It's about the art

This blog has a new home

2008-08-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

Please visit me at my new home:

http://shanksart.com/blog

Hot off the Easel

2008-08-08T11:42:00.001-07:00

"Sonoma Pasture", oil on canvas, 20x40"

A couple of weeks ago I was out painting, and just as I had to leave, the fog started to break up. I didn't have time to do another painting, so I took some quick reference photos. This studio painting is the result, and I'm really happy with it. I don't usually try to paint cows when I'm out and about as they tend to move around too much, so I enjoyed doing little cow portraits in this one.

And if you're in the Bay Area, the Riverfront Art Gallery in Petaluma is having an opening for the new show this Saturday, August 9 starting at 5pm. Rumor has it there will be live music, and the featured artists put up a great show. I have a couple new pieces hanging, including some that I just got back from my gallery in Tennessee. Hope to see you there!

Mouth of the Russian River

2008-08-06T13:40:00.001-07:00

"Mouth of the Russian River", 8x10, oil on panel, $320

Another painting from our adventure on the coast two weeks ago.

Three C

2008-08-04T22:31:00.001-07:00

"Three C" oil on panel, 5x7, $75

This victorian house sits on the edge of the Petaluma turning basin. I painted it the other morning before heading for my shift at the Riverfront art gallery. It's used as offices for a variety of professionals, and three C is the address.

Walk With Me

2008-08-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

"Walk With Me", oil on panel, 11x14, $425

It was the shadows across the path that really made me take off my pack and set up to paint this one. It's at Rush Creek open space reserve, near Novato.

Pepper Road Oaks

2008-08-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

"Pepper Road Oaks", oil on panel, 8x10, $320

Boat House

2008-07-31T16:08:00.001-07:00

"Boat House", oil on panel, 8x10, $320

Another painting from our trip to Tomales Bay. When I started this painting I was in full sun, and by the end the fog had moved in and changed the light completely.

Study in Blue

2008-07-30T11:17:00.001-07:00

"Study in Blue", oil on panel, 5x7, $75

Last weekend we took a day to do a long and scenic drive out to Marshall, where I ate BBQ oysters and Cheri had chowder. I stopped to do several paintings along the way, and this one is my hands down favorite. Sometimes a painting just comes together seemingly without any intervention on my part, and this painting was like that. Mixing colors to evoke the subtle differences in blues can be challenging, but I felt I hit the different blues right from the start, and so the painting stayed fresh all the way through.

Campfire

2008-07-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

"Campfire", oil on panel, 5x7, $75

While camping at Salt Point the other weekend, Cheri built a fire in the fire ring at our campsite. I decided to take a stab at painting it, because I really liked the contrast of the geometric shapes of the fire ring with the more organic shapes of the fire and logs. I've never tried painting fire before, and I'm not sure how successful it is, but I like the simplicity of it.

On an administrative note, I'm in the process of moving my blog to a new location. There's some technical issues I'm still working out, so in the meantime I'm posting to both locations. Those of you getting my posts via email don't have to do anything to keep receiving emails, although if the posts start looking odd, I'd appreciate a note letting me know.

Russian Gulch

2008-07-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

"Russian Gulch" oil on panel, 5x7, $75

Another from our trip up the coast. This is also just North of Jenner.

North Coast Fog

2008-07-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

"North Coast Fog" oil on panel, 5x7, $75

I painted this standing in a pullout along Highway 1 North of Jenner. I really liked the way the fog made the distant trees almost disapear. Just as I was finishing, the fog suddenly lifted, so I'm glad I was able to capture this moment before it changed.

Wind on Water

2008-07-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

"Wind on Water", oil on panel, 5x7, $75

Cheri and I spent this past weekend camping at Salt Point State Park, one of my favorite places on the coast. Friday afternoon we hiked from our campsite down to Gerstle Cove. The hike turned out to be more of an adventure than we anticipated, involving downed trees across the path, and a certain amount of getting lost. But in the end we found the ocean and I settled down in the shelter of some coastal pines and painted this picture.

2008-07-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

“Laguna Oak”, oil on panel, 11×14, $425

We’re in a common summer morning fog weather pattern here in Northern California. Sometimes I like painting in the fog because the light stays so constant, at least until the fog burns off. But right now my tomatoes could use a little more sun.

Plums

2008-07-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Plums" oil on panel, 5x7", $75

I've spent the morning framing new paintings, and now all that's left is to pack the van. Hope to see some of you in Los Altos for the Los Altos Art and Wine Festival this weekend. I'll be on State St, near 4th on the North side of the street.

Trio

2008-07-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

"Trio" oil on panel, 8x10

I'm very happy with this painting. I really like how the trees turned out.

Small Barn

2008-07-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

"Small Barn", oil on panel, 5x7, $75

I've eyed this barn for a while now as a potential painting subject. It's actually much more decrepit than it looks in this little painting and has a great cupola, but I got distracted by the mowed stripes in the field. Just another reason to go back.

