"Queen Anne's Lace"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

The abundance of wildflowers is one of the most beautiful things about the summer landscape in Maine. Most of the grasses and flowers in California have turned brown or gold by early summer due to the lack of rain. The time for wildflowers in the west is usually early spring.  I'm pretty sure the flowers in the painting are White Yarrow. I know there's not a lot of detail in this painting but if anyone knows what kind of flowers these are I'd love to know.

Update: Thanks so much Susan, Judy and Merci for letting me know that the wildflowers are Queen Anne's Lace!

"Three in a Row"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

This is a group of joined houses in Tenant's Harbor, Maine. I drive by this scene countless times every summer while staying in Port Clyde and I've always thought it would make a good painting. I'm having fun doing quick oil sketches from the images I took this summer. I'll be posting more soon.

"Tow Truck"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Clouds, Highway 5"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

I noticed something strange while traveling this stretch of highway 5 back in the early eighties. I was returning to college in a 67' VW bug with no radio. It was a ten hour trip. ANYWAY, I loved this drive. Miles and miles of open space. Nothing but rolling hills covered with dried grass.... and yellow umbrellas. Someone had randomly raised huge yellow umbrellas among the hills. It went on for miles. I later found out that it was Christo. It was very beautiful and I feel lucky to have accidentally experienced it.

"Winter Light"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Into the Sun"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Houses on a Hill"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Parking Lot with Snow"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

This sort of scene really calls for a larger canvas. The cars are so small that it's hard to paint them in a spontaneous way and not have them look like blobs. I had to break out a few smaller brushes for touch ups. As usual I'm painting any subject or scene that catches my eye. I'm not sure what drew me to this scene but I like it.

"Signs and Lines"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"End of the Road"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

I painted this using Google "street view". The location is somewhere in Saint John, New Brunswick. I love being able to explore different cities looking for interesting architecture. The only bummer is when you find a great location but no sun. Next up....Pittsburgh!

"Skateaway"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

After this was painted I noticed that the skater's legs and their shadow sort of look like the wings of a bird in flight. 

I've been reading a lot of art blogs lately. One of my favorites is The Art Room posted by Taryn Day. This month's theme is "artists who blog" and yesterday my work was featured. You can check it out here. Thanks Taryn!

"Outboard"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

I haven't posted in a while due to the holidays, but I'm back! This is one I did in December before things got crazy. 

"Two Taco Plates"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

I love Mexican food. This is a scene from my favorite taqueria, Pancho Villa in San Mateo.

"Daybreak"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Where to Begin.."

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Cottage, Marin Headlands"

8x10" oil on canvas panel - sold

I challenged myself to paint this with one with a single brush. I used a #10 Utrecht 209-B.