Accepted! SFAC Juried "Celebrating California" Show

I'm pleased to say that my painting, "Final Rest - Noyo Harbor" was accepted in the Sacramento Fine Arts Center juried show, "Celebrating California."  The show is currently on-going at the Art Center.

Final Rest - Noyo Harbor    Plein Air oil on canvas  16 x 20

  The best in show award went to Steve Walters for a striking full sheet watercolor.  Steve captured an amazing sense of light and summertime.  It's more and more obvious to me that in paintings that stand out from the group, the artist has "captured the light."  As I look at my painting above, I see that I didn't do that.  When I started the painting, there was a very strong, clear morning light coming from the left that is missing in my painting.  In trying to think why that is so, I suspect that by the time I was bringing the painting to a close that light had changed to a general midday sun without real distinction.  Even in that case, however, I don't have a strong sense of light in the painting.  Something to think about and learn from.  There's so much to learn!  Wow, painting is such a challenge!

Glazed Vase in Window Light

Another small 'daily painting' from a photograph.  I'd like to paint still life subjects from life, but as I've mentioned before, I don't have much in the way of vases and flowers at the moment.  Of course,still life doesn't have to be just flowers, but for now a photograph will do.  I wanted to keep the brushes moving.  Over the holidays I don't have the excuse of 'too busy to paint', so it's time to PAINT!

This is a 6" x 8" canvas panel painted in about an hour or so.  I like the vase; I think I captured the feeling of the glazed earthy finish pretty well.  The flowers...well not so much.  I was intrigued by the strong window light striking only the lower left quadrant of the arrangement, leaving the upper right in shadow, but I didn't quite get what I wanted.  I may come back to work on those a bit when the paint has set up.  For now, it will do. 

Abandoned Cabin - Study

This is an abandoned cabin among a group of abandoned structures near La Grange, CA.  I have no idea what this cluster of structures once was, but there are clearly some industrial buildings.  Anyway, I'd like to paint several of the buildings from the photographs I took there.  The cabin is the first that I've tried.  I decided to do a quick study first because I wanted to try painting the sunlit background and the dappled light first before diving into a bigger canvas.  This is 6" x 8".

Cabin near La Grange  6x8 oil on canvas study

Rainy Day in the Studio

I had previously started this small painting on one of those days when inspiration and motivation were both on holiday.  I just found a photo and forced myself to start.  I worked on it for about 1 1/2 hours and then left it unfinished.  Today the rain was pouring down so I went out to the Studio to putter.  This painting was still sitting there, so I mixed up a few colors and spent about an hour finishing it up.

Silver Teapot  9" x 12" oil on canvas panel. 

UPDATE: Sacramento Fine Arts Center "Ars Gratia Artis"

 UPDATE: December 2012:  Ars Gratia Artis is over for another year.  By all appearances it was a success.  A room full of excited ticketholders waited for their number to be drawn and a change to get one of the paintings they had put on their list of favorites.  I'm pleased to say that "Point Cabrillo Morning" was the second painting selected in the show.  "On The Edge" was selected a few selections later, but I missed it!  I think I was talking to a friend at the time!  

I selected a beautiful ceramic sculpture done by Diane Mattar.  I've been in several workshops with Diane and it was a thrill to get one of her works.  I'm looking forward to next year and a chance to get another piece of fine art at a catalog print price!  Don't miss out.    

I was pleased to donate two of my paintings for the cause this week!  The Sacramento Fine Arts Center (aka SFAC) will be holding its annual fundraiser entitled  "Ars Gratia Artis”  I have no idea what that means, but I do know it's a heck of an opportunity to get original fine art for a pittance....

It works like this....Members donate artwork to the SFAC, which then sells raffle tickets for $65 dollars each. At a reception on December 2, 2012 at 1-3 pm, tickets will be drawn one by one...and each purchaser will be allowed to choose an original piece of art.  There will be dozens and dozens to choose from.  You can see the artwork on display during gallery hours November 20th to December 2nd.  Don't miss this....!  

You can purchase tickets at SFAC, 5330-B Gibbons Dr., Carmichael, CA 95608.   You can also buy them online with paypal at http://sacfinearts.org/arsgratia.html  Or, if you are local, I have a couple of tickets available.  Email me and I'll get them to you.

Here are my donations....maybe you'd like to have one for $65?  Heck, the frame is work that almost!  Sign up!!

 

"On the Edge"  12"x 16" Oil on canvas Panel with frame

"Pt. Cabrillo Morning" 16" x 20" Plein Air Oil on canvas Panel with Frame

A Beautiful November Day in Locke

Our November weather has been astonishing.  While so many folks suffer in the aftermath of the storm on the East Coast, Sacramento residents have been bathed in bright sunshine and blue skies.  It's too good to pass up.  Today I traveled 35 miles south to the incredible little town of Locke, California.  If you've read many of my previous posts, you know it's a favorite location for painting and meeting up with artist friends..although I don't think I have been there this summer!  Today artists Martha Esch and Ernie Wester were on hand.

As sometimes happens to me in Locke, I could not settle on an subject.  There's something about the place that just overwhelms me at times.  There's just too much to choose from...and the temptation to bite off too much is as strong as it is intimidating.  After about 2 hours or wandering from spot to spot, making small sketches and then moving on, Martha challenged me and her son Charlie to a 10 minute "sketch off" of a hot rod '36 Ford that pulled up right in front of us.  That little exercise broke the ice and I made my choice, got the easel set up and was painting almost immediately afterward.  (We gave the sketches to the car owner.)

This is my 12" x 16" oil sketch of "Strange Cargo" a charming little shop in Locke.  I loved all the 'stuff' out in front and tried to capture that without falling into the trap of doodling detail forever.  It was a great day....So glad I went to Locke once again.

"Strange Cargo", Locke, Californin 12" x 16" oil on canvas panel.

Here's our sketches on the running board and tucked under the windshield wiper waiting for the car owner.

During the day, a busload of Chinese tourists came to Locke. Martha's painting and her personality soon had them swarming her.  She is a magnet for kids of any culture and shortly after this photo was taken, she had three or four of them sitting at the easel painting!  Amazing.  What a great day!!!

Martha and Chinese tourists in Locke, CA

Carmichael Presbyterian Church

I felt antsy yesterday afternoon, and though it was getting late, I threw my painting gear into the car and drove a couple of blocks to the Carmichael Presbyterian Church on Marconi just West of Fair Oaks Blvd.  This stark white complex of structures is a real eye catcher.  This was the first time I've tried to paint it.

I used a lot of the techniques learned in the Terry Muira workshop, but this time I toned the canvas with a mix of yellow ochre and a bit of transparent oxide red.  I also did a relatively careful drawing of the building to establish the area I wanted to capture and to establish the perspective as carefully as I could.  Time passed very quickly and the sun light on the building changed faster than I could paint.  I tried to keep from "chasing the light", but it was a challenge.

This quick little sketch worked well in some places and fell flat in others but it was fun.  I'll return again when I have a bit more time. 

Carmichael Presbyterian Church  12" x 9" oil on canvas panel.