Found a few more paintings from my recent Ventura/Santa Barbara trip lurking in my van when I unpacked. This one’s title has nothing to do with ignoring the state park rules, but more about my decision to drop that palm in the foreground, chopping off a chunk of the composition against all of my better […]
Have you everwatchedA treeBlowing awaySo slowlyThat its rootsHave timeTo catch and holdThe earth below? I have
The first sign saidNo Trespassing After climbing over the gateAnd walking across the forbidden landThe second sign saidPermission to Pass We couldn’t help but wonderFor whom was this one written? It is always goodTo be forgiven
To step foot on these shores is to step back into an older CaliforniaPreserved in the ether of wood, and rust, and leather If exclusion is the cost, so be itSurely we’ve spent more for less elsewhere By the way, if you can get me past the front gateI give really good deals on commissioned […]
Found another one from the last road trip. Not sure how this wasn’t posted earlier. Painted during the Rey Fire a few weeks ago. Those are its massive plumes in the upper right glowing in the afternoon sun. Huge thanks to those that made this view possible for me. The word I heard was that […]
The hills burn and we breathe the smoke as they exhale. Second hand exposure to long forgotten memories. The mountains never forget.
Even though she was royaltyWe continued to stareAt the linesAroundHer blue eyesAnd at theShape of herTremblingLipsThat encircledHer delicate mouth Meeting her wasOur good fortune She showed us graceAnd mercyWe did notEarn Little did we know thenJust how goodThe Queen would be to us Or just how difficultFortune can beFor thoseWho have received it
The hills are on firePass the potato chipsWe mean no disrespectBut what else is there to do?
This painting tour of the Santa Barbara/Ventura coast is quickly developing a wildfire theme. Every time you turn around down here there is another fire raging on another hill. I had a different spot in mind today, but the view of the smoke plume from this little utility road was just too good to pass […]
On a flat and windy day hereI asked her father for his blessingThat his only daughter might become my brideHe laughed and paddled hard for a terrible little wave
Kicking this tour off with a bit of urban lore, some ghosts of 80s punk rock, some working class grind, and beach house lounge jockeys all woven together in an iconic Southern California juxtaposition. With waves. Don’t leave anything valuable in your car.
We throw these stonesFighting this warWe declared on sandOn BabylonAnd one another We won’tBe finishedUntil our better angelsConcede defeat
Single session studio painting, not plein air at all, it just looks that way… I don’t work from single photos too often these days, but this quick snapshot from a few years back had been begging to get painted all that time. Yesterday I caved in and painted it in one session in the studio. […]
Painted live with the Sand Fleas this evening to benefit the Trinidad Coastal Land Trust. I’ve painted with a lot of bands and live musicians but never tried this before, where the focus is turned back squarely to the musicians. In fact I generally avoid figurative work altogether. There was some consensus that it looked […]
Headed up the coast on a gray day. Surfed some fun summertime glassy gutless beachbreak nearby as the morning gray burned into afternoon blue. Figured it would be a good time to paint for a bit, and just after finishing the summer grayness returned. That’s a big part of the fun (and sometimes frustration) of […]
This was a rough day. Had to surf twice, before and after painting this one. All in a day’s work I guess…
