How I build a plein air painting

I painted this beautiful house during this year's Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout in Alameda, California. I thought some of you might be interested in seeing my process.  The painting is on exhibit now through September 28 at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda.  Visit www.frankbettecenter.org for details.

My subject -- a beautiful historic home at the corner of Pacific and Benton in Alameda, California.

I often start with a charcoal drawing like this. Here I've swiped it with a paper towel to knock off some of the charcoal dust, to keep it from mixing in too much with my paint in the next step.

Next I reinforce my drawing with acrylic paint and erase any remnants of charcoal. 

Here's the first stage of my underpainting.  I use transparent washes of color, very similar to a watercolor technique, to establish a warm glow and set up the light/dark pattern.

In this middle phase I'm gradually adding some opaque passages of color to solidify form and pull the painting together. Even in the opaque areas I like some of the colorful, translucent underpainting showing through.

Here's the finished painting.  Although my colors are pretty wild, I feel they were inspired by the warm, friendly spirit of the house and neighborhood.

Remodeling in action

"Quonset", acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", first version painted in 2012

"Quonset", acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12", the same painting remodeled in 2013

When I first painted this interesting old farm building I was happy with my composition and the drawing, but felt uneasy about my color choices.  After living with it for about six months I decided to tone it down and cool it down, painting new colors right over the old ones and adding some pattern to the ground plane.  (Ah, the beauty of acrylic!)  I like the color harmonies better now -- what do you think?

Dottie Dancing

"Dottie Dancing," charcoal

Here's Dottie Lux twirling around in a big puffy skirt full of petticoats.  Fun trying to capture her in action!  Sketched April 15 at the figure group at CR Framing in Brentwood.

Ophelia Coeur de Noir

"Ophelia, Hands on Knees," charcoal and pastel



"Ophelia, Diagonal," charcoal and pastel



"Ophelia Bites her Glove," charcoal and pastel

"Ophelia Coeur de Noir," charcoal and pastel

Our model at the CR Framing figure group on April 29 was Ophelia Coeur de Noir, a beautiful and talented performer and tattoo artist with a "serious glitter habit!" 

Plein air today

"River Road Bridge" in progress, acrylic on canvas 12" x 24", May 10, 2013

Started this painting of the drawbridge just north of Isleton today.  Anything called a "drawbridge" is just begging to be drawn!

Solo exhibit highlights



"Harmonia," acrylic on canvas, 36" x 48"

"Otello," acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"

These large flower paintings are part of my current solo exhibit at CR Framing and Gallery in Brentwood. In this series I challenged myself to simplify and stylize the complex flower shapes, zooming in and cropping for dramatic design.  I love the beautiful clusters of tiny shapes in the centers of the flowers and the lacy, radiating pattern of negative spaces.  For harmony I limited my colors to a rich, cool palette.

If you haven't been to my show, please check it out!  It's a large collection of my oil, acrylic and pastel paintings with subjects ranging from landscapes and cityscapes to tools, trucks, toys and flowers. The exhibit runs through May 16 at CR Framing and Gallery, 700 Harvest Park Drive in Brentwood, California.  The gallery is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 3 pm.


Froggy in the spotlight



"Froggy Steps Out," acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

Here's a new one in my series of vintage toys.  This cute guy is a Rempel rubber squeak-toy from the 1950's or so.  I just love his perky personality and jaunty pose!