The Story Behind the Paintings
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"A Place of Refuge" Anchorage at Santa Barbara Island
This is the one that started it all. I had been invited to paint the Channel Islands by the Museum of Venture County, as part of a group exhibition celebration the 25th anniversary of the Park and Sanctuary, I boarded a research vessel and set off to see the islands, really for the first time. It was early March and we were warned to be prepared for rough seas and inclement weather: after all, this is a tiny island over 50 miles from the mainland. But what I found that day was an ocean as flat as bathwater, temperatures in the mid-70's, and a remote, picturesque island hemmed by dramatic cliffs and spires, caves and arches in all directions. The beaches were crowded with Sea Lions and other pinnipeds: the top of the island a series of beautiful rolling hills covered in wildflowers. On the way home we cut the engines to drift alongside a Gray Whale cow and calf- my first up-close whale sighting. That very day I decided to spend the next year painting these islands. Now, a half-dozen years later, I still feel I'm decades away from completing my exploration of this amazing archipelago. The more time I spend here, the more I find I have only begun. These islands are an infinite source of inspiration for me; I've only just scratched the surface.
"The Sequestered Jewel" (Big Wednesday)
Painted for my Channel Islands series...this is a view of Santa Cruz Island from Ventura. I wanted to paint the islands as they are most often see, from the mainland. This particular day was probably the day with the biggest surf of the year, with waves at about 14' high. The island was invisible through all that mist until the sun was going down and the sky behind the island stood out from the pale lavender shape of central Santa Cruz Island.
"Rufus-Sided Towhee"
Painting birds en plein air is a daunting prospect, and to my knowledge is not often done. However, I find if I'm still and quiet, the birds will come to me and I can study them at my leisure, as they feed while I work. There is a freedom in painting from a live model which is not available when working from photos. To get the head looking here, the wing over there, the feet like this, the tail like that...(and very unlikely too.) Working from direct observation allows me to design the animal freely, capturing a sense of motion unfamiliar in photos. This is one of my favorite little birds, the Rufous-Sided Towhee. While staying at the Ranger's Station, I observed this petite guy in the bushes outside my window. The loose, dynamic quality of the brushwork here gives the bird a sense of motion, rather that being frozen in time with the click of a camera shutter.
"Vertigo" - Whirling Bald Eagles Over Santa Cruz Island
Bald Eagles lock talons at high altitude and plummet toward the earth, breaking free only at the last second, in this dramatic depiction of mating and territorial behavior over Santa Cruz Island.
"Mola Mola with Jellies"
Off of the San Miguel Island Coast: While not many tourists come to San Miguel, its waters are rich with sea life and the area is frequently worked by commercial fishermen, drawn by Halibut, Cod, Sea Urchins and Squid. Occasionally their net produce "by-catch," an unwanted harvest of other species, like the strange looking Mola Mola. Immense, yet extremely gentle, these giant moonstones can measure up to two tons: weight they gain primarily from a diet of copious jellyfish. The Mola Mola is known to approach diver, hoping for a friendly scratch in a hard-to-reach place. It can afford to be so bold: its immense size, bony skeleton and thick sandpaper-like skin make it an unappealing meal to most predators.
"Anticipation"
Painted at a spectacular little rocky outcropping which marks the border between Fiscilini Preserve and Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Called "Anticipation" because of the impending crash, but also in anticipation of my returning to this spot a hundred more times. I've never seen so much potential in a painting location.
"Spindrift" - Flying Fish and Orcas
Painted as the major new work for my exhibition at the Carnegie Art Museum in 2012, I wanted to take on the challenge of the drama of open seas. I've spent quite a bit of time sailing around the open waters off of California, and on many occasions I've Seen these remarkable fish being pursues by dolphins, sea lions, and other predators. Because I was looking for drama, I put them among the ocean's top predator, the killer whale, which is also a resident of these seas, and set the whole scene among high seas and wind.
"Rapids on the Frying Pan River"
Painted on location in Basalt, CO in 2008. The rapids are becoming a favorite subject for me, when I can find a river, and if there was one near me I'd likely be painting rivers as much as coastline.
"Tide Pools at East Point"
Santa Rosa Island
"Light in the Pocket" ~ Leo Carrillo
The "Pocket" of a wave, as surfers will know, is the spot just below the crest, between the whitewater and the building swell. It is where the most power is, from a surfers perspective,, and just where the gleaming light of the sun is reflecting off of the face of the wave in this painting.
"Island Foxes and Willets"
I was on an early morning beach walk during one of my island painting trips when I noticed fox prints in the sand. Hoping for an encounter, I followed them along the beach about a half mile and came to a place where the two had obviously taken a break to play, rolling and leaping on one another before moving on. The ides of these Channel Island Foxes frolicking on the beach, sending the timid shorebirds rushing for the sky in alarm, sat in my mind for years. Finally, being fully incubated, the vision hatched and made its way to canvas in "Island Foxes and Willets." No doubt the birds would have been preoccupied, feasting on the smorgasbord of sand crabs, beach hopper, insects and other morsels carried ashore in the wrack of kelp, and sent scurrying with surprise by the spirited foxes.
"Racing the Bow"
Painted on location. That's all I have to say on this one.
"Watching From a Distance"
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most visited island in the Park, and a popular destination for local school children who come to learn about the native species like the Channel Islands Fox. I was painting these kids, who had just landed and were receiving a lecture about eh Island Fox, when one of the once-endangered canines sauntered into the meadow between us. Inquisitive, graceful, more petite than his mainland cousin, he stood there for a minute or less, completely unseen by the students, sniffing the air down wind of the crowd, as they learned all about him and the astonishing restoration of his species. This really happened while I was there painting, you can't make this stuff up!