California Hills

2008-07-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

"California Hills" oil on panel, 11x14

I never get tired of the blue-ness of distant hills.

Oak Shadows

2008-07-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

"Oak Shadows" oil on panel, 11x14, $425

Next show is coming up soon. I'll be in Los Altos next weekend, and of course there's lots to do to get ready. I hope some of the recent paintings will be dry enough to bring with me. I painted this one at Crane Creek, the local regional park. It's a view I've thought about painting for a while now, so I'm glad I found an afternoon to catch the shadows.

Lemon Halves

2008-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

"Lemon Halves" 5x7 $75

More lemons...when life hands you lemons, paint them.

Summer Day

2008-07-04T22:26:00.001-07:00

"Summer Day" 11x14

I did this painting in the middle of the day sheltered under a row of Eucalyptus trees. I don't usually paint when the sun is overhead - it's hard to create a good painting when there aren't any shadows. But this view of the hills and the receding hay bales was too good to pass up.

Lemon Reflection

2008-07-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

"Lemon Reflection", oil on panel, 5x7, $75

The fires north of us are still blazing away, but we've had some steady offshore breezes for the last few days, and it's done a lot to clear up the air. I've got several new plein air paintings to share once they're dry enough to photograph.

In the meantime, enjoy the lemon.

smoky haze

2008-06-26T02:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who dropped by my booth last weekend in Danville! The many fires in Northern California are making it impossible to paint outside right now. Our house is nowhere near the fires, but the smoky haze is turning the light an eerie orange. I'll be sharing new work soon. Image is courtesy of MODIS.

Red White and Blue

2008-06-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

"Red, White and Blue" oil on panel, 5x7", $75

It's hard to paint inside when the weather is so nice, but I've also been wanting to do some still life painting. I almost never get to use these bright reds and blues when I'm painting the landscape, but I also forgot how hard it is to draw plates in perspective. Now it's time to do a lot of framing in preparation for Danville this weekend.

Kay's View

2008-06-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Cheri and I spent the weekend rafting the South Fork of the American river. When I wasn't paddling like mad or getting drenched by the rapids (sometimes both at the same time) I was admiring the local landscape - very interesting mix of pines and oaks. I did some sketching along the river in the evening, but no painting. Now I'm trying to get things framed and ready for the show at Danville this coming weekend.

But a week ago, Kay invited me to come paint at her property near Jenner on the coast, and these three paintings were the result.

"Kay's View", oil on panel, 8x10, $320

"Cow Path", oil on panel, 5x7", $75

"Little Oak", oil on panel, 5x7", $75

Mustard Stripe

2008-06-10T20:59:00.001-07:00

"Mustard Stripe", oil on panel, 11x14", $425

This is a painting I did in February when all the mustard was in bloom, and the hills were still mostly green. My first art fair of the summer is coming up, June 21st and 22nd in Danville. Hope to see some of you there if you're in the Bay Area.

Rush Creek

2008-06-09T19:46:00.001-07:00

"Rush Creek", oil on panel, 11x14", $425

Yesterday I mentioned the incredible views of the marsh at Rush Creek from the ridge above, and here's the painting to prove it.

Path Between

2008-06-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

"Path Between", oil on panel, 8x10", $320

I painted this at Rush Creek Open Space reserve in Marin. I've walked there many times, but never around the side away from the marsh, and this time I climbed the hill and discovered a path running along the ridge with lovely oaks and tremendous views of the marsh. It was very windy, but I found a spot under an oak that provided both shade and some shelter from the wind, and painted this view of the trail back to the car.

Buckeye

2008-06-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

"Buckeye", oil on panel, 5x7", $75

This little buckeye is one of three planted along the parking lot at Helen Putnam regional park, and I love the exuberant flower spikes they produce this time of year.

Putnam Park

2008-06-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

"Putnam Park", oil on panel, 8x10, $320

I've painted this grove of eucalyptus trees at Helen Putnam park before, and I suspect I'll be back again. It's such an iconic California view. It's interesting to paint at the same location again and again and find new visions each time. It's great to be out painting again.

Winding Path

2008-06-04T20:46:00.001-07:00

"Winding Path", oil on panel, 8x10", $320

Cows come home

2008-06-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's the final state of the cow print. I had a lot of difficulty with registration on this last color. In retrospect, I think this print would have been more successful if I'd used a separate block for the cows and tree branches. The mahogany plywood I used for the first couple colors to get the texture I wanted was difficult to print as a solid color without over-inking. I'm glad it's done, and I think it turned out OK.

I've been doing a fair amount of painting the last few days, and I'll be sharing those as soon as they're dry enough to photograph.

second state of the cows

2008-05-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here's my progress this week. I finished carving the shadows and cows, and printed the next color in a transparent blue, so the shadows on the grass look green.

This is the block on the press inked and ready for the next piece of paper.

