California Art Club Show

The San Diego chapter of the California Art Club will host Landscapes of the West, a showing of original paintings by San Diego artists.  Two of my works was accepted for the show, which opens on October 8th and runs thru January 11th, 2014. Artist reception is October 5th from 4:00 - 6:00pm at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum located at 131 Rea Avenue, El Cajon, CA. Glad to be a part of this strong group of artists.  Come out if you can!

Washington & Pacific Highway

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

SOLD

This was painted at a bus stop at Washington and Pacific Highway in San Diego, CA.  Another bridge painting in my continued fascination with these structures and how they integrate into the landscape. I like the different angles in this as well as the sign in the extreme foreground, which pulls the viewer into the painting.  This area is awesome, lots of junky and interesting things to paint.  Will be back there soon enough.

Cabrillo Bridge

8x10
Oil/masonite
Plein air

SOLD

This one was painted on Cabrillo Bridge, the bridge that goes into Balboa Park.  This was a plein air commission.  Glad I got to do it as I've been wanting to paint this view for some time now. For a plein air painter, you pretty  much can't go wrong from painting in any location in the park.

Sunset At Balboa Park

20x24
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

This painting is of a section of Balboa Park at sunset, the building east of the lily pond.  Under the eucalyptus tree on the left, the woman who commissioned it asked her then boyfriend to marry her. She is going to give this to him for their anniversary. Pretty cool!  This is painted a bit tighter than I would normally paint as the client wanted a little more detail in the building and trees.  She is happy with it so I am happy with it as well.  Love doing the commissions!

Trail At Marian Bear Park

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

SOLD

Marian Bear park is a place where you forget that you are in San Diego. Because the park is so tranquil, you also forget that 2 major highways straddle the east and west side of the park. Natural San Diego at its best! Love painting there, no doubt about that. In the mornings it's so colorful, with the light raking in and softening the foliage. When I'm in the mood for something non architectural this is the place.  Plenty of little critters to keep you company as well.

Bread & Cie 2

9x12
Oil/linen
Studio painting

Since the first "Bread & Cie" painting sold, I was asked to do another for a couple that relocated from San Diego to Oregon.  They wanted a piece of San Diego to take with them and this café was a favorite spot of theirs for many years.  Ahhh the memories.  But now they own a piece of San Diego real estate.  This version is different from the first one I painted (click here) as the view is farther away and at a slight angle.  I like the way the cars help to frame the painting. 

River Valley

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Click to purchase

There are tons of beautiful farms nestled in the valleys of Darien, Colombia.  I was fortunate to have stumbled upon this one.  On this day the clouds were hanging low and the air was breezy and refreshing.  The terrain is amazing, with tall rolling hills and lush green meadows, with many lakes and rivers.  I often think how much fun it would be to get a group of artists together and plan a trip to this area.  The hotels and transportation are affordable and the people are very friendly.  Truly a plein air painters paradise.

15FT - 2IN

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Click to purchase

This is a typical scene of late for plein air painters in San Diego:  marine layer, marine layer, marine layer. Usually this time of year the sun is out early in the day and paintings full of sunshine and shadows abound.  But this year it's obviously different, and that's okay because I'm still doing what I love to do.  Though most plein air painters I know prefer the sunshine, I can take it either way. Though I'm slow painter in general I can be a little more patient on overcast days because there are no shadows to chase and bright sun glaring upon me.  This particular scene is at the bottom of Hawthorne near India Street.  Looking forward to more grey paintings in the near future.

Cat Nap

12x12
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

Click to purchase

I caught this gentle giant relaxing from a long day while chilling out to another glorious San Diego sunset.  I really like this one and it was a joy to do.  It looks really sharp in its dark chocolate frame with pale gold interior border. It's been a construction frenzy here lately.   A lot of construction in my neighborhood equals more of these paintings to come.

Wired

6x8
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Click to purchase

This painting was done on a hot morning in Colombia, in the neighborhood of my mother-in-law.  Though it was painted in Colombia you can get the impression that it could have been painted anywhere.  Buried in all my recent San Diego plein air paintings, I found a few more from Colombia that I haven't posted yet.  The high horizon line and the ascending path caught my eye for this one.