"The Cardinal's Song"
Painted in Tennessee in Spring of 2009. As I was setting up to paint I heard this cardinal. He was perched just as I've shown, sitting on top of that tree in the last bright sun of the day. There he remained for almost twenty minutes, singing as I worker. The cardinal's song has special significance for me, and is one of my favorite sound in the world.
"Late Afternoon at Firehole Lake"
Part of the LUNA Yellowstone project. I have a new favorite place to paint the sunset. The effects of light and steam here at this lake which is perennially warm are spectacular.
"Rain on the Arroyo"
Painted at the annual Autry Museum's "Masters of the American West Paintout" in November 2008. The event was held at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, CA. The Tangle of sticks, leaves and limbs appeals to the abstract artist in me, while the subject appeals to the romantic plein-air side.
"Tennessee Lace"
Painted in spring of 2006 in Nashville, TN. All through my trip in Tennessee I was moved by the beauty of the greens everywhere, especially in the beautiful and abundant trees. In this scene, it is set against the glare of the sun on the violet water of a creek that runs through the south part of the city.
"La Cascada"
Although the island are surrounded by water- the Sanctuary encompasses 1,658 square miles of ocean- fresh water is scarce, occurring only on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. Ironically this life giving water prompted farming and over-grazing at these islands, degrading the fragile ecosystems for decades. Historically, ranchers and settlers have taken care to preserve the land, but the delicate balance of life in the habitats was no match for the introduced plant and animal species. From the foraging habits of livestock(and the predators they drew) to invasive and aggressive vegetation, the impact was devastating. This bucolic stream heralds the restoration efforts designed to eliminate non-native species and restore the islands to their natural balance and beauty. There will be man among the viewers of this painting who have never walked two miles along a riverbed without seeing a single sign of human existence; not one cigarette butt nor abandoned shirt. Not ever a bit of fishing line in a low-hanging branch betrays the presence of man in this phenomenally wild area.
"Torre Pines" ~ Santa Rosa Island
One of the most magical places I've even been is the Torrey Pine forest on Santa Rosa Island. In daylight the rich hues of the trees and forest floor below create a wonderful contract of greens, browns and oranges- one of the island's most peaceful settings. Part of what makes the Torrey Pines so mystical is their pedigree. Over 10,000 years old, they are among the rarest pine species in the world, favoring dry sandy soil and harsh foggy climate, which helps them thrive only on this one square mile patch of Santa Rosa Island and nowhere else except San Diego County, where they are revered as icons.
"Morning Glare"
Painted during my November seascape painting workshop in Malibu, CA. This was a beautiful, typical November morning in Malibu...warm and sunny with good surf. Fall is my favorite season to paint in southern California.
"Palos Verdes Light"
Spring in Palos Verdes, California. This view includes the charming island of Catalina in the distance.
"Summer Solstice at Sequit Point"
On location at Sequit Point, Malibu. This was a grey overcast afternoon, and as the sun began to sink it showed through in the most amazing re-orange, reminding me of Monet's "Impression: Sunrise" painting, which gave birth to the name "Impressionism". The title "Impression: Sunset" loomed, but I couldn't muster the ego.
"Hazy Day at Prisoner's Harbor"
From Prisoners Harbor to Smugglers Cove, Frenchy's Anchorage to China Bay, the island place names and monikers reveal a rich and sometimes colorful history. Prisoners from nearby Santa Barbara were allegedly abandoned here in early days. while these convicts were said to have escaped back to the mainland, ranchers ultimately established a settlement here including bunkhouses, and a mess hall for the workers, barns, a blacksmith and a saddle shop and even a winery and chapel.
"Quiet Morning at Oceanside Harbor"
Painted on location at Oceanside Harbor, and printed in a book on paintings of San Diego County in 2007, "Land of Sunlight". Two of my other paintings are also included in the book.
"Sunrise at Yellowbanks" - Santa Cruz Islands
Twice, I've been to Yellowbanks on Santa Cruz Island to watch the sunrise. To the West, the towering faces of limestone that give this anchorage its name, glow an unimaginable color when hit with the first pink rays of morning's light. To the east, the sun rises over Anacapa's unmistakable silhouette. How fortunate I was to have found Captain Dan Ryder of Sail Channel Islands, who is not only my sponsor, patron, friend and a first rate sailor, but also a connoisseur of nature's most beautiful secrets.
"Wolf Creek, Springtime"
Painted along Wolf Creek Road, near park City, Utah in Spring of 2008
"Leo Carrillo Fog"
Painted on location at Leo Carrillo state beach in Malibu during my November workshop. It was a beautiful warm clear morning, and after the lunch break we came back to this spectacular fog on the point. A perfect day to paint.
"Flowerfall"
Painted on location at the California Art Club's Visalia Riverland Trust paintout in spring 2009.
"Tennessee Sunrise"
Yes, it's a tornado. As I was leaving Tennessee for my flight home, I took the Natchez Trace expressway south to the airport. Only the airport was north. No matter, because after about an hour of driving I found the front of the storm I'd been driving in and in the distance this scene. As far as I could tell there was only farmland around, and I never heard about it on the news. Still, that could be because I was traveling that day and didn't see much news. from what I could tell, the touchdown was short- I saw it for less than a minute. Still, I had to stop and paint, I was out of panels at the end of my trip, but I painted on top of another painting which actually seemed to work in giving a nice surface to this painting which seemed to suit the subject.