And here's the print. I managed to proof the block and print the entire edition of 30 in three hours.

reduction print

2008-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted much work recently, mostly because I haven't had much time to make art. I did start a large woodblock print this week, and thought I'd share the process as it goes along. This is a reduction print, so for each color I'll carve away a little more of the block. I started by printing a blue background for the sky using the whole block, and then carved away the areas that are going to remain sky to reveal the tree and hillside. One of the cows is showing up on the horizon at this stage. The picture shows the block inked and ready to print on my press. I only inked part of the block to make a green hillside, the rest of that tree will be printed in the next color.

After printing the green grass of the hill, I started carving away to reveal the rest of the cows, and the shadows of the cows and trees.

Painting a week

2008-04-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

"Streamside" oil on panel, 11x14, $425

I headed off to one of my favorite parks intending to paint the oak trees, and ended up perched on a rock painting the creek. It's amazing how quickly the light can change on a few rocks. I intended to focus on the wonderful shadows of leaves playing over the surface of the rocks, but by the time I sat down and started painting, those shadows were already gone.

Painting streamside

2008-04-09T00:08:00.001-07:00

"Stream Sketch" oil on panel, 8x10, $320

I did this little painting with my painting gear sitting in my lap, while trying not to slide down the bank into the stream I was painting at Sugarloaf state park. The sun was setting in line with the canyon, so a great beam of light was hitting this big rock covered in moss. I had a harder time capturing the light bouncing off the bottom pool in front of the rock, but I'm really happy with the contrast between the brightly lit rocks and the dark background.

Stegosaurus

2008-04-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

"Stegosaurus In Situ", 7x9 linocut, available at my Etsy store.

Here's the most recent dinosaur print. It's a stegosaurus, probably one of the most iconic dinosaurs. This dinosaur is so familiar I wanted to do something a little different, and represent it as an articulated specimen found in place. I used a fair amount of artistic license, as it's unusual to find such a large dinosaur so perfectly laid out, but I like that it's not a perfect reconstruction like you might see in a museum.

Palm at St. Jean

2008-04-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

"Palm at St. Jean", oil on panel, 8x10, $320

I did this painting a few weeks ago at the Chateau St. Jean winery. It's a beautiful place to paint, and the weather was perfect. I won't be posting very often in the next month or so as some home repair projects are going to be claiming my time. I'll be sharing new paintings and prints as I find time. And of course once we get the house in order, I plan to be painting a lot as I just heard I've been accepted for the Danville Fine Arts Faire in June, and I'd like to have some new work to show.

more prints

2008-03-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

Here's the second of my dinosaur series of block prints. It's not actually a dinosaur, but a marine reptile commonly called a Plesiosaur. These creatures ranged in size from 3 to 12 meters in length, and had amazingly long necks as well as four paddle-shaped limbs.

One of the reasons I started doing these prints is because I felt a sort of kinship with fossil preparators carefully carving away the rock to reveal the specimen. The process of carving to reveal an image really captured my imagination and I was particularly interested in portraying skeletons as they appear on site, rather than the fully articulated and assembled pictures we usually see. This image is more of a compromise, mostly because the neck was so long it had to be curled around to fit on the paper.

I did two different versions of the print, one without a background color, and one with a background that I printed with a rather beat up piece of wood to give some texture. They're available at my Etsy store.

Red Barn

2008-03-13T09:42:00.001-07:00

"Red Barn II" oil on panel, 11x14

Big Rock Ridge

2008-03-10T19:04:00.001-07:00

"View From Big Rock Ridge", oil on canvas, 12x24

Thanks to all of you who came to the opening on Saturday night. If you missed the opening, the show will be up at the Riverfront Art Gallery for another 6 weeks.

I met someone at the opening who asked me if I did workshops or took students out painting, and then got an email today from someone else asking the same question. I've never led a painting workshop before, but I think I'm ready to give it a go, and it sounds like the time is now. If there's anyone else out there who's interested in painting with me in a workshop setting, drop me an email, I'd like to hear from you.

Spring Weather

2008-03-04T16:29:00.001-08:00

"Spring Weather", oil on panel, 8x10, $320 unframed.

I did this painting right after the painting I posted yesterday (link here) by crossing the road and setting up about 20 feet away from where I started. Setting them side by side is an interesting exercise in seeing how perspective can make a difference. Of course, if you come to the opening at the Riverfront Gallery this Saturday, you'll have an opportunity to see them side by side for yourself.

Lichau Rd Vineyard

2008-03-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

"Lichau Rd Vineyard", oil on canvas panel, 8x10, $320 unframed.

I know it's spring when the wild mustard starts turning fields and vineyards bright yellow.

Dinosaurs!

2008-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

"Camarasaurus" linocut block print on Rives BFK. 8x10 image. Available at my Etsy shop.

Anyone who looks over my bookshelf will see that evolution is a central topic of my reading. Recently, I've gotten really interested in dinosaurs, particularly the new feathered fossils coming from China linking birds to dinosaurs. Somehow I missed that geeky kid stage of obsessing over dinosaurs, and I'm making up for lost time. This is what I hope is the first of a series of fossil prints. I've compiled a lot of source materials, and now I get to play with my new press!

