Surfing the Big One

This composite was done to illustrate the word "influence" for Illustration Friday's weekly challenge.  Most of what I draw & paint is influenced by nature.  This photo of the ocean, taken at North Beach in 2009, is superimposed with an illustration of "The Big Wave," done years ago using Saatchi on-line's digital painting tools.  Then a pen & ink drawing of a surfer, modeled after nephew Gregory when he was younger, was added.  The Big Wave was originally inspired by a series of nightmares I used to have in which I nearly drowned from tidal waves.  Happily those big waves seem to have receded and I have safely paddled out to where the ocean is a bit calmer.

Longbow Oregon Art

Two recent pen & ink & watercolor paintings done at the Longbow Organizational Camp in Oregon:  Longbow Bough and River Rocks

Rainbow Studies - Final Ibiza Painting

The painting "Life Map Rainbow" (top, pen & ink & watercolor painted in Ibiza July, 2011 ) is juxtaposed with the "Fractured Rainbow" painting done in Greece in 2010.  I was happier in Ibiza than in Greece when the paintings were done.  More important is remembering that even when things are bleak there are always rainbows!

More Ibiza Paintings

Two more watercolors I did on vacation in Ibiza in July:  Model in Red Leather and Ibiza Bird. 

Pool Views - Take the Heat Off

The Model and Elizabeth Taylor

Another vacation painting!  After capturing the view from our rented house in Ibiza a few times I reverted to fashion magazines as the source of some new inspiration. 

Tree of Life

This recent pen & ink and watercolor painting, done in Ibiza while on vacation, seemed an appropriate entry for Illustration Friday's word "Perennial."  The tree is not only a perennial plant, the subject of the tree as a symbol for life is a perennial subject.  One of my favorite Tree of Life paintings is by Gustav Klimt.