landscape sketch painting

M DESIGN on Industrial Design

2011-11-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

M DESIGN on Industrial Design

2011-11-18T17:18:00.000-08:00

This is an interview I did about a year ago for Grumbacher/Chart tape. They were talking to people with art related careers and thought what we do might be interesting to the readers of Thalo, their web-based magazine.

Beetle

2011-11-05T22:00:00.001-07:00

beetle, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Another water color sketch done this morning while painting with my granddaughter Emma.

wolf

2011-11-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

wolf, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Water color sketch I did while painting with my granddaughter Emma on our "date" this morning.

Paramount-Ranch-Dead-Tree

2011-09-17T22:25:00.001-07:00

Paramount-Ranch-Dead-Tree, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Dead tree at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu, California. Painted plein air on 140 lb WC paper. Last session of my class. I will miss Joe Cibere's great inspiration and instrution. I might try a figure or head painting class next. Wonderful day and beautiful weather.

Paramount-Ranch-Eucalyptus

2011-09-10T19:32:00.001-07:00

Paramount-Ranch-Eucalyptus, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Last painting of the morning at Paramount Ranch. I love Eucalyptus trees. Even though they are Austrailian in origin, they seen so "California" to me.

Paramount-Ranch-Roughs

2011-09-10T19:31:00.001-07:00

Paramount-Ranch-Roughs, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Roughs painted today at Paramount Ranch during my plen air WC class. 20 minutes each give or take.

St. Christoforo su Naviglio, Milan

2011-07-25T20:35:00.001-07:00

St. Christoforo su Naviglio, Milan, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Did this sketch in 2009 on a trip to Milan. Done in ink and watercolor plaeina ir in my Moleskine sketchbook. It was fun to sit there across form the church and watch people come in and out while i was sketching.

Milan restaurant boat, Naviglio Grande, Milan

2011-07-25T20:33:00.001-07:00

Milan restaurant boat, Naviglio Grande, Milan, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Sketched this back in 2009 on a trip to Milan. Cool Restaurant boat on the Maviglio Grande canal. Done plein air in my Moleskine 5x7 sketchbook.

Heber-C-Kimball-home

2011-06-29T13:14:00.001-07:00

Heber-C-Kimball-home, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

Sketched in line and painted in water color (plein aire) from across the street in historic restored section of Nauvoo, Illinois. Was there with my wife for a few days on a great vacation, wonderful place to visit. Many other interesting homes and buildings from the period of 1838-1846 have been restored and are full of period furniture. My Great-Great-Grandfather lived here with his family from 1842-1846 before he left for the Salt Lake Valley as a pioneer/refugee.

Lady-Harbor,-Santa-Cruz-Island

2011-05-31T21:15:00.001-07:00

Lady-Harbor,-Santa-Cruz-Island, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

I was fortunate to be invited along with my sons to gor to Santa Cruz Island on a friend's boat. They were going spear fishing, but I rented a wetsuit and spent my time snorkeling in this beautiful bay. I made friends with harbor seals and watched many fish swim through the kelp forests.

I started to paint this little water color sketch from the boat anchored in the bay, when the stern anchor pulled loose and we started to drift. It took an hour to get the anchor reset and I had to finish this sketch at home.

Wonderful trip and a great memory.

Corseaux-sur-Vevey

2011-04-17T16:00:00.001-07:00

Corseaux-sur-Vevey, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

I spent a few a bit of time last Wednesday sitting and sketching this view of the old church in Corseaux-sur-Vevey. This sketch was done plein air in my double spread Moleskine watercolor notebook. The famous silent film star Charley Chaplin lived in this town and the park to the right is named after him. Spring has just come to Switzerland and this day was wonderfully sunny but cool.

Vevey-Gare

2011-04-17T15:56:00.001-07:00

Vevey-Gare, a photo by Spencer Mackay on Flickr.

I sketched this old electric train parked on a siding at the Vevey, Switzerland train station in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Singapore-Alley

2011-02-18T22:55:00.001-08:00

Singapore-Alley
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Alley behind the Regent Hotel off Orchard Street. Sat on a wall and did this in 45 minutes.

One-Price-Store-SIngapore

2011-02-18T22:54:00.001-08:00

One-Price-Store-SIngapore
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Old "One Price Store" store front on Emerald Hill Road off Orchard Street. Not much of the old SIngapore left. This is a charming island amid the tall sky scrapers. Sat across the street on the patio of the Alley Bar which was not yet open and sketched this.

