and their little duffy's to just cruse around the harbor.  Not wanting to paint a full on yacht I photograph two little, but charming, duffy's tied to the dock just about 6 feet below the parking lot. This painting is one of them.  I start the other tomorrow.    Oil on 6x6inch Birch wood, mounted on a 1.5 inch varnished wooden box so no framing is required.  (Sold)

"SLOW GOING"

Funny when I'm talking to people from other states and they talk about traffic, I just listen politely as they ramble on of how dreadful traffic is in their state,  I think to myself, they don't come or live here in LA. Now that's traffic. This painting is taken from just one of the many off ramps I've had the pleasure of being on waiting patiently for my turn to move up a foot or two... You have to love it..  This oil painting is a 6x8 inch archival board mounted to a 2" deep varnished wooden box so no framing is needed.

"CLOSE OF DAY"

Cold and hungry I had to stop and get just one more shot before the day came to a close.  This was last winter in Minnesota.  I have worked on this on and off and now that my show is over I got to revisit this canvas and make the changes I wanted to months-a-go... I know, I know... its early for a snow scene, but I thought I would post it anyway, after all, its my site.. :) Sure feel good to be back painting..  Oil on canvas 30x36 inch $3200

"HIGH COUNTRY"

I said my goodbye's as the clouds closed in on the mountain and the vanishing light of the day.
One more shot and another painting to be worked out in capturing that elusive light.
This painting is a 6x6 inch on archival board mounted on a varnished wooden box. (SOLD)

"FREED AT LAST"

Just another angle and still exploring the shades of grays and the many moods they represent.   (For more on my black & whites) I must say, deciding on the placement of the balloon took a little time.  I knew I wanted red, but where to place it?  A little to the left a little to the right, higher, lower then finely, the balloon was freed at last. Oil on Birch panel, mounted on a 6x6" varnished wooden box:  (Sold)