New Work: Anahata
Meet “Anahata”. Full of love, she embodies the heart chakra. Random fact about her…. she loves, loves, loves Steely Dan Seriously! She woke me up with “My Old School” tune in my mind’s ear. So I put on my headphones, … Read More
A Sock Monkey Elf is Born
posted in: Art, Monkey Made of Sockies
I use both old-school and new-school methods to bring a painting to life. Here’s how this Elf Sock Monkey was born: First I posed the sock monkey seated in my desk chair and shot a reference photo. Then … Read More
One Scene Inspired 4 Paintings
posted in: Art
I love walking around Heron Lake in Yosemite Lakes Park. No matter what time of year you go, there’s always something wonderful to see. On this particular day, the smoke was thick due to the many fires in the … Read More
Plein Air Outing at Oak Hill Cemetary
posted in: Art
Just in time for Halloween, I joined the Yosemite Sierra Artists for a Plein-Air outing at Oak Hill Cemetery in Oakhurst, CA. It was so great to paint and reconnect with my mountain artist friends! It was a beautiful, … Read More
New Work: Alchemy
posted in: Art
This painting is all about Alchemy. The scene is from a day at the Shinzen Japanese Friendship Gardens in Fresno, CA. I arrived tired and worn out, and the land healed my soul. This piece was also a study … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Exploring Palette Options
posted in: 2-Minute Tips, Art, Multimedia
Today we are going to explore palette options. From store-bought fancy ones to paper plates and take-out trays there are lots of options. Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Paper Palettes I use paper palettes for … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
posted in: 2-Minute Tips, Art, Multimedia
Artists have lots of challenges. I’m going to talk about some of my own and how I have worked through them: I’ve found that the only way out is through them so I face them head-on! Here’s a list … Read More
Plein Air Outing: Dawn Lake
posted in: Art
Yesterday I went Plein-air painting at Dawn Lake with my friends at Yosemite Sierra Artists. The company was great, the bullfrogs were singing and the weather was perfect! It had been a long time since I painted outdoors and I … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Painting on Paper with Oils
posted in: 2-Minute Tips, Art, Multimedia
Have you tried painting in oils on paper? Go for it! Oils are typically painted on wood or canvas surfaces. But they also work well on paper. Here’s why I like them: Pros: The surface is relatively inexpensive. Storage is … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Fall Back in Love
posted in: Art, Create!, Creativity
Are ya still in love? Are you still excited to go to the studio every day, or are you just not feeling it? I don’t know about you but every once in a while I need an artist date. I’m … Read More
Painterly Two-Minute Tip: They Call it ArtWORK for a Reason!
posted in: Art
Did you ever think about the word “work” that is contained in the word “Artwork?” It’s there for a reason. Considerable time and effort go into creating a work of art. I’m a firm believer in practice and study and … Read More
Animated Portraits!
posted in: Art
My Heritage.com Deep Nostalgia’s AI technology was meant to animate ancestral portraits. And they do. The animation is cool and strange all at the same time. I find the application worked best when I used it with photos of distant … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Radical Trust
posted in: Art
Today we are going to talk about radical trust. Most children have it. Left to their own devices, children are creative machines! They draw, paint, sing, sculpt, and create elaborate stories. They come up with creative uses for everyday objects … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Self Talk
posted in: Art
So what’s your story? What do you say to yourself when you are creating? What do you say to others? Is it kind? Is it limiting? Are you paying attention to yourself? When you are creating it happens in your … Read More
Painterly 2-Minute Tip: Learning From the Old Masters
posted in: 2-Minute Tips, Art, Multimedia
Taking the time to study and copy an Old Master painting is a great way to sharpen your skills. Many years ago I copied a section of Vermeer’s Girl with the Red Hat. My painting didn’t come out great but … Read More