5th & Robinson

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

Click to purchase

This bar, The Brass Rail, is on the same block where we live.  At night when we go to bed we can sometimes hear the distant sound of heavy bass from the music that is played there.  It's white noise after living here all these years. Being so close to the big LGBT Pride Parade this weekend I thought it would be a good time to post it.  It's the 4th largest LGBT parade in the nation and an estimated 200,000 people will be at the parade and it's festivities.  The Brass Rail is one of many gay bars that populate Hillcrest, our neighborhood.  To me it's one of the more visually interesting bars to look at, especially at night.  So here it is in all it's nocturne glory.  Should be an interesting weekend. George Takei is one of the grand marshalls this year.  "Oh my........"

New Gallery & Florida Canyon

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Click to purchase

I'm always amazed that scenes like this are so close to where I live.  I live in the middle of a bustling, loud and always vibrant neighborhood.  Apparently not too far from places like this. This was painted on a grey morning in Florida Canyon, just off Balboa Park here in San Diego. I'd like to do a series in this area as there are a lot of scenes to choose from. This painting, along with 7 others, are featured in my new gallery.  That's right, I said it, new gallery!  I am excited about my new digs and I hope good things come of it.  The name of the gallery is Siamak Gallery and is located at 1250 Prospect Street, Suite A20 in La Jolla.  If you venture into La Jolla check it out.  The gallery represents a good number of artists and I am happy to be a part of the gallery.

Buzzing By

11x14
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

Been doing more studio works lately, this one included.  I love painting night scenes and this one in particular was fun to put together.  This is from photo reference that I took when I was in Cuernavaca, Mexico a few years ago.  After all this time of wanting to do it, I finally got around to it.  Funny how that happens.  I have a lot of other reference for that trip so hopefully it won't take another 3 years to get to that.  One thing I do like is the challenge of low or high horizon lines, so this one fits into that category.  I really like the atmosphere in this one and how the colors are modeled together.  And the prospect of painting signage always gets me going as I am really fascinated and attracted to them.  Especially vintage or odd looking ones.... even the occasional billboard.

Dog Park

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

SOLD

Here is an across the canyon view of dog park located at Balboa Park in San Diego. The famous California Tower sits in the distance, the tallest building in the park.  Over the years this building, and the one next to it, has been the subject of past and living artists, as the the architecture and its powerful presence attracts many.

Below are a few of my favorite paintings of these buildings.

This is by Maurice Braun who lived and painted in San Diego. Though born in Hungary he lived in San Diego from 1909 until his death in 1941.  You can read more about his interesting history here. This was painted in 1915 when there was still water underneath the Cabrillo Bridge.  The water is now highway 163.  Back in the day he had an art academy on B street.

These two are by San Diego artist Robert Watts.  Hands down one of my favorite plein air artists and in my opinion the best in San Diego.  His studio paintings also give me a charge.  Check him out here to see more of his work.  He teaches plein air painting classes at Watts Atelier in Encinitas.  I took a few of his classes and learned a ton.  Good stuff!!

Paintings, Prizes and Panda Express

16x20
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

Click to purchase

Once upon a time, every Friday night after a long week of working in the theater, my pals and I would walk to Nunu's to blow off steam.  A dive bar, complete with diner booths, cheap motel carpet and food that sticks to your ribs this place was our haven for libations.  If the walls in this place could talk....... well, then again, it's better that they can't.  I'll leave it at that.  Anyway, one night while strolling the neighborhood, I came across Nunu's in all it's dusk glory so I snapped some shots and came up with this painting. Last night I attended the San Diego County Fair art show and learned that Nunu's received an honorable mention in the oil cityscape category.

Then I learned that my plein air painting, Water Tower (below and posted on April 6th), won first place in the same category.  After viewing all the art and chatting it up at the reception, my wife and I went to Panda Express for a low key celebratory dinner.  The fair runs from June 8th thru July 4th and the Del Mar Fair Grounds.

SOLD

Proud Classic

12x12
Oil/masonite panel
Studio painting

Click to purchase

This car sits not too far from where I live, so every time I saw it the temptation to do a painting grew stronger and stronger.  I did a couple of plein air studies before arriving at this studio piece.  I find the square format interesting in terms of composition.  More than half the painting is the street and most of the painted elements are on top.  But I think it works well due to the shadow of the pole leading the eye to the car.  Since painting this I have spotted more classic cars that might soon get a visit from me.

