Plein Air May 2026

Low Tide Nantasket 9 x 12

 Swampscott Dory 10 x 121/2

Windmill Point, Hull ( the Hull Gut) 9 x12

On the Rocks (Brant Rock Beach) 11x13

Good Morning Gunnar new watercolor of the Grand Canyon

Missing the Grand Canyon today. Here is my new painting “Good Morning Gunnar” in tribute to the genius Gunnar Widforss. This is the view he painted from the Kolb studio  at a different time of year. If you are unfamiliar with his work it is worth visiting Gunnar Widforss page on Facebook. Watercolor 17 x21 

 

Mesa of Many Colors

 

Mesa of Many Colors just finished this afternoon

15x 21 watercolor

This is the Mesa behind my house in North Coastal San Diego county.

The greens and their  complements of copper and rose inspired me to paint this. The colors glow under the May Grey sky.

The Sands Of Silence

All this May Gray June Gloom has put me in a Giorgio Morandi mood. I love the title. Those of us of a certain age know where it’s from. 12 x 16 watercolor on paper studio painting from  a photo I took  in  Borrego Springs. “ The Sands of Silence”
 

Mars an Artistic Mission

 

Flyover Canyons of Mars 24 X 18 watercolor.

The California Art Club exhibit is part of the celebration of Perseverance landing on Mars .

This was inspired by the fact skies on Mars are gold because of all the dust in the air. This makes lovely hazy atmospheric conditions that are perfect for soft washes of watercolor.

109th Annual California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition: "Butterfly Beach" selected!

Butterfly Beach 9 x 12 watercolor on paper $950

SO excited! This is my 10th consecutive time in this exhibit, a bucket list item!

 The California Art Club’s 109th
Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum
 of California Art at Chapman University in Old Towne Orange
will take place from
May 16 to June 13, 2020.

Museum Information:

UPdate : Virtual Exhibit Information

Since its 1909 inauguration, the California Art Club has been dedicated to promoting and supporting contemporary-traditional fine art through championing painting and sculpture featuring representational practices. The Annual Gold Medal Exhibition is the most vital platform for demonstrating the best of the realist genre. While participating artists employ time-honored fine art techniques, their featured works in this un-themed exhibition seek to innovate with modern messages that address societal issues from diversity to the environment.

In presenting the 109th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition with the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University, the California Art Club embarks on an exciting new partnership with this relatively new cultural institution. While our initial plans were to unveil our signature event in Orange County for the very first time, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will instead present this much anticipated display on our website with a full slate of online activities and educational programs.

We look forward to your virtual visit of the Gold Medal Exhibition – and hope you visit often!

ADDRESS:

167 N. Atchison Street
Orange, California (across from Ruby’s Diner and the Orange train station) 

PHONE:

714-516-5880

HOURS:

Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 5pm
CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS

PARKING:

We strongly encourage patrons to park in the FREE City of Orange/Old Towne West Parking Structure on the corner of Maple and Cypress streets (GPS: 130 N. Lemon Street, Orange) — it’s just across the street in back of the museum and is an easy stroll to the museum and to numerous nearby dining and shopping options.

Top of the World La Jolla selected for AIS 4th Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase

Top of the World La Jolla 9 x 12 plein air watercolor

RS Hanna Gallery
Fredericksburg Tx

March 6 to April 4th
Opening and awards March 6 6 to 8 pm

I'll be able to apply for AIS Signature Membership this fall because this is the fourth painting I have exhibited with this extremely accomplished group. (Someone remind me on Oct 1 2020!)

For my own reference:

Small Works Showcase 4th Annual 2020
Small works Showcase Green House Gallery 2018
16th Annual National  2015
14th Annual National M Gallery 2013

Peak Near the Eiger

After the Fire

Fresh Greens

October Golds of Newport back bay

October Golds
During the Laguna Plein Air Invitational I was able to go Newport Back Bay and paint in the early morning light A bucket list place on my list of places to paint!

