Just a second!

"in motion"   24"x24"  oil/canvas

Shaving creme? Cool Whip? Beaten egg whites?

Only a split second of early morning light hitting the foam left by waves crashing against a rocky shore.  I see these shapes all the time when I am in the water, and especially love the light of early mornings. As I study them I see the same forms appear over and over, the "pyramid" being one of them.  Trying to work a composition into something that is chaotic, unbalanced, and turbulent and constantly in motion.  Total opposite of the calm glassy waters I love so much.

Moving swell

I am always so mesmerized by the movement of energy in water, especially when that energy comes from so far away.. The idea of it circulating, moving as it crosses the ocean to end up as a wave as it nears shore.. I love watching the swells passing by as i sit on my board..a difficult feeling to put on canvas, better suited for video.. but I can still try.. Will this wave tumble forward? Keep on moving?

"traveler" 20"x20" oil/canvas  2013

Moving on...

I have been on the proverbial plateau for a while, not inspired by much and not painting., although thinking I "should." HOWEVER, a change is in the air.. Could it be spring? The rainy days? An inspiring visit to San Francisco galleries ?  In any case, here are my latest offerings:

Along with glassy water, which is my idea of heaven, I am strongly drawn to the moving energy in the water that produces a swell which eventually turns into a wave.. "Pulse" is inspired by that energy..

"pulse" oil/canvas, 18"x36"  2012

EVOLUTION OF A PAINTING

"On the move" is a reworking of "horizon". I had been looking at "horizon" for some time now and although I was happy with it when I finished it in 2008, I had developed an uneasy relationship with it in the past few years.. (it worked as a study, but not as a large painting anymore) So, I decide to let it talk to me and see what was needed, willing to sand the whole piece and start over.. Figured I could always dump it if I ruined it.. Got ride of the horizon line first and added a fog bank that had caught my eye in the water a few weeks before .. that changed from a bank of fog to the way the fog feels when it is almost upon me, but not quite..like gazing into the unknown... added some foam in the foreground and more texture in the water.. I am happy with it now and feel like I am trying to spot something as I gaze into the fog.. So it never gets tiring.. Fog more "impressionistic" than my normal style of painting..

"on the move"  oil/canvas   2008-2012

"Horizon" ( as is this painting no longer exists) 

The last one

I took a "staycation" last week, surfed almost every day, enjoyed our "summer" weather, clear calm warm, and nice waves..When the waves weren't good, it was just so darn nice being in the water I just paddled around, or sat on my board..stayed out with no "have to go home and work" voice in my head.. However, I am always looking looking when I am out there. Even surfed in a red tide one day.. They should call it "burnt sienna tide" and it only was that color when the sun shone on it.. 

  At home I stayed out of the studio, didn't think about painting .. I can feel the energy of something that wants to find it's way onto a canvas, just need to be patient about it..  Just like these past days, the waves have been good but I need to be patient and let them come to me , which they eventually do... 

  Ah, the things I learn from surfing.... 

"prussian sea" 16"x20" oil/canvas

"Prussian Sea" is the last of the 16"x20" series.. "Prussian " refers to the color of the oil paint I used..