Detail from Tree House on Lake Painting

Sometimes I like my under paintings as much, if not more, than my finished paintings so when Illustration Friday announced this week's topic "Atmosphere" I thought I'd submit a detail from a new 36" x 36" oil painting in process that seems to fit the theme. 

Finch on Exhibit at Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael

My 10" x 10" oil on canvas "Finch" painting will be in Falkirk's 2010 Bi-Annual Juried Exhibition from 9/10/10 through 11/13/10.  Opening reception is Friday, September 10th from 5:30 to 7:30PM.  More on the show can be found here:

California Blue Jay Map Art

I've become very fond of the blue jays in my backyard.  The other day I set up my camera and took a series of photos of them at the bird feeder.  When I heard about a new contest at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts on "The Map as Art," I used one of my bird photos as a pattern and digitally repainted it with the bay area section of the map of California.  I wanted to try some map art since buying the book by Katharine Harmon on contemporary artists who explore cartography.  One of my favorite pieces in the book is a map collage titled "Swimming" by Brazilian artist Joao Machado.

Bubble Invasion

Trying a new approach with this 12"x24" ink and acrylic painting on canvas.  The inspiration?  - Jogging on the beach in La Jolla one day years ago I was once completely surrounded by a (pack/herd/swarm) of monarch butterflies migrating north from Mexico.  These two folks at the beach are about to have a similar experience - only this time with giant bubbles. 

All American Dad

After I completed an ink sketch of 90 year old E.A. Autrey, his great grandsons (the twins were also visiting) woke up from their nap so I could never finish my picture.  I added in pastel garden foliage and some acrylic American flag stripes later.

I hope I'll be out in the garden still painting when I'm 90 years old!

Blue Window, Paros Garden

Decision vs Indecision

Once Kathleen Price and I moved to an apartment in Aliki and no longer had a clear view down to the ocean my paintings got a little more introspective - but they still have the islands that can be seen from Paros, Greece in the background.  The question at hand was whether to follow the rolling star ball to new adventures or stay static and do nothing.  Fortunately the rolling star ball won the day!