What's on my Easel??

I am loving my new easel!  It's a Richeson metal Maestro studio easel, which I have equipped with an old bulletin board that was kicking around the garage, such that I can have all my reference material right in front of me!  I call this piece "Rick's Barn" and I think it's close to being finished.  Photo reference is with a 7.2 megapixel Casio Exilim, value study done with four tones of charcoal, painting is oil on 8 x 10" canvas.
 Any suggestions?  Should I put in the American Flag?

Ed Levin's Eucalyptus

Enjoyed a beautiful fall day painting these magnificent Eucalyptus trees with their grand shadows in Ed Levin park.  Just gave it a few touches in the studio.

Glenridge Pochade

One of my recent small studies of a beautiful period home on Glenridge Avenue.  I'm hoping to do a studio piece from this 6x8" pochade in a larger size.

Two more "starts"

Here are two more mini-studies on 6x8 birch panel.  These are homework for my oil painting class.  Not finished pieces, just starts.  Both are from photos I took.  First is from our boat on the SF Bay, and the second is after a big storm on the beach in Carmel.

What does this say about me??

I haven't posted in quite a while because, well, I'm in a class - and yes, that means I should be suddenly creating great works!  But not so fast - many basics to cover and exercises to do and absorb before I can improve.  But I found it funny while doing my "homework" this last week how very differently I approach things - is it just a different day, a different mood, or a different subject for inspiration??

These are all 6" by 8" "studies" or "starts"; meant to be simple value studies in native/local color.  Yikes - the first two look correct in that they are just simple shapes that lay out the darks and the focal point.  But look at the second two!  I got totally carried away.  Oh well - I think my b&w value sketches in pastel were correct, anyway!  It's fun to chronicle one's progress =)  Maybe when the class is done I'll post my progress on the b&w value studies, too.

Help Hibisicus!

This piece has been sitting since December in a state of helplessness, poor thing.  It's an adaptation of a Terry Madden watercolor in terms of composition, but done in oil on a large canvas and trying to do justice to the yellow color of the hibiscus' in my Mom and Dad's yard (Terry's was pink).  I have changed it so much and so many times, my head is swimming =)  The background used to be light in a watercolor sort of fantasy look, then my teacher said "no, it needs to be dark".  So now it's dark.  Not sure I like it.  And, I still have to correct the flowers for highlights and such, but - it's a work in progress.  Maybe publishing it will really get me to think about it and get it done!!

Baylands Morning

Another plein aire paint-out!  Marshy baylands, huge eucalyptus, and distant foothills.  Cloudless sky, but a with wonderful morning glow!  Later in the morning, this little reflective stream became a veritable lake! 
Colors show more yellow in the photo than in the painting =(  Nevertheless.......perfect fall weather, wonderful friends, talent abounding around me!