June 25, 2010 -  Oils are starting to resonate with me:  this is fun!  Here's a photo of my new plein air set-up, the EasyL, which I mentioned in my prior post, below.  This shot was taken after the light had changed drastically, and my umbrella was down.  It was a very pleasant day in the yard, with a great compliment:  while I was painting, a honey bee came by and hovered about an inch from the flower on my canvas for about 5 seconds, before he realized it didn't smell quite right!

June 19th, I took a California Art Club plein air workshop with David Gallup, in Eaton Canyon, Pasadena.  David gave us all kinds of wonderful insights about landscape painting, and the location was beautiful!  As I was painting alongside the trail, a rattlesnake made a trail crossing about 15 feet in front of me:  it was totally cool to watch him, and he didn't want anything to do with us!  (My painting from the workshop will be posted after I do some final tweaking...)

June 8th 2010 - After many attempts to paint outdoors in acrylic, I've come to the conclusion that the slower drying medium of oil paint is the way to go, when painting "en plein air."  So, after a long break from oils, I've begun to reacquaint myself with the medium, and am thoroughly enjoying it! 

I also replaced my whole plein air set-up (which was way too cumbersome) with an ingenious set-up called the EasyL.  A lot of Plein Air artists are catching on to the beauty of this equipment, which was designed by clever actual working artists.  Check out the website:www.artworkessentials.com

 

5/22/10 - Two of my recent paintings, "Poppy Field, Antelope Valley, and "Mt. Lukens, After the Rain" are currently showing at VIVA Gallery in the juried San Fernando Valley Art Club Spring Exhibit, "VIEWS AND VISIONS" which runs through June 5th.  Be sure to catch the show: we have some wonderful talent in the SFV Art Club.

VIVA ART CENTER - 13261 Moorpark St., Sherman Oaks, CA  91423

SFVAC "VIEWS & VISIONS" May 19th - June 5, 2010

Reception  Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm

Open Wed. thru Sat. 11-4, Sat. 12-4

 

5/1/10  -  Eleven of my recent landscape paintings are showing at LULU'S BEEHIVE, in Studio City, CA, now through May 22nd, 2010.  If you're in the neighborhood, I hope you'll stop in for some good coffee or delicious food, and have a look.  Their sandwiches, salads and chili are wonderful!

                               LULU'S BEEHIVE                                         

                               13203 Ventura Blvd

                               Studio City, CA  91604

              (Between Woodman and Coldwater, NW corner of Mary Ellen &  Ventura. 

              Open daily 8:30-6; Sundays 9:30 - 6.)

 

 

12/9/09  -  Yesterday, I ventured out to paint, in the 46 degee weather following Monday's storm.  I found that a few layers of fleece and a thermos of tea kept me plenty warm.  Set my easel up in the sun, by the creek in Bee Canyon Park, a lovely local spot.  The experience was exhilirating, and I was rewarded by  an idyllic scene with Eucalyptus, autumn foliage, long afternoon shadows on the grass, plus a soggy creek bottom.  It actually flows during a rain!

 

11/23/09 -  It's been a while...  In September, I joined the San Fernando Valley Art Club, and our semi-annual group exhibit starts Wednesday, November 25th.  It's the first "juried" show I've ever entered.  One of my paintings made it into the show, and received Honorable Mention, a fact which thrilled and encouraged me.  That piece was "Storm Rising," which is below.  The experience of helping to hang the show was also a first for me, and great fun!

Here's a copy of the show's postcard invitation:

7/16/09 - Finally finished the Kauaii piece:  it's entitled "Mt. Makana from Tunnels," using its proper name. "Bali Hai" was a name given to the same mountain in the film, "South Pacific." (It's probably not the only mountain in the world to have a stage name...)

I've also been working on two other pieces:  a small abstract, and a backyard "plein aire" piece, 24"x24".  It's been a dry-run for my portable studio, and I've loved the experience!!  Soon, I hope to pack up and take it out to some of the beautiful scenes around my area.

 

 

5/26/09 - Started working on a 20x30 canvas of the iconic view of "Bali Hai" from Tunnels Beach, in Kauai'i. 

 

5/26/09 - I finished an abstract piece today, the first abstract I've done in many years.  I call it "From the Un," because it makes me think of a swirling primordal sea, perhaps where life began, but the name of the piece also references my un-conscious mind, from where this idea sprang, while I was sleeping.  I dreamed that I found a painting I'd done, lying forgotten in the corner.  In real life, I tried to recreate the painting exactly from my dream, and came pretty close. Always obey your inspiration, when possible. - D

 

5/12/09 - My painting, "Mission Peak in Mustard" is finished, and is based on the photos I took and posted below my 5/7/09 entry.  I believe I'll do a larger version of this subject, too.

5/7/09 - I flew my writer's flag this month.  It started with a hike in the local mountains where last year's fires burned, to photograph the brilliant wildflowers.  Thought I would write an e-mail to my friends about it, but submitted it to the Daily News instead, and was published!  (My first time)  If you'd like to read my piece, here's the link to the article entitled: "Last Year's Fires Yield Spring Glory."  www.dailynews.com/search/ci_12312262  and since they didn't print any of my photos, here are a couple for your pleasure.