"Taillights"

6x6" oil on Gessobord - sold

Sanchez Art Center, "50/50" #21

Well I had originally planned on posting all 50 of my paintings here on my blog but it doesn't look like that'll happen. I've set up a gallery on my website though, so anyone who's interested can check out my progress by clicking on the 50/50 gallery.

I approached this project knowing it would be a learning experience. I chose to do cityscapes for two reasons. For one, I find cityscapes extremely difficult, particularly handling the cars. And secondly, I felt pretty confident about finding 50 interesting compositions featuring the streets of San Francisco. 

So what did I learn? I do feel I've improved at painting cars. I've learned to ignore their complexity and simplify as much as possible. I feel I've also learned how to better compose a cityscape. I now try to look for large simple patterns within the jumble of visual information.

The next step is to see if I can translate some these little paintings into larger works.

The "50/50" show opens August 23 at the Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica, California. 

"Distant Shining Streets"

8x8" oil on masonite

Studio Gallery, San Francisco

"Crossing the Gate"

20x20" oil on canvas - sold

Studio Gallery, San Francisco

"Clay and Jones"

8x8" oil on masonite - sold

Studio Gallery, San Francisco

"Used Cars"

10x8" oil on canvas panel

Back to experimenting with big brushes. I only had an hour to paint today so I quickly chose an image and got started. An hour goes by pretty quickly when painting but I like to work fast, it forces me to be spontaneous.

"Desert Auto Repair"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Winter Light"

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.

"Aqua and Chrome"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

I wanted to see how loose I could keep it and still have it look like a car. I discovered it's all in the highlights. It can be quite messy but once you put in the highlights it all comes together.

"El Camino Real at Dawn"

10x8" oil on canvas panel

This is a study I did for the Burlingame paint out. I figured most painters would focus on the train station area so I went for something a bit different. I used this study to help me paint on the day of the event since the dawn effect doesn't last very long.

"Rust"

8x10" oil on canvas

I found this old car while walking around a boatyard called "Dock Town". 

"Pace Yourself" - SOLD

10x8" oil on canvas panel

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Sometimes fate presents you with an opportunity too rare to pass up. That's exactly what happened to me while walking in San Francisco recently. I haven't seen an AMC Pacer in years, and this one was in perfect condition. It's not often you get a chance to paint the world's most ridiculed car. I'd love to hear some pacer stories in the comments. Rode to the prom in one? Dad drove you to school in one? It's time to vent! Tell that Pacer story you've kept hidden for so many years.

"Morris Minor"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

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I stumbled upon this very cool Morris Minor while walking around trying to find subject matter for the "Paint Burlingame" plein air event. This little English gem is parked in front of the Olde English Garage, probably waiting for a carburetor adjustment. Or perhaps it needs some electrical work. I owned a Jensen Healy back in high school and remember visiting this very garage on more than one occasion. 

"Blue Car on Olive Street"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

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I should be cleaning the kitchen but I've decided to do my post instead. When I'm in a painting groove things get neglected. My backyard was first. I stopped watering it at the beginning of the summer and it soon turned turned golden brown. Well most of it turned golden brown. There were some amazing weeds that seemed only to need the blazing sun for nourishment. My neighbor Roy was kind enough to give me a battery powered weed whacker to get things under control. I'm proud to be doing my part for the drought, but I feared I was creating a fire hazard. Next to go was the dining room. There's nothing quite like a dining room table for storing painting supplies. It's not bad for storing camera equipment either. There was a time when letting things go would have bothered me, but for now I accept that if I'm going to paint every day something's gotta give.

"String of Lights"

12x12" oil on masonite

"One Headlight"

8x10" oil on canvas panel

"Corvette Takes Altamont"

12x12" oil on masonite

"Aqua Bel Air" - SOLD

8x10" oil on canvas panel

This scene catches my eye every time I drop my car off at my mechanic's garage. I had to have a brake job last week and this time I brought a camera.

"Red Triumph" - SOLD

Most summer days you'll find this Triumph parked outside the Port Clyde post office. It belongs to the postmaster. Nice way to get to work!

The Studio Gallery show Delicious opens this week. I LOVE the shows at this gallery. Jen and Rab the owners are wonderful people and the work on display is so varied and unique. They put out a nice little spread too! Come on down and check it out if you're going to be in San Francisco this weekend, the reception is on Sunday from 2-6 pm.