TRAFFIC JAM

                  
                                                       TRAFFIC JAM 8x8inch oil on panel

I have painted this once before as a 6x6inch oil about 8 years ago.  I rediscovered the photo and decided to do it again, what I found this time around is I got more involved in the color, I made the dark deeper in tone, its not black, oh I know how it looks it but, none to be found.  I started off with the light yellow sky and worked my way forward painting the rest all dark, then when dry the taillights began to emerge into TRAFFIC JAM.  

BY GONES

                                                     
                                                         BY GONES 

                                                 8x8inch oil on panel

It was amazing this was still open, I got some gas, bought a snickers and kept going.  looking up in my rearview mirror I watched the station disappear like time itself; Turning back to face the road, I wondered what lies ahead and with that smiling to myself,  I took another bite of my snickers and kept going. 

EASTSIDE

                                                       EASTSIDE

                                               8x8 Inch oil on panel

It's so interesting to study ones works. I painted this last year, it's been hanging out on the wall in my studio along with all the other works, so it has plenty of company; I usually gance over all that I have painted, gering up my mind for the next masterpiece hahaha.   So the other day I zeroed in on this one "EASTSIDE" and thought this could use a little tweak here and there and, to my surprise I was correct in my decision.  First off I softened the street lights and their reflection on the ground, added the crossing sign in the foreground, pulling the eye into the picture, put some warmth in the doorway of the little diner, the sign is in the front out of our view, strong some more lights in the back for the outside dining, I'm now happy; Oh by the way, good fried chicken every Wed night.   

UNDER THE BOARDWALK

                                               UNDER THE BOARDWALK Sold

                                                 8x8inch oil on panel

The sounds of laughter and music field the air; then came the smells of popcorn,  hotdogs, and bbq.  I have visited this memory many times over the years, doing this painting had me return to my youth and a time gone by.  Hope you have good memories as well.   

FIRST DATE

FIRST DATE

8x8inch oil on panel

The party was tonight, she must get ready for the big event; what to do first, so many things to think about, one thing is for sure, the right shade of lipstick and finish it off with pearls.

Her first date

LEFT HAND CREEK

                                                         LEFT-HAND CREEK
                                                         8x8inch oil on panel

It was a joy to paint this and wanting to do justice to the original photo taken by Mark Guttridge owner of Ollin Farms www.ollinfarms.com   In painting this I did not want to copy the photo but capture the feel, the essence of, and in doing so, I got to re-visit dear friends and Marks farm.   Thanks, Mark for caring about this planet. 

Prints might become available in the future, but for now, please enjoy 

BREAKFAST FOR TWO

                                                   BREAKFAST FOR TWO Sold
                                                   8x8inch oil on panel

                   Part of my ongoing series in the GrayScale series  Still-life

THE STANDOFF

                                                          "THE STANDOFF"
                                                         8x8inch oil on panel

On a back dirt road, this young longhorn stopped and stared as I did as well.   I was in my van, window down and we just looked at one another.  After a time he moved on, joining the rest of his group. and I did the same.     

                             

BY-BY

                                                              BY-BY
                                                      8x8inch oil on panel

Road to the Flat-Irons in Colorado while on a visit to my good friends was magical.  I was struck by how flat and broad the landscape was.  The feeling of space was amazing to my eyes.  I wanted to say by-by to all.

CARNIVAL

                                                                  "CARNIVAL" Sold

                                                         8X8inch oil on panel

A disappearing happening of the big-top, circus, tent-show that would come into the heartland either by train or a caravan of trucks, find a field and set up a show of shows.     

FENCED IN

"FENCED IN"

oil on panel 8x8inch

The drive back to Los Angeles was slow. What began as a soft rain was the beginning of a downpour. With no place to stop, I just kept driving as the lightning made contact and the distant sound of thunder speeding me along.  

WHISPER

                                                           (Sold)   WHISPER
                                                     14X14 oil on panel

How could I not want to paint this?  Challenging is it was, I needed to wander down this magical of paths to completion.  This will be in this year's Festival of arts 2019 Laguna Beach CA.
   

