Spring @ SJSU

Two color studies from my small watercolor Moleskine. These were painted last week with my Color Principles class near Tower Hall lawn at San Jose State University. The first painting took about 60 minutes; the second one is painted in 45 minutes.

Figure Studies, Charcoal & Gouache

Figure studies in charcoal & gouache with the Thursday night figure drawing group at the Riley Street Art store in San Rafael. Gouache color studies are 20 minutes.

Palace of Fine Arts

It is hard to believe that I have lived in San Francisco for the last 7 years or so and this is the first time that I have painted at the Palace of Fine Arts. I loved the grand scale of the architecture and will be back again to do more paintings or drawings. These two small gouache paintings were painted with a few members of the North Bay Plein Air Painters. The first painting was a longer study that took about a 90 minutes. The second was a quick study around 35 minutes.

Fall Color at Stow Lake

More Fall color in Golden Gate Park. This tree is between the Chinese pavilion and the man made waterfall at Stow Lake.

Speedway Meadows, Golden Gate Park.

Speedway meadows in Golden Gate Park.

Fall Color at Stow Lake

Fall color at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park with the Sutro tower in the background.

Quick Figures in Gouache

Two small figurative studies painted in gouache, 20 minutes each. Painted with the Thursday drop-in figure drawing group at Riley street art store in San Rafael.

Memorial Park, San Mateo

A few weeks ago, we went on our first family camping trip with three other families at Memorial Park in San Mateo. The nice part about going with other families with kids is that we all took turns watching the kids as they played and explored the campsite, giving me some free time to paint two small gouache paintings. Each painting took around 70 minutes or so. The first one is the swimming hole and the second one is from the site we reserved within the Azalea campgrounds.

Nishi Honganji, Kyoto

I was in Japan from September 1st - 11th to attend my sister in-law's wedding in Kyoto. The ceremony was held at Nishi Honganji, the headquarters of their Buddhist temple in the older section of the city and was visually stunning. Since we were busy with the family, I only had a few brief opportunities to paint.

The first one is based on my memory of the wedding day. The ceremony was held in a building adjacent to the main temple and afterwards, we walked in a procession to the main temple as an attendant held up a red umbrella in front of the newlyweds.

The other two gouache studies are from life of the main entrance of the Nishi Honganji temple gates. One is painted from the courtyard inside the grounds and the other is across the street from the gate.

Downtown San Jose

These are small color studies painted with gouache in downtown San Jose. It was a warm sunny day spent with some students from the SJSU Animation/Illustration program. The first painting is the Center for the Performing Arts. Below is SJ Museum of Art.

20 Minute Figure Studies

20 minute figure studies painted with gouache.

Summer in Honolulu

These are my three gouache studies from my summer vacation in Honolulu with my family. I wanted to do more paintings while on O'ahu, but my two boys a 4.5 year old and 15 months had different ideas like going to the beach and me being the lifeguard.

The first two are painted from the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikiki a little before sunset and a nocturne around midnight. The second painting is at the tide pools just north of Sandy's beach.

Saplings & Cala Lilies

Saplings and Cala Lilies from Thursday. Painted on Stow Lake drive in Golden Gate Park.

Pioneer Mother Monument, Golden Gate Park

Pioneer Mother Monument, Golden Gate Park

The Pioneer Mother Monument in Golden Gate Park is located near the entrance of Stow Lake Drive. It is sculpted by American Charles Grafly, 1915. On the base of the monument there is a plaque that reads...

"Over rude paths beset with hunger and risk she pressed onward toward the vision of a better country. To an assemblage of men busied with the perishable rewards of the day she brought the three-fold leaven of enduring society - faith, gentleness, and home with the nurture of children". _ _ Benjamin Ide Wheeler

Stow Lake, Seagulls & Paddle Boats

Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park complete with paddle boats and seagulls.

Conservatory Drive East

Tuesday's painting from the car studio on Conservatory Drive East in Golden Gate Park.

Sea Bowl, Pacifica

The view from the Sea Bowl parking just off of highway 1 in Pacifica.

Stow Lake Drive

Today's gouache painting in Golden Gate Park on Stow Lake Drive.

Conservatory of Flowers & Ocean Beach

Two more gouache paintings from Thursday & today. First painting is the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Second painting of Ocean Beach in San Francisco.

A New Watercolor Moleskine

Gouache paintings in the new watercolor Moleskine from Friday & Saturday. Both are painted from the car studio in Golden Gate Park. The first one is near Elk Glen Lake at Middle Drive West & Transverse Drive. Second color sketch is across from Mallard Lake on MLK Jr. Drive.