Francys

11x14
Oil/masonite panel
Studio

A nice little departure from my landscape paintings, doing a portrait always reminds me that I should do it more often.  Because it's a BLAST! This is my lovely and amazing wife Francys.  Hopefully more will come.

Pink Denny's

9x12
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

I remember when I first saw this building when I moved to San Diego in 1993.  It was an assault to the visual senses.  It screamed at me then and it screams at me still every time I pass by.  It's like someone dumped a giant bottle of Pepto Bismol over it. And of course it has a interesting and colorful history. The building is in the Art Deco style and is believed to have been constructed about 1941.  It was originally Top's Nightclub and Motel.  Not sure when the motel shut down but the building was bought by Tom Fat in 1977.  He spent 3 years bringing it back to its glory after the building spent many years boarded up.  It was painted pink at that time.  Denny's is still operating there.  Two other business that also occupied the building, Fat City Bar and Steakhouse and China camp are now closed.  A six story hotel, apartment and retail space is slated to be constructed in its place starting sometime in 2013.  A lot of people pushed to preserve the building and make it a historical landmark.  Not sure what is going to happen, but I heard the facade might remain intact and be a part of the new building.  I am glad I got a chance to document this San Diego icon before it's gone.

This painting, along with another painting of mine, will be in a group show called "Capture The Light".  All the paintings in the show will be plein air paintings.  It is sponsored by the La Jolla Art Association and the opening reception will be from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday, May 18th.  The location is 8100 Paseo del Ocaso, Suite B, La Jolla, CA 92037.  The show will run through June 16th.  Everyone is invited, hope to see you there.

Afternoon Light

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Late afternoon is always a great time to be at Balboa Park.  Especially on sunny mild days.  The light is beautiful and shadows are longer. Though this scene is not the usual palm trees, museums and Spanish architecture the park in known for, there are parts of the park that is off the beaten path.  This view is off the Balboa Park exit from Hwy 163 north (but looking in the other direction as I walked against traffic to get there).  I'm guessing where the fence is was an on ramp to get onto the 163 south just before the Cabrillo Bridge.  What I like about this scene is that it doesn't seem like it's in San Diego, it could be in the mountains or foothills somewhere.

Freeway Palm

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

When I paint in Mission Valley I try to imagine the paradise it must have been before I-8 and all the malls and condos were there.  I imagine past San Diego artists like Alfred Mitchell, Charles Reiffel and Maurice Braun painting away in this valley.  Though now the valley is way different from when they were here (1890 to 1940 more or less) a different kind of beauty is found.  The palms and plants still shine bright no matter if the concrete jungle dominates the landscape.  This one was painted near the transit station at Fashion Valley Mall.

Old Town

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Painted at San Diego's Old Town, near where we live.  The area has a lot of historical architecture, very touristy.  This is a house called La Casa de Estudillo.  I love to paint architecture, especially old architecture.  Haven't painted at Old Town for quite a while and I'm glad I did.

Bread & Cie

8x10
Oil/Masonite panel
Studio painting

This is one of the paintings in my current show.  It's the only studio painting in the group.  I like how it turned out, all the angles and simplified values.  Though I love painting outdoors, it was nice to settle inside for a studio painting.  I am currently working on a couple other studio paintings, will share those when they are ready.

Water Tower

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Direct from North Park, the famous water tower.  This is visible from pretty much anywhere, a staple in the community for many many years.  From where I painted it will not be very good view soon as there is going to be a building blocking the way, as noted by the construction site in the foreground.  This painting and many others of San Diego will be on view at Bread & Cie Cafe in Hillcrest for the entire month of April.  Today, April 6th, there will be an informal opening for 20 of my plein air paintings that will be on view there.  I will be at the cafe from 3pm to 5pm today to hang out and chat about the paintings.  The cafe is located at 350 University Avenue.  Please drop by and enjoy some local art and delicious cafe cuisine and sweets.

Smog Check

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

This corner smog station caught my eye in a hurry.  It was a blustery day, the clouds were quickly on the move and the sun wouldn't decide to stay or go.  It was a good challenge, another day at the art gym.  I love paintings with signs, they add an interesting element.  Though this sign is simple, I've been scouting out other places with cool vintage signs.  More to come......

