When you grow up in the same county as the Sequoia Gigantea, you tend to call these guys “big trees”. That is sort of a Duh thing, but maybe we are a little duh-ish in Tulare County. As a graduate of Redwood High School, you’d think I’d call them “Redwoods”. But Noooo, I still call […]
If You Are Going To Paint One, Paint Two
I know, I know. I’m not painting this year, EXCEPT when I have a commission to do. I think it is funny that on the very first working day of 2013 when I am supposed to have a laser-like focus on The Cabins of Wilsonia, there I am, at the easel! Some people saw my […]
New Plan for a New Year
2013 brings a new focus to my professional life as a California artist, a “regionalist from Quaintsville”. I’ve told you about the book I am drawing, writing and publishing – The Cabins of Wilsonia. You’ve seen drawings as they are completed and read my groanings as I wonder how I will ever finish the project. Now, […]
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
The Most Beautiful Fruit Bowl I’ve Ever Seen is completed. It is signed, it is carefully wrapped up and sealed in a box, and I delivered it to an undisclosed location in Exeter. Someone will have an a-may-zing Christmas present. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that! P.S. This might be one of […]
Crescent Meadow in Triplicate
“Triplicate” is not to be confused with “triptych”. It means in three parts, but not the same way as a triptych. That means one painting in three parts. Never mind. I probably paint better now. I hope so. A customer stopped by my studio and said he’d bought a painting of Tharp’s Log for his […]
Redwood With Dogwood
I thought about calling this post “Red Dog” but assumed that might be ever so slightly misleading. This painting is finished, all 30×40″ of its glorious self. Giant sequoias, Redwoods, Big Trees – whatever it is called, this painting is huge. I think I’ll go lie down for a bit.
Redwoods, Redwoods, Everywhere
I still have a very large commissioned oil painting of redwoods to complete. Redwoods are sequoia gigantea, not to be confused with California redwoods. We grew up calling them “the big trees”, and I had no clue what a privilege it was to live so close. (I might have been a bit of a twit.) […]
Gingko Leaf Painting Practice
A few years ago I painted a gingko leaf. A friend saw it and asked if I could paint the same for her, but make it green instead of yellow. I did. The background didn’t please her, because the darkness that I thought showed off the leaf looked depressing to her. This was her opinion, […]
Orange You Glad You Live in California (or Sorry That You Don’t)?
Orange you glad you live in California? Or perhaps you aren’t so glad – the state is way over its head financially, we have both sales tax and state income tax, our gas is almost the most expensive in the country, and it is stinkin’ hot. But we can grow oranges, and we can paint […]
Squeezing Out Some Citrus (Paintings, that is)
A good customer requested 14 paintings of citrus. He specified a certain number of Tangerines (aka Clementines or Mandarins), Lemons and Navel oranges. Among the excitement of replacing paintings burned up in a cabin fire and replenishing the stock at the Silver City Store, I’ve been squeezing out these paintings. Come on! You KNOW that […]