Thursday, June 23, 2016

Big Wave Surfboards

Big Wave Surfboards
original oil painting, 12x12  SOLD
Elliott Fouts Gallery

Big wave surfboards in Paia, Maui, part of a colorful surfboard fence along the Hana Highway. The tow-in surfboards are used in conditions when it's too big to paddle or when a wave breaks in an area that is remote or difficult to access. Think "Jaws" near Paia or "Mavericks" in Half Moon Bay.

The tow-in board is basically a surfer's version of a snow board, complete with foot straps that enable the surfer to stay connected to the board. The boards are short, 5'5" to 6'2" relatively thin, with wider tails and noses. The features of the tow-in boards are more consistent with shortboards, rather than traditional big wave surfboards.

Anyway, it's a colorful surfboard fence that really catches your eye.  See the painting in a show titled Hello Summer! at Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Davenport Beach at Sunset

Davenport Beach at Sunset
original oil painting, 11x14 $550
Elliott Fouts Gallery

I'm in a group show called Hello, Summer! at Elliott Fouts Gallery, June 4 - July 1.  It includes many new paintings of Santa Cruz, surfboards, VW vans, beach volleyball and all things summer. The oil painting "Davenport Beach at Sunset" is in the show.  The cliffs at Davenport are some of the most spectacular rock formations north of Santa Cruz and nothing warms up a scene like the light at sunset.  Stop by the gallery to see the group show.  

Friday, March 4, 2016

Golden Gate Avenue at Dusk

Golden Gate Avenue at Dusk
original oil painting 12x12 SOLD
Plein Air Painting and Beyond
An Exhibit of Eight California Painters
Castilleja School Art Gallery, Palo Alto

I was invited to participate in a show at Castilleja School.  It's an all girls, private school in Palo Alto. The show is titled "Plein Air Painting and Beyond, An Exhibit of Eight California Painters."

The art teacher asked us to write something about our approach to plein air painting.  Here's part of my statement:

Plein Air Painting and Beyond

Plein air painting relies largely on spontaneity and intuitive reaction. An artist must paint quickly outdoors - usually in two hours from start to finish - to capture the light in a scene. There is no better way to learn to see and mix colors than by studying them directly in nature. By standing on a street corner in San Francisco, painting outdoors in natural light and struggling to match colors, the job of mixing colors in the studio for other works becomes infinitely easier. My plein air paintings are generally sketches that can be used as references for future studio compositions.

The painting above was completed in my studio from a photo and a quick study on location.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

View of the Bay Bridge

View of the Bay Bridge
original oil painting 36x36 $3,000
Viewpoints Gallery

A view of the Bay Bridge from Pacific Avenue in San Francisco. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge spans the San Francisco Bay and connects Yerba Buena Island to San Francisco. It has one of the longest spans in the United States. Pacific Avenue has a great view of the Bay Bridge.