Workshop magic!

Always a WONDERFUL two day workshop with Buck Paulson!  He is such a caring and focused teacher, making sure everyone is understanding his concepts - every time I look at the paintings I have done with Buck, I SEE what I have learned, and I see the beauty of Buck's composition.

I will work on this one a bit - just to add a little more "pop" to the crashing waves, glaze the darks in the water to blend a bit, and perhaps touch the rocks.  But it is ALMOST there!!!!!

We will call it Breakers on the Forest!

Sold!

"Bursting in Bloom" is happily off to a new owner for whom it brings back memories of an orchard from long ago.  Happy trails, beautiful tree! 

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.