Back Bay Quick Draw

 

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.

The Shape of Water

 

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.