American Legacy Fine Arts "Fleeting Moments" 2nd Biennial Works en plein air

 Becalmed (Dog Beach) 11 x 14

Lupine of the Storm 14 x 18

I am very pleased to share that I have been invited to show in this exhibit with some of the plein air artists I admire.

These two paintings put me back  in the moment  they were painted so I chose to submit them.

"Becalmed" makes me hear the muted sounds the surf makes on an overcast day with no wind.

"Lupine of the Storm" was a wonderful moment of winter overlapping spring in the Coachella Desert. I met other painters while painting here and found out that once lupine has been pollinated it shifts from blue to lavender and purple.

Exhibit information:

Nov 22 to Dec 15
American Legacy Fine Arts
About the gallery

The gallery offers a gracious and elegant salon setting to showcase the work of exceptional contemporary American artists. Open by private appointment or invitation, ALFA is located just minutes from Downtown Los Angeles in one of Pasadena’s most tranquil neighborhoods and is near the world-famous Rose Bowl Stadium, Norton Simon Museum and Gamble House.

To set up your personal appointment, and for gallery address, please call (626) 577-7733 or e-mail ALFA at info@americanlegacyfinearts.com

Link to web site to preview the exhibit
https://www.americanlegacyfinearts.com/exhibition/2nd-biennale-fleeting-moments-works-en-plein-air

L A Arboretum exhibit with the California Art Club "Captured on Canvas"

This is what the sapphire tower really looks like. It's a bizarre succulent from the mountains of Peru and during last year's super bloom it put on a spectacular show. It looks alien with a palette of colors not seen very often in nature.

"Sapphire Tower" 20 x 16 is on exhibit now to January 16, 2020 in "Captured on Canvas" at the Arboretum Library with an opening reception on November 2 from 2 to 4 pm. A California Art Club exhibit.

“Across Batiquitos “

Across Batiquitos 14 x 21 plein air watercolor

San Elijo lagoon study

San Elijo Lagoon Study 11 x 14 Plein Air Watercolor

Above the Shores

Above the Shores 14 x17 plein air watercolor painted from the Torrey Pines Gliderport

Top of the World Lajolla

Top of the World La Jolla 9 x 12

This was a one hour study at the top of Mount Soledad in La Jolla. This was 12:30 to 1:30 as that's when the fog lifted.

I had such a wonderful time painting this mountain landscape looking down on the summer fog and the pacific! And to the north , where I live, maybe Carlsbad is in the distance.

Here's the scene and my set up:

Plein air of my backyard view over Batiquitos Lagoon

12 x 16 Plein Air "Backyard over Batiquitos" watercolor on paper some process and set up shots

Video test wall of watercolors

This works best viewed at full screen
I hope to try some demo videos here!

Two spring plein air paintings from Carlsbad

Batiquitos Lagoon Trail 12 x 16

Spring Meadow 12 x 16

The lingering effects of the rains made spring in South Carlsbad a colorful place. "Batiquitos Lagoon Trail" was painted just off Batiquitos Drive and "Spring Meadow" was painted along 101 with drivers in their cars cheering me on.

Sapphire Tower, star of the San Diego Botanical Garden

Sapphire Tower 20 x 16
Watercolor on Paper $2600
The San Diego Botanical garden is right near my new house and this spring the peruvian Sapphire Tower was the star of the garden. It was fun to paint this striking and bizarre flower!
We even bought a plant. It's tiny and may take 5 years to bloom.
Click on the photo for a larger view

CAC "Summer Impressions" includes "Lily Pond"

Lily Pond 9 x 12 Watercolor on paper $850

Summer Impressions
California Art Club Gallery at the Old Mill
San Marino CA

Reception May 23 5:30 to 7:30
5/21 to 9/28

Annual Juried Exhibit Front Porch Gallery,Carlsbad Opens April 28th

Above Black's Beach 12 x 12 $1250

Exhibition Details:

Annual Juried Exhibit
Opening April 28th
12 to 2 pm

4/28 to 6/15

open W to F 12 - 6
S S 11 - 5

2903 Carlsbad Blvd

Juried by Nancy Hills