Silver-Zephyr

2011-02-03T20:33:00.001-08:00

Silver-Zephyr
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

The sketches below were all done in my horizontal format watercolor Moleskine. Thought I should post some before I get too many. Haven't had time to do a more formal painting, but I keep sketching whenever I can.

Hidden-Valley-Oak

2011-02-03T20:30:00.005-08:00

Hidden-Valley-Oak
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Malibu-beach-houses-from-pier

2011-02-03T20:30:00.003-08:00

Malibu-beach-houses-from-pier
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Grauman's-court

2011-02-03T20:30:00.001-08:00

Grauman's-court
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Kathey-reading-in-boots

2011-02-03T20:29:00.003-08:00

Kathey-reading-in-boots
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Seagull-on-I-beam

2011-02-03T20:29:00.001-08:00

Seagull-on-I-beam
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Giraffe-sketch

2011-02-03T20:27:00.001-08:00

Giraffe-sketch
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Giraffe at Santa Barbara Zoo. Ink in Moleskine.

Missouri-River,-near-St.-Louis,-MO

2010-10-31T22:15:00.001-07:00

Missouri-River,-near-St.-Louis,-MO
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

I was in Saint Louis, MO a couple of weeks ago and had a little time before my flight back to LA. I found a place where I could walk down to the Missouri River west of town and I had just enough time to record this sketch as I sat under a big two direction highway bridge. The noise of the traffic was above and the peaceful powerful river in front of me was like another world.

Seaside-HIghland-Games,-Ventura,-CA

2010-10-31T22:14:00.001-07:00

Seaside-HIghland-Games,-Ventura,-CA
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Drum Major at the Seaside HIghland games. A wonderful day of bagpipes, athletic competition, herding dogs and carnival food.

As soon as I got home, I ordered a Clan Mackay t-shirt on line. This was a little line sketch from my new WC Moleskine sketchbook.

Ipanema-Beach,-Rio,-Brazil

2010-10-02T13:54:00.001-07:00

Ipanema-Beach,-Rio,-Brazil
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

View west towards Two Brothers standing on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. I was there last year and the late afternoon light and the exotic view was captivating.

Water color done as a class exercise.

Afternoon-in-Yverdon,-Switzerland

2010-09-12T14:28:00.001-07:00

Afternoon-in-Yverdon,-Switzerland
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

More homework for my watercolor class. Trying to capture atmosphere and master a difficult medium.

Church-north-of-Paris2

2010-09-12T14:27:00.001-07:00

Church-north-of-Paris2
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

This was the second attempt. Sometimes after you do a painting, it's good to try a second one to see if you can get more by doing less. I could probably easily do a couple more paintings of this, as I see areas each time that could be better or see other things I would like to try.

Church-north-of-Paris

2010-09-12T14:26:00.001-07:00

Church-north-of-Paris
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Homework for Joe Cibere's class. Had a couple of hours Saturday and cranked out 3 quick paintings.

Hidden-valley-2

2010-08-22T00:29:00.003-07:00

Hidden-valley-2
Originally uploaded by Spencer MackayThis was the re-interpretation of the scene. I took the time to adjust tha values to create a greater sense of distance and a more interesting composition. Interesting as a comparison and a chance to have a second go at the scene.

Hidden-valley-1

2010-08-22T00:29:00.001-07:00

Hidden-valley-1
Originally uploaded by Spencer MackayThis is the version of the painting done a couple of years ago plein air. I thought it was rather unsuccessful at the time and a bit muddy.

valley-exercise

2010-08-06T13:13:00.001-07:00

valley-exercise
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

In class study piece using wet in wet techniques. Used Joey Zbukvic painting as inspiration and starting point.

Mary-River-Falls,-Glacier

2010-08-06T13:12:00.001-07:00

Mary-River-Falls,-Glacier
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

homework piece from my WC class.

Ojai-Vally-Inn-Wallace-Neff

2010-06-26T15:16:00.003-07:00

Ojai-Vally-Inn-Wallace-Neff
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Plein Air water color sketch done in the late afternoon of a detail of the older part of the Inn, designed by architect Wallace Neff. The light was coming in at a low angle and I was trying to capture that and the wonderful warm reflections in the shadow side of the stairway.

Done in my Moleskine sketchbook in ink line , then watercolor tones added. Took about 45 minutes on site.

