We took a trip to Zion, Brice and Arches National Monuments a few years ago, and I just now decided to paint a "hoodoo" from Brice. I am trying to perfect the painting of rocks. These "hoodoos" are weathered by wind, water and erosion to form interesting shapes with beautiful, warm colors.

You can see that the colors are awesome in life and offer a lot to paint.

We went to see the Georgia O'Keefe/Ansel Adams exhibit at SFMOMA when we were in SF last Thursday. It is interesting how they became infatuated with the same kind of scenery...Santa Fe, floral, and haunting landscapes. They also were friends even though they were 18 years apart in age. Check this event out at: SFMOMA

I made a plan to paint a bit more of southern California, but I was not creating anything, not even one beach scene. Yesterday I found a reference photo of Point Loma, which is really out at Point Loma, California. This is away from the downtown of San Diego. The fun of painting rocks seemed to be a fascination. Anyway it got me started painting southern California.

The finished painting "Point Loma Tide Pool Site" is simple enough in color with texture defining the rocks.

Some of the paintings I will do will involve a trip to Bryce, Zion and Arches because there are so many rocks and cliffs. Check my Website for more work.

Cabaret in Paris

Recently, I placed a painting in the family room of the "Au Lapin Agile Cabaret" which is still a favorite haunt of Parisian's in Montmatre, Paris. It is the former hot spot for Modigliani and Picasso. It is the logo on the sign of the rabbit carrying a bottle of wine that gives the nightclub the name of the "Nimble Rabbit." It is a large painting of watercolor on yupo paper.

Coming soon to the Los Altos library will be the show from Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Association. The "Interpretations Show" will feature work that depicts poetry. Location:
Los Altos Library
13 S. San Antonio Road
Los Altos, CA 94022
Dates July 1-August 14, 2009
Check library website for hours: http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/losaltos

Thailand: exotic but accessible

The reason I was not writing a blog for a two week period, was I was in Thailand in May, returning May 27th. Although I had been to Thailand before, this was a personal journey with special people, now part of our family. Thailand has so much to offer the tourist with fabulous food, friendly people and exotic sights.

I chose not to photograph very much. Mostly I sketched and jotted notes in a journal. Many artists do this well. I tried this for my first time. I need more practice. Here are two images.

The first is a picture of the "floating market".

The second is a sketch of rambutan and mangosteen. I particularly liked taking the husk off mangosteen to eat the soft, white fruit inside.

This month there is the show at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art. The website: http://www.marinmoca.org/
The address is: 500 Palm Drive, Novato, CA this does not deal with Thailand, but with art that uses "found material." this is a fun show.

Art Scene in Marin

Saturday, May 30, 2009 was the reception for the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, 500 Palm Drive, Novato, CA. It was really fun, and I have to share some of the whimsical and clever wall art and sculptures that were in the show. The theme was "Alchemy, Artfully Reclaimed," with the use of found materials.

My painting, "Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall" was printed with inks using found materials. I used shelf papers and various items even off Andre's work bench. This truly is a curved building, and I have had the pleasure of hearing a concert in L.A. in the hall. Frank Gehry, architect, is known for his unusual buildings.

There was a cool, large piece of sculpture made with at least 100 paper bags folded, and Andre liked finding the pieces made with resisters and capacitors. One other favorite was a picture made of a mauve material, that on closer inspection was dryer lint. Who would have thought all this would make for a richly interesting show. The juror was Ruth Braunstein, who owns a very well-regarded gallery in San Francisco. I was pleased to be included in the show.

The show runs the month of June and ends on July 5th. It's worth a trip and the setting is the old Hamilton Air Force base, in the former Officer's Club. (Just as the Presidio in S.F. uses the former Officer's Club for art exhibitions.)