My big Achilles Heel is painting large, studio works. I have a short attention span, so the thought of working a long time on a single painting doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve worked as large as 3′x5′, but this work is 20×22″. It’s based on “Dry Stream Bed“, which I posted last month. I continue to requests for larger works, so I’ve got to figure this out.
I’m trying to keep the feelings of spontaneity and freshness found in the original. What do you think? Is it done?

Coachella Valley Running Dry - Oil on Linen - 20×22

I have been reading another Emile Gruppe book, this one focusing on brushwork. He painted on the east coast, so many of his example paintings in the book are of the gritty boats and docks of small fishing villages. As per a discussion on the Facebook Plein Air Painters group (please, join us…click here for instructions), his books are out of print, so hard to find–and expensive. We should work out a lending system…or I’m sure there’s a web site out there to manage that, right?

So those Gruppe paintings inspired me to delve into my references photos of boats. I found a couple I’d taken at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air event, and painted one. The photo is terrible as my regular camera is not to be found at the moment, so this is an iPhone photo. I’ll update with a digital scan when it dries. Enjoy!

Boats at Dusk, Oil on Linen, 8×10

Palm trees have beautiful strength, character and movement. They can make a great subject. While in 1,000 Palms a few weeks ago, I painted two field studies (one, two) of a view between groups of palms to the steep hills below. The two studies where done in different light conditions, the first with the hill in shadow, and the second, a smaller opening than the first, which showed the hill later in the day as it was touched by the late afternoon sun.

This one, my third, shows the light conditions with the light behind the palms, but looking in the same general direction. I used the reference photo in my studio, together with some of the color notes from the first two studies. Since I was in the studio, I remembered to take snap shots at various stages of development, and so have a little video made of snap shots tied together with iMovie. This has been posted on my YouTube channel (and added to a playlist I created of other painting demos).

click to view the video on YouTube

I can see this series holding interest, and think I’m ready to use these studies and paint much larger studio works. Stay tuned for those, I have this Friday off, so maybe I’ll dedicate the day to this task.

Here’s the final painting:

Through the Palms #3, Oil on Linen, 14×11

Here are the first two paintings using this basic design (click any to enlarge). What do you think? Any favorites or feedback?

Through the Palms #1 Oil on Linen, 12×9

Through the Palms #2 Oil on Linen, 12×9

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Another desert painting!  I can see another trip down there in the near future, perhaps end of this month, when I have my next week off for painting.  I think the design for this one looks a little too linear.  Not sure, what do you think?

Coachella Valley 2 - Oil on Linen - 12×16

Here’s a little sunset study of a Kauain sunset. Slowly…inhale…exhale. Relax everybody!

Sunset (North Shore, Kauai) - Oil on Canvas - 8×10

Here’s my latest painting from what is emerging as a series of desert paintings from my recent trip to the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs.  The color harmonies and geography of the area are a nice, inspiring change of pace for me.

I’m very happy with this, although I wish the photo were more accurate.  This is one I may send to be digitally scanned to get the best reproduction.  Maybe make prints?  I had fun with the calligraphy of the trees and showing their movement in the dry wind.

Dry Stream Bed (Coachella Valley) - Oil on Linen - 12×16

I’ve been having a blast painting from my studies and reference photos from the dessert. Today’s is from the Coachella Valley. I’ve painted three so far, more to be posted soon. Enjoy!

Coachella Valley 1 - Oil on Canvas - 8×10

Here’s a post-trip painting done from a photo at Indian Canyons, a great little oasis in Palm Springs. Had fun laying on some thick paint here, playing with abstraction a bit. Here’s Indian Canyon 1, done on location. The latter is more subtle, but I also like the energy and movement of this one.

Indian Canyons 3 - Oil on Linen - 12×9

I wrote last year about the importance of working in abstractions, and in looking at some of my work lately, I feel I am trying to put too much in, explaining too much. These little detail bits of paintings below I think emphasize the importance of simplifying, and the kind of dramatic results you can get.

Wouldn’t these make completed paintings on their own?

We are painting this Sat (tomorrow) at Golden Gate Park at Stowe Lake/Strawberry Hill, starting at 9:30AM. I will paint either the rock stone bridge or the Chinese pavillion.

The next one is Sat, April 26th at Pescadero State Beach (~30 miles south of Half Moon Bay).

If you attend and would like a demo or paint with me, track me down.