Essence

"What is real is not the external form, but the essence of things . . . it is impossible for anyone to express anything essentially real by imitating its exterior surface." Brancusi

The Very old Adobe

'The Very Old Adobe'

Oil on Board

12 x 16

Right now is the best time of year to visit the California coast. While it may be cool, cloudy and damp in the Bay Area, a quick drive over the hill and you can be wrapped in warm sunshine and stunning autumn light. And that's just how it way yesterday at Wilder Ranch Park in Santa Cruz.

After meandering through the park, I settled on an interesting perspective of the old adobe. Hand built in the 18th century, the very old adobe is indeed very old. So old, in fact, parts are held together with chicken wire and modern day concrete supports, and it is still completely fascinating and myserious.

Old things have ghosts. Old things have character. And old things make for great painting subjects. Long live old things!

Moss Landing Overpass

Oil on Board
12 x 9

An unseasonably warm and balmy day at Moss Landing. Many of the great fishing boats were out so I caught this little sailboat sunning itself by the pier. I was struck by not only the lighting, but also the interesting structures of the pier, posts and overpass. There is a nice movement in this painting that takes your eye into the painting - out of the painting and back in again.

It's Showtime!

This month there are 3 receptions for 3 shows in which my work is hanging. The first is this Friday at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery where I will be showing several new works including plein air landscapes, rural scenes, animals and figure drawings and paintings.  This Sunday I'll be attending the opening reception for the LGAA juried show where my painting 'Oeil du Poulet' will be on display, and Sat., Oct 31st - Halloween! - is the artist reception for the juried show 'Beasts on Broadway' where one of my beasts is now hanging.

All very fun events - sure to inspire and pique your curiosity ~
(see sidebar for more info and links)

Note: While I have shared some of my work on my web and this blog, nothing beats seeing the real thing!

New Plein Air Paintings

Gilroy Farm
Oil on Canvas

12 x 12

Filoli Road

Oil on Board

10 x 8

I have been very busy - painting painting painting! These are a couple pictures of my new work.

Come see more at my artist reception on October 23rd, 2009 from 5:30 - 8:30 at the Los Gatos Museums Gallery, and while you're there enjoy a glass of wine with cheese!

2 Alla Prima Portraits

Michelle
Oil on Board
12" x 9"





Bonnie
Oil on Board
12" x 9"


Michelle and Bonnie - two very different individuals, both have great expression.

Alla Prima Portrait

'Bonnie'
Oil on Board
12 x 16

'Alla Prima' is a style of painting where instead of building colours up with layers, the painting is done in one session while the paint is still wet. The term comes from the Italian word which literally means 'at once'.

This style of painting inherently produces work that is expressive, vibrant, evocative and fresh - not overly worked or dull. Working alla prima challenges the artist to work quickly and capture the essence of their subject in an instinctive and intuitive manner, I love working this way!

Gouache Figurative Study

'Tiffany'
Gouache on Paper
24" x 18"

Michelle

It has been a while since I have worked with the model, so I was relieved and inspired to find that it was 'all still there' while working on this study of Michelle. There is so much that can be expressed when working with the figure. Energy, emotion, history - all of these elements, and more, come to the fore when studying a person in repose. It's one of the things I love about figure painting.

'Garden Keeper'

'Garden Keeper'
Oil on Canvas
24" x 24"

'Take me out!'

'Take me out!'
Oil on Board
9" x 12"

'Alliottos of Monterey'

'Alliottos'
Oil on Board
9" x 12"

The Sea Wave

'The Sea Wave'
Oil on Board
9" x 12"

Half Moon Bay Yacht Harbor - en plein air

'Yacht Harbor Thing'

Oil on Board

9" x 12"

Don't ask me what this is, I don't know. It might be a large buoy or something, all I know is it was an interesting shape with some strong lights and darks and it jumped out at me. That is how painting is - something speaks to me and off I go. By the way, the dirt that is sprinkled around the top edges is one of plein air paintings little 'gifts'. If your painting gets blown off the easel and lands face down - voila - instant texture! However, the good thing about oils is that once the paint is dry I can pretty much just dust those things right off!

Half Moon Bay Yacht Harbor - en plein air

The Old Pier
Oil on Board
6" x 8"