Soon, I plan to have a section on this site where I will post works in progress and discuss my process, thoughts and critiques. In the meantime I thought I would show what I am currently working on.
A wonderful scene in an older section of San Diego, near the waterfront. An old seed-mill factory which is now a big indoor market – mainly hispanic vender selling all kinds of stuff, sort of like an out door mexican market. I am looking at the building from the back entrance where there are one of the largest gatherings of San Diego’s homeless population. One guy actually lives only a few yards from where I am painting and I hope to include his place in this painting eventually – if it seems to make sense for the painting. I am painting as the last bit of evening light hits this dramatically salmon-colored building. I am almost half-way to being finished but the painting shows real promise in terms of capturing the light, mood and drama of the place. The painting is oil on canvas and is approx 34″ x 42″ I think.

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View of El Capitan
Here is another little painting I made with the San Diego Meetup Plein Air group. A rare rainstorm came up while painting and we had to leave after only an hour. The struggle to paint the light with the clouds moving so fast with the wind was madness. The scene would completely change literally from one minute to the next. I think that is part of why I like this little study, the rush and intensity to capture the fleeting moment left me little time to tickle stuff and just go for the essential. This is a view of the El Capitan mountain seen from El Cajon.

Lake Murray
A view of the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant at Lake Murray. about 8″ by 16″, oil on canvas 9/2008

Cowles Mountain, seen from Lake Murray
We live about 2 blocks from Lake Murray, in the San Carlos area of San Diego. I walked to this scene of the mountain from my house to make this little one sitting 8 x10″ painting on panel.
