Lakeview House: Needs Work

watercolor, 14 x 21 inches
I painted this on location and then put it away for some months.
After time elapsed, with a fresh eye in the studio, it was easier to see what changes were necessary.

As I worked on this painting, a neighbor came over to thank me for painting this portrait. Unfortunately, this gorgeous house remains without a family to care for it. Since the storm, the grass has been cut, but not much else has changed.
I was drawn in by the roofline and dormer windows.

"Quarter Renovation"

watercolor, 21 x 15 inches

"White House, Gray Day, Lakeview"

watercolor, 11 x 14

Matassa's Grocery: in the French Quarter

watercolor, 14 x 20 inches

Painted plein air in the Quarter.

Palm in City Park, oil, 12 x 8 in.

"Tree Sketch, City Park", oil, 6 x8 in.

"Sunlit Mountains", oil, 6 x 8 in.

Available at Whistle Pik Galleries. Included in the Christmas Miniature Show 2007. Price: $750, US dollars. Framed.

Southwest sketch, 4 x 5 inches, oil

Using a slide projector, I set the timer for 20 minutes and picked a slide at random. I have a 24 x 48 white canvas set up as a screen. Painting 3 or 4 small 4 x 6 inch studies from different slides, the purpose was to force myself to make quick decisions, without overthinking. In trying to move forward, sometimes figuring out how we're blocking our own progress becomes important. The timer is a terrific antidote to "overworking" a painting.

Wyoming Ranch study, oil, 6 x 8 inches, NFS

"Marsh Grass", oil, 7 x 8 inches, NFS

Field Sketch, Red Rocks Of Sedona, oil, 8 x 6 in., NFS

Painted on location, en plein air, the view was breathtaking. I painted this sketch, like so many others, standing on the side of the road, which is a major artery between Sedona and Phoenix. After a short time, snow flurries began and ultimately dictated when the painting was finished.

"Stiletto: Early Morning in July", oil, 20 x 16 in.

Painted on a very hot July summer morning, this companion piece has always been one of my favorites. It's strange how a particular boat or tree, mountain, still life item or memory can trigger an emotional response, generating enough enthusiasm to produce many different paintings.

"Cottage in the Hill Country", oil, 8 x 10 in.

"China Cove," oil, 10 x 12

This is one of the paintings being featured at Whistle Pik Galleries' Christmas Miniature Show, in Fredericksburg, TX. For more info, go to www.whistlepik.com or call 800-999-0820. The pre-sale begins November 17th through December 16th and may be viewed online.

Matassa's in the Quarter

Yellow House on Coliseum Square

On the weekends, I'm going to post some old favorites. After stumbling on this wonderful house quite by accident, this watercolor was painted plein air on location.

Mid City Beauty