Red Bollards

2008-03-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

"Red Bollards", oil on canvas, 18x24

This is another studio painting I've been working on for a long time, and am happy to have completed. I did some sketches and took the reference photograph at Fort Mason in San Francisco. I was attracted to the long line of red bollards, and the way the light reflected through the windows of the other pier. I'm hanging the show at Riverfront Gallery on Monday, and I think it's going to be a good collection of work, although I'm starting to run out of frames, and the frames I ordered last week still aren't here...Nothing like putting things together at the last minute!

Cloudy Day

2008-02-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

"Cloudy Day", oil on panel, 9x12, $320

I've drawn and tried to paint this group of barns before without much success, but this time I really simplified things, and I think it works well. It helped that the light was so dramatic. This painting is a testament to the durability of Gessoboard - a prepared brand of panel. I was given this panel as a sample years ago when I took a workshop with Richard McDaniel, and because it's a size I don't use, it's been kicking around the trunk of my car ever since. I showed up at the location without my box of prepared panels (OOPS!) and was about to head home when I saw this panel at the bottom of the trunk. Saved!

Sonoma Mountain at Dusk

2008-02-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

"Sonoma Mountain at Dusk", oil on canvas, 12x24, $900

I did this painting in the studio the same evening I took the picture, so the scene was very fresh in my visual memory. Right now it's my favorite of my recent paintings. Getting the colors of the distant hills correct is always a challenge for me, and I think this painting nails it.

Multi-tasking

2008-02-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

"Encircled", oil on panel, 8x10, $320 unframed

I've been working this last weekend on the house, installing bamboo flooring. But in between crawling around on my hands and knees wielding a power nailer, I managed to get a little work done in the studio. I blogged about this painting before here, because I'd smeared it badly in transporting it home. The consensus in the comments was that I should try to fix it, and fix it I did. I was afraid to touch the painting before, because I had the vivid recollection of how perfect that section had been, and I couldn't imagine recreating that passage. This time around, I couldn't remember exactly what had been there before, and so I felt a certain freedom in messing with it. It was a good reminder that treating a painting as too precious can stifle creativity. There has to be room for error to create.

Cotati Barns

2008-02-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

"Cotati Barns", oil on panel, 8x10, $320 unframed.

I don't know how many times I've painted these two little barns, but they continue to be a favorite location. It's that magic combination of easy parking on a road with very little vehicle traffic, and a lovely view.

Standing Tall

2008-02-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

"Standing Tall", oil on panel, 8x10, $320 unframed.

I painted this right after the previous day's painting by turning my easel 30 degrees to the left. (Or something like that). I do love the clouds of an unsettled sky.

This is a clump of Eucalyptus that I pass all the time near my house.

And for the biologically inclined, I've been watching the video lectures at HHMI. The series on evolution is excellent.

Brush in hand again

2008-02-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

"Early Morning Shadows", oil on board, 8x10in. SOLD

It's hard to believe I haven't posted since October. I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick up a brush again, but I'm glad to be painting once more. I turned around and suddenly I'm seeing signs of spring. The wild mustard is in bloom, the manzanita and ceanothus in my yard are blooming, and it seemed to happen overnight. I've got a show coming up at Riverfront Art Gallery in Petaluma, so that's been an incentive to get some new work together. I'll be sharing some of my new work in the next few days, and I hope to see some of you at the reception March 8. That's coming up soon! Time to get framing!

I haven't been entirely idle the last few months. I've got my backyard studio together, and I've been doing some painting and framing in my new space. And I took a trip to Las Vegas to pick up a new press for doing wood block prints, and perhaps some etchings. More on that later, as the press is currently sitting in our living room while we work on the floors in the rest of the house.

Here's some pictures of my studio. The painting on the easel is the little plein air study that got smeared, and I think I managed to fix it.

Glass on Glass

2007-10-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

"Glass on Glass" oil on canvas, 5x7"

I painted this the other night after a frustrating day of not being able to get out and paint. I've admired other painters handling of glass, so I thought I'd give it a try.

oops

2007-10-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

I painted this at Mt Burdell open space reserve, and when I got home discovered that I had somehow smeared one section of the painting in bringing back to the car. (Look on the right where the grass meets the trees) I'm trying to decide whether I should try and recreate the section that got smeared, or go to my trusty table saw and simply change the size of the painting (yet another advantage of painting on wood panels). Comments?

Cropped in photoshop - this would make an odd size picture, so I'd need to make a custom frame.

