Creek at Brandt's Ranch

This pastel painting is done on Sennelier La Carte pastel board and measures 19"x25". I was really struck by the highlights of the rushing water amidst the deep shadows of the trees along the bank.

Brandt's Ranch

This painting is done on velour paper and measures 27.5"x19.75". This is a creek that runs through our friends property in the San Gabriel Mountains. The ranch is over a 100 acres and is where my wife Kim and I were married. When my wife was around 9 she told her parents that she would one day get married there.

Mokuleia Bay II

This view is towards the Ritz at Kapalua. D.T. Flemming Beach is in the distance. This painting was done on velour paper and measures 27.5"x19.75"

Kahana Reef

This pastel painting measures 27.5"x19.75" and it is done on velour paper. This tree was about 20' from the ocean. The water must stay so calm for a tree this size to last. All along the edge of the beach ran a old reef. You can see it running along the edge of the beach.

Kapalua Boulders

This pastel measures 27.5"x19.75" and is done on velour paper. The shadows of the trees onto the boulders caught my attention and I had to paint it. This is from the west side of Maui just north of Kapalua.

Mokuleia Bay

Beyond the outcrop of rocks, a aquatic ecological preserve begins.

Mokuleia Bay is on the north side of Kapalua and is next to D.T. Flemming Beach. This painting measures 27.5"x19.75" and is done on velour paper.

Eucalyptus Path

This painting is 19.75"x27.5" and is done on velour paper. I found this mountain bike path running through a "park" which in reality was land the oil company did not want to go the trouble of removing all the pipes below and above ground. The intensity of the blue sky and pale bark of the eucalyptus trees contrasting the shadows across the path is what caught my eye.

Orange Grove

This pastel is done on Sennelier La Carte Pastel board. It measures 25.5"x19.5". There were these old Orange Groves along the Santa Ana river. At one time Orange County was nothing but orange groves. Now they are a hidden piece of history that seem to be tucked away in obscure areas. I caught a great dose of Poison Oak on this hike that lasted 3 weeks.

Laguna Lowtide

This pastel painting is 19.75"x27.5" and is done on velour paper. This is the second time I have painted this landscape. The beaches in Laguna are diverse. One moment you are on a wide sandy beach and the next you find yourself amongst a sea of rocks, boulders, or sandstone cliffs. It is the source of much of my painting. The subject matter is so rich there is little chance of running out.

Kapalua Twilight

This pastel painting is done on velour paper and measures 27.5"x19.75". It is done with soft pastels only. This was my first night in Maui. After unpacking I took a quick walk to the beach. On the way down I looked to the east and saw these amazing clouds moving towards the sunset over Molokai.

Lipoa Point

Lipoa Point marks the northern boarder of a aqauatic ecological preserve. The sun was just rising and casting long shadows across the point. The water was glassy and reflecting the early morning sky. This painting was done on velour paper and measures 27.5"x19.75"

D.T. Flemming Beach

D.T. Flemming Beach the number one beach in the world in 2006. Who votes for this and how they consider all the beaches is beyond me but it was beautiful. It just does not get any better than painting a beach. This painting was done from my visit to Muai this past summer. It measures 27.5"x19.75" and is done on velour paper.  Orange Open 2nd place award

Hollyhocks

This painting was done on velour paper and measures 27.5"x19.75". I was on my way to one of my kids games when I saw this amazing group of flowers. I stopped took about 40 pictures and was on my way-I do not always have my camera handy but for every time I do have it at the right moment there must another ten when I don't.

Laguna Beach II

Just another sunny day...This pastel painting was worked on in my studio from a number of reference photos. It is 27.5"x19.75" and is done on velour paper. In the space of 3 hours I took enough pictures to keep me painting through probably 70 pieces. I am considering plein air painting which is French for doing it outside. The challenges are time, equipment, and organization.  This piece is SOLD.

Kapalua Shorebreak

This painting is a pastel done on velour paper and is 27.5"x19.75". It was just another beautiful day on Maui. I do not know how anyone could take it for granted.

The process continues

This dry pastel (not oil pastel) was painted from pictures I took this spring at Laguna Beach. It is painted on velour paper and measures 27.5"X19.75". This day was one of the clearest I can remember. It was unseasonably hot and everything seemed to be blooming.

The longest journey...

This painting's view is from the Plantation Golf Course. The island of Molokai is covered in clouds as it was every day we were in Maui. This pastel painting like most is done on velour paper. It measures 27.5" X 19.75".

Just Get Started

Hi, my name is Mike Major and I am an aspiring artist. I have been drawing and painting since I was 5. I am starting this blog to fruther my goal of becoming an artist. My goal is to post a new painting 5 days a week. After doing this for a couple of months I hope to be admitted into a daily painters group. This community sells their daily paintings online. First, I must be able to show that I am capable of posting paintings frequently enough. I am painting every day but I am currently not completing a painting everyday. I hope this self imposed goal helps me to meet my committment. I am new to this painting and posting business but I have noticed that a lot of the people doing it tend to make really small paintings. I tend to paint a lot bigger. I hope I am up to the challenge. Here I go!

Just Get Started