Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon.

graphite on paper

While walking Ivy I found this beautiful bird, dead and a great specimen to draw.  I wished I could have spent more time with it.

Stuff

This is the stuff we can't do without. I remember when I didn't take a cell phone with me, when I didn't have an alarm on my car, when I didn't have to have a pager on me at all times and when I only had a house key and a car key on my key chain. Not anymore. For any of you that have sat next to me in a meeting then you know that I will draw anything. So don't put your keys down, or your glasses or your coffee cup because you will not be able to touch it until I am through with my sketch. Because it is all about me!

Geraniums

Ivy Geranium

watercolor on handmade paper journal

Hiltcher walking trail

Hiltcher walking trail

Watercolor on Yupo

Silk Floss Tree

Silk Floss Tree

Ink, watercolor on handmade paper

This is a green tree that has thorns on the trunk, deciduas and orchid like flowers twice a year. When the leaves have dropped the shape of the tree is visible. The city of Fullerton, California has planted them on both sides of Harbor Blvd. in the downtown area.

Painting with YUPO

On January 30th I took ‘The Painting on Yupo’ class from Kevin Davidson. I have painted on this plastic paper for a while now and have developed my own way of achieving the goal of getting the subject to look acceptable. It is always difficult to change habits but one just has to try. Kevin's paintings are fresh with brilliant clean color and I enjoyed seeing him paint with this unusual medium. 

Here is the Yupo class study with Kevin Davidson.  Visit his site for a wonderful visual experience.

Missing but not forgotten.

Ok, I have been missing but not forgotten. What a delight you all are!!! You have continued to care about me and check in to see what I have been doing. I have received so many emails wanting to know what has happened and where did I go? Well I just had this big project to do and it took every bit of energy and time I had to give. I have finished successfully and now I can get back to my real life. That is walking Ivy, gardening and being compulsively artistic. I will post my past drawings and paintings as I get back to posting but for now I am going to take this time while I am sitting in front of the TV listening to the Olympics and visiting your wonderful inspirational blogs.                      

Huntington Gardens

Huntington Library and Gardens

Chinese Garden

Ink on handmade paper journal

Before the rain

Landscape

Watercolor on paper

The rain is coming so I took sometime this afternoon to walk the skyline trail and then to sketch a beautiful view of Newport Fashion Island, a shopping center near the California coast. I could see the clouds forming as I was sketching and then when I started to paint they became darker and darker. I just love to watch nature happening.

My life is a blur!

I spent the morning working in my garden and getting ready for the rain that is coming to California. We haven't had measurable rain for a long time. Most of the world that is experiencing winter right now seems to be reporting extremes and I guess this will be like that too because the forecast is for rain, "not like we have seen since 95". I can't remember 1995. Can you? As I get older days become weeks and months fly by and the years flash by, one unrecognizable from another. These glasses say it all. I started to draw them when I came in to cool off but found that at some point I had to go get glasses to see what I was doing. My life is a blur just like the years.

Hiltcher Park Trail

Pen and Ink walking trail

Laguna Lake, Fullerton Califronia

Laguna Lake, Fullerton, California

Watercolor on rag paper 24x9 inches

Winter in California

On my walks with Ivy I found these leaves that caught the light from the morning sun.  I could not help but pick them up and  take them home to paint and then place on my kitchen window shelf to enjoy while I am washing dishes.

Dana Point

Dana Point, California

This is the way I want to spend every day for the rest of my life. Painting at Dana Point. The weather has been in the 70's+ F/26C. Warm, clear and soothing to the jangled nerves left over from the Holidays. I am trying to go to the beach everyday till that cold weather they have been forecasting comes in.

Keys

Why do key just turn up missing?  They are there and then they are gone.  I always put them in the same place and then they are gone and then they are back.  I think it is pixies changing them into Kleenex or a pencil or something.

Dana Point, Califronia

I spent the day at the beach today.  The weather was glorious, the sun was warm and the painting was small so I thought I would share this photo with you.  This is Dana Point in California.

Interior in graphite

I have been a bit under the weather so interiors are the way to go for me these days.  This glowing alabaster lamp shade and the back lighting from the window was the challenge I set for myself.

New Years Day

What were your New Years Resolutions?  Mine is to paint and draw more.  Sorry I didn't resolve the posting thing yet but I will work on that too.  I spent the day sketching where ever I was and this one is an interior that is so peaceful and calm, perfect colors, comfortable furniture and soothing music.

Dana Point

A quick sketch on really ruff handmade paper.

Cork Oak

Cork Oak leaf and acorn caps.