HEADING SOUTH

                                                       HEADING SOUTH
                                                         8X8 oil on panel

It was early morning, the sun had not made its way over the tops of the hills, the ocean; calm I was made my way to the pelican diner on Coast highway, I could taste the pancakes and smell the bacon.  Soon it was going to be showtime at the festival of arts and the beginning of summer for us crazy's.  

A NOIR EVENING

                                                        A NOIR EVENING
                                                       8x8inch oil on panel

It was just one of those evening.  The theater just let out, I turned my caller up on my coat, shoved my hands into my pockets and began to walk in the misty night air.  Everything was going fine, all was as planned, another hour and I was a free man.  I smiled to myself when out or the shadows she stepped, gun in hand.

1952 POWDER BLUE

1952 POWDER BLUE

8x8inch oil on panel

Distant hills, winding road soft focus and a 1952 Dodge Nash Stationwagon and I had a painting.  I wanted a feeling of a time gone by, I think I captured that. 

MONDAY'S WASH

                                                     MONDAY'S WASH
                                                    8X8inch oil on panel

This is part of an ongoing series of my black & white paintings.  The original is 24x24inch canvas fall color, so to do this in a black & white scale was the most fun.

THE VALLEY

                                                          THE VALLEY
                                                      8x8inch oil on pane

As I moved deeper into the valley the vistas that opened were breathtaking.  There were countless things to photograph no matter where I turned, I was dizzy with Ideas of things to paint.   An hour had passed before I realized I had not taken even one photo, then finally, this came into view; I had my next paintings in my sights. 

IN THE SHADOW OF

                                                    IN THE SHADOW OF
                                                     8x8inch oil on panel

The magic of the mountain, changing, growing, ruling the sky and lands below.  The Barn also changing, fading, empty, and yet adding to the magic of the mountain. 

HILLTOP

                                                              HILLTOP
                                                        8X8 oil on panel

After a long hike, I finally made it to the top.  From there I was able to look out over the valley, feel the cool air, see the fog rolling in, smell the sea just on the other side of the valley below. 

ONE-WAY

                                                                ONE-WAY
                                                         8x8inch oil on panel

Thanks to Eric Demarcq a photographer from Paris allowed to interpret his photograph.

I, not wanting to copy it, but use it as an inspiration that caught my attention.  

One way street in downtown L. A.  

LUNA & DANDELIONS

                                                     LUNA & DANDELIONS
                                                        8x8inch oil on panel

Sometimes everything just works out.  Art is such a crazy thing to have to do. I say have to, for if I'm not paintings, searching, and needing to paint I would go nuts.  So for me, it's a lifeline to who I am.  It is a great escape, it is my moment to get lost and explore the wonders a never-ending moment.  I'm at home 

"OASIS"

                                                                 OASIS
                                                         8X8 oil on panel

This was a dry wash but with the help of a really good rain; I get to grab my camera and take a shot, go back to the studio and, here you go, a painting.   This can be yours just click here:

WILD FLOWERS

                                                   "WILDFLOWERS"
                                                     8x8 wood panel

 Not sure how I came to have this photo but was compelled to submerge my mind into it, only to get lost in the field of flowers and eventually disappear in the grove of trees ahead.

This painting is for perches just click here

TAKE FLIGHT

                                                          "TAKE FLIGHT"
                                                     8x8" oil on wood panel

On a warm summer's early evening with the sun making its way down one lone seagull takes flight.  I followed it's flight clicking away with my camera.  So here it is, I hope you all enjoy.

LAGUNA

                                                            LAGUNA
                                                       6x6 oil on panel

For those that know Laguna Beach, I don't have to say where this is.  It is such a recognizable iconic spot.  I had an opportunity to be at a house that was at this location giving me this view.  Three photos later and back at my studio I put this to oils immortalizing it.    

THE WEDGE

                                                             THE WEDGE

                                                          6x6inch oil on panel

Newport Beach, summer, big waves, surfers, suntan oil, put that all together and you have the "WEDGE."   I go down to watch the crazy, skillful surfers risk their lives to master the crashing thundering waves that brake this part of the coast.  Now you ask, "Do you surf" I don't even know how to swim so my answer is a resounding NO!.  I just love watching and painting the beauty of it all.    