In Memorium

2007-10-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Rudy
Loyal companion and friend
1994-2007

Green String Farm

2007-10-23T19:38:00.001-07:00

"Green String Barn" oil on panel, 5x7"

"Cast Shadow" oil on panel, 5x7"

After painting pumpkins on Saturday, I went down the road to Green String Farm. I bought some just picked organic eggplant and string beans, and asked if I could set up to paint. The woman working the stand smiled said I was welcome go anywhere I wanted on the grounds. I met several of the folks who work there, and all were interested in what I was doing and very friendly. I focused on their barns, thinking I would do a painting of the hills when the sun got lower on the horizon. By the time I was half way through the second painting, it was so windy I was hanging onto my palette with one hand to keep it from blowing over and painting with the other. It was hard getting straight lines in those conditions, but I'm happy with the paintings, and when I got home cooked up some excellent eggplant. If you're in the Petaluma area, they have great produce and it's all $2 a pound. They've got a lot of beautiful heirloom tomatoes right now that I would have purchased if I wasn't still picking tomatoes from my garden. I'm certainly going back.

Pumpkins

2007-10-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

"Pumpkin Farm", oil on panel, 5x7"

After a week of rainy weather and work responsibilities, I finally got out to paint on Saturday. I completed 6 paintings, and this was one of the first. I started out the day at the Adobe Pumpkin Farm in Petaluma. I've painted here before, but not in a long while, and the morning light was hazy and luminous. After all the rain, the ground was glutinous. I'd walk a few steps and have a couple inches of mud sticking to the bottoms of my shoes. They don't call it adobe for nothing!

Fenced In

2007-10-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Fenced In", oil on canvas panel, 5x7"

This is the same barn that I painted in "Vertical", but painted from about 20 feet to the left of my first location. If I learned anything in this painting it was a reminder that sometimes to get a color right you have to adjust the color next to it.

Vertical

2007-10-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

"Vertical" oil on panel, 8x10"

I've painted this barn before, but in the afternoon. (Look here if you want to see it.) I painted this one in the morning, and I'm really happy with it. Sometimes a painting just seems to come together on its own.

And for those interested in the technical side of painting, this painting is the first test of a new ground for my panels. It's a gesso formulated specifically for priming panels, and it's supposed to be more absorbent than a typical acrylic gesso. I usually adhere canvas to the panels, and then do an oil ground, which is nothing if not a labor of love. I was hoping to find a ground that's a little less labor intensive, but still has some of the properties of an oil ground. So far, I do like the properties of this gesso, although I'd hoped for a slightly more absorptive surface.

Cloud Study

2007-10-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

"Cloud Study III", 5x7, oil on canvas panel, available at my Etsy store.

This is the second painting I did at Papa's Taverna, looking across the marsh to the hills and clouds beyond.

Riverbend

2007-10-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

"Riverbend" oil on canvas panel, 5x7"

A few days ago we had some lovely clouds, and I spent the morning painting at Papa's Tavera, a restaurant that overlooks the Petaluma river and marsh. It was an ideal location, as there was a little outdoor table to rest things on, and I was shaded by the building. I'm not entirely happy with the water in this painting. With the clouds passing overhead it seemed to change color every time I looked at the river. But I'm very happy with the clouds.

Bucolic

2007-10-02T04:05:00.000-07:00

"Bucolic", oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

It was a herd of sheep resting in a field with the barns behind that first drew my attention to this location. But I when I pulled into the entrance to the sheep pasture so I could turn the car around and park, the sheep all jumped up in anticipation of a meal. So much for peaceful sheep. They spent the next half hour loudly expressing their dismay. Next time I paint here I'll use a different driveway to turn around!

Long Shadow

2007-09-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

"Long Shadow", oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy Store

I've painted these little barns many times, and each time they're different. It felt great to be out painting again, even if my color mixing skills were a little rusty.

I've been accepted into a new gallery in downtown Petaluma, the Riverfront Art Gallery, and I got a call yesterday that the first day they had their doors open, one of my paintings sold! The official opening for the gallery will be October 13th - we'll be having a reception with all the artists from 4-8pm. It's a great space, and I'm really excited to be showing there.

Summer Evening

2007-09-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Summer Evening" oil on canvas, 18x24"

I'm in the midst of framing new works in preparation for the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival show this coming weekend. Even though I feel like I haven't been painting nearly enough, I've got 14 new paintings to frame up.

I'm also really pleased to have been accepted into the Riverfront Art Gallery, a new gallery in Petaluma showing paintings and photography.

Preparation

2007-08-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

"Heat of the Day" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

I thought I'd share a little of how I think about putting together my paintings. I have learned that I really need to make a little sketch before I start actually painting. It helps me make decisions about the composition, and it gives me a chance to think about my game plan before I even start mixing paint. This is a page from my painting sketchbook with little thumbnails I did in preparation for the painting above. I don't always do so many sketches, but this one I went through a long process.

Oaks and the last show of the summer

2007-08-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

"Oak Grove" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

I'm starting to get excited about my last outdoor festival of the year. I'm very proud to be participating in the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival the weekend of September 15th and 16th. I should have several new paintings to show, including this one, and I'm looking forward to meeting lots of new folks.

Last Days of Summer

2007-08-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

"Last Days of Summer" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

I painted this at Mt. Burdell, one of my favorite of the open space reserves in Marin County. It was rather windy in the afternoon, but I found some shelter and shade behind a large oak and painted these two lovely trees.

