A winter beach

Winter beaches and wind blown cypresses make an interesting subject for watercolor. This is a made up subject that we all worked on when we could not go out and paint after getting down to Sausalito. It was raining and overcast.
Next week I will be in Mexico and putting on the sunscreen. I love it down there. I have already heard from my friends that are headed down and we will all gather in neighboring houses on the beach at Troncones. I doubt that there will be much surfing with everyone hurting thinking about last year.

Davis Train Station

This is one of my favorite places to paint. The weather has been so sunny and nice, that I took my easel and set up at the train station. There are no trees in bloom but I needed the color. I am amazed at how busy the station is at the end of the day. Lots of people to talk to, in fact, I finished the painting at home because of getting involved in so many conversations.

Painting on clayboard

Happy New Year. The weather got gloomy, damp and cold so I went to still life painting. Have not done this for so long, that I could get excited about it. This was done on aquaboard or the new clayboard for watercolor. It is different and I am not used to it. I like to paint with my paper almost vertical and that won't work with the board. Water practically runs off when painting wet. Laying it flat overcomes that issue. What I like about it is the brilliance of color. Now if I can keep that when I varnish, I will keep working at this.

A 3y/o take on an old theme

My grandchildren, aged 2 and 4 years are up for Christmas and then off skiing, if it stops snowing. Last year, Theo, painted this picture of Santa over the trees. He was 3. Both he and Phoebe love to paint and when they come I usually set something up and let them go at it. They have completely different styles. Theo prefers small brushes and gets his nose right next to the paper. Phoebe likes big and makes lots of strokes and keeps going over them with different colors. I am quite amazed at this picture because there is no mistaking what he was trying to paint.
Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night.

After the rain

Sunday, a rainy day, fine for imagining a sunny field, barn and a puddle from the rain. Lots of time to paint today after a wonderful dinner party last evening. Hosting dinner parties is fun from the moment of deciding what to have, then preparing it to saying goodnight to the guests. The liquor cabinet takes a big hit, but so what, it positively effects creativity.

San Francisco Bay in December

The weather has been spectacular even when it starts off a touch nippy. The group wanted to paint trees and we found one in Sausalito along with a few boats. Painting is a great way to handle the holidays; a little sanity between delicious parties and great friends, and...lots of wine.

Portofino Italy

I was in Portofino on 9/11 and could not believe the story that people were telling. I was sketching and taking pictures. With all flights grounded for the next few days I continued to sketch and paint. It was not easy to concentrate, yet, it was difficult to get details on what had happened.
Portofino is a charming seaside town attracting wealthy vacationers to its expensive shops. It has this small opening to the sea and is splashed with sunshine. Despite the upscale neighborhood, the wash is hung out and extends from many windows. A huge church is on the hill in the corner and has steps in front. I did this picture from my sketches just last week. I have fond memories of the place.