So life is going to the dogs! Well actually it’s fifteen dogs that will be installed throughout the town of Danville from May thru September. Fifteen local artists were chosen to design and paint a fiberglass dog for this public art project. I am one of the fifteen and I finished my dog the other day…she’s all painted and ready for display. This project is being organized through the Village Theatre and Art Gallery in Danville.

My latest obsession - tiny art. I mean really tiny. These are 2”x1.5” or 2” x 2”.

I lay out six pieces at a time on one sheet of 9x12 paper and then tape off the openings. I select a palette for each group and then paint earth and sky and sometimes water. Once it’s dry I go over the shapes with graphite pencil and conte crayon which gives the whole piece dimension.

​Check out my Instagram feed for the whole collection and if you are interested in any of the pieces just let me know. Each available for $25.00. Five are sold - 6 still available.

My new obsession is small watercolor abstracts on paper. There’s something magical and spontaneous about painting these pieces and having such a quick response because they are small and dry quickly. The hard part is not over doing it which I tend to do. So I must maintain a level of self control and let it go when it is done. But when do I know it’s done? Thus I make mistakes and some I throw away and some make it. For the most recent one I added mixed media additions including graphite pencil and conte crayon which I find so soul satisfying. Anyone else feel that way about Conte crayon?
For each piece I use tape to create the border - most are either 6x8 or 4x7 and then I paint…a layer at a time and see what happens. I may add a few splatters or drips which add dimension and interest. I have also experimented a little with lavender and pink - but only as accent colors because it can take over a piece and I really don’t want that as I prefer blues and greens to be the focus. When the piece is dry I remove the tape and sign the painting and then I am done.
Most paintings are available for purchase so just contact me through my site if you are interested.

Years ago - I created a series of botanical sketches that were very minimalist with only a few colors and simple black lines. I sold TONS of them as prints and they were very successful. It’s been over 10 years since I created them and I wanted to try again but this time with mixed media on paper using using very diluted acrylics and pastel. So I bought 18x24 mixed media paper and set to work. I used varying shades of blue plus citron tones and pinks which is area popular right now - especially muted dusty rose or ash shades.
Once finished I brought them to my photographer in Berkeley and had them captured at high res and then I cleaned them up and set them up for art prints. The originals are also available - I like to get as much use out of my work as possible.
Check back again because I have a feeling there might be more on the way.

I keep composing my own perception of the earth around me. I take walks in Briones or Hidden Lakes and I look at the layers of hills and I capture these views with my phone and then figure out how I can translate that same look onto my white wood boards that are waiting for me. 

I start with a simple outlines and then fill in the sections. Then - when each section is dry I paint them again..and then I paint them again so what happens is that each layer creates a life and texture and the layers on top don't take away from that life - they simply make it more interesting and if you think about it - aren't humans the same way? Our previous life experiences don't go away when we have new experiences - they are simply added layers to our lives. 

​For my info about each of these works go right here.