Painters gotta paint paint paint paint, I'm just gonna shake it off

I don't usually paint in studio (home table) anymore. Prefer outdoors from life. But I did have this reference photo I took of large varied color pumpkins in a crate, so I decided to have a go at it. Came out OK. Still a bit exaggerated color and contrast, but it's a painting, not a photo copy. Was dissatisfied at first, but as I look at it properly as an interpretation, it has its merits. See what you think.

9x12" soft pastel on dark brown Pastelmat, B. Charlow 2020. From photo of colored pumpkins in a large box.

From Jailhouse Rock to Pigeon Point in the Mist

Was trying to capture the feeling of the light mist there early in the morning and the perspective is what you would get if you used a telephoto lens. 9x12" soft pastel on white Pastelmat. B. Charlow, 2020

Switheroo!

Strange day. Started out very cold, then quite reasonably warm on the coast where we were painting. Went early to paint at a trail in the redwoods and found that the authorities had blocked almost all the parking alongside the road, making it impossible for my 15+ painters. Couldn't reach most of them but two of us switched to another location and painted.

Not bad. Soft pastel on Anthracite Pastelmat, 12x9", Cypress tunnel in dappled sunlight and deep shade.

Down on the Farm

 Had a really good morning painting at Hidden Villa Ranch in Los Altos Hills. They opened just for us (most venues are still closed due to Covid.) Painted a 12x9" pastel on Sand Pastelmat of the white barn area. Lots of perspective; not easy to discern but there are two buildings, one large white work house in front of the barn, which is set back. The lighting was changing constantly but interesting light and shadows in the foreground and middle, while the forested hills behind stayed in bright sunlight.

Pacific Groooooove

 Loved returning to the beautiful scenery of Pacific Grove. Covid notwithstanding, you can't take away the views!

Painted two, only one of which is worth bothering with. Quick small pen and watercolor sketch. (The other started and ended with nothing in mind and nothing of value on paper.)

Portola Vineyards

Portola Vineyards fruit tree, 9x12" soft pastel on Siena Pastelmat, 2020, B. Charlow, Portola Valley, CA

Second time I've painted this tree, with the large wood pile in background that I've also painted before. Strong backlight and dappled lighting.

Shark Fin Cove

 Good time painting at Shark Fin Cove in Davenport, CA, today. Weather was fine, though we drove through some of the fire area that was a bit smokey.

Got two: a nice pastel 9x12" and an ink sketch 4.5x8".

Reference photo early morning.

Can it get any weirder?

Weirdest weather today, but went out painting anyway. Started with the rarest of all storms middle of the night - heat lightning and thunder. Continued through morning. Light rain.

Clearing, so we all went out to coast to paint and try our luck. Overcast but clearing at first, then cooler, then serious wind gusted up nearly turning over everyone's easels, so I ended up painting with some hard pastels in a little set in the car. Lighting and thunder, light rain again. Finally clearing up just as we were leaving.

9x12" Nupastel on Siena Pastelmat. Wavecrest, Aug. 2020.

Bedwell Bayfront Park again

Shut out of going to the coast due to Covid shutdowns this weekend, so we switched to Bedwell Bayfront. 15 painters and a lot of good weather and scenery. Painted two.
Eucalyptus grove in shart shadow. 9x12" soft pastel on Wine Pastelmat. Bedwell Bayfront Park, Menlo Park, CA. B. Charlow 2020.

Then a quick pen and watercolor of a typical eucalyptus:

Imaginary Pond 2

Another pastel painting of my imaginary pond. Not quite as good as the first one. Feels a little overdone. 9x12" pastel on Sand tinted Pastelmat.

Up on Skyline - painting at last!

We had 25 painters today at a ranch on Skyline. Cold and windy, but we were all glad to finally be able to paint together outside again after a 3 month hiatus.

I did two, one posted here. Gave that and the other away to our hosts.

9x12" pastel on Pastelmat.

OK for sitting outside and not in front of the object

This one was inspired by trees very windblown at Mori Point. Had an old photo. Didn't copy exactly, as that would have made me nuts. Came out OK.

12x9" pastel on Pastelmat. "Bower".

Pond's Edge

OK here's my latest. Finally broke out of the doldrums. Painted from imagination, but inspired by a small watercolor I had done last year. 9x12" soft pastel on light green tinted Pastelmat. "Pond's Edge". Below it is the older small watercolor that inspired it.

Levee-tating

I'm getting too familiar with this spot on the levee! Starting to feel like Monet painting the same haystacks (only he does it better....) 4.5x9" watercolor on paper.

BTW, the Covid crisis must be over, because there were all those people out there without masks and most not observing social distancing. How lovely...NOT!

Levee Poppies Redux

Broke the barrier and got out to paint a pastel on the levee. California orange poppies abounding in the sun along with other flowers. Similar view as last week's watercolor, but the pastel is more saturated in color. Not bad.

12x9" pastel on Pastelmat.

Shaken, not stirred

Finally got outside. Sat in the sun at Foster City levee and enjoyed looking at something far away! Poppies were out in force, as were ice plant flowers, but I simply couldn't capture the vibrancy of the poppies in watercolor. Got this little ditty anyway. 7x5" or so watercolor & ink with a touch of gouache on paper.

Waterfall Cliffs at Mussel Rock

Finally broke the dry spell today. Painted indoors from photo taken when we were at Mussel Rock last time. Pastel on Pastelmat, 12x9", B. Charlow. Second pic will show you what I was interpreting. Got a bit too much contrast in there.

Art in the Time of Covid (1)

Locked in here for 2 weeks, working hard, but garnering not enough inspiration to paint. Very frustrating. Finally squeaked out this  little fanciful cherry trees in flower, watercolor & ink, 6.7x9.4" on Hahnemuehle 300 lb paper.

Rained out but won one

Last painting outing got cancelled due to gale force wind conditions and Sunday's upcoming one is likely to be rained out. Makes me very restless!

But I did get back to one of my previous paintings, cropped it down and put it in a vintage frame. Unusual, but striking combination and a successful edit to my eye.

Newark Slough

Painting went well today, but I think I over sprayed with fixative, which darkened it unfortunately.

Blown away!

Cool and gale force winds in HMB near Cameron's painting today. I ended up painting two ink & watercolors in my car.

Lighting up the Lighthouse

Once more painting with the group at Montara Lighthouse.

First one is Sennelier soft pastel on Pastelmat, 9x12". Second one is ink & watercolor on Arches paper, 4x10". Pleased with both of them.

Bedwell that ends well

Nice winter morning with the group at Bedwell Bayfront Park in Menlo Park. Painted two soft pastels on Pastelmat. Not entirely happy with them, but they'll do.

Second time is the charm!

OK, had a productive session. First one is the remake of the ruined pastel; second one is the original that I ruined with the fixative. Quite a difference! Both done from imagination, BTW. You won't find this place on any map.