Family-Pool-Ojai-Valley-Inn,-Ojai,-California

2010-06-26T15:16:00.001-07:00

Family-Pool-Ojai-Valley-Inn,-Ojai,-California
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Family pool area of Ojai Valley In and Spa, Ojai, California. Done plein air in my Moleskine sketchbook while laying by the pool under one of the umbrellas. Ink line and watercolor.

Cactus-flower

2010-06-16T15:42:00.001-07:00

Cactus-flower
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

I was inspired by the booms on the cactus in my daughter's front yard during a recent trip to El Paso, Texas. Didn't have time to paint it then, but I've been harboring the urge ever since returning.

It was a quick one hour painting in watercolor.

sokashack1

2010-06-15T22:57:00.001-07:00

sokashack1
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

An old one while I am getting ready to load some new sketches onto my photostream. I found out that Soka sold the land back to the Santa Monica Montains conservancy, so I guess I should call it King Gillette Ranch instead. The shed is on the 660 acre ranch built by the promotor of the original disposable razor in the 1920's.

Rocks-and-hills-Charmlee

2010-05-02T14:24:00.001-07:00

Rocks-and-hills-Charmlee
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

This is an older waterclor sketch, but it reminds me of what the hills look like around here this time of year, so I am posting it anyway. Ah, Spring!

Lang Ranch woods

2010-04-30T22:20:00.001-07:00

Lang Ranch woods
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

I have started using Flickr more to post my work, but there is also the capacity to post onto my blog from my Flickr Photostream. Just trying that out. Had great fun painting this Tuesday afternoon. Watercolor on Arches 140 lb. block.

Flickr

2010-04-30T22:18:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Lang Ranch woods

2010-04-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

My head drawing class was cancelled again and I had some afternoon time Tuesday to do something, so I decided to drive to a spot about 2 miles from my house to do some sketch painting. There is a Chumash Indian museum in an area called Lang Ranch. Back in the day, we used to go camping here with the Boy Scouts, but now there is a nice museum on the land and a park.

I set up a folding chair under the oaks and found a spot where the sunlight broke through the tree canopy. There was an interesting tree with a dry creek behind and I decided to paint that.

Watercolor on Fabriano 140lb block. Took about an hour. Beautiful and restful, a great use of an hour.

Steam Locomotive Travel Town, Griffith Park, LA

2010-04-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sketched this locomotive Friday in Travel Town, part of Griffith Park. I met my son Craig on our lunch and we only had a half hour to sketch after we ate our chicken tacos. I got the ink sketch down but had to add the water color at home. I think next time I'll try something more close up. There are lot's of interesting shapes and castings on the trains.

Himeji Castle

2010-02-03T12:39:00.001-08:00

I had a chance on Saturday to visit Himeji Castle while on business in Japan. Himeji is about 20 minutes south of Kobe by bullet train. They've started a multi-year resoration project on the castle, but fortunately the scaffolds are only over on the end of the West Bailey at this point, so the beautiful Keep is still a great subject for photos and sketching.

I sat by the main gate on a retaining wall and did this sketch in my Moleskine sketchbook. It was really cold and I was wearing a knit hat and had my scarf wrapped around my neck and face.

A number of Japanese tourists were curious and came by to look over my shoulder. One little lady smiled and clapped her hands together as she bowed. It was very cute. She only spoke Japanese and left me a little note that I couldn't read, but had translated later. It was a recommendation on another castle she thought I might like.

Upper Treasure Lake cliff

2010-01-01T18:41:00.001-08:00

During this week off, I've been wanting to try another Pastel piece. I did not do this one outside, but did it from a photo from our backpack trip this summer. I'm posting it anyway as an example of experimentation in media. Actual size is 13x20 on gray Canson paper.

Zuma Beach on a rainy day

2009-12-31T18:09:00.001-08:00

I had driven past Zuma Beach the other day and it was so lonely looking with the food stand closed and the beach almost deserted. I wanted to go paint something Wednesday and remembered the scene. I went back, but it was too wet to sit outside and paint, so I took some shots and went back to my studio to paint it. I kept the colors and values light to give the feeling of the gray cold day drizzly day. 9x12 on 140lb wc paper block.

