Last year when sales were almost non-existent, I forgot what it is like to arrange a painting schedule around the heat and the limitations of a swamp cooler. Now I remember. Everything has a downside and an upside. Last year up—no painting in the heat. This year up—good sales. All set up, ready to begin, […]
Fast Sequoias
What does “fast sequoias” mean? It means that my sequoia paintings sell quickly and sometimes I have to paint more speedy-quick-like-lightning, chop-chop, andalé andalé!! It looked like this: Skies first, then take them outside to begin drying while I go do a few chores. I hung one on the studio door to dry, and the […]
Three Ready and Two Not Ready to Sign
I made a list of what to fix on Red Barn, Big Oak, fixed it, and decided it is good enough to sign. (There is time to change my mind and add, correct, or subtract.) I put another layer on the bridge, which is going to be a challenge for many reasons. This is the […]
Really Big Oil Painting of Classic Mineral King
The day finally came to finish this painting. Well, not entirely finish, because after I photograph a painting, I usually see a long list of things to fix or change or improve. I don’t know why this becomes evident when looking on a screen; it is also true for my drawing students and other friends […]
While I Was Getting Gas
At The Four-Way, right next to the Chevron station, there is a classic red barn with an enormous Valley oak tree, quercus lobata. It’s just part of the landscape, and one day while I was getting gas, I realized that this barn could just tumble, or the excess pavement near the tree could prevent it […]
Ad-libbing, Guessing, Winging It
On my first day back at trying to be fully human, I resumed detailing this piece. This Mineral King painting was a big challenge on many levels, and I am now quite happy with it. Feeling accomplished, I chose the next painting to work on, thinking it would be a piece of cake. This is […]
A Situation and a Recovery
A week ago, I had a situation to deal with: I got sick. Such a disruption. I was only able to paint a little bit before the need to lie down took over. While reclining, I used the laptop to look carefully at the paintings finished and paintings needed for the upcoming solo show at […]
Painting Mineral King with the Swamp Cooler
On another hot day with my brave swamp cooler, I focused on the giant oil painting of the classic Mineral King scene. I was thankful to have the sky finished—well, finished unless I decide later that it isn’t finished. It is just too tall for me to reach, so some logistics must be addressed each […]
Back to Painting Mineral King.
Thanks for taking a detour with me to Hume Lake. I came home and went straight to the easels. Mineral King is my main subject this time of year, a short season with no time to lollygag around. (Imagine taking a vacation FROM Mineral King!) This piece got sky, and I started shaping the mountains […]
Brain-melting Painting
Remember last week or so I showed you some completed paintings intended for Silver City, unless they sold first? They sold. Someone else asked for the one called Mineral King Family Cabin about 5 minutes after it sold, so I told her I’d paint another one for her. Of course I needed to paint some […]