boats

Mornings in Monterey

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Monterey CA marina

Was in Monterey this week for a conference, so I went off to sketch before breakfast each morning.

Monterey CA wharf

Monterey2

oil

View from My Doorstep

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Santa Teresa, San Jose, CA

Last weekend, I challenged myself to paint close to home. As in right outside my door! I'm really enjoying water-soluble oils for plein air work. This was painted with Winsor & Newton Artisan oils on a small gessoed panel.

barber

Escaping the Rain: Los Angeles

Saturday, January 28, 2017

We drove down to LA over MLK Jr. weekend to escape the deluge here in the Bay Area.

To pass time before a dinner reservation, I decided to get my hair cut and ended up sketching Oyuna, the owner/master stylist at New Look Salon as she worked on another customer. I like what she did with my hair.

3rd Street Hair stylist LA

The next day, we had breakfast overlooking the ocean in Rancho Palos Verdes. I was hoping to see tidepools at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, but we didn't find any.

Rancho Palos Verdes CA

On the way home on Monday, we stopped in Santa Monica. I set up my Strada easel and painted the thick clouds above the ubiquitous beach volleyball nets.

Beach volleyball, Santa Monica, CA




















Still searching for tidepools (no luck), we paused at Carpinteria State Beach near Santa Barbara. I sketched the people walking along the sand.

Carpinteria State Beach, CA




cafe

Three from the Road: Connecticut

Sunday, January 08, 2017

Mystic road shadows

I didn't do a lot of sketching over the break. It was a whirlwind of family and friends in three states.

Christmas Eve church service Dec 2016

But it was really good to be back on the other coast. And to have my usual blueberry rooibos tea at our favorite cafe, Lorca, in Stamford, CT.

Lorca Dec 2016