2009-12-29T23:02:00.000-08:00

I've been posting traditional media sketches up to this point, but I decided to post an image I did on my i-phone while waiting in the Cleveland airport for my flight to be called. The subject is not especially interesting, I just wanted to show what cool stuff you can do on the iphone touch screen with programs like Alias Sketch. The ability to paint with light is a cool departure and there is nothing to clean up! I'll continue with the traditional media, this was just for fun.

Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland - Town Center

2009-11-29T16:21:00.001-08:00

I get to Yverdon several times a year it seems. I posted a view of the old 1800's church facade on the square a few weeks ago, so I decided to sketch the square from the steps of the church facing the other way. The old castle dominates the square in the other direction.

Here is the result.

In Paris last week- Moleskine sketches

2009-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful Saturday morning sitting on a park bench for about an hour and sketching this view of the back of Notre Dame cathedral on its island in the Seine River. A couple of homeless guys were asleep in blankets behind me and occasional couples would stroll by, but I was pretty much alone. Weather was in the 60s and gray, but certainly comfortable for this time of year. I would have done additional sketches, but I had to catch a taxi for the airport to catch a plane to Geneva.
Paris has such great architecture. I sketched this dome on a department store near my hotel from the square in front of the Hotel de Ville, the "City Hall" of Paris. There was an old guy not too far away playing traditional French accordion music for tips while I sketched this. It really made it a Parisian (sp?) moment.

Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil

2009-11-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

I sketched this auto repair shop last week in a neighborhood in the Morumbi area of Sao Paulo. I leaned up against a tree and was a bit uncomfortable, but it was the best position available. Done in my highly portable Moleskine notebook.

Yverdon-les-Bains

2009-11-03T16:45:00.001-08:00

I did this sketch in my Moleskine sketchbook back in September on a trip to Switzerland. I didn't post it at the time, but decided to put in on the blog.

Sam's No. 3, Denver, Colorado

2009-10-16T14:41:00.001-07:00

I had a few minutes while waiting for a collegue to return before we took off to the airport. I walked out of the Curtis Hotel and found a planter wall to sit on and sketched this funky restaurant at the corner of Curtis and 15th in Downtown Denver. I sketched it in my 5x8 Moleskine notebook and added a little color later. Nice breeze and pretty warm too.

2009-08-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

Just this last week, 3 of my sons and I backpacked into Treasure Lakes, which is very up hill from Bishop, California. (My fourth son sadly had to miss the trip and take care of escrow closing on his new house.) We had all been looking forward to this trip for months and I made sure I brough along a small sewn sketchbook of Arches waterolor paper and a few brushes and my portable palette. The pages are loose, so it was more troublesome than a block, but it worked out in the end.

It was wonderful to sit on a granite outcrop on the shore of one of the lakes and try to capture the fantastic scenery. It was a bit overcast and the light kept changing, but it was so great to be far away from regular life and connecting with the scenes around me.

I would have painted more, but the fish were calling too.

2009-07-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

I just came back Saturday from Milan, Italy. On Friday, I had a little time to walk around the Grand Canal area and get some gelatto and sit and make these sketches in my Moleskine sketchbook. Each are about 5x8 inches and sketched in line on the spot, water color added later in my hotel room. A nice relaxing afternoon and a good way to experience the place. Somehow sketching a place connects you at a deeper level that just taking a photo.

2009-06-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

I just came back from the coolest trip to Dingle, Idaho (north of Bear Lake, if you know the area). It's been raining all spring and the hills are really green. Kathey and I and her brother Sid and his wife Vicky went to a farm house out in the middle of nowhere. It was great!

I got to give some water color instruction and paint for several days. We also took some side trips to Star Valley Wyoming, south of Jackson Hole, Preston Idaho, etc.

I love old farm junk and tractors. Almost every farm has a place where they just dump old stuff that doesn't work, but they can't bear to get rid of. The old truck was right behind the yard of the place we stayed and the faucet was just pure "rural" with the cast in letters and red paint.

Done plein air in my Moleskine sketchbook with water color added on the line work. I've got the sunburn to prove it.

Kirtland Temple and graveyard, Kirtland Ohio

2009-06-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

I had a chance last week on a business trip to Cleveland to go out to Kirtland and visit the old town that was settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1830's. I had never walked through the graveyard before and I was pleased to find old headstones of family members who died in the 1830s around that time. I sat in the passenger side of the rental car and painted this gouache sketch of the graveyard and temple in my Moleskine sketchbook. You can see where I painted across the fold. As you can tell, it was a cool overcast day.