"Impossible Green of Spring" ~ Malibu Hills
Painted at the very peak of new spring in 2010, the color was astounding, overwhelming, seemingly impossible.
"Ojai Thunderhead"
Painted on location in Ojai during a major thunderstorm. Alternate doses of wind, rain, dark clouds, and sunbursts marked the day, and it was truly fund making the most out of the moments that presented themselves ever so briefly.
"The Ghost"
A detail view of a decommissioned caboose from the Alaska Railway
"Black Rock Through Torrey Pines"
Santa Rosa Island
"Coreopsis in Bloom"
Blooming corecopsis, February 2011
"The Harmony of Turmoil"
Painted on location at Sequit Point in Malibu on an overcast and somewhat stormy day in the spring of 2012. Exhibited in my solo exhibition at the Carnegie Art Museum later that year.
"Sunset at Firehole Lake"
Someday, I want to live on the fringes of Yellowstone and paint the sunset every night from this location. Need I say why?
"Sapphire Pool"
Sapphire Pool is one of Yellowstone's famous jewel-toned hot springs. If you don't believe the color in this painting, you've never seen the pool with your own eyes.
"Great Fountain Geyser at Sunset"
A famous location for sunset photography, I believe this painting captures something a photo can't. I was lucky to be there when Great Fountain Geyser was erupting at sunset since it only erupts every 15 hours or so and is quite unpredictable. This scene depicts the steam phase, shortly before the full eruption which is much more violent.
"Transformation"
There is something magical about twilight, that coming together of day and night, and at the horizon, of the heaven and earth. It inspires my most poetic works: simple, direct and reverent. Transformation was painted on my first evening at San Miguel Island. Sustained winds were 60 mph, with gusts clocked over 70. When I told the ranger I'd best sit the day out and paint at a calmer time, he informed me the weather would be the same all week long. Aghast, I told him I didn't think it was possible to work in these condition. I'll never forget his reply, delivered with mild surprise: "Didn't they tell you it was going to be windy?" I'd thought they meant 25mph! Clearly he'd been on on San Miguel for a very, very long time. On the last day, the wind slowed to what felt like 2-3mph and the sun finally came out, warming to what felt like 75 degrees. Later the instruments informed me it had hit only 65 degrees, with 15mph of wind. It's amazing how little time it had taken to re-calibrate my perception of what "windy" was.
"Indigo Bunting on the Amite"
Painted on location on the beautiful Amite Riven in (or near) Clinton, Louisiana. The Indigo Bunting and White Egret visited us during the session and were added in back home in the studio to bring a more honest and poetic quality to the plein-air painting. This is often the way I work with details such as wildlife and birds, which are normally gone before they can be captured in the scene.
"Santa Cruz Island- Central Valley Ranch"
View from the central valley on SCI, on the property managed by The Nature Conservancy, TNC has become a sponsor of my forthcoming museum exhibition, now scheduled to open in Ventura in Spring of 2011. More venues and dates are in the works.
"Strawberry Pinnacles, Utah"
From my 2008 road trip to red rock country, Utah. This is a little-known area that my host was excited to show me. He believed that an artist would go nuts with the exotic beauty of this location, and he was right. I'd love to get back out there as soon as possible.
"The Artist's Feast"
Painted on the peak day of bloom at the California Poppy Preserve near Lancaster, April, 2008
"Rain on the Kona Coast"
Painted from the mountains overlooking the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii. This is a typical view from here, with a mix of rain and sun creating patterns on the water.
"Sunset in Water Valley"
Painted on location in Water Valley, TN, in the spring of 2009. I was wrapping up a workshop with a dozen students and we had planned to have dinner at the home (ranch) of one of them. I blew off dinner to go paint the sunset, and before I knew it with whole lot of them were down there with blankets, wine, snacks and friends, enjoying themselves as I worked to capture the last rays of the sun. It was a great time, I must admit.
"The Sentinal"
Gusty winds over Bechers Bay are no contest for the compact and persistent Marsh Hawk. Also known as the Northern Harrier, this rare hawk plummets with astonishing speed when he spies his prey- usually insects, mice and small lizards- which he devours on the spot.
"Moment of Beauty"
On location painting done at Leo Carrillo Beach in November 2006. This scene is a transitional moment as the moon rises over the viewer's left shoulder, bringing light to the rocks and surf as it tops the cliff to our left, out of the image area. Moments of transition are common to everyone's human experiences, perhaps that's why they make such appealing subjects for paintings.
"Humble Witnesses"
Tyler Bright Overlook, San Miguel Island: Visitors wanting to explore San Miguel Island Require a ranger escort. The flora and fauna are rare and delicate and the cultural sites once buried for centuries can be exposed at any time due to the constantly blowing sands. During a fifteen mile hike to Point Bennett, my guide, Ranger Ian, encouraged me to take a few "detours', which, of course, were sell worth the extra distance. when we came upon this view, I had this feeling (not unlike wondering if the light really turns off when you close the refrigerator door) if all of this beauty could be simply abiding there, even though nobody ever witnesses it? Then I reconsidered my typical human perspective and determined, "It's probably there for the birds!" Hence my reference in the title, "Humble witnesses" for this piece of work.
"To Venture Forth" - Marshes on the Sound, Alaska
Marshes now subject to tidal influence on the cusp of the Matinuska Valley, home to Wasilla, Alaska. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets which last for hours, as well as dramatic natural beauty and abundant wildlife make this a painter's paradise.
