Point Lobos, Ca.    8×10″     My painting class went to Point Lobos today. It was just me and “Jane” with our instructor. He whipped out a nice little painting in an hour, while Jane and I wanted to cry. I may get back to this very bland rendition of the gorgeous California coast […]

  I really struggled with this and almost didn’t post it. But, the whole point of this blog is for me to chronicle my growth or death as an artist. Trying to paint the river by my house is like drinking poison. I suppose I should be happy I have to move from this beautiful valley. I was in […]

My second attempt at plein air painting taught me I have to keep at it. My white water looks terrible, but I like the rest. Too bad there is so much white water. Painting by the river today was so nice. So many people and their dogs came to rest by the bridge where I […]

I will post two photos of my progress. The first is very bright, taken in the afternoon just before I left my painting class. I started it in class and worked three hours. The second was taken in the evening at home after I tried to correct the perspective. I was unsuccessful with the perspective […]

This is my very first attempt at on-site painting. I set up my easel with a fairly limited palette and sketched what I thought would work on my 9×12″ canvas panel. The light changed so fast! The lit tree in the river was barely visible in the shadows when I first started. Two hours later […]

This is my first floral still life painting since my very first class six months ago. I thought it would be interesting to appraise my growth.  Below I have re-posted that first painting. My instructor was gracious with his compliments on this last one.  Truth or lies, I need positive critiques at this stage. At […]

I tried to copy a painting by Edgar Payne to get a feel for the range of color in complete shadow. Reflected light illuminates surfaces in shadow far more than one would think.

Once again, I used inferior paper.  I think I just feel the need to use the materials I have even if the finished product won’t be that good.  Bristol board would have given this drawing a smooth, consistent look.  Colored pencil is still very challenging, but I’m glad I finally have something new to post. I […]

I am not really happy with this, but it is fine for five hours of effort.  I will try to fix the large rock.  It looks really dumb. The truth is, I have to admit that I am becoming more comfortable with this medium. I wish I had started thirty years ago, but learning to […]

This is from a photo I took when on a boat tour down the Seine in Paris last summer. I finished it in less than two hours, so I guess it’s only a sketch.  I like it, I think…