Vila de Canoes favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2009-05-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

I got a great chance to tour a favela while in Rio at the end of April. It's generally not recommended to go in without a guide as the only govenment in the favela is the drug sellers. I tried to communicate the visual impressions I got with the makeshift powerpoles and the rat's nest of borrowed power, the activity of the people as they go about their business. This was one of the more prosperous favelas called Vila de Canoes. Favelas are squatter shanties that become towns on lands that were formerly public land. Often they are right next to very expensive resort properties and sometimes the views of the beach and mountains are unrivaled.

Water color on 7x10 Arches 140 lb. block.

Zuma Beach, Malibu, California

2009-04-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

OK, back to the landscapes. We went to Zuma Beach Monday with Christy and her girls. It was just beautiful. I brought my small sketchbook along and did this really quick impression of some kids digging in the sand in the low tide area. The other images is a quick sketch looking down the coast towards Point Dume. One with some pen line work and one without.

Werewolf

2009-04-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I know this is not a landscape. I was painting Disney princesses with my grand daughters and I got tired of so much refined cuteness. I guess my counterpoint was to do something scarey, so I grabbed a blank piece of copy paper and using the cheap watercolor set glued to the front of the princess book, I started with a mouth, leaving the white paper as the teeth and this is what came out.

Alexa (5 years old) was painting across from me and as the painting developed, she put up her hand by the side of her face to shield her eyes and said: "I don't think I'm supposed to see that!"

Shame on me!

Sketches from Switzerland and Italy

2009-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

I re-loaded these sketches as I thought the other ones were underexposed. All are water colors and were done a week ago in Switzerland and Italy.

Paramount Ranch 2-28-09

2009-02-28T19:11:00.001-08:00

Craig and I went to Paramount ranch this morning for a couple of hours. I had never tried pastels before and we had been talking about changing media and experimenting with something new. I felt I learned a few things about the medium and am excited to try again. The tree scene is pretty much how it looked, but I think next time, I'd like to push the design around to get a more interesting composition.

The sketch with the bush on the left was done more quickly and I think the design is more interesting even though there is less detail.

Both sketches around 12x18 on Canson paper.

Spice Market, Istanbul

2009-02-12T15:50:00.001-08:00

This is a view of the Spice Market and a nearby Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The weather was cold and rainy, so I painted indoors from my laptop. My wife Kathey is in the black coat walking towards us. Pen and watercolor in my small notebok.

Near Somis, California in the lemon groves 1-17-09

2009-01-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Where else but in Southern California can you go painting outdoors in January and have the weather be 85 degrees and sunny? Craig and I and Dorota (a friend of Craig's from Disney) went out a couple of miles beyond Moorpark and painted these great lemon sheds. It was such a great day with bicyclists, horse riders and a few others going down the road enjoying being outside. We were really left to ourselves other than an occasional greeting.

I did these on a 9x12 block of 140 lb. Fabriano cold pressed paper with traditional water colors. We just took the morning to paint and were back home around 1:30pm.

Cabin in the snow, Twin Peaks, California 12-30-08

2009-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

I thought this old cabin had great character with it's metal roof, red color and funky windows. Done in watercolor in my ring bound 6x9 sketchbook. I did some minimal line work in ink before going to paint which I think added something to the sketch.

2009-01-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

Everything looked so wonderful covered in snow. These cabin roofs were the view from where we were sliding on the cookie sheet.

2009-01-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

Next to our cabin there was a nice field with some slope. We were so eager, we went out with cookie sheets and the lid to a popcorn tin and went sliding. The snow had been rained on and had refrozen the night before so we had a really slippery time.

I decided to show the edges of my sketchbooks on these water color sketches to give a better sense of scale.

Siena Duomo

2008-11-09T21:13:00.001-08:00

The weather got too rainy to sketch outside, so I did this one in my room from a picture I took in Siena, Italy. I brought it up on my lap top and sketched it from there. Very ornate cathedral, but I tried to keep it simple and give the impression of the scene.
5x7 water color on 140 lb. Arches paper block.

Church tower Sanspolcro, Tuscany, Italy

2008-11-09T21:10:00.001-08:00

I sketched this church tower from across a small plaza while seated on steps in a doorway. 5x7 done with ink and water color in a sketch notebook I have.