"Journey's End"
Matinuska Glacier Terminus. Painted from on the glacier itself, just and amazing experience- genuine Alaska.
"Bluff Called"
It's a healthy hike from the ranger station to the research station at Point Bennett on the far side of San Miguel Island: it's 15 miles round trip, and that's if you don't walk around when you get there. But walk around, you will, as you find yourself overlooking the worlds' largest congregation of Northern elephant Seals on seldom-seen windswept beaches, Elephant Seals have no true familial bond with elephants: it's there immense bulk and comical proboscis that lends them their name. They are in fact pinnipeds, which means "feather-foot" in Latin. Although they hardly look light on their feet, their wing-like flippers and torpedo-shaped bodies make them surprisingly swift and agile in the water; their size and ferocity-as they battle for dominion over the local harem of females- makes them equally imposing on land.
"Shinier Kelp Perch"
Painted on the deck of the boat after a dive with these beautiful little fish. This was a demo on painting from memory and imagination for the attendees of the second annual Channel Islands Adventure Workshop in 2011, and served as the study for my Gold Medal piece for 2012. "Cymatagaster Agregata at Three Meters".
"Airborne Warriors"~ Golden Eagles in Rain over Bryce Canyon
Painted at Bryce Canyon, Utah. I had the chance to see the canyon at one of it's more subtle moments, which let me use it as a backdrop for these eagles without overpowering them. As they circled for nearly a half hour, I saw that the confrontations were few, and nearly all of their time was spent angling for the advantage. when advantageous position had been gained, the attack was almost unnecessary as the disadvantaged eagle instinctively understood and acknowledged the triumph of the the other. I painted them in the circling position rather that the attack o highlight the importance of this part of the battle.
"Triumph" - Sunrise at Mammoth Hot Springs
A popular spot to watch the sunrise, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park gives the event an air of drama and beauty. Watching the sun overtake the nearby mountain ridge and illuminate the steam in front of you is indeed a spiritual experience.
"Rhythm of Life" ~ Sea Lions at Anacapa's Kelp Forest
Painted from an experience I had diving with Sea Lions at Anacapa Island. The greatest gift of this project was a deepening relationship with the sea. Whether on a boat, an island or below the water's surface with my dive gear, the more I learn about our oceans, the more I am compelled to investigate and protect them. Even as this project draws to an end, I plan to continue to explore new visual interpretations of the marine environment and life within, confident and grateful that this will provide a lifetime of inspiration for me. In "Rhythm of Life," schools of Blacksmith fish crouch in the shadows, hiding from their artful predators, the Sea Lions. This kelp forest is the picture of health and diversity, where sunlight streams through the canopy to support colorful and abundant plant and animal life.
"Sunset at Black Pool"
Set in the spectacular West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone, Black Pool is rather inappropriately named. It's crystal clear blue water steams from geothermal heat year round, and it is perhaps the most beautiful of Yellowstone's many hot springs.
"Nearly Sunset, Cambria"
Painted on location at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, Ca. If you've never been to Moonstone beach, put it on your list of things to do. Trust me, this is coming from a guy who Knows Beaches. The "Sand" is made of an unbelievable array of different stones, all colors imaginable, polished to perfection by the pounding surf...I've never seen anything like it.
"Gulls in Waiting"
Painted as a demo during the Third Annual Channel Islands Workshop. While we made sashimi on the back deck of the boat from fish we were catching at the time, these gulls awaited the scraps the chefs were throwing overboard, making them great models for this pre-dinner demonstration.
"Malibu Serenade"
Painted from a smaller, plein-air work of the same name. This larger version really let me expand the idea into the work I wanted it to become.
"Winter Light, Palos Verdes"
Painted int he first green of January, after the third rain had fallen and the velvet green of spring had emerged.
"The Wooden Veil"
Painted at Convict Lake, near Mammoth, CA in April of 2008. The days were nice, just warm enough to begin the thaw, and the nights were cool enough to collect fresh snow and ice for spectacular painting the next day. I'll be trying to get back up there late this summer to paint some of the higher altitude lakes.
"Moonlit Tide Pools"
At the Summer Equinox the moon makes it's annual southernmost appearance at the horizon. In Malibu the beaches are mainly south facing, so it's the best time for me to paint the full moon rising over the ocean and I never miss it. This was my third painting of the night, when the moon had left the horizon and begun shining down on the tidepools of Leo Carrillo Beach in the Full-Moon surf. The 24" x 24" studio version of the painting has been on exhibition a the Hiram Blauvelt Museum in New Jersey, but is now back in my possession.
"A Taste of Rain"
The islands area dry place; the plants get much of their water from mist and fog. When I do see rain forecast, I like to try to get out there to paint this wonderful and rare treat, that sweet and elusive taste of rain. Because when the rain does come, the whole island celebrates. Plants burst into flowers and the brown hills turn green. If the rain is light, like on this day, the wildlife doesn't take shelter, preferring instead to enjoy some relief from the dry weather by letting themselves get drenched. I'm right there with them-standing in the open with an umbrella over my easel, but not myself.
"Anemones and Sea Grass"
This is a study of a tide pool during the low tides of January, 2009. I love the abstract shapes of foam, anemones, mussels, and rocks, and I'm planning on doing a series of tide pools. I've sold this study, but I still have the "final" 24" x 24" version.
"A Place in the Shade"
Alternatively titled, "Will work for Bread". These ducks lay in the shade while I painted them for 45 minutes, and when I stopped they got up, stretched their wings, and came over asking me for bread. Great models, if ever I had them.
