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We just received the fantastic news that 2 seascapes were selected as part of the FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the January 2024 BoldBrush Painting competition, held by Fine Art Studio Online (FASO.) Both "Patrick's Point Path" and "Morning Shimmer" were painted in 2023 during the Humboldt Open Paint Out, hosted by the Redwood Arts association in Eureka CA.

This honor is a vindication to my love of the ocean and dedication to capturing the ever changing California Coastline. This fascination goes back to my earliest child memories.

Thank you Fine Art Studio online for you tireless support in linking us, the artist to our art loving public! From the the beginning you have been perfecting an easy to use platform so we have more time to draw and paint!

boldbrush fav15

"Patrick's Point Path" oil 12" x 19"

"Morning Shimmer" oil 12" x 19"

It's that time again where I'm starting off the new year with a new painting fresh off the easel and just arrived to "Carmel Fine Art Gallery." This 12"x24" oil "Garrapata Breakers" captures the bliss of the Pacific Ocean that has kept me engaged from childhood. Come see this beauty located at 6th and Delores Street in Carmel-by-the -Sea! Carmel Fine Art

Like many of you I have not been the most organized with my painting supplies. However over the past years of painting out doors I would ask myself, “What is the thing I dread most about painting?”  It always comes down to a simple fact that my paints are not organized, causing loss of focus on the painting from trying to find the right color from a bag or a box. I carry extra tubes of paint, not knowing exactly what I possess at the time, in fear that I may run out of a color I need.  To make things worse I find that a ruptured tube has leaked its contents throughout my supplies, causing a big mess!

A couple of years ago, a friend turned me on to a social media post that dealt with this problem in the studio. It was as simple as driving rows of nails in a piece of ply wood and mounting it on a wall that allows the painter to hang the tubes of paint with a binder clip. After getting all my tubes organized I’m able to see what’s needed and all of the extra greens that I no longer use!

I shared this idea with an accomplished painter friend, Jacques Bartels who is adopting this system and has been quoted as saying, “it’s been a real game changer!”

This idea is the driving force in developing a system for organizing my paints while working en plein air but for the time being, my concerns have been addressed. I can easily take inventory and find the right color with out loosing focus on  my painting.

"Winter's Wash"

Inspired by the force of Mother Nature, so much happens beneath the surface that we do not see. This painting reflects the constant churning of mass that creates the quick and ever changing forms in the froth of the ocean waves. The low laying winter's light reveals even more the intricate and brilliant design from the long but soft shadows upon the bubbling churning of the sea. 

This was created from the cliffs of Jenner California after an off shore storm. Many hours of observation have given me an anatomical understanding of the surf.

Art and Fear

Ever since I met the authors of the book “Art and Fear” in college, I started looking at my own fear in creating art and in the art of living in general. After reading the book I was relieved to know that I’m not the only one facing fears and not even knowing where they are coming from in the depths of my own psyche. Never the less they still exist.

Over time I have set out to face these demons with some success. After a positive go of creating a body of work I have found that perhaps the real fear was to never create at all. It is very depressing to know that we have not made the best use of the day, week or our entire life.

“Excuses are only interesting to those who make them up”. Tyrese Gibson, who has made a lucrative living from his talents of singing and acting, has championed this phrase. From time to time he will post Facebook videos of himself with his friends who are “winning!”  Those who follow their passion and will share what is possible inspire him. If you have no passion you have little chance of obtaining your dreams.

Yes, I have made excuses. I have passed up opportunities while thinking that the invitation would always come again. However that is in the past.

Lately I have been called to painting the sea but most of all I’m challenging myself to capture the beautiful and powerful currents that show on the surface of the water. This has been something I have wanted to try for a while. Fortunately, while I have thought about doing this and wading through the thoughts of why I can’t, a little voice would always come through and say, “do it already.”

After completing a painting we must document our feelings and inspiration for creating the particular piece of work. Otherwise, we forget what inspired us, leaving interpretation to the viewer.

The oil painting "Dancing Fury" was painted on location during the Shelter Cove Plein Air Competition in early October 2015.  The violent surf inspired me to paint the busy energy of the ocean with the beautiful and ever changing formations that had been carved into the beach. 

This was created on "Black Sands Beach" in Humbolt County and is probably the most dangerous beach I have ever visited. At times I had to run to higher ground when a sleeper wave threatened to crest the natural ledge I stood upon while painting.

Instead of sand, the beach consists of black rounded stones shaped by the constant surf. With each crashing breaker came a sound of cascading rocks in the powerful surge. Often, these stones were tossed above the tumbling froth onto the shore. It is definitely a sight to behold!

Needless to say, it has been a very exciting experience to witness Mother Nature's magnificent display of force.

This was painted @ White Oak Winery in Healdsburg CA. This Star Car painting just sold @ White Oak Winery to a wedding couple who recently were driven in this vintage automobile. May this painting remind them of their fond visit of a new beginning. Thank you White Oak Winery. 

SOLD!

This beautiful 18"x24" sold through Carmel Fine Art Gallery located on 6th and Dolores in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

This painting "Light House" won the Best of Show at the first Shelter Cove Plein Air painting competition on the California Lost Coast. It was a well attended event with many of my long time painting colleagues from years past such as Suzi Marques Long, Paul Kratter and Erin Dertner. It was difficult to make a bad painting with all of the beauty that surrounded us.

Hosted by the Shelter Cove Arts and Recreation Foundation, Mark and Nancy Mitchell put on a wonderful open air event with the help of a handful of volunteers aiding in the support of the artists by supplying snacks, water and shade. I look forward to attending this years (2015) open air event. 

This was painted shortly after the Sonoma Plein Air event at Cornet Beach Sonoma Coast State Beach with Larry DeGraff of Colorado and Jason Sacran of Arkansas who are both fine and accomplished painters. Throughout the years I have painted with both of them during the Estes Park Plein Air event so it was wonderful connecting with old friends. My last year of painting in the Rocky Mountain National Park I roomed with both Jason and John Porter Lasater who is also from Arkansas. I bow to their dedication and talents of painting!

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