Sansepolcro, Tuscany, Italy

2008-10-17T13:52:00.001-07:00

I go to Sansepolcro alot and this is the 9th time or so this year. I never really get tired of the place, it is small and not many tourists, you really get a sense of the place walking around. The people are very proud of their heritage and still compete in yearly cross bow competitions and like to dress up in medieval clothes. I sat in the window sill of a bank which was closed to make this watercolor sketch on 8x10 Fabriano cold pressed block.

The rough below is about 2 inches tall and was of another street scene I didn't have time to paint. Trying to get looser and let the paper do more.

York, England

2008-10-17T13:45:00.001-07:00

I had a chance to spend an extra day in York, a wonderful walled town in northern England. The York Minster is the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and certainly one of the most beautiful. It was cold and windy, but still a great time sitting and sketching. Sketches in ink and water color on a small 5x7 sketchpad.

The rough of the tower was painted direct with no drawing as an experiment

Mesilla ,NM

2008-08-29T19:37:00.001-07:00

I painted the church without doing a rough while sitting on a bench in the park. I ran out of time when Kathey, Christy and the kids came back to pick me up, so I didn't correct all the value issues. Later after studying the painting, I decided to try some alternate value schemes. These schemes are not what I actually saw, but they make a stronger picture. I guess that's the main lesson here. If I were to paint a studio version of this painting, I would follow one of the more dramatic value schemes in the thumbnails.

Slick Rock Park near Sedona, AZ

2008-08-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

I did these thumbnails of a fruit packing barn in Slide Rock State Park near Sedona. I didn't have time to do the larger painting, but the experiments on color and value were interesting. These are really small. just a few inches square.

Sketches from most recent trip to Italy

2008-07-17T23:05:00.001-07:00

These are three of the sketches I did on my latest trip to Tuscany. I've been inspired to try a few line sketches combined with water color. I will also try importing some of the sketches into photoshop and adding some color there. That's a medium I don't know as well, but the whole idea is to keep learning, right?

The airport sketch is in Zurich while waiting for the connecting flight to Florence.

I will travel to this area 3 more times this year on business. Tough duty, right?

Malibu beach and pier

2008-06-22T21:42:00.001-07:00

I spent Saturday morning with my son Craig and my brother Dean on a plein aire painting outing. We were originally going to go to Vasquez rocks to paint, but considering it was predicted to be about 110 degrees F, we opted for the beach.

It was still warm at Malibu, but MUCH cooler than inland. It was a beautiful day and the beach was full of people escaping the heat and there was a nice breeze which kept readjusting my umbrella and palette.

This water color was done on an Arches 10" x 14" 300lb block. I probably spent 2 hours painting. Because these are learning exercises for me there are parts I like and parts that I feel didn't come off so well. I decided to post it for the sake of the good parts and to keep the continuity of all the sketch paintings. If I were to do a version of this as a studio painting, I would work out a stronger value pattern and vary it a bit from what I actually observed for the sake of a stronger painting.

2008-06-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

The Top water color sketch was done from the terrace at Casa Buitoni and shows the view of Sansepolcro through the Italian Cypress trees. Our car came to take us to Florence before I was quite done, but I left the sketch unfinished as I sometimes overwork things anyway.

The pen sketch below was done in the city park with a statue of Peiro Della Francesca, the famous renaissance artist born in the town who was also the inventor of formal mathematical 2 point perspective.

2008-04-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

These are two sketches I did on my most recent business trip to Italy. The market scene was done in Florence in my sketch notebook and the pot of pansies on a water color block in Sansepolcro, Italy. I think the marketplace sketch came out pretty fresh and the experience with line and water color encourages me to try more of that style and to experiment in some new directions.

The pansies was actually the second water color I did in the garden at Casa Buitoni. My first did not turn out so well and looks overworked, so I am not posting it. Both sketches are rather smallish, around 5x7".

Chexbres, Switzerland

2008-04-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

These sketches were done last Sunday while I was in Chexbres, Switzerland. This is a small town on the hill above the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Vevey.

The small sketch was done out of my hotel room window as it was cold outside. It is pretty small ( actual image 5.5"x8") and took about 45 minutes counting time to let the paint dry. The larger sketch 9"X12" took around 1.5 hours. I found a great place at the end of a road in the vineyards, with a view towards the East end of the lake and the great mountains there. While I was painting, a few families were out walking and some stopped to see what I was doing. It was really a nice day and got warm in the afternoon.

I was fortunate to have been able to paint Sunday afternoon as the next day was rainy and windy all day long.

