Loser to Best

This little painting was a loser because it wasn’t good enough for anyone to part with his hard-earned dollars, despite the fact that my works sells for prices that won’t scare anyone.

It is titled “Tulare County’s Best”, and although it shows what I believe to be the best that our rural Central California county offers, it wasn’t my best work.

It was my best plein air work at the time, because I was new to that style of painting.

But plein air painting isn’t my best work. 

Shut up about “best”!

I repainted it, and here it is, now deserving of its title.

Tulare County’s Best, 8×10″, oil on wrapped canvas, $125

OF COURSE IT LOOKS BETTER IN PERSON.

On A Clear Day

First, something has gone wonky with my blog so the blog post title either doesn’t show at all or it is a little bit messed up.

“On a clear day” what? It certainly isn’t “you can see forever”. Last Wednesday, this is how things looked.

No, really, look! You can see the hills across the canyon, and the helicopters resumed flying to the fires.

This doesn’t qualify as a clear day in the olden days before wildfires ruled our corner of the world, but it qualifies as light enough to paint, and not smoky either, so I could paint with the doors opened up.

Remember this painting? I can’t even remember what I titled it anymore, but I do remember it is my favorite type of scene to paint, and that it was lacking wind machines, oranges, and a signature. We last saw it here on September 13.

Now it is completed.

Even with the doors open and a clear(ish) day, it doesn’t photograph all that well. How about if I prop it up on the ladder so you can further appreciate the completion?

Okay, standard disclaimer: it looks much better in person.

Next!Remember this? Of course not. Why would you? You last saw it on August 19.

Here I have begun adding sky, a color blue that I had almost forgotten to associate with looking up.

It now needs another coat, and then the detailing, my favorite part of drawing with my paintbrushes.

I wonder how Alta Peak and Moro Rock–wait! Moro Rock doesn’t really show in this painting because it doesn’t really show in the photograph I’m using, so I might have to revisit this.

Where was I? 

Oh. I was wondering how this view will look after (when? if?) this horrible fire ever ceases. It will have to run out of fuel eventually. Will this affect how sunsets look in the winter? Will we have winter?

Never mind. Let’s all just sing a happy little version of “It’s a Small World After All”, because the colors on my painting bring that song to mind.

You’re welcome.

P.S. 35 years ago today my life changed forever, for which I am very thankful.

The Elephant

Those of you who have shared your eddress with me received an email with the subject line reading “Have you seen the elephant?” If you live in Three Rivers, you know of him. If not, here are a few paintings in which he is sort of visible on the side of Alta Peak in snow. Have fun!

The Road to Alta Peak – 8×10″ – oil on wrapped canvas – $90

Lake View VII – 16×20″ – oil on canvas in rustic wooden frame – $350

(sold)

(sold)

Tulare County Fire Station #14 at Sierra Drive and South Fork Drive

Storm coming again?

There is a particularly unique quality to the light and color when a storm is on its way. This is how Alta Peak looked this morning:

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Here is the full view down my driveway:

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Growth, part eight (A new curve)

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The Road to Alta – oil on wrapped canvas – 8×10″ – $85

Because of the internet, keeping in touch and getting found is much more likely than in the “olden days”. About four years ago, I caved in to the pressure to keep up (who keeps moving that cheese??) and had a website designed by http://www.mvwebdesign.com/. People who don’t have websites or who are new to websites often ask how sales are from the web. The answer is that the site acts as a catalog and brochure rather than a store. Sales do occur, but usually I am doing business with people I know who simply contact me to make purchases. (If I were one of the Big Boys, it would probably be different, but I am content to stay local.) In this current era, having a website lends legitimacy to a business. Weird that such an intangible is so necessary to appear bona fide!  https://www.cabinart.net/index.htm