17- Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Oil on Canvas

17- Mile Drive    Oil on Canvas 15X30

I finished this painting a while ago and I'm just getting it posted.  The view along 17- Mile Drive is absolutely beautiful, and we have been there many times.  Last time we were there, I took lots of photos to use as reference photos.  The photo I used for this painting was actually four separate photos that I merged together to get this panoramic view.

WIP - Play Shoes

I am working on a watercolor using an old photo- one of my favorites from when my son was a little boy.  He was the ring bearer in my brother's wedding, and wore a cute little tuxedo most of the day.  After the wedding and the many photos, he got to change into his "play clothes".  

Someone at the reception snapped a series of photos of him standing on the dance floor.  He was standing near the bride and groom, and the rest of the wedding party- everyone was dancing, except for Eric.  He just looked so cute concentrating on the bunch of grapes in his hand, oblivious to his surroundings.

After about 20 years, I decided to use this photo for a watercolor.  I didn't see the problem with the proportions (his legs were somehow just not right) in my drawing.  As often seems to happen, things become more clear when the painting process begins.  I kept changing the shape and width of the legs to no avail. As I drew more and more pencil lines over my paint, I realized the legs were too short.  I don't know why I hate to quit on a painting- and instead waste so much time trying to fix them!  I could have painted this 3 times by now!  Oh well, back to work.

Ben's Dogs- Watercolor

Hurricane & Berserker

watercolor 9X12

I have had some family things going on lately and was away from home much of the time- so not much painting being done.  I have managed to fit in a few new paintings, and this is one of them.  My daughter in law posted a photo of their sweet puppies on Facebook and I knew I had to paint them.  They were in the car waiting to be let out to play- I just loved the faces and the way the sun was shining on them.  They aren't actually puppies anymore, but that is how I think of them.  They are both "scary" breeds, but couldn't be sweeter!  Now I find myself in the mood to paint more dogs- maybe another watercolor of my own sweet standard poodle.

ACEO- Art Cards & Fun Little Watercolors

Red Cherry

 Hueneme Pier and Channel Islands

California Poppies

I have been having better luck with these tiny ACEO watercolors than with larger ones lately.  Art Cards Editions and Originals- they seem to be very popular on Etsy. I guess that means there are plenty of people collecting them.  As an artist, I like that they are just fun to paint since they are so small (2.5 X 3.5") and I can work on quite a few at a time.  They are a great way to practice and get some painting time in.  I love painting on large sheets of paper, but sometimes just want to work small- in those cases, postcards and ACEO are the way to go!

Sand Dollar Trio- Original Watercolor

9X12 watercolor on 140 lb. cold press

More beach watercoloring- I can't seem to help it with our winter staying in the 60's and 70's.  It just feels like summer! I walk 3-4 miles by the beach every morning and have many photos to paint from.  I feel like I need to paint something different, but this is what motivates me these days.  Soon, I will move on (at least in temporary spurts) and mix in other painting subjects.  I am going to take my artistic motivation wherever I can get it- and these days, it is the beach!  These sand dollars were really fun for me to paint since I really get caught up in the tiny details- that explains all the grains of sand I added. The main challenge for me was to use a light hand to shade these sand dollars- to keep them light in color, but not completely white.

Watercolor Postcards

I have had this pad of blank watercolor paper postcards and this seemed like a good time to paint on some of them.  It is a good way to paint a variety of things- and the small scale means that you can paint quite a few in a day.  A fun painting day, and now I have a new batch of postcards ready for when I want to send one.

Beaches- small acrylic paintings

Having some fun with small canvases and painting the beach. Sometimes, it is relaxing to just work in a smaller scale.  Somehow, it seems less serious- as if I am under no pressure to create a masterpiece!  That really helps keep the painting relaxed and fun.  I am trying to include people in some of my paintings, but also working on adding people without a lot of detail.  Seems easy, but it isn't for me.  I plan to keep practicing with these until they are easier!