Holton Studio Gallery Grand Re-Opening!

The Holton Studio Frame-Makers & Gallery grand re-opening is set for Saturday, September 24th, between 3 and 7pm. The new expanded gallery will feature an all-artist show. This is a fantastic opportunity to stop by and meet all of the artists. Hope to see you there. The gallery opens to the public on September 10th. The new address is 2100 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.  See their website for more information: www.HoltonFrames.com.  

Mountain Road

From a recent camping trip in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. 14x11", Oil on Linen.  Available at Holton's Gallery. 

Sierra Headwaters

From a recent backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierra.  14x11", Oil on Linen. Available at Holton's Gallery.

Sierra Glow

From a recent backpacking trip to Chicken Foot Lake in the Eastern Sierra.  12x9", Oil on Linen. SOLD.

Emerald Summer

9x12", Study, Oil on Linen. 

Imnaha Canyon Morning

A small study painted near the Buckhorn area, on the Imnaha Canyon rim in the Hells Canyon Wilderness. The silence in a location like this is amazing, only the sounds of mountain bluebirds, a few crickets and bumblebees. The stars are dazzling with the total lack of light contamination. It seems little changed from the days when the Nez Perce roamed the area. Sightings: elk, bluebirds, a jackrabbit and a coyote pup.  6x4", Oil on Linen.  

The Crossing

A scene from last winter near Lostine, Oregon.  14x11", Oil on Linen. 

Sierra Gem

From a backpacking trip in the Gem Lakes area in the Eastern Sierra in early July.  14x11", Oil on Linen.  Available at Holton's Gallery.

Snowy Hush

11x14", Oil on Linen. 

Winter Sunrise

14x9", Oil on Linen. 

Early Risers

9x9", Oil on Linen. 

Elk Crossing

I had a nice treat today when I went out location scouting in the freshly falling snow: hundreds of elk were migrating to the mountains. Fortunately, I saw them coming and was able to stop for them and to shoot some video with my little Leica.  It was amazing to see such a big herd, this is a small sampling. And a photo where you can see the line of elk reaching almost a mile.

Snow Dusting

16x9", Oil on Linen.  Private Collection.

Winter Stream

This little scene is one that I've attempted to paint several times. I like this one the best so far.  I love the challenge of painting snow scenes because there is no where to hide with design and interesting shapes. 9x9", Oil on Linen. Private Collection.

Winter Patterns

A new favorite.  14x11", Oil on Linen.  Private Collection. 

Winter Glory

18x10", Oil on Linen. Available. 

Spring Majesty

18x10", Oil on Linen. Available at Holton Studio Gallery.

Summer Splendor

18x10" Oil on Linen.  Available at Holton Studio Gallery . 

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. 

Timber Cove

A second painting for the Holton Studios Gallery All-Gallery Show this spring. 14x11"; Oil on Linen. I painted the study for this on a gorgeous January afternoon, it was almost hot. A couple of guys were boogie boarding from the beach and having a great time. 

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.

Leo Carrillo State Beach

A few miles north of Malibu. 16x8"; Oil on Linen.

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.

Red Cliffs

Today's small painting, 14x11 inches, Oil on linen. 

Pacific Afternoon

A small painting that I painted today, 16x8"; Oil on linen. 

Rocky Shore

What a great way to spend a Thanksgiving weekend, I feel very thankful for gorgeous weather and time to paint. This little beach was difficult to scramble down to; I wouldn't have attempted it without sturdy hiking boots, it was worth it though for the solitary reverie. Study 10x8", Oil on Linen. 

On The Ebb

Standing this close to the water's edge, all I could think about was "rogue wave".  The tide was ebbing though, only one wave got my boots wet.  This study is a bit rough and unfinished, but I was growing hungry and fatigued so I bailed since I was starting to thrash it. Study 10x8", 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. 

China Camp

I painted this study at China Camp State Park a couple of weekends ago, mostly as a demo.  It was a gorgeous day on the bay.  Study 10x7.5", Oil on Linen. 

Smoky Reflections

The smoke was a little less thick this morning.  This view is a short distance from the last study I did, but in very different lighting conditions for the same time of day.  I really enjoyed the muted colors and soft reddish sunlight.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen.  

River Bend

I'd like to try this view again because I think I could do a better job with it, but I might not get the chance.  Today the visibility due to smoke is down to about a mile and a half and it is difficult to be outside.  I would never know that there are mountains across the valley, because I can't even see a hint of them today.  Good day for being inside and cooking, and I also have a few unfinished studies to fiddle with.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen.  

Mountain Stream

Another view of the Lostine River on a smoky autumn afternoon.  Study 8x10", Oil on Linen.  

