Russian Gulch

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

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

North Coast Fog

"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

"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.

Oak Shadows

"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.

Kay's View

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

Rush Creek

"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

"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

"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.

Winding Path

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

Painting streamside

"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.

Palm at St. Jean

"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.

Spring Weather

"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

"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.

Pumpkins

"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!

Long Shadow

"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

"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.

Fresh Hay Rows - painting a day

"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.

Line of Eucalyptus

"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.

Morning Light - painting a day

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

Leaning Shack - painting a day

"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.