Rush Creek Oak

2007-08-22T10:42:00.001-07:00

"Rush Creek Oak", oil on canvas panel, 11x14"

I painted this the other afternoon after teaching. I don't usually paint looking into the sun, but I really liked the way the sun came through the branches of the tree and the shadow it cast.

Painting again

2007-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

"Chileno Valley Vista" oil on canvas panel, 11x14

I spent the weekend painting mostly in Marin, and have several new paintings to share. This one I painted on the Chileno Valley Road, which winds its way to the top of a hill that has a commanding vista of southern Sonoma county. It's a favorite road for bicyclists, as it's fairly quiet and very scenic, if a bit steep towards the top. As I painted I had a steady stream of cyclists making comments as they slowly labored up the road behind me.

Burlingame

2007-08-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

"August Afternoon" oil on panel, 8x10"

It's been a busy summer, filled with many projects and not enough painting time! I did get out to paint last weekend, and felt very rusty. I hiked along Big Rock Ridge in Marin county and was treated to tremendous views, certainly worth the climb. The ridge is the second highest point in Marin county - only Mt. Tam is higher. This painting was the last one of the day, and I feel like I finally got my groove back with it. This coming weekend (Aug 11&12) I'll be at the Burlingame Art and Wine Show on Burlingame Ave in, you guessed it, Burlingame. My booth will be somewhere between Primrose and Park Rd - hope to see you there!

Los Altos Art and Wine

2007-07-13T09:37:00.001-07:00

"Channel Marker" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

I'll be at the Los Altos Art and Wine festival this weekend. Come visit me on Main St. between First and Second St if you're in the area. There's free parking and a shuttle from the Los Altos High School parking lot at 201 Almond Avenue in Los Altos if you'd like to drop by.

Not exactly art

2007-06-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

With the invaluable help of my friend Preston we managed to put up walls and a roof for my little studio last weekend. There's still a lot to do, like finishing the inside, getting some shingles on the roof, and a few more exterior details like a front door, but putting up the walls was a big accomplishment.

I'm working on getting things together for the upcoming show in Danville, and I'm excited to be showing new work. If you're in the SF Bay Area, I hope you'll stop by and see some of my recent paintings in person.

Framing and other tasks

2007-05-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting new art recently as I've been a bit busy with a couple of other projects, namely framing up paintings for upcoming shows and building a deck. I've got another big construction project planned for the next couple weeks - a small studio! I'll be back and sharing new art as soon as the sawdust settles.

Moment of Sun - painting a day

2007-05-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Moment of Sun" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", SOLD

I painted this little painting the same day I did this one. I was ready to pack up and go home when the fog started to break up, and the sun cast this great shadow across the roof of the barn. I cursed a bit for having cleaned up my palette, and then started mixing new piles of paint.

Periodic Table project

2007-05-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

These are my two linocuts for the Periodic Table Printmaking project. It's being organized by Azure Grackle. Printmakers were asked to pick a element from the periodic table, and make a print. The only restrictions are the size (6x6"), and that the symbol and atomic number had to be present.

I chose Carbon because I was teaching about the carbon cycle at the time the project was announced, and I think global warming and climate change are the big issues of our time. Annie Bisset has also made prints that address the issue of climate change, and it's a difficult topic to encapsulate in a single image. I decided to focus on human impacts - driving, flying and deforestation.

Bohrium is a synthetic element named for Niels Bohr. Having drawn innumerable Bohr diagrams of atoms, the image of a Bohr diagram as a halo came immediately to mind.

Fresh Hay Rows - painting a day

2007-05-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

"Fresh Hay Rows" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

I woke up the other morning to dense fog, and knew I had to paint these little barns in the fog. The last time I was there, the grass in front of the barns had gotten really tall, so I was hoping to find the grass cut so I could see the barns. The rows of green grass peeping out from under the cut hay was a bonus.

Blue Waters

2007-05-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

"Blue Waters" oil on panel, 8x10" [$320+shipping]

After driving over to Tomales Bay last weekend, I stopped for some oysters in the town of Marshall and then painted the kayak haul out at Blue Waters Kayak. According to their website, they're seeing gray whales in Tomales Bay right now, so it's a great time to get on the water.

Small Oak

2007-05-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

"Small Oak" oil on board, 8x10" [$320+shipping]

I did this little study of a small oak on the way to the coast last weekend.

On a more technical note, I'm changing the host for my website, so if you notice any strange glitches, please feel free to drop me an email. Apparently it takes a couple of days for all the world's name servers to figure out where my images are.

And the other news of the day is I've heard from the Mill Valley Fall Art Festival, and I'll be there in September. I think I've got a lot of framing to do in the next few weeks. If you'd like a little postcard with my show dates and locations sent to you, let me know and I'll add you to my snail mail list.

Line of Eucalyptus

2007-05-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

"Line of Eucalyptus" oil on canvas, 12x24" [$900+shipping]

I started this painting outside, and then ran out of time, so I finished it in the studio. It's from the same location as this little painting.

