Italian Cypresses

This road wound its way through vineyards, fields, farmlands to arrive to a hunting lodge in the Tuscany hills, of Italy. From my first trip to Italy to paint for a week at an old farm turned agriturismo. It was the most delightful trip and great introduction to Italy’s lovely northern countryside – and food! I was never an Italian food aficionado until visiting and tasting the real thing. This painting has gone through some changes – as the years pass I see things I want to change. This latest iteration is much brighter than earlier ones. You sometimes lose something you like, but often gain something else. The future may hold more versions…!

young poplars

Vineyards frequently plant these rows of poplars as a windbreak. These are young trees, but will eventually grow to very tall and can reach to over 100’. I love the way the wind ruffles the leaves and light catches the occasional leaf and these glow brightly. A celebration by nature.

Young poplars in the vineyard

Painting the painters!

Although I really enjoy doing Plein air painting with my painting buddies, sometimes I just want to paint them instead the landscape. Trees, hills and sky can be wonderful, but it’s nice to change it up occasionally.

If you take a moment to think about it, you could paint anything outside and it would be “plein air” — you could paint an abstract! A couple of weekends ago, I decided to just give it a try. This was not done all at once, I added the artist watching who arrived later, so it can’t be called “alla prima”. Why is it that we use terms in other languages to describe some of these things? Maybe it’s because we feel like it gives it more gravitas or legitimacy as art or something.

installed!

The de Young Open is now — open! This well-designed show is a delight, and will be up until January 3, 2021.

There are so many (over 800) wonderful works of art from talented and creative local artists, you really should go see it if you are in the San Francisco Bay area. See the current exhibition list. The artist opening day was fun, but busy and I plan to return to see more. My artwork is in Gallery 8. Many of the artworks are for sale (mine is not). Support artists in the time of COVID-19!!

by my selfie in Gallery 8 – amidst good company!

working shipyard

Several years ago I started this painting, finally got back there last week. It is a busy shipyard, with workers biking and golf-carting themselves back and forth on the piers. There was spray-painting, pounding, banging and shouting going on.

Bay Ship, 16″x12″

day 9. two tiny

Since these are so tiny, two will count as one. The little bowls were made by my step-mother. She delighted in making tiny vases, small enough for a single flower, tiny cups and saucers for her granddaughters, and these little bowls which were surprisingly useful. She mixed her own glazes, and liked the homemade look. Cherry tomatoes.

tiny pot with tomatoes

tiny bowl flipped to show the painted pattern

day 8. Marin coast

in Marin – along the coast. a sunny calm day.

Pierce Point

day 5. freeways in the “free” world

The freeways that we drive on are much-ignored marvels of engineering. They are (mostly) angled to shed water properly, amazingly smooth, have occasional beautiful (yes, beautiful!) overpasses and truly amazing tangles where major routes cross each other. Plus, they have safety structures, signs, striping and lighting. We are so lucky, and (mostly) we don’t even know it, and never think about it. As a kid spending some time in Mexico, I marveled at these roads each time we returned home. These giant structures support the south side of the Carquinez Bridge, in Crockett. Some of these pillars sit next to modest houses, making an interesting juxtaposition.

award

While recently in Scotland with a painting group, plein-air painting in the walled garden of a castle in the cold with every layer on I could find, a message came to me in a text in my pocket congratulating me on my award! I was mystified, as I had not heard of this. A short time later another friend sent a photo of a painting I had entered in a Bay Area show, with a blue ribbon! This explained it, and what a fun way to find out!

You can see this painting and the other award winners at the El Cerrito Public Library at 6510 Stockton Ave, El Cerrito CA until December 10.

Garapata State Park at sundown.

Garapata Park

The Pacific Ocean feels giant all along the coast south of Carmel. Maybe it’s the mountains alongside which partly give it scale.

This painting will go into the Arts Benicia member show next week, I hope you can join me at the reception!

Art of the Community 2019

Reception is Saturday, January 26, 6:00-8:00 pm
at Arts Benicia Gallery
991 Tyler St. Suite 114, Benicia CA 94510 

—how to pronounce the name of this park:
put together two short sounds: gara + pata