Gazebo in Spring- for sale
Another open air painting in Balboa Park- the Alcazar Garden. I really like this spot to paint- I guess it’s probably described as a formal Italian-style garden but with a mix of Moorish elements added as well. Nice place.
Highways & High Rises- for sale
A plein air painting of Mission Valley in San Diego. I guess technically speaking, the closest “highway” is actually the Trolley tracks.
Gas Station painting – for sale
A gas station in Kensington, San Diego, California.
This is really part of my Sunday Coffee series of paintings, which I’ve been painting over breakfast at various cafes around the city. But the original in this case is watercolor.
Hillcrest Watercolor- buy now
Painted over breakfast on an overcast Sunday in Hillcrest- at Whole Foods Market.
Termite Tent at Night – buy now
I loved the soft glow of this apartment building lit at night from behind the termite tent. This painting is one of my favorites.
Sunset at the Crystal Pier- Buy Now
Sunset at the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, San Diego. There’s a hotel with cottages on the pier- you can sleep right over the surf.
San Diego Bay Painting – for sale
An open air painting overlooking San Diego Bay, the airport, and Coronado from Mission Hills.
Spring Forward at the Kensington Cafe- for sale
Painted over morning coffee on the patio at Starbucks in the San Diego neighborhood of Kensington. It’s a really nice area.
There were great views in all directions, including a stunning Sixties Functional gas station and a Modernist library with trees growing through the architecture. I didn’t paint the library though; I got too discombobulated from Spring Forward. I’ll have to go back.
While I am primarily an oil painter, I love the immediacy of completing a loose pen and ink sketch highlighted with watercolor.
At this point, I think I’m going to have to call this a series: Sunday at Starbucks.
Craftsman House in Hillcrest Painting- for sale
I love the soaring lines on the gable in this Craftsman house- in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood.
Golden Hill Watercolor – buy now
Painted over morning coffee out the window of Starbucks in Golden Hill. Eventually I moved out onto the patio, since it was a beautiful February morning.
A gray day in the park.
Commission. This painting is unavailable, but here’s a link to my online store.
Church in Golden Hill- for sale
A plein air painting of a church- I think maybe a church converted to apartments, but I’m not sure- in Golden Hill, San Diego.
The church is Art Deco, I believe is the correct architectural period, but this painting session got shortened and I left out most of those deco details. It got fiercely hot on the hill on this January day, and even despite the UV umbrella, the UV hat, the special UV blocking shirt, I just felt like I was frying in my skin. My freckled, European skin. So I bailed! No deco for you.
Patio in Balboa Park- buy now
While I was painting in the patio outside the Museum of Man, my sister’s college friend from the Naval Academy jogged by. Small world!
Liquor store on the corner- buy now
Just painted this one at breakfast. One slight snafu when a very pregnant woman illegally parked in the red zone, blocking my view with her Prius. But she got her coffee and left quickly!
Archways- for sale
A plein air painting of the Museum of Man, from the Laurel Street (a.k.a. Cabrillo) Bridge. This was one of those where the light was going and it was getting cold- almost 60 degrees in February, which is practically impossible to deal with and I had to zip up my sweatshirt- but I tried to get one more painting out of the afternoon and I’m glad I did. Who does not love these buildings? I left off some of the Baroque twiddles because there just wasn’t time, but I love the archways.
Oh, and there were street singers while I was painting this as well as another piece which I haven’t photographed yet, but hope to post soon. It was original, nice, tenor singing, a guy and a girl playing together. All in all, a great afternoon.
Ah yes, and one more thing. If you’re in San Diego Sunday night, I have a painting in this juried exhibition- En Plein Air International Exhibition. The reception is from 6-9 PM at L Street Fine Art in Downtown San Diego. It’s a convenient spot right off the Trolley line and with ample parking. Hope to see you there!
