A small plein air pen and ink with acrylic in downtown San Diego. This is the view from floor 6 of the Horton Plaza parking structure. I painted this last year, on a hot windy day in winter. Today I went back in a silver rain and thought of this piece. Painting watercolor in the rain, of course, being a futile endeavor.
We picked up lunch here at the Bi-Rite on the way to the Legion of Honor. buy now
Julia asked the worker- sandwich chef?- what would travel the best. He had a beard and San Francisco pallor and gave the question very serious consideration before offering a measured response. He was obviously an expert (albeit in an obscure subject), and I liked how seriously he treated his sandwich creations, which really were excellent- perfect rustic baguette, salty prosciutto, creamy fresh mozzarella and basil or arugula or something.
Also I’d like to mention that the guards at the Legion of Honor did not care that we carried an entire box of wine into the museum. Later in the day after much time on buses and through different foggy microclimates, the guards at the De Young also did not care that we brought half a box of wine into the museum. Only in San Francisco, probably, god bless them.
A pretty great day.
Gentle gray light in The Mission. We waited at this bus stop for approximately 1 million years. Dolores and 18th. for sale
Another awesome termite tent in San Diego. buy now
I always find something to paint in an alley. for sale
From last year.
Painted en plein air, from the roof of 24 Hour Fitness in Hillcrest. for sale
A quiet alley in beautiful Santa Barbara. for sale
Fog in Hillcrest, San Diego. For sale
A hidden alley in Hillcrest. For sale
I liked the placement of these black trash cans, blue recycling bin, and mysterious brown bins in front of a Mid Century block in San Clemente, California. Buy now
Hillcrest- buy now
I’m not sure if anyone could park in these sagging things.
Orange Awnings – buy now
This Victorian block in the Gaslamp Quarter- downtown San Diego- now houses a Hooters franchise.
Transamerica Pyramid from Russian Hill – buy now
Another from my trip to San Francisco. I enjoyed watching the light change on the buildings as they swoop up and down the hills. Do buildings swoop?
Telegraph Hill- buy now
The Golden Hour on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, painted from the Embarcadero.
Such a beautiful city; it really is postcard-perfect.
I’m working in gouache here. I wanted to bring my oils but it’s such a drama flying with them. I like gouache as a substitute for oils, you can layer them similarly and the small tubes are great for your one-quart carry-on bag.
Golden Hill, San Diego – for sale
Saturday afternoon found me at a laundromat. I like clean clothes. I did not exactly plan this series that’s developed of paintings outside laundromats, but it has happened, and I like it.
This particular laundromat is in Golden Hill. Although Golden Hill is a chichi area with extremely expensive Victorian homes, the laundromat turned out to be a dank hole. It does, however, possess the critical amenity of ample parking and it has this tamale shop stuck under an awning right beside it.
I loved the tamale shop and the awning immediately and I had to paint it.