My first art teacher

When I was 12 an artist set up across the road from where I lived and painted our neighbors fields and barn. For over a week I stood just back of him each day after school. Somehow I knew not to bug him. He was the one who talked. I didn't have the sense that he was a great painter but someone fully engrossed in creating something special. In the following years I recreated his initial sketch many times -- a large mulberry tree towering over a few sheds and fruit stand just in the distance across the strawberry fields. And that's all I will say about that.

It wasn't until I took an art class at a junior college in Maui that I actually started painting.
The instructor let us go out and just paint. The smell of paint, and mediums drew me in. I took some lessons from Betty Brown in suthern California in portrait drawing. But then academic stuides took me away from painting for a number of years.

Thoughts on Painting

Since reading Richard Schmid's book, Alla Prima - Everything I know about Painting, my view of my personal painting journey has been affected. The thing to know about learning to paint is that every painting brings you one step closer to your goal of being a better painter. Learning to be an artist is a personal journey as varied as personalities and circumstances. The things you do while learning to paint are not necessarily things you will continue to do, but are stepping stones.
For example, using a photo to make a painting. Or copying the work of a famous painter to better understand his process. In the beginning there is no personal style. Personal style develops after painting number 2,634 or somewhere thereabouts. Everything up to that point is basic learning and fair game. Art is a way of looking at the world.

I recommend:
"Rolling Hills and Ranches" $65 [www.MALT.org] Marin county plein air painters
"Nature's Temple" $30 Paintings of William Wendt [www.Lagunaartmuseum.org]...

Lake Watching from the Wagon 9" x 12" Acrylic

This was done from a

photo for Melina and Brodie. More of a gift than a work of art.

Lakeside 3 - Acrylic 8 x 10

These rocks are fun to play with -- variations on a theme. More like Eric Satie than Mozart. Ready to frame. $45.00 plus $5 ship.

My First Plein Air Acrylic 8 x 10 Backyard

Really. Private Collection (= Not for Sale)

Heading Home 8 x 10 Acrylic

A little study after an early Childe Hassan painting to analyze his greens. $45.00

Somewhere 8 x 10 Acrylic

Everything is beginning to turn brown. Looking forward to some rain. $45.00 + $5 ship.

Don't miss the little button that occasionally appears below letting you know that there are lots more paintings to view.