Friday, February 18, 2011

Singapore-Alley


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

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.

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Silver-Zephyr


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


Hidden-Valley-Oak
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Malibu-beach-houses-from-pier


Grauman's-court


Grauman's-court
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay

Kathey-reading-in-boots


Seagull-on-I-beam


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

Giraffe-sketch


Giraffe-sketch
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay
Giraffe at Santa Barbara Zoo.  Ink in Moleskine.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

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

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

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.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Ipanema-Beach,-Rio,-Brazil

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.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Afternoon-in-Yverdon,-Switzerland

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

Church-north-of-Paris2


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


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.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Hidden-valley-2


Hidden-valley-2
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay
This 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


Hidden-valley-1
Originally uploaded by Spencer Mackay
This 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.

Friday, August 06, 2010

valley-exercise


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

homework piece from my WC class.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Ojai-Vally-Inn-Wallace-Neff

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.