Donated and sold at auction to benefit GM1 Gangliosidosis research. 14x24"; Oil on Linen

Sonoma Coast

A small study painted yesterday along the northern Sonoma County coastline. When I started painting, the fog bank in the distance was a nice touch, but it quickly enveloped the scene and I spent most of the time painting and shivering in dense fog. The fog lifted as I was finishing it though.  I then attempted to paint another study a little farther up the coast, but decided to go home when I felt several ticks crawling on me. There is Lyme disease on the northern Sonoma County coast, remember your insect repellant!  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen. The wild irises are blooming in abundance right now at the coast:

Pacific Dusk

 

17x10", Oil on Linen. Available at Holton Studio Gallery.

Crashing Wave

 

Another beautiful winter day at the Ocean. 14x11, Oil on Linen. 

Sea Spray

This is a small commission piece that I just finished. 16x8" Oil on Linen. 

Stillwater Cove

This is the first of a few new paintings that will be part of an All-Gallery Spring Show at Holton Studios in Emeryville California. It will be available for purchase. The drought this year is very bad in California, but the silver lining is that it makes for excellent painting weather at the coast.  It is everything I can do to not go out painting every day, but I don't think my employer would be too thrilled about that. This particular little cove is well sheltered from the northwest swell, it was very calm on a big wave day. But the name is still rather deceptive since there was a large sign predominately displayed alerting people that it is one of the most dangerous beaches. In spite of the warning, there were scuba divers packing up their equipment at the end of the day. I have often painted in the Jenner area, but decided to make a trip further north into new territory. It was nice to have trees near to the waterline instead of the more barren areas further south. 14x11"; Oil on Linen.

Sunset Ebb

The last painting of 2013, on to 2014.  14x11"; Oil on Linen. Happy New Year! Available at Holton Studio Gallery.

Pacific Patterns

I would like to do a larger painting of this one at some point. Somewhere between Bodega and Jenner. 16x8"; Oil on Linen.

Rocky Beach

16x8", Oil on Linen.

Afternoon Shadow

My favorite time of the year to paint at the beach is on a sunny winter day.  It has been calm, warm and absolutely glorious at the ocean.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen. 

Point Reyes

Yesterday, Ernesto, Bill and I went painting at the Point Reyes National Seashore. It was a sunny breezy day where the biggest challenge wasn't deciding what to paint, but finding a spot sheltered from the gale. The study above was on the lee side of the southern point of the headlands, on the north end of Drake's Bay. The cliff sides in this particular location had an intense red color, instead of the more typical pale tan, which was intriguing to paint juxtaposed with the teal water. Deer were abundant and there were also many elephant seals sunning themselves on the sand. Wildflowers were also still plentiful thanks to the late spring rains this year.

The study below was on Drake's Beach, where most of the people were concentrated into a very small area of the beach, to the right, behind the cliffs in this view. Out of the wind, up against the cliffs, it was a tiny zone of balmy summer. Both studies are 8x6", Oil on Linen.