February 27, 2009

Mt Woodson Boulder Grouping # 16 Oil on Panel 8″ x 10″ 2/25/09
Another afternoon view of a single large boulder. It is remarkable to me how the color off these boulders change so dramatically throughout the day. I am thinking I’ll explore this effect with a series of paintings of just one view of a boulder(s) throughout the course of day – starting with sunrise and ending at sunset, perhaps in 1 hour increments. Tough getting up there for sunrise but I bet it would be worth it.
February 26, 2009

Mt Woodson Boulder Grouping # 15 Oil on Panel 8″ x 10″ 2/24/09
A view from the summit – east side looking south. A serene spot with many fantastic boulder groups, a good distance from the many hikers, joggers and bouldering climbers. While usually everybody I meet up there are very respectful and nice people – it still never fails to break my concentration. I hate the feeling there is someone watching me from behind, it inhibits me in I feel like I’m performing.
However, one problem with this area is that to get to it I have to bushwhack along a deer path where it’s hard to see my feet sometimes. This will be a problem in a month or so when the warm weather wakes up the rattlesnakes. These boulders seem to make a perfect rattlesnake city and I’ll be the first to admit to a real paranoia about rattlesnakes. So as it gets hotter I will probably start sticking to the road in the hope to avoid stepping on one.
February 24, 2009

View of San Diego from Mt Woodson (# 11 of series) Oil on Panel 8″ x 10″ 2/19/09
A late afternoon view from about half way up Mt Woodson looking out to the reflected glare on the ocean silhouetting the San Diego skyline.
February 20, 2009

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #14 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/18/09
As I was leaving the mountain yesterday late afternoon, I walked past this view and decided to make a quick study of the light – I hope to return to the scene and give it the time it needs in a new perhaps larger painting. Also, I need to retake the photo of this painting, too much glare and the color is not quite right.

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #13 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/18/09
Needed more time with this one, I might tweak it a bit in the studio from memory.

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #12 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/17/09
This was the most amazing boulder, almost the size of a small house. I plan to do more with this single boulder, can concentrate on ways to make the form and show its monumentality. May need to make the paintings a bit larger and work over more than one sitting.
February 12, 2009

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #10 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/12/09
February 11, 2009

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #9 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/11/09
One of my favorites so far. Looking west where you see the glare of the midday sun on the ocean and a sliver of the San Diego skyline. These boulders continually astound me but the real point is for these paintings start to give that same level of amazement. Will that come from even closer observation of the scene and even more faithful response to nature or does it more come from how you construct the painting, how you organize your vision, and how you use the language of painting to convince others how awesome this place is.
February 9, 2009

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #8 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/09/2009
Snow on Mt. Laguna peaks in the distance. Need a better photo of this one – color seems a tad off and some glare.
February 7, 2009

Mt. Woodson Boulder Group #6 8″ x 10″ oil on panel 2/07/2009
Sorry that this one is out of sequence.