"A Place of Refuge" Anchorage at Santa Barbara Island
This is the one that started it all. I had been invited to paint the Channel Islands by the Museum of Venture County, as part of a group exhibition celebration the 25th anniversary of the Park and Sanctuary, I boarded a research vessel and set off to see the islands, really for the first time. It was early March and we were warned to be prepared for rough seas and inclement weather: after all, this is a tiny island over 50 miles from the mainland. But what I found that day was an ocean as flat as bathwater, temperatures in the mid-70's, and a remote, picturesque island hemmed by dramatic cliffs and spires, caves and arches in all directions. The beaches were crowded with Sea Lions and other pinnipeds: the top of the island a series of beautiful rolling hills covered in wildflowers. On the way home we cut the engines to drift alongside a Gray Whale cow and calf- my first up-close whale sighting. That very day I decided to spend the next year painting these islands. Now, a half-dozen years later, I still feel I'm decades away from completing my exploration of this amazing archipelago. The more time I spend here, the more I find I have only begun. These islands are an infinite source of inspiration for me; I've only just scratched the surface.
"The Sequestered Jewel" (Big Wednesday)
Painted for my Channel Islands series...this is a view of Santa Cruz Island from Ventura. I wanted to paint the islands as they are most often see, from the mainland. This particular day was probably the day with the biggest surf of the year, with waves at about 14' high. The island was invisible through all that mist until the sun was going down and the sky behind the island stood out from the pale lavender shape of central Santa Cruz Island.
"Rufus-Sided Towhee"
Painting birds en plein air is a daunting prospect, and to my knowledge is not often done. However, I find if I'm still and quiet, the birds will come to me and I can study them at my leisure, as they feed while I work. There is a freedom in painting from a live model which is not available when working from photos. To get the head looking here, the wing over there, the feet like this, the tail like that...(and very unlikely too.) Working from direct observation allows me to design the animal freely, capturing a sense of motion unfamiliar in photos. This is one of my favorite little birds, the Rufous-Sided Towhee. While staying at the Ranger's Station, I observed this petite guy in the bushes outside my window. The loose, dynamic quality of the brushwork here gives the bird a sense of motion, rather that being frozen in time with the click of a camera shutter.
"Vertigo" - Whirling Bald Eagles Over Santa Cruz Island
Bald Eagles lock talons at high altitude and plummet toward the earth, breaking free only at the last second, in this dramatic depiction of mating and territorial behavior over Santa Cruz Island.
"Mola Mola with Jellies"
Off of the San Miguel Island Coast: While not many tourists come to San Miguel, its waters are rich with sea life and the area is frequently worked by commercial fishermen, drawn by Halibut, Cod, Sea Urchins and Squid. Occasionally their net produce "by-catch," an unwanted harvest of other species, like the strange looking Mola Mola. Immense, yet extremely gentle, these giant moonstones can measure up to two tons: weight they gain primarily from a diet of copious jellyfish. The Mola Mola is known to approach diver, hoping for a friendly scratch in a hard-to-reach place. It can afford to be so bold: its immense size, bony skeleton and thick sandpaper-like skin make it an unappealing meal to most predators.
"Anticipation"
Painted at a spectacular little rocky outcropping which marks the border between Fiscilini Preserve and Moonstone Beach in Cambria. Called "Anticipation" because of the impending crash, but also in anticipation of my returning to this spot a hundred more times. I've never seen so much potential in a painting location.
"Spindrift" - Flying Fish and Orcas
Painted as the major new work for my exhibition at the Carnegie Art Museum in 2012, I wanted to take on the challenge of the drama of open seas. I've spent quite a bit of time sailing around the open waters off of California, and on many occasions I've Seen these remarkable fish being pursues by dolphins, sea lions, and other predators. Because I was looking for drama, I put them among the ocean's top predator, the killer whale, which is also a resident of these seas, and set the whole scene among high seas and wind.
"Rapids on the Frying Pan River"
Painted on location in Basalt, CO in 2008. The rapids are becoming a favorite subject for me, when I can find a river, and if there was one near me I'd likely be painting rivers as much as coastline.
"Tide Pools at East Point"
Santa Rosa Island
"Light in the Pocket" ~ Leo Carrillo
The "Pocket" of a wave, as surfers will know, is the spot just below the crest, between the whitewater and the building swell. It is where the most power is, from a surfers perspective,, and just where the gleaming light of the sun is reflecting off of the face of the wave in this painting.
"Island Foxes and Willets"
I was on an early morning beach walk during one of my island painting trips when I noticed fox prints in the sand. Hoping for an encounter, I followed them along the beach about a half mile and came to a place where the two had obviously taken a break to play, rolling and leaping on one another before moving on. The ides of these Channel Island Foxes frolicking on the beach, sending the timid shorebirds rushing for the sky in alarm, sat in my mind for years. Finally, being fully incubated, the vision hatched and made its way to canvas in "Island Foxes and Willets." No doubt the birds would have been preoccupied, feasting on the smorgasbord of sand crabs, beach hopper, insects and other morsels carried ashore in the wrack of kelp, and sent scurrying with surprise by the spirited foxes.
"Racing the Bow"
Painted on location. That's all I have to say on this one.
"Watching From a Distance"
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most visited island in the Park, and a popular destination for local school children who come to learn about the native species like the Channel Islands Fox. I was painting these kids, who had just landed and were receiving a lecture about eh Island Fox, when one of the once-endangered canines sauntered into the meadow between us. Inquisitive, graceful, more petite than his mainland cousin, he stood there for a minute or less, completely unseen by the students, sniffing the air down wind of the crowd, as they learned all about him and the astonishing restoration of his species. This really happened while I was there painting, you can't make this stuff up!
