Mike Major's blog/daily paintings

Monday, March 25, 2024

Sunstruck

Sunstruck 16x20 oil on gesso board.

Following this new counter intuitive painting process. Building values from light to dark.

Throwing down thick paint and scraping away.

This painting was inspired by John Cosby. I was painting in Heisler Park. I was approached by another plein air painter and was told John was painting at Rockpile.

John Cosby cranking out another masterpiece. I must be honest I did not see his painting. I finished my plein air painting, packed up and then walked over to check in. John had just packed up his painting...but John is a master so I am sure it was amazing.

This was the view that captured my interest after visiting John.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

irvine park

Irvine Park gouache on paper measuring approximately 22"x30".

March @ Quorum Gallery

I have been selected to join the Quorum Gallery in Laguna Beach on PCH North. I am very excited to join this group of artists and look forward to having a venue to showcase my art. This piece is called Reflections 24x36 inches oil on canvas

These pieces represent my most current oil paintings. They represent a change in application for me. It is difficult to appreciate the thickness of the paint and the texture. This is Heisler Sunset which was really the piece that changed everything for me.

In the Weeds measures 30 x 30 inches

Misty Morning in Irvine Park is very subtle in it's pallet but I really like the dynamic brush strokes within the painting.

This painting was important in my development of my new technique. In this painting I built the values from the lightest to the darkest. I gently laid down the blue paint with thick paint and gentle stokes letting the brush bristles describe the contours of the San Gabriel Mountains. This painting measures 6x6 inches.