post-thanksgiving post

hmmm... interesting meanings for the word "post": as a preposition it means subsequent to or after something; as a noun it is a vertical upright support for something or as a means of sending something (think postal service or by post) and as a verb to announce, display or publish something.

November brought some fun times: painting and exploring the Santa Ynez river, 
a photo-shoot with the 'roses', spending 4 days at a painting retreat with close to a dozen other artists at Marcia Burtt's ranch near Santa Maria (added bonus of the 'super moon'), celebrating a 100 year old birthday with a dear friend from the sierra's and the holiday that involves all day cooking and a large fowl.

some gouaches from the ranch:

early morning fog, 3"x4"

'super' moonset 6:30am 3"x4"

sunlit hollyhock, 3"x3"


still finishing up some of the oils - it was wonderful to have whole days to paint in a beautiful setting. 

early morning light, oil on panel, 5 1/2"x 14"

I am posting images on the new 'rose compass' website - work from the watershed project. 
All six of us are posting images and thoughts about our experience out painting along the Santa Ynez river:
www.rose-compass.com

still green , 3"x4"

umbilicus flumine, 3"x4"

this last one was done from a view of Bradbury Dam on what used to be Cachuma "Lake". The water is so low that there is a flexible pipeline that moves water from the lake to the river below, through the dam. I was struck by the slice of landscape that I saw through the dam opening - something one would never normally see from the lake-side of the dam. It reminded me of an umbilical cord feeding the river - or maybe an IV tube. very sad.

On an upbeat note - I will have 2 paintings in the annual Sullivan-Goss Gallery "100 Grand" show and continue to show small gouaches at the Easton Gallery.

change of season, change of time

short, but intense and steady rainfall washed all the lingering dust and ash off the landscape. monday painting at the santa ynez river has been fruitful and so lovely to be outside seeing the 'fall colors' such as they are in our southern california world. getting up in the dark with the shorter days is rewarded by stunning morning light and color.

the "rose compass" group has been working along the watershed in preparation for a 2017 show at the Wildling museum. we are developing a separate website for that project, which should be up and running soon.

these are some of the small gouaches from the last couple of weeks:

dry creek with waterline, 3"x5"

riverbank, 3"x3"

sycamore by pool, 3"x3"

white rock, rey fire burn, 3"x6"

matchsticks, white rock, 3"x6"


and as a total change of pace, I did a wonderful 3 hour still-life workshop with Meredith Brooks Abbott.  it was great fun and a good group of people. she is a treasure and it was wonderful to watch her work. this was my effort:

parsley, turnips and lemons, oil on panel, 9"x12"


another work finished from the trip to humboldt county in september:

rusty barn, oil on panel, 10"x20"