Sunday, July 15, 2012

Mount Waialeale, Kauai - My Photography Blog


Mount Waialeale on the island of Kauai is called the wettest spot on earth, but in truth there are a couple of peaks in India that rival for that title.   Those two posts on either side of the trail are where a gate was in a scene of the movie "Jurassic Park".   I intend to paint this area from my reference photos one of these days.   To see more photos and a video of this beautiful mountain (complete with waterfalls)  check out my photography blog 
Also, for those of you who would like to view my work in a gallery type site, please visit my main website.

I am currently working on a seascape and I hope to finish it in the next day or so, so please visit again soon!



Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Red Barn


"The Red Barn"
6" x 8" oil on canvas on panel

A small landscape study with more yellow wildflowers.   I believe I will paint a still life soon, but first I need to work on some seascapes.  Once I sit in front of the easel, inspiration comes and I paint with passion what my mind conceives.   (And what my reference photos dictate)     :-)

Friday, July 13, 2012

Spring Pasture


"Spring Pasture"
6" x 8" oil on canvas on panel

This landscape was inspired by a reference photograph of mine taken in Texas when I lived in that state a few years ago.   The yellow wildflowers were in bloom and I think they add a nice touch to the scene.   

I completed this painting with my new studio assistant looking on with interest.   I think she will make a great studio cat !  Meet Lika everyone.   


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Beautiful Baby Makapu'u Beach


"Beautiful Baby Makapu'u Beach"
6" x 8" oil on canvas

I have painted this area once before in watercolors from a slightly different angle/spot.   I have several reference photos of there and intend to paint this beach again in the future.   There is a pier between the two white buildings in the far background.

Baby Makapu'u Beach is located on the windward or eastern shores of Oahu, Hawaii, near Sea Life Park .
It is usually not very crowded, and locals fish out by the rocks near this spot.  It is a great place for children and for tide pooling.   

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Morning At Lanikai Beach


"Morning At Lanikai Beach"
12" x 24" Oil on canvas


Lanikai Beach is located in a suburb of Kailua, on the windward coast of Oahu.   The waters are a beautiful turquoise and this beach has been the winner of many "Best Beaches" awards.   In Hawaiian, Lanikai  means "heavenly sea" and it truly is a bit of paradise on earth.   The sand is a bit more white than this painting indicates.   The two islands offshore are the Mokuluas, which means in Hawaiian "the two islands".   They are state protected bird sanctuaries, although the island on the left (Moku Nui) is allowed visitors in certain areas.   You can reach it by kayak or boat or outrigger canoe.   The outrigger canoes in this painting are pretty much the way they looked in my reference photograph.

I hope to visit this beach again very soon.    

Thank you for visiting my blog today.




Friday, June 29, 2012

Grieving


Callie 

My companion cat, Callie, passed away on Tuesday.  I miss her terribly.  She was a good girl and had so much love in her heart.   She and I were together for 9 years.   

I have not been able to paint since Tuesday; I am just going through the motions of everyday's necessary actions without much interest.   Everywhere I look in the apartment I expect to see Callie, and then I remember that she is gone forever.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

More Recommended Art Books


This photo of mine is of a Hawaiian Black-crowned Night Heron, or 'Auku'u, and has nothing to do with art books other than he seems to be saying "Take a look at that!"   That is what I hope you do by visiting James Gurney's blog about art books he recommends for art students.   Click here to view  As most of you know, James Gurney is widely known for his "Dinotopia" books.

One of the books he recommends is one I highly regard and recommended in a previous post on this blog, and that book is Carlson's Guide To Landscape Painting , by John F. Carlson who was an American Impressionist.   I ran across that book when I was about 15 years old and it was my primary source for learning about perspective, light, and color and so much more.   It is available on Amazon.  

Gurney has also written an excellent book Color And Light: A Guide For The Realist Painter which has received excellent reviews.   It is available through Amazon or you may obtain a signed copy from his blog   http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com   

I took the day off from painting and, as you can tell, been on the Internet some today.   I will begin work tonight on completing the seascape of Lanikai Beach so please return soon.