Another Mendocino Coast Painting

South End of Bay, Mendocino

Walk away from the small downtown to the end of the road and cross a field to go down the walking path to view the ocean at eye level. This was a clear, beautiful day.

North Coast Painting 2

This Painting was from our trip to Mendocino; a more contemplative day.

North Coast series #2,    9 x 12" oil on panel

Coastal Painting

North Coast near Mendocino, CA

We took a trip up to Mendocino in October of last year and enjoyed late summer-like weather. A little rain, with most of the days beautifully clear gave me the chance to enjoy the sights and take the beauty in. Here's my take on a view looking north. Click on the picture to see a larger version.

On the Way to the Circus

 

My model: a little hand-carved wooden elephant that we bought a while back. 

One of the last pictures I painted before taking a break into flute making (see:http://anasazidream.blogspot.com). It's 9 x 12" and makes me think of a backstage elephant heading for the spotlight.

A Gentleman after Velasquez

 

This is my take on a detail from a Velasquez painting ( I don't remember which one). I painted it one evening in an Adult Ed. painting class when I didn't know what to do. I liked the direct and quick approach. I paid more attention to values and proportions. Sometimes it just works out alright.

Bang the Drum

Returning to drawing again. I got this drum years ago in Taos, New Mexico. I bought it from an older Indian man. When I asked about the right way to play it, he slowly tipped it off its base, and with a very steady eighth note beat, he played several measures, stopped and looked at me and said, "See?". I got it.

A Sketch for a Phriend

A  friend of mine teaches movement and dance for elementary school kids. She's going to introduce a Peter, Paul & Mary song called "I'm in love with a Big Blue Frog". Somehow the spelling is with a 'ph'. She needed a graphic, so here it is (it's been far too long since I put something up here):

Light of My Life…

Here's my take on my granddaughter. I can't help but light up when I see her, so it was fitting that she's bathed in light in this painting. She had been playing with bubbles, and I was tempted to put them in the picture, but I liked the sense of wonder at what she sees.

Oil on Canvas, 18" x 24"

Viaduct?

Vy not a duck? Only observant Marx Bros. fans will get it, but if I don't have a song title to allude to, I'll steal a line from a movie! Anyway, this is Eddie, one of those millions of ducks with name tags that have been sold over the years. I think we got this one in Carmel. I left his name tag off, does that make it a nude portrait?
I had been working on a more difficult painting and needed to take a break and make this sketch.

oil on untreated 140 lb. watercolor paper
18" x 24"

Gorilla My Dreams…

It was time for another animal portrait. We saw "The Gorilla King", on Nature, and it impressed me once again how expressive these animals are.

16 x 20", oil on canvas