Lloyd Lake, Golden Gate Park

Today's painting of Lloyd Lake in Golden Gate Park just off JFK Drive. I have driven by this lake many times and it never really peaked my interest because of the small manmade stream and a ionic columns structure. It seems to be a popular place for couples to take a snap shot. It was a beautiful, sunny, warm Winter day in the park. I hope there will be a few more days like this over the winter. What more could a plein air painter ask for.

South Lake, Golden Gate Park

Monday's painting of South Lake in Golden Gate Park on a very cold afternoon.

Spreckels Lake, Golden Gate Park

First plein air painting of 2011 at Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate. Perhaps not my favorite lake to paint in Golden Gate Park due to it's obvious man-made construction. You will typically see model yachts sailing and people jogging on the pathways. There are several benches around the lake so I think this would be a good place to sit and sketch.

Figure Drawings of Ricardo

Monday's night figure drawing from Riley Street Art Supply in San Rafael. Below are 10 and 5 minutes drawings of our model Ricardo.

Mallard Lake, Golden Gate Park

Last Friday's plein air painting at Mallard Lake in Golden Gate Park. According to Google maps there are nine lakes in Golden Gate Park. I have painted five...only four more to go. So far Elk Glen Lake & Stowe Lake are my favorites in the park.

Guadalupe Gardens, San Jose

Last Thursday's plein air painting looking towards Guadalupe Gardens in San Jose.

Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse

Today's outing with the North Bay Plein Air Painters at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. It was nice to chat with the regulars and some new faces in the group. It was quite foggy to say the least, but I am glad there was still some fall color to contrast the winter grey. To give my painting a more spontaneous feel, I alternated between palette knife and brush. Overall, I like the effect and think I'll try to keep integrating the palette knife into my future paintings for now.