I'm going back to Switzerland and Italy next week and should be able to do a couple more water color sketches.

More pen sketches from Italy

2008-03-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

I also sketched these views while sitting in the gardens below Casa Buitoni in Sansepolcro. I was there for business, but it was really relaxing to be able to sit there and sketch in such a beautiful location. I have to go there several more times this year, so I will undoubtedly have more opportunity to select new subjects and do more sketching.

The one image is the backside of Casa Buitoni which faces the garden and the other is the view though the trees of the village of Sansepolcro at the foot of the hill. Casa Buitoni is a beautiful villa purchased by Nestle corporation after they bought the Buitoni group. They gutted the place and completely rebuilt it with a pilot production line and stadium kitchen in the basement. There are 9 rooms for guests, dining rooms, a living room and sitting room. It's a very comfortable place to stay and inspirational as well.

Apricot tree in bloom and Casa Buitoni Neighbors

2008-03-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

These paintings were done in about 1.5 hour each while sitting in the garden below Casa Buitoni in Sansepolcro, Italy. It was about 65 degrees F and sunny, a nice day indeed. They had been waiting for spring weather and I think it arrived the day after we flew in from LA. Painted on 140 Arches cold pressed.

Casa Buitoni Fireplace

2008-02-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Sketched this using sepia water soluble pens. Used a brush and water to get the ink to flow and create the wash tone. It was cold outside and the fire in the fireplace made for a cosy place to sit. The fine pen was dried out the the thick pen was too thick, but it was still fun. The Casa Buitoni is an old villa bought by Nestle when they purchased several food brands and was once owned by the Buitoni family, who were the first to make durham semolina pasta. The Casa overlooks the medieval town of Sansepolcro, Tuscany, Italy.

St. Paulus Kirche, Munich, Germany

2008-02-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

This watercolor was done on 9 x 12 Arches 140 lb. cold pressed block. I took my painting stuff on my latest business trip to Europe and
managed to get just one water color sketch done. I got plenty of good photos for inspiration for further painting.

2008-01-26T13:10:00.000-08:00

My son Craig prevailed upon me to post these. I had done them earlier in the year and had not put them up. The Hidden Valley sketch was done sitting on the side of the road with Craig sitting on the other side as I painted him in the post from last May.

The Duck Creek meadow was done on our Smith Family reunion trip this last July. I sat on the dam with the lake behind me.

Both are water colors done on 140 pound Arches cold pressed block. There are parts of the sketches I like and some I was less happy with but here they are.

Singapore Roadside

2008-01-12T13:56:00.001-08:00

I had a few hours before I had to leave for the airport, so I walked a few blocks south of the Hilton and found these cool trees near a private school. Everything is tropical and the trees have ferns and vines growing on them.

I did this in 15 minutes with water soluble pens on a 6x9 sketchpad

Singapore construction site

2008-01-12T13:43:00.001-08:00

I sketch-painted this construction site while I was in Singapore. There aren't many wood frame buildings there and much of the old stuff has been replaced by new high rise construction.

7x10 on 140 Arches cold pressed WC block

Broken Wagon, Paramount Ranch

2008-01-01T17:36:00.001-08:00

Craig qnd I went to Paramount Ranch and did sketchpainting in Gouache. I tried two, but the first wqs too ambitious in size and detail and I ran out of time and didn't want to post it as it was not really finished enough. I did a quick painting of an old broken wagon in front of a barn. It was about 30 minutes and painted pretty directly. Not too large, about 5 x 7 inches. Painted on cold press illustration board.

Great day to sit outside! Paramount Ranch was an inspiration an we plan on going back soon.

Christmastime in Utah

2007-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

These water color sketches were done looking out of the back door at my inlaw's house in Taylorsville Utah. The paper in my sketchbook did not hold water well and the wet-in-wet techniquesdid not come off well. I think next time I will go back to a Arches block with 140lb paper.

Deer in a field at Villa Panna, Tuscany

2007-12-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

This was a quick sketch done in water soluble ink in about 15 minutes. Cold afternoon, sun was going down.

2007-10-10T23:11:00.000-07:00

Another water soluble pen and water wash drawing. Tuscan hills from garden below Casa Buitoni in Sansepulcro, Italy. Done in my ring bound notebook in about 15 minutes. I was looking for a break from my normal water colors and these mateials were really easy to bring on this trip, no clean up to speak of, easy to break out and put away.

