New Paintings .... Greens and Blues

One of the most important things to learn and understand when painting landscapes outdoors is accurately mixing greens & blues.    A hillside covered with brush is one of the hardest images to capture when painting on-site.    The intensity of the sun can trick you into painting the greens (& blues!) more vividly than they are.    The first two paintings below were painted outdoors onsite in one sitting.   I was happy I didn't intensify the saturation beyond reality.   Keeping the greens muted and subtle was a challenge but I accomplished it here.   The last Waterlilly was painted in my studio with controlled lighting so I dove into the intense blues!  These new paintings will be at the OffTrack Gallery in Encinitas just in time for the Reception Saturday, June 1, from 4 until 9. 

Murhpy's Hills
8 x 10

Waterlily I
8 x 10

Waterlily II
16 x 20

Anemone
Oil on Canvas
12 x 16

This week we welcomed spring!    These colorful anemone got me ready for sunshine, blue skies and cut flowers.   I am not surprised to learn these flowers are related to ranunculus which grow so abundantly in Southern California.    Their feather light petals dance!   Are you ready for spring?  These will be heading down to the Off Track Gallery here in Encinitas next week - so take some time to go and see them.   They may just get you dancing.

Copper Kettle Roses

Painting roses is always fun.   Usually I paint them in either glass or silver.   This time the roses are in a copper kettle which creates a wonderful warm glow!

This painting is now on display at the OffTrack Gallery in the Encinitas Lumberyard.   Come by and check it out!

Copper Kettle Roses

Oil on Canvas

9 x 12

The San Dieguito Art Guild is hosting a Mother's Day Art & Garden Tour over the weekend.   These new paintings are packed up for the show and ready to delight our guests.  The florals will make a perfect Mother's Day gift .... flowers that last forever!

Thinking of Van Gogh
16 x 20
Original Oil Painting

Amalia's Roses
11 x 14
Original Oil Painting

Lifeguard Station
8 x 8
Original Oil Painting

Some Like it Hot!
9 x 12
Original Oil Painting

Golden Pear
8 x 10
Original Oil Painting

Farm to Easel

I have always tinkered with the idea of combining art, food and gardening.   When cooking, my mom taught us to gather all of your ingredients on the counter before starting.   This gives me the chance to indulge the artistic side of my brain by arranging my ingredients into a pleasing still life which is often photographed and sent to those who might be jealous of what is up for dinner.

This painting represents one of the times when you have gotten things from the garden, gathered them in the kitchen and are getting ready to chop them into something delicious.   But wait .... the green onions look better in front of the purple .... the garlic pod might be more pleasing broken apart.... back to dinner!

Oil Painting
12 x 24
"Farm to Easel"

Sunflower Study

Sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers as well as my favorite things to paint.   I started this study with a thumb nail sketch including values.  Next I tried it in watercolor then oil.  All in good fun!

Sunflower Studies

Sunset on Tom

This week the sunsets in Encinitas have been spectacular with soft pastel pinks, purples and blue over the ocean.   Another place that can get a wide spectrum of colors is a mountainside at sunrise and sunset.   I painted this small "Sunset on Tom I" from a photo taken near Bishop, CA.

Sunset on Tom I
9 x 12" Oil on Canvas

I was inspired to paint this again - but this time in a large format.   The second painting is three feet by four feet.   It is the largest painting I have attempted and I found it a very different (at times difficult) process.    The smaller painting will be on display at OffTrack Gallery in August and September.   The larger one is too large to fit in my allotted gallery space!   Enjoy the sunsets.

Sunset on Tom II
36 x 48" Oil on Canvas