I painted this quick study in my studio from an image in my digital library. I actually can’t recall where this was, but I want to be there! Enjoy.

Hillside Light - Oil on Linen - 10×8

A couple weeks ago I started another painting of the Golden Gate Pavilion. Gracie and I went back there today to work on it again. Gracie was nice enough to keep the squirrels clear, while I focused on how to finish the work. I really liked the initial painting, and thought about keeping it as is, but thought it worthwhile to come back again around the same time of day and see if I could say more with the piece.

The sunny weather today was much different from the day I started the painting, when it was quite overcast and gray, but I liked the light effect so decided to give it a try.

The tree I was painting under cast some wonderful dappled light and shadow on the structure, and the light on the Chinese Red beams was clearly delineated. I’m happy with this one! This is available for purchase on my online store, in the San Francisco section (or click the buy link below).

Golden Gate Pavilion
Oil on Linen, 14×11

Here’s a side-by-side of the initial and final painting, so you’ll get an idea of what I changed.

Golden Gate Pavillion (Initial Lay-in)

Golden Gate Pavilion Oil on Linen, 14×11

Point Lobos has to be one of my favorite places on earth to paint. Lucky for me, it’s only an hour and 45 minute drive away. I drove down yesterday and painted the second painting below (of Cypress Cove) after painting the first study from a digitally projected image the day before. I really enjoyed this studio painting and new then I had to make the drive out. I would have stayed the night and painted a second day, but poor Mike is working like crazy on “the project from hell”, so I wanted to get home and take care of him.

I’m off to San Francisco tomorrow to paint some city scapes. These two paintings are available from me directly, via PayPal (unframed).

Rocks & Surf Study - Oil on Linen - 8×10

Cypress Cove (Point Lobos, CA) - Oil on Linen - 10×8

During the holidays it’s common for galleries to have a small works show, to encourage the gifting of art as holiday gifts. I’ve seen many collectors start their collection with these shows.

The five paintings below are on their way to The Vault Gallery (Sonora) for their “Little Gifts” show, opening December 1st and closing Dec 31st.  A reception will be held Saturday, Dec 8 from 5-7PM.   I will attend the reception and paint in the area that weekend.  If you’re also there and would like to paint, let me know.

Truckee River, Winter
Oil on Linen, 8×10

“Towards the Sun” (Crystal Springs)
Oil on Linen, 6×8″

Window View
Oil on Linen, 10×8


Ice Plant, Carmel
Oil on Linen, 8×10″

Peninsula Hillside
Oil on Linen, 6×8

While driving home from a Skip Whitcomb workshop a few weeks ago, I took several reference photos of the moon rise over the Sonoma coastal farms. It was beautiful! Such a clear night.

I am trying eBay bidding. This is my first attempt! Click the button or link below to enter a bid.

Moonrise in Sonoma - Oil on Linen - 8×10

Bidding starts at $150

When I paint plein air, it’s most often a race against time, weather, bugs, tourists and kids (similar to bugs . Yesterday, Gracie and I set up again at Golden Gate Pavilion, at on Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park. I’ve completed a couple of paintings of this structure (here and here). I like it because it offers nice spots of color sourounded by subtle grays and greens.

It was overcast, a condition I welcome because it will mean the light will not shift much–one less thing to worry about!

But, alas, it started raining. We waited it out for a while, and luckily I’d brought a thermous of Good Earth Spiced Tea. Gracie and I hung out in the shelter of the pavilion. It didn’t clear up (got worse), so we headed home to keep Mike company.
I’m glad this painting was interupted. I often go “to far” in a painting, spending too much time and attention to detail. My direction continues to learn to paint more freely, expressive, more towards abstract but with moving color. I feel I’m still learning to apply the teachings of Skip Whicomb, learning to focus my values and to work with grays more effectively. I may or may not “finish” this. Maybe this is it?

Golden Gate Pavilion (unfinished) - Oil on Linen - 14×11″

How many open studios have you done? They’re a lot of work, right (Mike Bailey)? There’s got to be another way.

I’m a “high tech” guy–that’s what people call me, usually other artists–so I decided to try something different, an online-only Open Studios sale. I’ll advertise using my online resources, like online ads, social networks, this blog, email lists I belong to, etc. It’s a good test.
All my paintings are in an Excel spreadsheet, so I selected paintings for sale and used “mail merge” in MS Word to generate the HTML for the site. I’ll let you know how it goes, and be happy to share my code if anyone is interested.
I’m going to launch from this blog first for a few days, so you can get first choice: http://www.edterpening.com/store.html

Let me know if you come across any problems, or have any suggestions. Happy shopping!

Crystal Springs is a watershed on the San Francisco penninsula. La Canada Road runs along it and is a favorite spot for cyclists across the Bay Area. Today was especially beautiful, 80 degrees F, no wind. Perfect!

I’m starting to paint over old linen canvas boards. They’re expensive, and if a painting doesn’t work out, it makes sense to paint over it. Many artists sand the boards first, but the painting under this one didn’t have much texture, so I just went for it. Not sure the photo is great…when it dries, I’ll scan it.

Crystal Springs - Oil on Linen - 8×10