     

CLOUD COVER

                                                         CLOUD COVER
                                                      6X6inch oil on panel

Racing ahead of what looked like a change in the weather, I turned my car around and back down the hill I went.  It was hours later I heard a storm moved in with road closers just where I was.  I will try another day, the mountain isn't going anywhere soon. 

EMPTY

                                                                EMPTY
                                                         6x6 oil on panel

In crossing the heartlands sometimes up close most of the time far away; one can see empty barns, some standing proudly most looking tired, all have stories if when one stops to listen.  I stood for a time and stared at this one, took a few photos and now in painting it I feel I've given it life again.

PASSING THROUGH

                                                    PASSING THROUGH
                                                     6x6inch oil on panel

Many years ago I would travel back and forth through the desert between California and Lake Havasu on a road less traveled, to say the least.  I loved taking it, one could drive for hours before you saw another car.  This painting is an homage to a wonderful memory.

MINNESOTA MORNING

                                                   MINNESOTA MORNING
                                                       6x6inch oil on panel

My son sent me this.  Its morning time in at the Schwartz's, coffee is brewing, kids are up, its school time, Duk the family pet is eating and my son is getting ready for work.  Why its morning time in Minnesota.

SNOWFALL

                                                                SNOWFALL
                                                          6x6inch oil on panel

This last winter when with my son we went back to a magical place with quiet.  The only sound was the water moving over and around the stones in this icy cold stream.  It was picture perfect, I hope I did it justice to paint such perfection.      

SPRING

                                                                SPRING

                                                         6X6 oil on panel

A quiet place just 30 minutes away from where my son lives.  A short walk off the road and one is lost in the beauty.  It took some time for me to finally step back to reality and take a photo.  The end result and a year later I finally finished my walk.  

"GET-A-WAY"

                                                        "GET-A-WAY"
                                                   6x6 oil on panel

The need to get out 0of town and disappear at times really becomes overwhelming.

Well, not having a camper and all of the paraphernalia I became friends with campers.  Told them I can cook some really great meals and this started a long relationship with me as the cook, and sometimes a driver.   So this is in tribute to those days.  my life took me in another direction and I'm sure they are still wondering the back trails of adventure.       

RUSH HOUR

                                                         RUSH HOUR
                                                   6X6inch oil on panel

It was just one of those times but then again, it's always that time, you know what I'm talking about; traffic, it has nothing to do with the time of day, there is traffic.  One steps out of the hotel hit's the streets and its rush hour.  It is a way of life when you want to take a bite out of the Big Apple. 

SLOW MOVING

"SLOW FLOWING"

6X6 oil on panel

                                                       
An Update on this painting... I just felt it wasn't finished, but now I can say it is. 

In the quiet of the moment, I drifted down these waters seeing the sky above, the coolness of the waters, moving past and around stones, gently twilling in the stream without a care in the world.  I was for a moment, moving slowly

THE PIX

                                                                    THE PIX
                                                             6X6inch  oil on birchwood 

It is truly rewarding to revisit one of my paintings.  The original was 30x03, so to downsize and make work was challenging and fun rolled up in one.   So much to learn, loving the journey. 

WHISPERS

                                                         WHISPERS

                                                       6x6inch oil on panel

The intimacy of whispering is a special moment.  It is in itself a moment of privacy, confidentiality and above all trust.  Even when no one is about, the voice is at a whisper, I must say with so much shouting the whisper is so beautiful not to hear.     

"THE PIX / LOVE STORY"

                         

                                                                   THE PIX

                                                                 6X6 oil on panel

So it's still early and about two hours away before we eat, I have an idea, let's go grab a flick.  Let's go catch a classic at "The Pix" and see "LOVE STORY".    

"BLUE"

                                                        (Sold) BLUE
                                                       6x6 oil on panel

With a light mist and a chill in the air, I walked out and didn't look back.  it was time for a fresh start, new beginnings, big plans, so what if it ended, that's life, excuse me for a sec, I seem to have something in my eye.  

"RED UMBRELLA"

                                                                RED UMBRELLA
                                                          6X6 oil on panel

It was 4:30 in the afternoon and the 5-month romance was over.  I grabbed an umbrella, heading out the door.   The light rain was refreshing as it washed away all making way for a clean slate.  Hello, new day.