Day 118 Roses

Roses (oil on canvas board, 8 x 10") was painted in less than 1/2 hour as a demonstration painting during my Wednesday afternoon Senior Coastsiders art class. For the first time, I set up a still life from which we all painted. Go to my sister blog called Coastside Artists to see some of the student's work. http://coastsideartists.blogspot.com/

Days completed: 76

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 247

Day 117 Oak at High Noon

Oak at High Noon (watercolor, 5 x 7") is painted from a photo by Pete Zell. We were at the Giants vs. Phillies game at AT&T Park Tuesday night watching the awesome HMBHS Cougars Marching Band play the national anthem.

Days completed: 75

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 248

Day 116 Venice Beach II

Venice Beach II (watercolor, 5 x 7") is like Venice Beach except the foreground is softer.

Days completed: 74

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 249

Day 113 Koi Fish

I painted Koi Fish (Brushes, iTouch application) while sitting in the dentist chair waiting for my new tooth. Outside the window were draping bushes, and I added the Koi from the memory of the Koi that I painted in Hawaii.

I tell you, I am a WRECK in the dentist's chair, but Dr. Vertongen sculpts my new crown on the computer screen, a laser mills it out of a ceramic block right in his office, he pops it in, and I'm out of there with a brand new tooth in one visit.

Days completed: 73

Days missed: 40

Days to go: 252

Day 112 Venice Beach

Venice Beach (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") was painted from the driver's seat in Harold, my Honda Odyssey, on Thursday as I killed an hour waiting for Claire at tennis practice.

I used salt and high contrast in the foreground, but I think the detailed foreground detracts from the focal point which is the ocean, cliffs, and gulls. I would like to try this painting again just sort of "blurring out" the foreground.

Days completed: 72

Days missed: 40

Days to go: 253

Day 111 Snowy Sunset

I painted this Snowy Sunset (watercolor, 5 x 7") last night while I was waiting for Claire at her "playing party", i.e., piano recital without parents.

Days completed: 71

Days missed: 40

Days to go:254

Day 104 Romeo's Pier

I painted a quick sketch of Romeo's Pier (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") before walking the dogs at the bluffs today. At first I had the structure its funny green color, but, as I finished, the light changed it to very grey so I added the grey quickly.

Days completed: 70

Days missed: 34

Days to go: 261

Day 101 Nevada Sky

I painted Nevada Sky (5 x 7") from memory also. The day was so gray, but a rainbow appeared in the clouds.

Days completed: 69

Days missed: 32

Days to go: 264

Day 100 Nevada Sunset

I painted Nevada Sunset (watercolor, 4 x 6") from the memory of the sunset the night Clay and I went down to pick up dinner in Yerington last Friday.

Days completed: 68

Days missed: 32

Days to go: 265

Day 93 Santa Cruz North Harbor

Collection of Warren and Jeannette Jolley

I painted Santa Cruz North Harbor (watercolor, 5 x 7") this morning looking out the window of The Captain's Quarters, the house that the Jolley's rented for the week to celebrate Warren and Jeannette's 60th wedding anniversary. Warren's family owned a house a block away from The Captain's Quarters when they married, and they went there for their honeymoon.

Even though Warren's family eventually sold the house to the Baptist Church who bulldozed it and put up a parking lot, Warren and Jeannette have many memories of visiting this beach and sending their own kids here with Grandma.

Days completed: 67

Days missed: 26

Days to go: 272

P.S. I would like to thank all my regular visitors for your gentle encouragement urging me to get back to my painting and blogging.

Day 91 Devil's Slide Path

I painted Devil's Slide III (watercolor, 5 x 7") while watching Warren's swim meet at San Mateo High School. (Swim meets have a lot of down time.)

Days completed: 66

Days missed: 25

Days to go: 274

Day 90 Flower Fields III

Flower Fields III (watercolor, 5 x 7") is the third painting in a triptych from Day 77. The three go together in a mat with three openings. I have painted this triptych in classes with students and have sold it before, too.

Days completed: 65

Days missed: 25

Days to go: 275

Day 84 Tulips

I painted Tulips (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") from some photos that I took of the garden at Lisa Spector's Music School and Coastside Photography. This building's steps are painted purple and pink so I want to do a couple more watercolor sketches and then paint an oil of it.

Days completed: 64

Days missed: 20

Days to go: 281