Jack and the Beanstalk

An illustration for the Jack and the Beanstalk tale. A demonstration for my Illustration class. We talked about simplifying storytelling this week, so this was my take on it.

Norwegian Coastal Landscape

Two small watercolors from my trip to Norway this summer.The south west coast is fairly flat and rocky with dramatic large skies.

Go Troll Go!

My daughter Zoe is fascinated by Trolls. This is a new illustration with her riding on the back. Scenery from where I used to work in Jotunheimen, Norway.

Figure Drawings

Attack of the Killer Beatle!

Scary Clown...

A new watercolor that started out as an example for my Illustration 2 students. I am using a faceted shapes approach and then painting some on top. Colors could be more unified. I am hosting a drawing event at the academy on Halloween where the theme will be Circus or Carnival. Visual brainstorming here.

Exhibit at 79 New Montgomery

Some of my paintings will be on display at the Gallery at 79 New Montgomery Street starting Tuesday. All the work at the exhibit is done at the DeLoach winery in Sonoma county. There will be an exhibit at the vineyard as well later this fall.

Thailand

A new commissioned painting I finished a few days ago.
From the climbing area I visit when going to Thailand.

Another Troll...

A commission made for my friend Kenny. Loosely based off an illustration if have done before. This one is much larger and done in oils.

His nieces and half Norwegian so he wanted them in a folk tale from the area.
Just realized these images need to be resized. Will get on it later.

Pigeon Point

Went to paint on location last Thursday. Drove down to Pigeon Point a bit south of Half Moon Bay. Will try to go back to get used to the landscape again.

Some new San Francisco Paintings

Visit to DeLoach Winery in Sonoma

Went to Deloach winery and vinyard this last Monday and Tuesday to paint on location. This was a trip organized as a collaboration between our school and the very generous owner Jean Charles. 

First small study in the southern part of the vineyard. 

Looking towards the Santa Rosa Reservoir. 

Layers of green in the south part of the property. 

The Bees help are an integral part of this organic vineyard. And almost a physical part of my painting... they started getting pretty close towards the end of the painting process. 

Vines and Poppies reaching for the sun. 

Vineyard workers.

A quick sketch of the entrance area at DeLoach. 

Zoe with Troll

Here is an illustration with Zoe. She liked the color comp better than the finish.



Step by step including a couple of color comps.

On location painting

Went out yesterday to paint a little.
Stayed in the city.
This is a small 9x12 painting.

Rødrev og Askeladden

Syvende Far i Huset

A couple of new watercolors

The students in my illustration class are working on a
faceted shapes assignment and this is my example for them.

"De tre bukkene bruse" My second try at an illustration for
the Norwegian folk tale. I am not sure which
one I like better. This one was much quicker.
I will include a step by step on this one too if I have a chance.
I am not sure how interesting they are; they are primarily for my students.

Folk tale: Bukken Bruse

Step by Step Watercolor.

Sketches

Some sketches.
Color Pencil on Paper

Climbing Trip to Joshua Tree and Bishop

Some Creatures.

From Italy Summer 2008

I have finally photographed and scanned all the oil paintings from the trip. Still have some work to do on the watercolors and drawings. The quality is now closer to the original so I will go back and clean up past postings. These are some of them.

Umbrian Fields 9x12

Arco della Vittoria 12x16", a street in Corciano.

Santa Maria delle Grazie Al Calcinaio 14x18", a nice Duomo outside of Cortona.

The wall surrounding Corciano with Monte Acuto behind, 11x14

Towards Corciano 9x12. Looking across the valley from a small village

Sunflowers 9x12

Narrow Streets of Todi 11x14"

Montepulciao 11x14"

From San Agostino 11x14", the Monastery I was staying at.

Corciano Evening 9x12

Quick study as the light changed rapidly.

Museo della Casa Contadina 9x12"

Arte Del Gelateria 9x12. Our local ice cream joint.

Canal in Venezia 8x10, Watercolor

Ponte San Barnaba 8x10, Watercolor

Back from Italy trip.

I am back in San Francisco and finally have some time to upload some of the paintings done on the trip. The days were busy and I found it hard to set up to photograph the work. 

I ended up with about 40 oil paintings and some watercolors and drawings. Tried to do as much as I could. Right now I am looking forward to creating some larger studio paintings. 

Umbertide 12x16"

 

Umbrian Landscape 12x16"

 

Corciano Sunset 9x12. The pathway leading up to the place I stayed has a nice view of the town. 

The castle Pieve del Vescovo just out of town 9x12". 

The church in Todi 9x12"

Via Taragnone 9x12". The "main drag" in Corciano.

View from atop the city wall towards Monte Acuto and the town of Migiana 14x18".

Castiglione del Lago 12x16"

Olive Grove 12x16"

Arco della Cardinale Rotelli 9x12, Next to the piazza in Corciano. 

Towards Monte Tezio 8x10 Watercolor. Painted from the top of the wall surrounding town. 

Recent Trips in Italy

I added in some more photos from trips the last week or so. We have been busy. In some days we are headed off to Venice. Artwork is coming. I have done 27 oil paintings so far and some drawings as well. Trying to do as much as I possibly can while I am here. The work is getting a little better as I am getting used to the surroundings. 

Overlooking part of Cortona. 

At the city gate of Montepulciano. Very charming town in Tuscany. 

Night Photo from Florence. We were staying right next to the river. 

Looking down at the city of Florence from the Duomo. 

Climbing close to Pioggico

Christian climbing on the left. 

The area has 2 main wall and also some projects further back in the woods. It was in the shade and next to a nice stream. 
More technical climbing on the face to the left. They also had some new steep climbs on the arete. 

Went out with Christian and his friend David yesterday to a nice crag a little over an hour away. had a good time. The routes were good and my arms are tired. 

More from Italy

Museo della Casa Contadina, afternoon 9x12".

Fields at Migiana 9x12".

Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta 9x12".

From Colle Della Trinita 9x12". 

Bridge of Umbertide 12x16"

Porto Santa Maria 14x18"

Watercolor From Corciano 11x14"

My set up for the trip. I used a pochade box for all my work. Worked out well.  

Italy Update

We have had a busy couple of weeks here. Traveled to Siena, Assisi, Firenze, Orvieto, Todi within a short amount of time. Overwhelming. 

We went to see the Palio in Siena

The front of the Duomo in Siena

Inside one of the Gelateria's

Overlooking Assisi

The Piazza in Assisi at Night. 

Storefront in Assisi. 

The Duomo in Orvieto. 

Artwork From Italy so far

Sorry about the quality of the images. I just bought a used laptop and  I did not bring an image manipulation program with me to adjust colors. Some of these photos look quite awful. I will redo when I come home, but here are at least some work to look at. Most is done here in Corciano and a few pieces from Perugia the day we were visiting. All done on location. It has been a while since doing these plein aire paintings and I feel rusty. Hope it goes better as I practice. Will post more in a while. 

Looking over at Corciano. 

Oil on Canvas. 

A tower and the entrance to the central village inside the wall. 

Corciano Bell Tower. Watercolor. 

Corciano. Watercolor. 

A street in Perugia. Quite noisy as the motorbikes kept whizzing by. 

Watercolor. 

Perugia is filled with ornate buildings and interesting architecture. 

Photo ended up too dark. Mixed Medium.  

Students painting on Location next to an old castle. Not a bad way to spend the summer. Watercolor. 

Drawn from outside the National Art Museum at the Piazza in Perugia. 

The paper was white.. Drawing of one of the archways in town. Looking though the opening is the central Piazza in Corciano where they have the gelateria.