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.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lady-Harbor,-Santa-Cruz-Island
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Corseaux-sur-Vevey
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
I sketched this old electric train parked on a siding at the Vevey, Switzerland train station in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Singapore-Alley
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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.
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