#92,93,94,95

9"x12"
Eucalyptus #92

The scene at Las Gallinas

It's been a while since I last posted, but I promise I have been doing the work!  I met my painting buddy, Jill Trear (we'll just call her JT from now on) at Las Gallinas this morning.  Well, I didn't even know where that was, and let me tell you, if you have never been up there, you need to go.  It's beautiful a spot with so many birds, JT could hardly even focus on her painting!  There was this Harrier Hawk that kept swooping down and flying all around, plus all the Geese and a million other birds, it was hard to concentrate at times.  It was so great, that we are meeting up there again tomorrow.  I attempted a row of Eucalyptus - I have always wanted to paint those and have them actually look like Eucalyptus.  I liked it better on site, but that's usually the way it is.  I may try it again tomorrow and really focus on setting those mountains back.  They were glowing this cobalt blue color and my painting does really convey that.

I went to rodeo beach yesterday and painted the giant black rocks.  It was sunny then some clouds came, and then the wind started howling, so I had to pack it up.  I'm happy with how the headlands fade back in the distance.  I'm beginning to really appreciate the Paynes Grey Underpainting that Joe Paquet made us do.  It really helps establish the values and form before adding color.  There's so much to learn!

8' x 10"
Rodeo Beach #93

8" x10"
Rodeo Beach #94

 Here's an underpainting that I did the other day at Rodeo beach, but ran out of time.  I want to go back and finish putting color on it.  I didnt even get a chance to put the sky in and thats the best part! I'm telling 'ya, the weather out there can be harsh.

Here's what Rodeo beach looks like for those who have never been.  I love this beach .
It has big weather, so you never know what you're going to get, but it's not too far away.
If its too windy or cold,  I can always bail and head to my studio.

8"x10"
Anthony #95

Well, I went to figure painting last night and painted the figure for the first time in about 20 years.  Needless to say, the figure drawing class I'm taking helped a ton, not to mention all the painting I have been doing.  I did the Paynes Grey underpainting, then mixed up some flesh color and went at it. I did ask my Mentor earlier in the day, what color to use for flesh - why reinvent the wheel? - and so I used his colors and they seemed to work.  Now, don't focus on the face, because you will see that I freaked out when it came to painting that and kind of left it blank.  When I showed up at drawing class today I told my teacher that I had to learn how to draw a face.  So, she stood behind me on one of the longer poses and talked me through it.  This sounds crazy, but it was so stressful, then I got it!
Again, you have to draw what you see, NOT what you think you see.

I feel like I'm on a roll.  It's like art school all over again and I LOVE it.  Never been happier.  If I can keep this up through the spring, I think I'm going to see some improvement.  It's like going to the gym and working out everyday to get stronger  (that's kind of not happening right now) but anyway, practice makes perfect, and all of that.

Oh, and one last thing.  If you have actually read this far, take a second and look at Colin Page's website. His work has gotten me so fired up - I just love it.