WATERBABY'S CIRCUS

Teasels in Fall Watercolor, 24x30" The El Cerrito Art Association's Annual Show went off without a hitch last weekend, with a record number of entries and healthy sales. The above watercolor was recognized by the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce with a very nice award. I'm so happy, because this one was a struggle and almost went into the recycling bin. But as other artists have noted, the process of creating your work is similar to raising kids, in that there's a really ugly phase they put you through before you can see the fruits of your labors. So glad I stuck with it! Then, another surprise - a Second Place in the Acrylics division for one of my plein aire paintings! This one: Kellers Beach Acrylic, 11x14" Too much good stuff! And it only got better - this one sold. Sorry to see it go, but there's more where that came from! The past two weekends have found me out painting in the Napa Valley wine country and I'll be there again this Saturday. The fall co...

El Cerrito Art Association 33rd Annual Art Show & Sale Reception & Meet the Artists Friday, October 2, 2009 7:00-10:00 pm Champagne will be served Art exhibit and sales Saturday, October 3 12:00-7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 10:00-4:00 p.m. El Cerrito Community Center 7007 Moeser Lane in El Cerrito, CA I'll be showing my acrylics: as well as three new watercolors. I'll virtually see you at the reception!

I occasionally go out painting with a pick-up group of artists, mostly but not all members of the El Cerrito Art Assn. On a return trip to China Camp a couple months ago I did this rough sketch. It was only intended to help work out the values and colors of what was to become a larger painting. So it's blurry, with pencil smudges and not a lot of detail, but now that the large painting is completed, I prefer the spontaneity of this small unfinished version. The atmosphere of a bright summer day is still there, and though the old fishing boat looks a bit awkward, it seems to help it look like the relic it is.

A half dozen of us, some members of the El Cerrito Art Assn. and others not, spent the morning at China Camp State Park . I like to paint there. Give me a beach and some sun and I'm a happy little camper. I think I did a little better this time. My attitude has changed. Now I'm more, just get the paint down on the paper, quit screwing around. No more wimpy little bleats of watery color. You've got two hours, Just Do It! So I'm getting down a very rough pencil sketch, not dinking around like I have a tendency to do. Mix up a nice soup of colors and go for it. Well, the results. Once you get it back home, you can always find plenty to not like. I tried to think about saving some light areas, but they mostly disappeared. The overall mood is pretty subdued, except for the bright sky, which now seems incongruous. And those white ripply things in the water just don't work, if they're waves, they're heading the wrong way. The hills in back are too intense in relat...

Today was a plein air day. I met up with some other members of the El Cerrito Art Assn. at a garden nursery in San Pablo called Annie's Annuals . Tho I'd driven by before, today was the first time I actually went in and was hugely rewarded for my efforts. Just tons of plants to look at and buy, but what I liked most was the planted areas. If only I could transform my square of dirt that I generously call my yard into something like these. I painted for a couple hours in my sketch book. Then went searching for some plants. Although there are literally thousands of plants and flowers to choose from, I eventually narrowed my purchases down to 4 or 5. My criteria are tough: must be able to withstand drought conditions (cuz you won't get much water from me); be able to survive severe to total neglect; have a natural repellant that discourages weeds, snails, slugs, and hopefully raccoons; and ideally, be self-pruning and gorgeous. I know, I demand a lot. But there are a few thi...