Sitting On The Job

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

I was on my way to the beach to paint the waves but....... I happened upon this construction site.  And I'm glad I did.  This one felt like it painted itself.  It was one of those rare occasions (for me anyway) that the process from beginning to end felt pretty damn good.  Relaxed, in the zone and my brush and paint doing what I intended.  To be in that zone to me is like meditation.  The composition in this one struck me as there really isn't much perspective.  Foreground and background and not much more.  It's pretty much a profile, but it's the shapes and colors is what did it for me.  Near the end when the birds landed on the power line I knew it was near completion.

Junipero Serra Museum

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

This painting was done at Presidio Park, in San Diego, CA.  This building is the Junipera Serra Museum and is in the Spanish Revival architecture.  It is meant to resemble the early missions that once dominated the landscape of Southern California.  Once a month the San Diego Chapter of the California Art Club meets to paint a certain site.  I finally made it to one of these paint outs.  It was great to see some faces I haven't seen for quite a while, and I look forward to getting more involved with the club.  The club was founded in 1909 with the idea of promoting and supporting contemporary and traditional fine art.   The range of talent in this club is HUGE.  It's an honor to be in this organization.   This particular morning was pretty foggy and cloudy, which are conditions I love to paint in.  Thankfully I completed about 90 percent of the painting before the sun came out and drastically changed everything.  I always forget how beautiful this park is and maybe more trips are in store since it's so close to where I live.

Sleeping In

8x10
Oil/cotton panel
Plein air

I like the perspective of this one, especially with the city skyline in the background.  Painted one fine Sunday morning off the I-94 east in San Diego.  Someday, before I leave this earth, I shall cruise this country in my RV and paint paint paint.  Until then, I will paint them and be reminded of my goal.  I thought the camper was empty, then all of a sudden a guy opens the door and stumbles on out.  He was happy that I was painting his home and offered breakfast.  The folks you meet whilst painting.

Kickin' It At The Cliffs

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

This one was painted as Sunset Cliffs, just west of Ocean Beach.  It was a beautiful, crisp and sunny morning.  I'm sure the locals have a name for this natural wonder but I am unaware of it.  Perhaps also it has been painted many times over the decades.  And rightly so.  This area draws all walks of life, a great place to enjoy the coastal beauty San Diego has to offer.  I want to paint the other side of this one sometime soon, but also incorporate a surfer or two walking across.  Apparently this is one of the areas where the surfers lower into the water.  I'm always amazed at the color of the water at Sunset Cliffs.  So vivid.  I love the way the foam forms after the waves pummel into the cliffs.  After crashing, they morph into ornate white lace curtains floating on the water then disappear.  Will be getting back to this place soon.

Service Road

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

A concrete tube.... a dirt road..... and being able to paint underneath a nice shady tree.  A good way to start a day in my book.  Another scene from Colombia (though it looks like it can be anywere really). 

Down By The River

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

But on the banks of Rio Calima, not the Charles River..... (Thank you Standells!!)  El Rio Calima was a joy to paint.  How could it not be, with food on the grill, tropical weather and nice cool river to swim in.  Another lazy afternoon with the in-laws in Colombia.  This was especially fun because because I rarely have the opportunity to paint a river scene. Hopefully more are on the way.

Semi Lazy

8x10
Oil/masonite panel
Plein air

Looooved painting this one!  I don't know what it is about roadside junk but for some reason it speaks to me.  This was painted along side of the Pacific Highway in San Diego on a sunny morning.  Sometimes ready-made compositions are waiting to be discovered on the side of the road.  Been wanting to do this one for quite a while and glad I finally got around to it.  I'm thinking maybe a larger studio piece might be a possibility from this one.  We'll see......

Futbal Anyone?

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Painted on a very hot day, too hot for anyone to be play soccer that's for sure.  And that was at 10am in the morning.  This field was always busy in the afternoon when the weather was a bit cooler (but not that much cooler).  I was lucky enough to be situated underneath a nice shady tree with all the pesky mosquitoes.   All was good, another day in the life of a plein air artist in Colombia. 

Fill-er-up!