Hotel Privilege, Florence Italy

2007-10-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

water soluble pen with water wash, 15 minutes in my ring bound sketchbook.

Huerta Pioneros Barn, Colonia Pacheco, Mexico 6-23-07

2007-06-29T00:03:00.000-07:00

This water color was done in about 1.5 hours on 12x16 cold pressed 140 lb. Arches block. The clouds were building and we eventually had thunder and lightening and a few showers. A wonderful Saturday afternoon. The barn is an old log structure that was reconditioned recently to hold bags of fertilizer and orchard irrigation tubing. We slept for two nights in an old ranch house about 200 yards to the right of this scene. No electricity, only a solar panel with batteries. Water from a spring, hot showers by propane water heater. Not extreme roughing it, but pretty remote. 1.5 hours from the nearest small town (Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua) up a dirt road into the mountains.

Craig Painting

2007-05-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is a quick 20 minute watercolor sketch of my son Craig who was sitting across the road from me painting. My first painting was muddy and not well composed, so I decided a vignette of Craig would be a better subject than what I had been painting.

He moved while I was painting, so I didn't try to fix the anatomy problems, I just finished it up. The whole painting is around 5"x7". Water color on Arches cold pressed 140 lb. block.

Malibu Hills with a knife 12-28-06

2007-01-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

I had a few minutes while my son Craig was finishing his painting, so I decided to try a quick sketch with water colors, but only using a palette knife to apply the paint. In the end I did use a little brush work, but the knife made some interesting effects that I would like to explore on future painting outings. Took about 15 minutes, 9x12 140 lb. cold press Arches paper.

Storage shed at Soka University grounds, Malibu, CA

2006-12-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

This is a quick 9x12 water color on 140 lb. Arches cold pressed. Nice windy day but bright, low winter sun. Just a little storage shed. The bird actually did land there for a few moments, so I included him in the sketch. About 90 minutes painted all on site.

Peter Strauss Ranch 10-7-06

2006-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

I painted this on site at Peter Strauss Ranch in the Morning. Spent a couple of hours on it and finished it on site. Actual size is 12x16 inches painted on Arches 140 lb cold press block.

Kanab Bluffs 6-3-06

2006-06-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

This is a watercolor sketch done from the front porch of the Goodfellow house. We stayed in this house for a family reunion about 9 miles East of Kanab, Utah. The color of the cliffs and the expansive view was amazing.

I don't usually use white opaque gouache on my water colors, but I thought I would try a little to indicate the ranch houses in the distance and the dead branches on the near junipers.

I didn't spend much time improving the composition and I think it shows. I pretty much painted what I saw in about two hours start to finish in one setting. If I ever do a studio version, I would design a more dynamic composition.

Finished size is 12"x16" on D'Arches 140 lb. cold pressed paper (WC block).

Soka University Abandoned House 5-13-06

2006-05-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Watercolor done on site Soka University grounds 5-13-06 (12x16)

This watercolor was a bit large for a quick on site painting. I started paying too much attention to detail considering I had 3 hours or so to start and finish the painting. It was a good exercise for me with a wide range of values to deal with. The location was great and I had several other inspirations for paintings that I would love to go back and paint sometime.

I went with my son Craig again, who starts back up at Art Center this week, so it may be some time until we have a chance to go together again. Hr has a digital landscape painting class this semester and I hope to be able to learn from him as he experiences this class.

Our family has a trip scheduled to Kanab, Utah on Memorial day and I will be bringing my painting equipment, so I hope I will be able to post some additional work that will get done on that trip.

Malibu Creek State Park 5-6-06

2006-05-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

Gouache painted on site (8x10)

Gouache painted on site (13x10)

These sketches were done at Malibu Creek State Park on the same day in the order shown. You can see how the light changed from overcast to sunny as the day progressed. It was a beautiful day with a breeze. Sitting under an oak tree in the shade and enjoying the view was really relaxing.

I went with my son Craig who was on break between semesters at Art Center College of Design. The spot we chose was opposite the old MASH set across Malibu Creek. We saw many families, hikers and equestrians coming down the road as we sat and painted.

Charmlee 4-29-06

2006-05-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Watercolor sketch done on site (12x16)

Water color sketch painted on site (12x16)

Gouache sketch done above Point Dume (5x8)

These three paintings were done on the same day at Charmlee Park above Malibu. It was a great day starting out a bit overcast and then getting sunnier.