First Flowers, 11x14 inches, pastel, available.

I noticed this lovely scene just on the edge of evening and the cusp of spring. This tree is blooming on an ordinary corner in my everyday neighborhood-- the slantling winter light and new flowers are drawing songbirds and hummingbirds from blocks around.

Tangerines and Flowers, 14x18 inches, pastel, sold.

The Alamo-Danville Artist's Society invited me to demonstrate for their monthly meeting. This painting was done very, very quickly; I had about an hour and a half to complete it. I will probably fiddle with it a bit more.

I enjoyed painting this fairly wild still-life-- the rich texture of the subject matter encourages me to use a wide variety of pastel marks.

Netherlands Sunset, 8x8 inches, pastel, available.

This painting was done with very cold fingers on a hillside in the southern province of the Netherlands. The wind is cold and the spaces between rain squalls few. This is the only painting I have done so far on this three week trip to visit family. It is nice to be outside in spite of the cold. The dutch term for getting out of the stuffy house, is to get a "Een frisse neus"... a fresh nose.

I have been working on my dutch a lot more than my painting this trip-- largely due to the weather and a bad cold.

Crystal Springs Experiment, 8x10 inches, pastel, available.

I experimented with a new substrate for this painting... It is a pumice gesso painted onto masonite. The texture is far to rough to take a definitive line, hence the interesting foggy look of the painting. The rough texture of the substrate helps the warm undertone to shine through. I am undecided about the effect. I am planning on trying a few more, maybe thinning the gesso so that it does not have such a strong texture.

Crystal Springs Morning, 3.5x3.5 inches, pastel, available.

I find that working small helps me to abstract the landscape, and focus on the quality of light rather than careful detail.

Morning Lake, 10x10 inches, pastel, available.

Early Morning is a special time to paint, especially reflections that are still because the fresh air is unruffled by the day's wind.

Bright Creek, 6x8 inches, pastel, nfs.

This painting was done in a creekbed by a busy road in Sierra City. The painting came out surprisingly peaceful for all the racket.

One Wave, 6x8 inches, pastel, $250 unframed.

Cattle Pond, 12 x 13 inches, pastel

These cattle ponds are common scenes on the coast by Half Moon Bay. I like the tranquility and calm anticipation of the scene.

Yosemite Icon, 6x6 inches, pastel, $250 unframed

My blog has been quiet for a few days, and that is because I was in Yosemite painting the fall colours. Here is a small painting that is just what one would expect from such a trip.
Please check out my website for other paintings that I did during my foray into the high country.