The Hen

The Hen oil on panel 7" x 9"

I'm not usually one to do paintings of animals, although this year I've posted a few. In all cases I was memorializing for myself animals I'd gotten to know. The rabbits posted earlier lived outside the studio and became quite friendly or at least not too concerned about my presence. But one by one they disappeared, victims of hawks and coyotes. This hen was an urban chicken that lived on our street but belonged to no one. When we first met her she was nearly blind, often bumping into objects. She roosted in bushes across the street from us and we would watch in anticipation as she would head home in the evening because she dawdled a lot in the street and didn't seem to see cars until they were right on her. During hot weather we began giving her watermelon which became her second favorite food. Melon has lots of vitamin A and her poor vision was due to lack of that, so gradually her vision was back to normal. Eventually she decided to end her commute and began to roost in shrubs in front of our house. We started giving her meal worms which she went nuts over. This once bedraggled hen was looking beautiful. But a troop of raccoons began marauding through the neighborhood and she was taken by them one night.

Smokey Shasta

Smokey Shasta oil on panel 8" x 10"

San Luis, December

San Luis, December oil on panel 11" x 14"

Iron Nation

Iron Nation acrylic on canvas 29" x 36"

This piece is from 1972. I painted it as a gift but it was rejected and over time has become one of my favorites, partly because the scene is an area along the Missouri where I spent some time.

San Luis, November

San Luis, November oil on panel 11" x 14"

Though it doesn't come across too well in this painting, the air quality was horrible due to the tragic Camp fire. Visibility was about 1/2 mile.

Anxiety and Spirit of the Times

Spirit of the Times oil on panel 6" x 6"

Anxiety oil on panel 6" x 6"

Hallowrench

Halloween oil on panel 6" x 6"

It's been some years since I've done Halloween themed paintings so I thought I would post a few.

San Luis, October

San Luis, October oil on panel 11" x 14"

The area was swarming with yellow jackets but they weren't aggressive. I'd left the windows of my truck open and for days afterwards the wasps kept appearing inside my vehicle, having hidden somewhere inside.

Alert Cottontail

Alert Cottontail oil on panel 5" x 7"

Cautious Cottontail

Cautious Cottontail oil on panel 7" x 5"

San Luis, September

San Luis, September oil on panel 11" x 14"

Cottontail

Cottontail oil on panel 5" x 7"

San Luis, August

San Luis, August oil on panel 11" x 14"

Rose Grading

Rose Grading oil on canvas 18" x 24"

Another older painting, this one from 2005.

Clouds Over Twin Peaks

Clouds Over Twin Peaks oil on panel 8" x 10"

Streamline

Streamline acrylic on canvas 40" x 30" 

This painting was just in the California State Fair Fine Arts Competition and received an Award of Excellence.

San Luis, July

San Luis, July oil on panel 11" x 14"

Kathy UV

Kathy UV oil on canvas 14" x 20"

This painting is from 2004.

Sutter Buttes

Sutter Buttes oil on panel 4" x 36"

This painting has been accepted into the Santa Cruz Art League's 88th Annual California Statewide Landscape Show, which is now showing (July 2018). I painted this work using traditional glazing techniques. The panorama format is not particularly good for display in this blog so I'll include a detail.

Sutter Buttes detail

The Sutter Buttes are the world's smallest mountain chain and are the remains of an ancient volcano. They lie in the Central Valley between the Sierra and the coast range but are geologically distinct from either of those and are considered sacred by native Americans.

Kathy Posing

Kathy Posing watercolor 15" x 22.5"

This is another older painting, from 2000.

San Luis, June

San Luis, June oil on panel 11" x 14"

Tug

Tug oil on panel 8" x 10"

San Luis, May

San Luis, May oil on panel 11" x 14"

The Cliff House

The Cliff House oil on panel 9" x 12"

The City from the Palace

The City from the Palace oil on panel 9" x 12"

San Luis, April

San Luis, April oil on panel 11" x 14"

Blue Springs

Blue Springs oil on panel 9" x 12"

Pink Rain, Uvita

Pink Rain, Uvita oil on panel 9" x 12"

San Luis, March

San Luis, March oil on panel 11" x 14"

Catarata Uvita

Catarata Uvita oil on panel 9" x 12"

Kathy at Playa Manuel Antonio

Kathy at Playa Manuel Antonio oil on panel 9" x 12"

San Luis, February

San Luis, February oil on panel 11" x 14"

Earlier the day was nicely warm but as I painted a cold wind arose and soon my fingers were numb. So I cut the painting session a bit short.

San Luis, January

San Luis, January oil on panel 11" x 14"

Early morning and the fog was just lifting. To the left coyotes cried and were answered by coyotes to the right. Then they joined into a chorus. A distant sheep dog gave a warning bark. I was thinking of coffee.

Bison in Dana Slough

Bison in Dana Slough oil on panel 9" x 12"

Sunset Punta Achiote

Sunset Punta Achiote watercolor 7" x 10"

We spent nearly every evening in Costa Rica sitting on the patio, looking out at the ocean and hoping to see the green flash. Twice we were successful and one evening the flash was especially pronounced and beautiful. However, this little watercolor was done on an evening when there were too many clouds to see the effect.

Rocky Cove Punta Achiote

Rocky Cove Punta Achiote watercolor 7" x 10"

Another view of Rocky Cove at Punta Achiote. Barely visible on the lower right is the coast highway.

Bob's Guest House Dominical

Bob's Guest House Dominical watercolor 6" x 8"

This is the back side of a beautiful house that has a 180 degree view of the Pacific. I had an awkward time painting this, holding the watercolor pad in my left had while standing, a bowl of water and small pan set on the ground at my feet so that for every stroke I had to bend down then stand upright again to observe and paint.