More drypoint

Four prints and the drypoint plate before I inked it. This one is the Hoover Dam.

Lake Mead prints

Some drypoint prints done using a cardboard plate (instead of metal or plastic). This one involved four plates per side, the drypoint plate and three color plates. The bottom print shows why "measure twice, cut once" taken too far causes all kinds of problems. My first print of the day, it's backwards and reversed in more ways than I can even explain.

Some work in progress

In case you think the lack of post meant I had not been painting...

This is what happens when...

I get worried that my stretcher bars are about to be discontinued.  I think I need more studio space...

Sketching at the zoo

Figure drawing

Some drawings from the Bay Area Models Guild fundraiser. Six hours of 10-20 minute poses. It's such hard work and reminds me how important it is to draw regularly. More than half of what I drew ended up in the trash. Painting the next day was so easy by comparison and probably as a result of all that focus. These are far from great drawings, but I like that they are part of my landscape painting process.

Mission Open Studios

Please join me this weekend for a spooky Halloween open studios. I'll have lots of new paintings and prints on display, and the building is full of amazing and talented artists. Details below.

Hope to see you there!

1890 Bryant St. (btwn 17th and Mariposa)

Studio 212

Friday, October 31, 6-9PM Halloween! Wear a costume!

Saturday, November 1, 11AM-6PM

Sunday, November 2, 11AM-6PM 

Sketching larger

I am trying to keep some of the loose quality from the smaller forest sketches below in this 50"x72" painting. So much harder to do at this scale! This is about eight hours of painting over three days.

Plant sketches

More quick sketches. Sometimes i just choose the hardest thing I can think of to paint and then see if I can pull it off. The reference images for these paintings come from hikes at Point Reyes. They're so fun and sloppy to make, and they inspired the large painting in the post above.

Magic

Here's the progress in one day on a little (22"x34") painting of the highway in Oakland.  It's so magical when the paint starts to look like more than just paint.

Some sketches from the studio

With several large paintings nearing completion and requiring detailing with smaller brushes, I get restless. I want to be messy and fast, and usually end up working on lots of little paintings like these. Because they are small and quick, they have a freshness to them that I am working to keep as I start larger work, but it's so hard. Still I try. Meantime, the studio is littered with little experiments.