ALLEY II (WINTERS)

This is Paint the Town week in Winters, CA.  I started by trying to dodge the windy conditions and found an alley to paint in.  This allowed some wind protection.  When I returned the following day, the wind was still blowing so I found another alley.  There are plenty in this town.  I think that the most difficult condition for painting is wind.

Alleys have so much stuff.  A lot of it has to be eliminated in the painting. There are too many trash bins, fences and traffic markers.  I was impressed with all of the power lines that criss-cross the alley. 

The weather has improved and I have been back painting the hills and valleys of this pretty town. 

ALLEY I (Winters, CA)

This is the 6th year that the Winters Paint the Town Plein Air Festival has been held.  It started this past  Friday but I didn't get to paint until today.  The light kept changing but it was not windy nor hot.  Just right.  Winters has so many wonderful painting venues.  I chose one of the alleys for this painting.  It was Sunday and rather quiet but a few onlookers cheered me on.  I have painted some of the alleys in the past but there are many to do. 

Great to be out painting.  Will be back for more as it will continue all week.

Vineyard at Brooks Farm

Was late arriving at the Art/Ag project in Brooks CA but did a few sketches and then started painting.  What a glorious day for plein air painting.  It couldn't be better for getting outside to paint.  So many details become apparent when painting on site as opposed to the studio using sketches and photos.  The shadows dazzle you on a sunny day.  This painting was done entirely on location and in an hour and half.  Sometimes when rushed, you find some new skills or results.

Putting the Boat into the Water

A springtime ritual is putting the boat into the water.  This is an overall warm painting and the focal point of boat and figures is framed by the dark wooden fence structure.  This creates the darkest dark/lightest light focus.  It is a vertical format to give the relative size to the figures. 

A Friend Indeed

Have been traveling and entertaining guests, and it has upset my art discipline. Generally, I engage daily with painting and variations such as, figure drawing, plein air painting and studio work.  It amazes me how quickly I can lose this after traveling for a week and having house guests for another week.  I wouldn't give up any of this but must get back to painting.  My friend, the Davis Train Station, is always there and has been used for a thousand variations in my work.  Returning to the subjects I got away from and my artistic inertia goes away.  The practiced familiar working habits and familiar subjects help me to hang on.  This is a very important discovery for me.  I'm sure that others have rituals that keep them working.

 I spent the afternoon painting the station and feeling wonderful.  It was warm and sunny and the location  was quiet.  Being a Sunday, it meant unlimited parking, so I just took my time and concentrated.  This subject never fails to jump start me.  I will be ready for the upcoming paint outs and plein air classes that I will be teaching.

OAK PARK VISTA

Our group gathered in the old Sacramento neighborhood of Oak Park.  Someone wanted to paint this church building but the sun was on the back.  Looking around I was struck with how many wonderful sites are there for painting in Oak Park.  This area was one of the original Sacramento neighborhoods and was very high class.  Then came changes in the 70's with drugs and crack houses.  It is now on its way back with many of these unique, one of a kind, houses being restored along with some of the old business fronts
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The structure was pink.  The trees are not yet blossomed. A green canopy would add a nice contrast in color.  This was a quick sketch and painting.  You never know what will come out of a quick painting, but often, I find things that really intrigue me.  I particularly like the cast shadow on the pink wall.  I did this by adding some sap green to permanent rose.

Air Conditioned Barn II

Good morning for painting today, until the wind came.  This barn is located about 10 minutes from me.  I've painted it several times from different views.  Every year the barn loses a few more boards but the farmer still stores his hay and tractor inside.  No patching or repairs have been undertaken, so it has developed character.  There were sheep in the yard the last time that I painted it. 

I put a bungy cord around my paint box and clamped my paper block down.  I think that painting with the wind blowing is the most difficult condition of all.  I keep my paper wet and let the paints run.  I set my paper on a vertical so there are plenty of drips.  In the past I would get bothered with the running water and color but now, I know that I can just blot or lift it if dry.  The paint just works better on a wet paper.