Artwalk, July 20 at Red Brick Gallery

Chrisman Ave, Ventura

original oil painting, 14x11, $375

Red Brick Gallery, Artwalk July 20, 1-4

  

About ten of my Southern California paintings are in a show called "Staycation" through August 13 at the Red Brick Gallery, 315 E Main St, Ventura. 

I've painted many townscapes and bungalows in Ventura and Chrisman Avenue is one of my favorite streets.  The small Spanish style bungalows in Southern California and the unique landscape plantings of palms, cycads, and cactus, always capture my attention. In this particular painting I like the shadow of the palm tree on the house and the dark underside of the queen palm tree canopy. 

 

Hope to see you on Saturday!

California Street, Ventura

California Street, Ventura

original oil painting, 11x14

$375

 

I guess every town in California has a California Street.  In Ventura, California Street runs between City Hall and the ocean.  At the end of the street is the pier and a popular surf spot called "C" Street.

Looking up California Street at City Hall you can see Cafe Fiore restaurant on the right in the foreground and three people standing on the left, getting ready to cross the street.  I've been slowly adding figures to my paintings.

In the background is City Hall, a 1912 beaux-arts style building, built by Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin.  The terra cotta facade is decorated with 24 faces of Franciscan padres.  On the triangular shaped median in front of city hall is a large bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra.  If you know California history, you will recognize Father Serra as the founder of the California missions.

Poli Street at Sunset, Ventura

Poli Street at Sunset

original oil painting, 10x8

$225

I have several shows coming up soon. In April, I will be part of a group show called "City Streets" at Studio Gallery in San Francisco.  This summer I'm in a show in Ventura called "Staycation" and Friday my Santa Cruz paintings will be hanging at the Plantation Cafe in Menlo Park.  Check my website for details.

The painting above shows a street scene in Ventura, looking north on Live Oak Drive at the corner of Poli Street.  The focal point of the composition is a 1920s spanish style house that has two bronze monkeys on either side of the front entry.  Although you can't see the bronze monkeys in the painting, I believe they were original to the house and they're pretty cool.  The palm trees on the right side add a nice vertical element to the composition.  Like a lot of people who did not grow up in California, I am always fascinated by palm trees. 

I'm trying to push my colors and values a little bit.  Sunset is the perfect time to see the biggest difference in values, so I'm trying to convey the warmth of the light with some pinks and oranges in the street and the darkness of the shadows with a mixture of ultramarine blue and cadmium red light.

Faria Beach, Ventura

Faria Beach, Ventura

original oil painting 11x14

SOLD

We had some beautiful warm days last week, which made me think of the beach in California.  The painting above is Faria Beach in Ventura.  It shows the beach in the fall, at low tide with small waves.  The surf spot is called Mondos and it's a VERY popular surf spot for beginners.  Craig and I use to tandem surf at Mondos about fifteen years ago.  It was so much fun.

Although painting the ocean can be a study in blue, there are beautiful color variations in the sand and the water.  From a purplish color in the wet areas of the sand to warmer orange-brown tones in the totally dry sand.  Where the waves have formed, you can see a combination of ultramarine blue, viridian green and transparent red oxide.  The blue color in the wave is the reflection from the sky, the viridian is the color of the cast shadow under the lip of the wave and the transparent red oxide is the sand that is churned up in the water.  There are a lot of subtle colors and reflections from the sky and buildings on the water that create an interesting challenge for a painting.

Main Street, Ventura

 

Main Street, Ventura

original oil painting, 8x10

Buenaventura Gallery, SOLD
Reception: Friday, October 6 from 5-8 pm

 

My show is coming to a close on Saturday, Oct 6, stop by the Buenaventura Gallery this week to see the paintings. Chris Beirne and I have a reception on Friday night from 5-8, as part of the citywide First Friday art event.

 

This is the last painting I will post from my art exhibit. I picked the location because of the colorful brick building on the corner of Main Street and Chestnut. The building is a cultural landmark with Art Deco influences that has been beautifully restored and is currently a restaurant called Watermark on Main.

 

Look for a coastal painting next week!

 

  

Poli Street, Ventura

Poli St, Ventura
Original oil painting, 8x10

SOLD

I'm posting a preview of my paintings for my upcoming show at the Buenaventura Gallery in Ventura.  This painting is a scene of Poli Street, between Lincoln Drive and North Pacific Ave.  It's a picturesque part of Poli Street that was developed in the 1920s with Spanish style architecture.  Craig and I use to live about a block away on Encinal Way.

The repetitive style of architecture gives the painting a sense of rhythm. I also wanted to create a sense of depth with the dark tree shadows in the foreground and  the lighter foliage in the background.

Endless Summer

Endless Summer

6x6 original oil painting

SOLD

A couple of weeks ago I made a quick trip to Ventura to paint for two days with my friend Chris Beirne.  We were lucky, it was sunny in Ventura, so we spent the day from 9:00-5:00 painting at the beach at Surfer's Point.

Although the water temperature is around 62 degrees at this time of year, there were quite a few people on the beach and in the water.  "Obviously tourists" as Chris said.  Locals would only be in the water with a wetsuit this early in the summer.

This painting is for the 50-50 show in August at the Pacifica Art Center, my theme is "Endless Summer."