Frog in a Dish

2007-05-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Frog in a Dish", oil on canvas panel, 8x10" [$320 + shipping]

This rubber squeaky toy frog has been kicking around my house for years. I don't even remember where it came from. I'm not sure why it was painted yellow and black like a poison arrow frog, when the shape is more like a bullfrog. Nobody thought to ask a biologist I suppose. I thought I'd take another stab at the "totally today" bowl, focusing just on the shape of the bowl and ignoring the pattern on the outside. (thanks Linda!).

The weather today was warm and sunny, and I spent the day painting at the coast. I'll share the results once they've had a chance to dry a bit.

Two Hot Peppers - painting a day

2007-04-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Two Hot Peppers" oil on canvas panel, 5x7" available at my Etsy store.

Another painting of these little Habanero peppers. I'm not sure I'm doing justice to the rich color of these peppers. But I do like how their little stems make the bowl look sort of like a little bug.

Terraces

2007-04-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

"Terraces" 18x36", oil on canvas

This is a studio painting based on this plein air painting. The longer format gave me the opportunity to really develop the terraced vineyard behind the oak, and the sense of the hills receding into the distance. The painting initially came together very quickly, and then sat on my easel for a few days while I contemplated the risk of loosing the spontaneity of the first few layers. I did eventually go in and make some adjustments.

Habanero - painting a day

2007-04-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

"Habanero" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

The white dish is one of the items I picked up during my Salvation Army hunt for new still life props. I picked it because I thought the reflective surface on the inside would work well, and I was attracted to the subtle basket weave pattern on the outside. What clinched the deal is the name of the pattern printed on the bottom of the bowl: "Totally Today". I mean, like, totally! Today!

I watched "Rivers and Tides", a documentary about Andy Goldsworthy last night. If you don't know his work he does sculptures from materials he finds on site. The works are often ephemeral, and quite elegant. There was one sequence in the film where he was building an object from stones on the beach, racing the tide, and it collapsed on him four times. After the fourth collapse he said with each attempt he's learning more about the stone, but it still has more to teach him. I feel that way about this bowl. It still has a lot more to teach me.

Glass, Wood, Garlic - painting a day

2007-04-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

"Glass, Wood, Garlic" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", SOLD.

This combination was a bit of a fortuitous accident. I was moving objects around in the studio trying to find the right background for this head of garlic, and noticed the light shining through the edge of the glass. I'm rather happy with the combination of angles and reflection with the organic form of the garlic.

In progress

2007-04-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

"Towering Eucalyptus" oil on canvas, 24x24"

I apologize for the photo quality - this is off my easel and the lighting isn't set up for photography. I generally use my scanner for small paintings, but large paintings require a sunny day in the afternoon when I've got the perfect shady photo spot in the back yard. Much easier than setting up the photo lights for shooting indoors. I've been working on this painting for a while now and wanted to share some larger work in progress. I thought it might be done, but looking at it again I'm not entirely sure. What do you think?

When I first started painting landscapes, I was very conscious of not wanting to paint Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees aren't native to California, and they release compounds that inhibit the growth of any native species that might try to grow near them. So as a botanist, I think of them as noxious weeds. And the fact that I'm allergic to them doesn't help win my affections. But they're pretty ubiquitous around here. They were planted extensively as wind breaks around farms and ranches, and they're very difficult to remove. As I've been painting more barns and agricultural themes, the Eucalyptus have been sneaking in. And I have to admit they have a certain grandeur to them.

Three Tomatoes - painting a day

2007-04-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

"Three Tomatoes" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

This painting combines my new fascination with placing items on a reflective surface, and my steady love affair with this little Japanese dish.

Morning Light - painting a day

2007-04-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

"Morning Light" oil on canvas panel, 5x7" [$75+shipping]

Shady Spot

2007-04-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

"Shady Spot" oil on canvas panel, 11x14" [$425+shipping]

I did this painting in roughly the same location as this one, but focused on a different oak tree. I wasn't really happy with it once I got it home, so I did a little color adjustment in the studio. I think this is another example of a painting that really wanted to be larger than it is. I have another large canvas prepped, and I think I'll try using this plein air painting as a study for another studio painting.

Yesterday I went to the local thrift shop to look for more still life props. I can only paint the same set of bowls with different fruits and vegetables so many times, so I was hoping to find some new inspirations. It was oddly depressing looking through all the discarded knick knacks and dishes, but I did find a very nice reflective vase, and a couple of good dishes. I can see that collecting props could be a life long venture. I'm envious of the array of items that Robert Chunn paints in his lovely still life paintings.

I've also gotten notice that I've been accepted to the Los Altos Art and Wine Festival in July. So far I've been accepted to every show I've applied for, which is both gratifying and intimidating. My summer is starting to look very busy.

Leaning Shack - painting a day

2007-04-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

"Leaning Shack" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

I packed a lot of landscape into this little painting. I think this really wanted to be bigger, but I didn't have a larger panel with me. Just means I'll have to go back to this location.

