September Oil Paintings Progress Report

 Top to Bottom

1.  "Gulls at the Barn Door," 24x18x 1 1/4 oil on hand stretched Belgian Linen 66J

2.  "Bird Lovers," 28x22x 1 1/4 oil on hand stretched Belgian Linen 66J 

3.  "Daffodils and Gazania with Hidden Bird," 10x8x 3/4 on Linen

4.  "Skywalker Ranch Hills," 7x5x 3/4," oil on linen

Hot Days at the Beach in Marin County

During prior heat waves it made sense to escape the temperature by driving to the beach.  A search of my beach photos led me to hot days at the beach in 2017 and 2021.  But the 6 days in September, where the temperature exceeded 100 degrees for 6 consecutive days, was too much.  The only way to survive without air conditioning was to just lay around the house with the fan on.

When Painting Ideas Go Astray!

I was mocking up a few photo composites as reference for some new oil paintings I was planning, using old family photos.  Having learned the hard way that some people are sensitive about memories associated with certain images, I thought to ask permission.  Permission was denied!  One alternative suggested, by my entomology specialized sister, was to replace human heads with insect heads, as I had been doing with bird heads.   I tried a few versions, but they all looked quite unattractive.  The best was this photo composite with a few pen & ink insects drawings covering the faces.  I kind of like it for what it is, but it will not be the basis for any future oil paintings.  

Blue Tanager in the Candelabra

 Oil on Linen 8x10.  Latest edition to my bird/flower series.  The Candelabra flower is from a photo shot at the UC Berkeley Botanic Gardens.

Capped Parrot in Mendocino Now Finished

 I added grass and touched up the parrot's red cape.  Oil on Belgian Linen 22 x 28 now done.