"The Cardinal's Song"
Painted in Tennessee in Spring of 2009. As I was setting up to paint I heard this cardinal. He was perched just as I've shown, sitting on top of that tree in the last bright sun of the day. There he remained for almost twenty minutes, singing as I worker. The cardinal's song has special significance for me, and is one of my favorite sound in the world.
"Late Afternoon at Firehole Lake"
Part of the LUNA Yellowstone project. I have a new favorite place to paint the sunset. The effects of light and steam here at this lake which is perennially warm are spectacular.
"Rain on the Arroyo"
Painted at the annual Autry Museum's "Masters of the American West Paintout" in November 2008. The event was held at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, CA. The Tangle of sticks, leaves and limbs appeals to the abstract artist in me, while the subject appeals to the romantic plein-air side.
"Tennessee Lace"
Painted in spring of 2006 in Nashville, TN. All through my trip in Tennessee I was moved by the beauty of the greens everywhere, especially in the beautiful and abundant trees. In this scene, it is set against the glare of the sun on the violet water of a creek that runs through the south part of the city.
"La Cascada"
Although the island are surrounded by water- the Sanctuary encompasses 1,658 square miles of ocean- fresh water is scarce, occurring only on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. Ironically this life giving water prompted farming and over-grazing at these islands, degrading the fragile ecosystems for decades. Historically, ranchers and settlers have taken care to preserve the land, but the delicate balance of life in the habitats was no match for the introduced plant and animal species. From the foraging habits of livestock(and the predators they drew) to invasive and aggressive vegetation, the impact was devastating. This bucolic stream heralds the restoration efforts designed to eliminate non-native species and restore the islands to their natural balance and beauty. There will be man among the viewers of this painting who have never walked two miles along a riverbed without seeing a single sign of human existence; not one cigarette butt nor abandoned shirt. Not ever a bit of fishing line in a low-hanging branch betrays the presence of man in this phenomenally wild area.
"Torre Pines" ~ Santa Rosa Island
One of the most magical places I've even been is the Torrey Pine forest on Santa Rosa Island. In daylight the rich hues of the trees and forest floor below create a wonderful contract of greens, browns and oranges- one of the island's most peaceful settings. Part of what makes the Torrey Pines so mystical is their pedigree. Over 10,000 years old, they are among the rarest pine species in the world, favoring dry sandy soil and harsh foggy climate, which helps them thrive only on this one square mile patch of Santa Rosa Island and nowhere else except San Diego County, where they are revered as icons.
"Morning Glare"
Painted during my November seascape painting workshop in Malibu, CA. This was a beautiful, typical November morning in Malibu...warm and sunny with good surf. Fall is my favorite season to paint in southern California.
"Palos Verdes Light"
Spring in Palos Verdes, California. This view includes the charming island of Catalina in the distance.
"Summer Solstice at Sequit Point"
On location at Sequit Point, Malibu. This was a grey overcast afternoon, and as the sun began to sink it showed through in the most amazing re-orange, reminding me of Monet's "Impression: Sunrise" painting, which gave birth to the name "Impressionism". The title "Impression: Sunset" loomed, but I couldn't muster the ego.
"Hazy Day at Prisoner's Harbor"
From Prisoners Harbor to Smugglers Cove, Frenchy's Anchorage to China Bay, the island place names and monikers reveal a rich and sometimes colorful history. Prisoners from nearby Santa Barbara were allegedly abandoned here in early days. while these convicts were said to have escaped back to the mainland, ranchers ultimately established a settlement here including bunkhouses, and a mess hall for the workers, barns, a blacksmith and a saddle shop and even a winery and chapel.
"Quiet Morning at Oceanside Harbor"
Painted on location at Oceanside Harbor, and printed in a book on paintings of San Diego County in 2007, "Land of Sunlight". Two of my other paintings are also included in the book.
"Sunrise at Yellowbanks" - Santa Cruz Islands
Twice, I've been to Yellowbanks on Santa Cruz Island to watch the sunrise. To the West, the towering faces of limestone that give this anchorage its name, glow an unimaginable color when hit with the first pink rays of morning's light. To the east, the sun rises over Anacapa's unmistakable silhouette. How fortunate I was to have found Captain Dan Ryder of Sail Channel Islands, who is not only my sponsor, patron, friend and a first rate sailor, but also a connoisseur of nature's most beautiful secrets.
"Wolf Creek, Springtime"
Painted along Wolf Creek Road, near park City, Utah in Spring of 2008
"Leo Carrillo Fog"
Painted on location at Leo Carrillo state beach in Malibu during my November workshop. It was a beautiful warm clear morning, and after the lunch break we came back to this spectacular fog on the point. A perfect day to paint.
"Flowerfall"
Painted on location at the California Art Club's Visalia Riverland Trust paintout in spring 2009.
"Tennessee Sunrise"
Yes, it's a tornado. As I was leaving Tennessee for my flight home, I took the Natchez Trace expressway south to the airport. Only the airport was north. No matter, because after about an hour of driving I found the front of the storm I'd been driving in and in the distance this scene. As far as I could tell there was only farmland around, and I never heard about it on the news. Still, that could be because I was traveling that day and didn't see much news. from what I could tell, the touchdown was short- I saw it for less than a minute. Still, I had to stop and paint, I was out of panels at the end of my trip, but I painted on top of another painting which actually seemed to work in giving a nice surface to this painting which seemed to suit the subject.