 
6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

This was painted underneath a freeway bridge on a rainy San Diego morning.  What caught my eye about this scene was the unique perspective of a high horizon line (this horizon line is above the viewers eye level) so you the view are looking up at the subject.  I was standing on a downhill incline underneath the bridge.  I love paintings that have a high or low horizon lines and it's also a chellenge as well to execute with composition.  On grey days colors to me are more saturated, more chromatic.  The yellows and oranges were so bold in this kind of light.  Looking forward to more rainy day paintings!

Alley Garage

6x8
Oil/Linen panel
Plein air

Painted on a nice, cool San Diego morning.  This alley is near our apartment.  So many interesting things to paint in my own neighborhood of Hillcrest.  I really like the old garages that populate the alleyways here.  In most cases I find them more interesting than the houses on the main streets.  Everything seemed to great for this little painting until the "art" police showed up.  Turns out the guy across the way was concerned that I would get hit by a car from where I was positioned.  I think he just didn't want me there, some strange and dangerous art guy minding his own business.  Maybe my brush strokes were a bit too loud for his beauty sleep.  The officers really enjoyed the painting and we chatted for a while.  After the two patrol cars left I eased back into my painting........ and all was good.  What I like most about this painting is the color in the shadows and the strong raking morning light.

Mini Bus

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Painted on a Sunday morning in the neighborhood where my mother-in-law lives in Colombia.  As I was painting there was a sermon going on to my left.  And the building pictured in the painting doubles as a church and auto mechanic garage.  The mini buses down there are very colorful and each one has its own personality in the way they are decorated inside.  And all of them are tuned into a salsa music station for your enjoyment.  In fact most of the places I painted at there was usually salsa music playing in the distance.  But on this day I heard the sermon of an energetic priest.  That was a new one for me while painting.

Overpass

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

A view of the skyline of San Diego! Well, if it were not for this overpass pass blocking the view. Though it looks like I was positioned on the road, I was just off to the side. Cars, trucks and buses were zooming by. For whatever reason my love for painting freeways bridges still gets the best of me. More to come for sure! I love painting on clear, bright days because of strong and pronounced shadows. This makes for a stronger composition. This was a beautiful San Diego morning.

Mountain Farm

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Green, green and MORE green. Green was a big challenge while painting in Colombia mainly because it's a tropical country. If one isn't careful with green the painting can go south in a hurry (done plenty of those!). The big challenge is to add some variation with temperature and value in order to seperate the greens. In real life, standing in front of this scene with eyes squinted, it pretty much read as one solid dark value with little variation in temperature. Not good for the painting. I didn't do much here with value, but instead wanted to seperate the greens using temperature and chroma.  This is a farm that we visited that belongs to the uncle of my mother-in-law.  He and his wife have lived on this farm for many many years.  No road leads to this place, only a footpath.  Such the serene and tranquil life.....

Pance

6x8
Oil/linen panel
Plein air

Well it's good to begin the new year with a batch of plein air paintings!  And actually I ended 2012 the same way I started 2013, painting outdoors and loving every minute of it. Thank God for vacations!! My wife and I spent 5 awesome weeks in Colombia for Christmas and New Year. We got back to reality (San Diego) last week. Though it's my fourth time in Colombia, this was the first trip that I was able to take my plein air gear. And I'm glad I did! I got a nice dose of inspiration. This first post was painted at a little mountain town called Pance, a popular destination because a river runs through the village and a lot of poeple like to swim and enjoy the cooler temperatures.  By bus, it's about 2 hours outside of Cali, Colombia (where my wife is from). What you don't see in this painting is the bus ride.  We were in a 25 seat bus (all occupied) and an additional 30 people were standing during the trip.  Incredible.  I was one of the unlucky ones standing and I was clutching my plein air gear the entire way up.  But it was all worth it.  This village had a lot of offer as far as things to paint.  I could have spent an entire week there.  More to come!

New Paintings

The following 15 paintings (below) are on view until December 8th at Bread & Cie Cafe. They are located at 350 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103. Thanks to all who attended the opening on November 12th! It was to chat see you and chat some art.

Pancho Villa

6x6

Oil/masonite

Studio painting

Sold

Rose Canyon

6x6

Oil/masonite

Studio painting

Sold

Off Duty

6x6

Oil/masonite

Studio painting

Pt. Loma Cactus

6x6

Oil/masonite

Studio painting

Torrey Pines

6x6

Oil/masonite

Studio painting

Sold