SOCALPAPA at Irvine Park

 

Moody Afternoon

 

Twighlight

 

Finishing

Really clear morning at the beach.  The morning was so quiet and calm.  I was able to rework and finish 2 20x20 paintings.  The challenge when reworking plein air paintings is you have to choose between changing the light or trying to continue with the light key you started with.

The beauty of deep observation is that I am able to recall the conditions fairly easily.  As I paint more and more, it seems like there is a point where the focus is just on what the painting needs and not as dependent on a picture or the scene in front of me.

What a difference the light on the painting makes in it's appearance.

 

A busy Day

I started my day with a Americano with 2 add shots from my favorite coffee hangout Jedidiah Coffee and headed down to paint at Heisler Park in Laguna.

I had a quick and productive 2 hour painting session. This is how far I got in that time.

This is the finished piece. I found a new collector while finishing this up.

I was painting in support of ART+NATURE show at the Laguna Art Museum with Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.

I then went to Quorum Gallery to do my sitting rotation.

Once at Quorum I rotated out my art in the window and my wall space.

I took down all my oil paintings and hung 6 gouache paintings. 

I am pretty excited about my skill growth in my gouache painting. This is end of my second year painting in gouache.

Once I finished hanging my new paintings I made a quick Royal Hawiian happy hour and hurried back to host art walk.

Classic vibes and good food.

I closed out the night selling 3 pieces from our newest permanent artist Mary Gehley!

A great end to a full day of art!

The Wall of Shame

 I spent the last couple of days moving 250 ish plein air painting from my studio and organizing my art space. Most of these pieces were 2x3 feet pastels on board.  My daughter was such a huge help. She brought them down the 3 flights of stairs where I organized them.

As I reviewed these painting, I threw out about 20 of the worst paintings in the trash.

I also identified some paintings that showed real promise.  Up until this year, I had never worked on a plein air painting more than my initial effort.

As I reorganized the studio I hung every painting that had remained unfinished because of a problem I couldn't solve or a skill I didn't have.

Studio dog. I have four Golden Retrievers that have never been in my studio because it has been so crazy.

Since I have organized and cleaned the dogs are now allowed to come in. They are so cautious and respectful. It is so cute.

A Good Week of Plein Air Painting

36x24 soft pastel on board

36x24 soft pastel on board

36x24 soft pastel on board

24x32 soft pastel on board

24x36 soft pastel on board
 

At The Bench

A commission from last year. It started out with a friendly conversation with Matt and his dad.

Matt had just proposed at Heisler Park at this bench.

Matt wanted to make sure I put the bench in the painting. I did everything I could to change his mind. 

He insisted and I put the bench into the painting.

The finished painting The Bench 24x36 pastel on board.

The bench in question.

Some detail shots showing my mark making and the abstraction in my work.