"Impossible Green of Spring" ~ Malibu Hills
Painted at the very peak of new spring in 2010, the color was astounding, overwhelming, seemingly impossible.
"Ojai Thunderhead"
Painted on location in Ojai during a major thunderstorm. Alternate doses of wind, rain, dark clouds, and sunbursts marked the day, and it was truly fund making the most out of the moments that presented themselves ever so briefly.
"The Ghost"
A detail view of a decommissioned caboose from the Alaska Railway
"Black Rock Through Torrey Pines"
Santa Rosa Island
"Coreopsis in Bloom"
Blooming corecopsis, February 2011
"The Harmony of Turmoil"
Painted on location at Sequit Point in Malibu on an overcast and somewhat stormy day in the spring of 2012. Exhibited in my solo exhibition at the Carnegie Art Museum later that year.
"Sunset at Firehole Lake"
Someday, I want to live on the fringes of Yellowstone and paint the sunset every night from this location. Need I say why?
"Sapphire Pool"
Sapphire Pool is one of Yellowstone's famous jewel-toned hot springs. If you don't believe the color in this painting, you've never seen the pool with your own eyes.
"Great Fountain Geyser at Sunset"
A famous location for sunset photography, I believe this painting captures something a photo can't. I was lucky to be there when Great Fountain Geyser was erupting at sunset since it only erupts every 15 hours or so and is quite unpredictable. This scene depicts the steam phase, shortly before the full eruption which is much more violent.
"Transformation"
There is something magical about twilight, that coming together of day and night, and at the horizon, of the heaven and earth. It inspires my most poetic works: simple, direct and reverent. Transformation was painted on my first evening at San Miguel Island. Sustained winds were 60 mph, with gusts clocked over 70. When I told the ranger I'd best sit the day out and paint at a calmer time, he informed me the weather would be the same all week long. Aghast, I told him I didn't think it was possible to work in these condition. I'll never forget his reply, delivered with mild surprise: "Didn't they tell you it was going to be windy?" I'd thought they meant 25mph! Clearly he'd been on on San Miguel for a very, very long time. On the last day, the wind slowed to what felt like 2-3mph and the sun finally came out, warming to what felt like 75 degrees. Later the instruments informed me it had hit only 65 degrees, with 15mph of wind. It's amazing how little time it had taken to re-calibrate my perception of what "windy" was.
"Indigo Bunting on the Amite"
Painted on location on the beautiful Amite Riven in (or near) Clinton, Louisiana. The Indigo Bunting and White Egret visited us during the session and were added in back home in the studio to bring a more honest and poetic quality to the plein-air painting. This is often the way I work with details such as wildlife and birds, which are normally gone before they can be captured in the scene.
"Santa Cruz Island- Central Valley Ranch"
View from the central valley on SCI, on the property managed by The Nature Conservancy, TNC has become a sponsor of my forthcoming museum exhibition, now scheduled to open in Ventura in Spring of 2011. More venues and dates are in the works.
"Strawberry Pinnacles, Utah"
From my 2008 road trip to red rock country, Utah. This is a little-known area that my host was excited to show me. He believed that an artist would go nuts with the exotic beauty of this location, and he was right. I'd love to get back out there as soon as possible.
"The Artist's Feast"
Painted on the peak day of bloom at the California Poppy Preserve near Lancaster, April, 2008
"Rain on the Kona Coast"
Painted from the mountains overlooking the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii. This is a typical view from here, with a mix of rain and sun creating patterns on the water.
"Sunset in Water Valley"
Painted on location in Water Valley, TN, in the spring of 2009. I was wrapping up a workshop with a dozen students and we had planned to have dinner at the home (ranch) of one of them. I blew off dinner to go paint the sunset, and before I knew it with whole lot of them were down there with blankets, wine, snacks and friends, enjoying themselves as I worked to capture the last rays of the sun. It was a great time, I must admit.
"The Sentinal"
Gusty winds over Bechers Bay are no contest for the compact and persistent Marsh Hawk. Also known as the Northern Harrier, this rare hawk plummets with astonishing speed when he spies his prey- usually insects, mice and small lizards- which he devours on the spot.
"Moment of Beauty"
On location painting done at Leo Carrillo Beach in November 2006. This scene is a transitional moment as the moon rises over the viewer's left shoulder, bringing light to the rocks and surf as it tops the cliff to our left, out of the image area. Moments of transition are common to everyone's human experiences, perhaps that's why they make such appealing subjects for paintings.
"Humble Witnesses"
Tyler Bright Overlook, San Miguel Island: Visitors wanting to explore San Miguel Island Require a ranger escort. The flora and fauna are rare and delicate and the cultural sites once buried for centuries can be exposed at any time due to the constantly blowing sands. During a fifteen mile hike to Point Bennett, my guide, Ranger Ian, encouraged me to take a few "detours', which, of course, were sell worth the extra distance. when we came upon this view, I had this feeling (not unlike wondering if the light really turns off when you close the refrigerator door) if all of this beauty could be simply abiding there, even though nobody ever witnesses it? Then I reconsidered my typical human perspective and determined, "It's probably there for the birds!" Hence my reference in the title, "Humble witnesses" for this piece of work.
"To Venture Forth" - Marshes on the Sound, Alaska
Marshes now subject to tidal influence on the cusp of the Matinuska Valley, home to Wasilla, Alaska. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets which last for hours, as well as dramatic natural beauty and abundant wildlife make this a painter's paradise.
