Shell Beach Motel in La Jolla, California

#3 in my mixed media with Encaustics series of Rooms with Views.  One of the best bargains in hotels used to be Shell Beach in La Jolla.  Situated near the cove, one could go snorkeling in the AM, then drive to the convention center in downtown San Diego for work at the comic convention, then drive back and watch the sunset in the PM.  My favorite room in 2002, when this sketch was done, was room 504.  Even then, the curtains were torn and there was mildew on the windows.  Unfortunately, since then the owners have let this prime location go completely to seed.  New reviews at tripadvisor.com rank the motel "terrible." 

Attalos Hotel in Athens, Greece

#2 in my Encaustics series of mixed media paintings, "Rooms with Views."  The mini fridge and TV with my reflection was sketched in a room in Italy but the upper left view was sketched from the window of the Attalos Hotel in Athens on a hot, smoggy day in 2010.  All air conditioners were on high!.

The Attalos Hotel is in a great area of Athens if anyone is brave enough to go to Greece right now.

I'm in Love

with wax!  #1 of several new Encaustic & mixed media paintings on the theme "Rooms with Views."  This 8x10 is of the view from my room in the Hotel San Donato in Bologna years ago with a made up balcony and little me dreaming of the future when I would travel to Italy for business.