From Carmel

I love painting in Michigan and I love painting in Hawaii, but California was really made for painters. With such variety of subjects from the mountains to the coast, golden hills, farms and cities. And the foliage: ancient, giant trees, palms, cactus, and wildflowers. Four days was hardly enough, but the Carmel Art Festival was a great experience. A perfect, little, picturesque town for plein air. I concentrated mainly on the coast and wished I had more time to explore inland.

The town is jammed with galleries. Many of the artists in the event were represented there. There are some galleries showing only 19th and 20th century California art. I saw my first Edgar Payne’s up close and personal. This 29" x 29" Sierra painting was amazing, and only $145,000.

Here’s a few of mine. Can’t wait to get back there.

California color, oil, 10" x 12"

China Cove morning, oil, 16" x 12"

Toward Pebble Beach from Carmel
oil, 9" x 12"

Leaving for Carmel

I'm happy to have been juried in to the Carmel Art Festival starting later this week in Carmel, California. Two days of plein air painting with a show to follow. I'm honored to be among some great artists: Randy Sexton, Kevin Courter, Brian Blood, Robin Purcell, Marc Dalessio, Thomas Kitts, and many more. I'll have a day of scouting and warm-up before the start. Haven't had a lot of chance to get out with the up and down thermometer we've had here in the midwest. And just as I leave the warmth is arriving.

Here's a studio painting just completed. Rocky coast, Maui, north shore, oil 12" x 18"

Almost Spring

Friday I drove to Water Street Gallery in Douglas, Michigan, to drop off paintings for their upcoming “Who’s That?” show of new-to-the-gallery artists. Paintings, sculpture, and glass work, opening reception Saturday, May 4, 6 to 8 pm. Come by if you are near.

On the way back I stopped off at the Indiana Dunes to scout sites and do a little painting.

Almost Spring, oil, 12" x 9"