The first day of painting on the sequoia panel was way too hot, with the sun pounding on me and drying out my palette. The second day of painting took place inside the workshop with the doors closed and the swamp cooler roaring. I didn’t think there would be enough light, so I set up […]
Drawing an Iconic Business in Three Rivers
Reimer’s Candies and Ice Cream is a destination and a landmark in Three Rivers, California. It is now on its fourth owner in my lifetime, and it is just as busy as ever, just as popular, just as magnetic. I drew it for the second owners, people with the name of Reimer, who bought it […]
Painting Another Sequoia Panel (+ an Infomercial)
The panel isn’t made out of sequoia wood; the panel is made out of ?? wood, and I am painting a sequoia tree on it. Sequoia gigantea is the official name for the redwood trees in Sequoia National Park, not the redwoods of northern California, called Sequoia sempervirens. Those are tall; ours are thick. Two […]
A Beary Odd Job
From time to time, I get asked to do an odd job, something that requires a bit of paint, a bit of skill*, and the willingness to try. Remember this? A Welcome Bear Or this one? Little Bucky 1, Little Bucky 2 Here is the latest one in my collection of unusual jobs. This bear’s […]
Four Reasons that Selling Art Makes Me Happy
Now let’s look at the pieces that have sold in the last several months, at Kaweah Arts, Stem & Stone, Exeter’s Mural Gallery, the Silver City Store, and through my website and people I know. Three disclaimers: Thank you for sharing in my happiness, and remember: USING PENCILS, OIL PAINT, AND MURALS, I MAKE ART […]
Two in the Wild
A faraway friend got a thrill and texted me about it. She was in the downtown area of her town, went into a gift shop, and was floored to see two pencil drawings of Mineral King. Upon recognizing them, she took some photos and texted me. These were reproduction prints which used to be my […]
Honesty, Diplomacy, and Wisdom
I have a wise friend who is both diplomatic and honest. She told me that a few of my paintings didn’t reflect my usual care, or perhaps she said they weren’t up to my usual standards— “lacking in detail and clarity”. (There were a couple of paragraphs so I’m summarizing here.) I blamed the old […]
Beach Birds or Shore Birds?
I got to know someone from New Jersey when I attended college in San Diego. Most of us said “beach”, but our New Jersey suite mate said “shore”. Actually I think she said “sho-ah”. The owners of my pier drawing asked me to draw some “shore birds”, but I think they are both native Californians. […]
July is Here!
I don’t remember what pier this is. It is somewhere on the Central California coast. I might be at jury duty today. After I got the summons, I sent in the excuse form which said that I am unavailable most months of the year except July, August, and December, when I am not teaching drawing […]
Eager to Draw
Last year some fine folks of impeccable taste bought this pencil drawing. A few months later, they saw this drawing on my blog and decided it would be a nice companion to the pier. It would, but whoever owns it would likely disagree. Fortunately for these fine folks of impeccable taste, I accept commissions; fortunately […]