"Nectarine Study"

This 6"x8" study of nectarines was done last week at a 5 day Carol Marine workshop. It was an outstanding week, Carol is a very thorough, knowledgable and competent teacher, and I gained a wealth of new inspiration and ideas throughout the week. Can't recommend it enough, if you have a chance to study with her it is well worth the time and money.

"Summer Storm"

This little 6x8" painting was done from the back of my car (squished in with my good friend and fellow artist Gaye Adams) in the middle of a wild thunderstorm, lightning flashing, thunder cracking, hail bouncing off our feet and palettes that were not quite protected by the open hatchback. This piece was done in about 45 minutes, amazing how fast you paint with the energy of a storm driving you! By far one of the most exciting plein air experiences I have ever had.

"La Paz-Bolivia"

This painting is 24"x36". I initially did a 12"x16" study in order to see if I could try to keep some areas loose. I find this often helps if I plan to paint a larger image, though I still always get tighter on the big pieces.

What drew me to this subject was the soft, muted tones of the distant buildings, and that was the part of the painting I had the most fun with. I am reasonably pleased with the looseness of the people and the buildings, which I simplified quite a bit relative to the source photo. Getting looser is an ongoing challenge, and I strive for it in every painting I do. So hard to relinquish the illusion of control that painting "between the lines" gives.