"Journey's End"
Matinuska Glacier Terminus. Painted from on the glacier itself, just and amazing experience- genuine Alaska.
"Bluff Called"
It's a healthy hike from the ranger station to the research station at Point Bennett on the far side of San Miguel Island: it's 15 miles round trip, and that's if you don't walk around when you get there. But walk around, you will, as you find yourself overlooking the worlds' largest congregation of Northern elephant Seals on seldom-seen windswept beaches, Elephant Seals have no true familial bond with elephants: it's there immense bulk and comical proboscis that lends them their name. They are in fact pinnipeds, which means "feather-foot" in Latin. Although they hardly look light on their feet, their wing-like flippers and torpedo-shaped bodies make them surprisingly swift and agile in the water; their size and ferocity-as they battle for dominion over the local harem of females- makes them equally imposing on land.
"Shinier Kelp Perch"
Painted on the deck of the boat after a dive with these beautiful little fish. This was a demo on painting from memory and imagination for the attendees of the second annual Channel Islands Adventure Workshop in 2011, and served as the study for my Gold Medal piece for 2012. "Cymatagaster Agregata at Three Meters".
"Airborne Warriors"~ Golden Eagles in Rain over Bryce Canyon
Painted at Bryce Canyon, Utah. I had the chance to see the canyon at one of it's more subtle moments, which let me use it as a backdrop for these eagles without overpowering them. As they circled for nearly a half hour, I saw that the confrontations were few, and nearly all of their time was spent angling for the advantage. when advantageous position had been gained, the attack was almost unnecessary as the disadvantaged eagle instinctively understood and acknowledged the triumph of the the other. I painted them in the circling position rather that the attack o highlight the importance of this part of the battle.
"Triumph" - Sunrise at Mammoth Hot Springs
A popular spot to watch the sunrise, Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park gives the event an air of drama and beauty. Watching the sun overtake the nearby mountain ridge and illuminate the steam in front of you is indeed a spiritual experience.
"Rhythm of Life" ~ Sea Lions at Anacapa's Kelp Forest
Painted from an experience I had diving with Sea Lions at Anacapa Island. The greatest gift of this project was a deepening relationship with the sea. Whether on a boat, an island or below the water's surface with my dive gear, the more I learn about our oceans, the more I am compelled to investigate and protect them. Even as this project draws to an end, I plan to continue to explore new visual interpretations of the marine environment and life within, confident and grateful that this will provide a lifetime of inspiration for me. In "Rhythm of Life," schools of Blacksmith fish crouch in the shadows, hiding from their artful predators, the Sea Lions. This kelp forest is the picture of health and diversity, where sunlight streams through the canopy to support colorful and abundant plant and animal life.
"Sunset at Black Pool"
Set in the spectacular West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone, Black Pool is rather inappropriately named. It's crystal clear blue water steams from geothermal heat year round, and it is perhaps the most beautiful of Yellowstone's many hot springs.
"Nearly Sunset, Cambria"
Painted on location at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, Ca. If you've never been to Moonstone beach, put it on your list of things to do. Trust me, this is coming from a guy who Knows Beaches. The "Sand" is made of an unbelievable array of different stones, all colors imaginable, polished to perfection by the pounding surf...I've never seen anything like it.
"Gulls in Waiting"
Painted as a demo during the Third Annual Channel Islands Workshop. While we made sashimi on the back deck of the boat from fish we were catching at the time, these gulls awaited the scraps the chefs were throwing overboard, making them great models for this pre-dinner demonstration.
"Malibu Serenade"
Painted from a smaller, plein-air work of the same name. This larger version really let me expand the idea into the work I wanted it to become.
"Winter Light, Palos Verdes"
Painted int he first green of January, after the third rain had fallen and the velvet green of spring had emerged.
"The Wooden Veil"
Painted at Convict Lake, near Mammoth, CA in April of 2008. The days were nice, just warm enough to begin the thaw, and the nights were cool enough to collect fresh snow and ice for spectacular painting the next day. I'll be trying to get back up there late this summer to paint some of the higher altitude lakes.
"Moonlit Tide Pools"
At the Summer Equinox the moon makes it's annual southernmost appearance at the horizon. In Malibu the beaches are mainly south facing, so it's the best time for me to paint the full moon rising over the ocean and I never miss it. This was my third painting of the night, when the moon had left the horizon and begun shining down on the tidepools of Leo Carrillo Beach in the Full-Moon surf. The 24" x 24" studio version of the painting has been on exhibition a the Hiram Blauvelt Museum in New Jersey, but is now back in my possession.
"A Taste of Rain"
The islands area dry place; the plants get much of their water from mist and fog. When I do see rain forecast, I like to try to get out there to paint this wonderful and rare treat, that sweet and elusive taste of rain. Because when the rain does come, the whole island celebrates. Plants burst into flowers and the brown hills turn green. If the rain is light, like on this day, the wildlife doesn't take shelter, preferring instead to enjoy some relief from the dry weather by letting themselves get drenched. I'm right there with them-standing in the open with an umbrella over my easel, but not myself.
"Anemones and Sea Grass"
This is a study of a tide pool during the low tides of January, 2009. I love the abstract shapes of foam, anemones, mussels, and rocks, and I'm planning on doing a series of tide pools. I've sold this study, but I still have the "final" 24" x 24" version.
"A Place in the Shade"
Alternatively titled, "Will work for Bread". These ducks lay in the shade while I painted them for 45 minutes, and when I stopped they got up, stretched their wings, and came over asking me for bread. Great models, if ever I had them.
