Hilary and Chester

The dog is Hilary and the cat is Chester. Hilary's painting will be up for auction at the East Bay SPCA fundraiser event GROWL, MEOW and WINE Festival on October 2nd. Last year Chester was auctioned off. I am also donating 3 custom pet portraits. The East Bay SPCA serves Alameda and Contra Costa County. Everyone's on a budget but if you can support, it is a great organization. If you would like to buy a ticket to the event click here.

Flower Garden

On Friday, I went to a plein aire class with Tim Horn (I worship his abilities) at Ft. Mason in the city. As we were packing up, my friend Sylvie agreed to pose for me while I took photos of her in the community garden. I have wonderful friends! This is a 5x7, acrylic on canvas. SOLD

Study of Rose

Rose is my next door neighbor. She too lives aboard her boat. She has been a great friend and we have really lucked out with her baking abilities! She is so nice and was agreeable about posing for me. I had just bought these parasols at the fair. They make for a wonderful halo. I chose this composition to do the rectangle exercise posted on Daily Paint Works. It is a 6x6 acrylic on gessobord. I call it a study because this was practice. I plan on making a larger work sometime in the future. SOLD

The Reader

I often paint from photographs, primarily because I have a day job and can't paint from life whenever I want. I do try to take opportunities, like a once a month open studio with a model or an impromptu opportunity like this painting. My mother in-law posed for me and in 2 hours I had completed it. There are mistakes but overall I was happy with it. This is a 9x12 oil on canvas. SOLD

Three's a Crowd

Since moving across from the commercial fishing boats, we have our fair share of seagulls. Pelicans are around too, but they don't occupy our flybridge. The birds know just when to wait for the boats return. Once they get their scraps, guess where they eat them? Guess what they leave behind? I like to watch them but hate the clean up. This is a 5x7, acrylic on cradled wood panel.

Chloe

Chloe is one of those dogs that tugs at your heart. She has great parents but it wasn't always that way and it took awhile before she warmed up to her nieghbors at the marina. Since becoming comfortable she has become such a love. Her parents spoil her and she even has a "fall line" of clothing she is excited about showing off. This is a commission, 8x10 acrylic on cradled wood panel. SOLD

Soup Mug

I stopped by my work place yesterday and borrowed a soup mug that I often use. Although it looks purplish it is actually white but these were the colors I saw. This is a 6x6 acrylic on gessobord. It is a submission for this week's DPW Challenge.