Pump House

2007-04-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

"Pump House" oil on canvas panel, 11x14" [$425+shipping]

I did this painting last week, and only today realized I hadn't shared it on my blog. This little pump house was in the middle of a vineyard near Healdsburg, and it was the cast shadow of the eaves that initially caught my eye. This time of year the vineyards are just starting to leaf out, and the foliage is the most delicate green.

Avocado - painting a day

2007-04-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

"Avocado", oil on canvas panel, 5x7", SOLD.

Avocado Reflected - painting a day

2007-04-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

"Avocado Reflected", oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

I don't know why I never thought about avocados as still life subjects before. They have really great shapes, subtle colors, and are tasty to boot. Thanks for the suggestion Heidi! For this painting I wanted to play more with reflections, so I put the avocado on a piece of glass over a piece of black mat board. I really like the result!

My other bit of news is I'm being featured as part of a promotion with Etsy and Woman's World Magazine. One of my paintings will be in the April 24 issue of the magazine. You can read more about the contest here.

Red Roofs

2007-04-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Red Roofs" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

This group of barns is near my house, and I've been wanting to paint it for quite a while.

I drove down to San Francisco the other day to do some gallery hopping. By far and away the most interesting paintings I saw were paintings by Anne Subercaseaux at the Newmark Gallery. According to the little blurb in the gallery, they were inspired by her commute across the Bay Bridge. They have an eerie sense of being familiar and abstract at the same time. Really lovely use of color as well. Anna Conti has a nice article about them, and even a little video from the opening. The folks at the Newmark Gallery were very friendly, and made me feel very welcome, which was a surprisingly uncommon experience walking into most of the galleries downtown. Guess I look too much like an artist and not enough like an art patron.

Oak Knoll

2007-04-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Oak Knoll" oil on canvas, 12x24" SOLD

This is a studio painting I did after doing this plein air study. I'm really enjoying the long and skinny format. I think it makes it easier to enter the painting and have a sense of actually being present for some reason, maybe because it engages more of your peripheral vision. I bought a bunch of stretcher bars this afternoon to stretch more paintings in this size. I think they'll be a good size to take outside as well.

And the exciting news of the day is I've consigned some paintings to American Artisans gallery in Nashville. Anne Elkins, the director, found me through Etsy, and I'm really looking forward to working with her. So if you know anyone in Tennessee, point them towards the gallery!

The Light Shines Through - painting a day

2007-04-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

"The Light Shines Through" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", available at my Etsy store.

Top of the World - painting a day

2007-04-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

"Top of the World", oil on canvas panel, 5x7", SOLD

I drove up the Geysers road the other day and was treated to a spectacular view across to Mt. St. Helena and the vineyards around Healdsburg. I did a couple of paintings, but this little painting of an oak on the top of a knoll was my favorite of the day. It was a great place to paint, but next time I'm bringing a couple of weights. I nearly had the easel go flying with the gusty winds.

Sonoma Coast

2007-04-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

"Sonoma Coast" 11x14" oil on panel

After doing this painting on the coast last weekend, I drove up Meyer's Grade Rd and painted this view down the coast towards Bodega Head.

I spent the morning prepping panels. It's a several stage process. First I glue canvas to hardboard panels and stack them under some weight to dry flat. Then I use a PVA size to protect the canvas and finally apply an oil ground. Just another demonstration of the integration of art and biology in this household.

North Coast Fence - painting a day

2007-04-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

"North Coast Fence" oil on canvas panel, 5x7", SOLD

I like the rhythm of the old redwood fences. This fence was near the coast, north of Jenner, and the mist from the ocean muted the colors of the hills.

Cow Shed - painting a day

2007-04-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

"Cow Shed" oil on canvas panel, 5x7" available at my Etsy store

I drove out to the coast on Sunday, and did some paintings. This little barn is near the town of Bodega Bay. I stopped to paint it because I liked the shadow it cast down the hill, and there was a whole herd of black cows and their calves in the field - at last, my opportunity to paint cows and a barn together. No such luck for this painting. As soon as I got myself parked and set up, the cows moved on to the larger field behind me. I still really like the painting.

Annadel State Park

2007-04-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

"Rough Go Trail" oil on canvas panel, 5x7"

I took a long hike yesterday at Annadel State Park. It's a fairly large park, and I only covered a small portion, but I saw plenty of deer, wild turkey and mountain bikers.

Fruit Plate

2007-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

"Fruit Plate" oil on canvas panel, 8x10"

I started the painting because I was making a salad and had these yummy cherry tomatoes left over, and the pattern they made in their container caught my eye. I only had to toss them randomly on the plate a few times to recreate the effect in the studio. It's as close to Pollock as I'm going to get.

Red Barn - painting a day

2007-03-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

"Red Barn" oil on canvas panel, 5x7"

I debated whether I should call this one "Red Barn". Of course, it's a good title - the subject is clearly the red barn. But I worry about running out of titles sometimes. What will I call the next painting that has a red barn?