View my watercolors at Red Rock Coffee, Mountain View, in April & May 2024
"PRICE FIXING AT FLOATING MARKET (17" x 21" framed - SOLD)
I was drawn to the huddle of these men in their boats, and was intrigued by what they could be surreptitiously meeting about before their morning sales. The title of this painting seemed to aptly convey the answer to that question.
WALKING THE BRIDGE (14" x 18" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Alameda's annual Frank Bette Plein Air invitational from August 2-7, 2021. This was done for the Quick Draw event, a timed exercise to choose a spot, complete a painting, frame and hang - all in 3 hours.
VICTORIAN LACE (14" x 18" FRAMED)
I participated in Alameda's annual Frank Bette Plein Air invitational from August 2-7, 2021. This is probably the most photographed Victorian in all of Alameda and was recently sold. I parked myself across the street and painted this en plein air.
THE SKY IN BETWEEN (15" x 19" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Alameda's annual Frank Bette Plein Air invitational from August 2-7, 2021. This was the first painting I did - I was intrigued by how the sky was trapped in between the mighty USS Hornet and the background pier and buildings. I loaned this painting and two others (directly above) to the Frank Bette Center for 6 weeks for their Plein Air show after the painting event/sales. When I went to pick up the three paintings, I was thrilled to learn that this one had sold.
ORANGE BOAT AT MOSLEY'S (14" x 18" FRAMED)
I participated in Alameda's annual Frank Bette Plein Air invitational from August 2-7, 2021. It was a bleak day and I enjoyed the design behind this composition - to leave the water white. The orange boat wasn't really orange, but it plays off the complimentary analogous palette of blues, purples, and greys.
PACIFIC GLOW (13" x 19" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I painted this scene from Depot Hill late in the day when the sun was setting and backlighting this scene - so much so that everything was almost silhouetted and almost black and white. What attracted my eye was the glare of the sun off the Pacific in the middle of the wharf, visually fading it and breaking it. This painting sold as soon as the show opened!
MEET ME BY THE FENCE (15" x 19" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I painted this scene at Nisene Marks State Park a couple of exits south of Capitola. It was a beautiful day, and the early light was coming in through the trees. I focused mainly on the passage of lights through the painting, and color temperature.
RIDING THROUGH THE LIGHT (12" x 15" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I painted this scene at Nisene Marks State Park a couple of exits south of Capitola. After painting the scene above, I drove up and down the single lane road through the park trying to get the right pattern of shadows and light.
CLASSIC CAPITOLA (12" x 18" FRAMED - SOLD) - WINNER OF PALACE ARTS SPECIAL AWARD
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I painted this scene on a dreary and rainy first day of the event. I sat in my car, spread out my paints and painted this scene through the rain-streaked windows on Yupo paper for the first time. Who says an artist can't change the weather?
RUSHING HOME BEFORE THE RAIN (13" x 13" FRAMED)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. As I drove into Capitola on the first day (rain!), this white building against the latticed backdrop of the Trestle Bridge caught my eye. When a cyclist in an orange jacket appeared, I knew I had to paint her against the complementary backdrop..
COLORS OF CAPITOLA II (12" x 18" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. The sun came out on the second day after rain all of the first day, and what better subject to paint than the bright, happy colors of the Venetians! This painting sold, and I was commissioned to do another by someone who missed a timely purchase.
LET'S SEE WHAT THE WAVES BROUGHT IN (13" x 13" FRAMED - SOLD)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. This was my last painting for the event, and I was taking more risks and finding more unusual subjects. I was drawn to the strong design of this composition, and feel like I want to have another go painting it.
LUNCH ON SOQUEL CREEK (13" x 13" FRAMED)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I had loved experimenting with Yupo paper previously, and I was already set up for the Venetians at my spot on the beach behind Zelda's, so I just turned to my right and painted this scene. I did a similar scene in 2019 after returning from Capitola - the same strong composition still drew me in.
CHERRY ON TOP (17" x 17" FRAMED)
I participated in Capitola's 2021 Plein Air Invitational in November 2021. It was a magnificent second time for me painting in beautiful Capitola. I am drawn to compositions where building details are not parallel to the edges of the paper, yet I find no buyers for what has to be my favorite subject!
I wanted to paint this in a complementary scheme of just two colors (red/green), with a blue thrown in as an accent. I thought the title was clever too since this historically-significant house is on Cherry Avenue.
HEADING OUT (16" x 20" FRAMED)
Using expressive color, this is a dramatic painting of bright light hitting the left side of my son's face
as he is putting on his shoes to play basketball outside.
WABI SABI (14" x 18" FRAMED)
Done for a class with wabi-sabi as a theme, this ethereal still life of sunflowers explores the flowers at various stages of life. Though from the arrangement you can tell which ones are at their prime and which are past, the shadows unify the arrangement and their age. There is no decay and mortality in the shadows, a predictable and constant companion.
TEMPLE ROOFS (16" x 20" FRAMED)
I hiked the Kumano Kodo trail in Japan over 10 days - following the trails of the monks in the 9th century as they brought Buddhism into the country and built temples in the mountains. I did many paintings from the photos I took on that trip. These roofs are reminiscent of the vivid color and ornamentation on many of the temples.
SATURDAY BRUNCH (19" x 19" FRAMED) - SOLD
The bright umbrellas in downtown Los Altos caught my eye - they seemed to create
a mini world of their own with reflected light and dappled shade underneath their cluster.
HARVEST I
Sometimes I practice single objects just to test water effects and watermarks, as well as to play with color.
It gives me a sense of purpose yet I can be playful without the daunting pressure of doing a "painting."
HARVEST II
Practicing single objects also allows me to play with composition
which is about shapes and their relationship with the
edges of the paper, and the aspect ratio of the paper. Rotation and cropping are useful devices here until the shapes are unusual and feel right. Ordinary objects can thus be abstracted before
they are revealed and recognized.
REDWOOD GROVE PLEIN AIR (12x15 FRAMED, SOLD)
I enjoyed doing this as a demo in Redwood Grove, Los Altos, for the Santa Clara Watercolor Society. I was very nervous as it was my first (and last!) demo, and I am usually very self-conscious when people are watching me paint. It adds to the pressure of doing a brilliant painting!
I was thrilled when it sold at the Mountain View Arts & Wine Festival 2023.