Lostine Afternoon

I was attracted to a small rock island in the middle of the Lostine river, it reminded me of a sailing ship.  Study 12x9", Oil on Linen.  

Liquid Tranquility

I'm not wild about the composition of this one, but I like it as a lighting study and the fact that I'm starting to shake the rust off and feel more comfortable painting.  If only it didn't take so long for me to get into a groove.  I'm really excited about what I plan to paint next, I was hoping it would be today, but it is very overcast at the moment so it might have to wait for another day.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen.  

Lodgepole & Aspen

Lodgepole pine and quaking aspen on a pond at the end of the day.  Lodgepole pines are challenging for me to paint because they seem to be more branches than needles, it is a lot of busy, fiddly stuff.  There was some nice early autumn color and the weather was serene.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen.  

Kokanee Heaven

There were large numbers of Kokanee fish spawning in the river yesterday evening as I was painting this study. Kokanee are a landlocked type of sockeye salmon common to the inland Pacific Northwest lakes and streams; a favorite with the eagles and osprey, and of course the anglers. The fish have bright red bodies and are very beautiful swimming in the shallow water. Again, this was a bit ambitions to try to tackle as a study in a very limited time window, but it sure was fun to try to paint. The temperature is very chilly right now and the foliage is turning rapidly especially on the underbrush. This morning it didn't get above freezing until the sun was up for over an hour; meanwhile, the sunshine sparkled beautifully on all of the ice caused by frozen overnight irrigation sprinkling. Study 10x8", Oil on Linen.  

Wallowa Headwaters

My favorite study of the summer so far.  If I do a larger painting of this one, I will refine some of the shapes, but I'm really happy with the structure and movement of this one overall.  I guess I have to get used to saying autumn instead of summer because the weather has definitely turned the corner this week.  I may try one more angle on this setting before I move on to something else.  Study 10x8", Oil on Linen. 

Lakehead Atmosphere

Another view of the lake and the mountains surrounding it in the late afternoon light.  This view is near the lake head.  Study 9.5x8 inches, Oil on Linen.  

Last Reach

The last reach of the day; the last reach of summer.  A beautiful evening at the lake and breezy enough for a light sail.  I did feel a little bit like a tourist painting the lake, but the sculptural forms of the mountains are so interesting to me in the last light of the day.  I wish there had been some clouds to break up the uniformity of the sky, but this way the slight shadow of the mountain on the atmosphere was visible.  Study 12x7", Oil on Linen.

Cassata al forno

A break from my usual painting blog.  I found a local rancher with two Guernsey cows who sells excellent raw fresh milk and eggs in small quantities. I bought some and in slow food style, I made the butter and ricotta cheese for this Sicilian ricotta cake.  It was from a Saveur recipe in their Authentic Italian cookbook. I also made vanilla bean gelato, yogurt, and used the butter and cheese whey to make a lovely pumpernickel rye bread with freshly milled wholegrain flour. Cassata al forno, 9" on ceramic plate. iPhone photo.  :)

Mountain Shadows

This subject was a bit ambitious considering how little time I had to try to capture it.  Gotta try though.  Study 12x8", Oil on Linen.

Indian Summer

This is the narrow sliver of time when the snow has all melted from the mountains before it starts snowing again.  Painting this study was a little bit frustrating because I was trying a new canvas surface and the paint did not want to stick to it.  It was like trying to spread peanut butter on the top of jelly.  I persevered anyway though.  Study 12x7", Oil on slippery linen.  

Late August Wheat Harvest

I went out to paint a different georgic scene, some hay rolls I spotted the night before, but they had already been picked up before I arrived.  A short distance farther along the road, they were harvesting wheat and the bright red trucks and harvester surrounded by the glowing chaff cloud, the golden field, and the blue mountains, were too tempting to pass up. I usually avoid painting Chief Joseph Mountain because it is such a difficult shape to compose around, and because of its imposing size, and the fact that it seems to have a personality of its own, but today I couldn't resist.  Looking at it from the western end, it doesn't look like such a big lump rising straight out of the flat valley floor.  The truck drivers were very patient and friendly as they drove by.  Study 10x6", Oil on Linen. 

Evening Pond

The smoke was pretty thick yesterday evening when I painted this study, however the winds last evening blew a lot of it away so it is clearer today.  The sun near sunset yesterday was brilliant red from the dense smoke.  It was pretty, but it is nice to not be breathing so much of it today.  We have had at least one night of freezing temperatures and the maple trees have started to bronze already; autumn feels early this year, it isn't even September yet.  Study, 10x7", Oil on Linen.