The Bird is the Word!

 On Boxing Day we painted at Redwood City Harbor. Didn't see any stirring scenes in the hazy overcast morning, but found myself fascinated watching an egret or heron fishing. Decided to paint him. 

What's odd is that I had seen the heron or egret fishing amidst the rocks by the dock, shot a photo on my phone, and by the time I got set up the tide had covered the rocks and the bird moved on to better fishing. I don't like to paint from photos and thought I had a good composition in my head, so went ahead and painted without reference to the photo. Preferred to be more creative than precise. (Bird is a bit funky, but I'm not an animal painter.)

You won't believe that when you see the photo, to which I referred later at home!

Wrecked!

 Had a great weekend with Craig at Bodega Bay. We joined Delta Gallery and Contra Costs Plein Air painting/photoing at Inverness at the shipwreck and the Pt. Reyes Cypress Tunnel. I got two and a video. 

Pastel on white PastelMat 20x10, watercolor & ink on Arches 4.5x9.75"

Video and photos.  Inverness 2022

Crystal Springs From the Top

 Two from Crystal Springs Golf Course overlook. 12x9" pastel on Dark Green PastelMat, 9x12" pastel on Sienna PastelMat.

Fun at Funston!

 Today's painting at Fort Funston in San Francisco, CA. Was expecting wind and cold, but in fact it was sunny (misty a bit) and nice. Views in all directions. This camera snap does not do the colors justice, but there's only so much Photoshop can correct. 9x12" pastel on light gray PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022

Gone to Oregon!

 Up in Oregon for a family affair so made sure to take my watercolor and ink mini. Couple of local sights: Multnomah Falls and Haystack Rock in the fog at Canon Beach. About 3.5x5.5 (postcards), ink and watercolor on paper. B. Charlow 2022

Vistas

 In our plein air group I have long maintained that a "vista" doesn't always make a great subject for painting for many, me for certain. Some folks can make an appreciable painting from any view. I find that a "wow" view doesn't always translate that way for me.

In the SF Bay Area we have a lot of sweeping vistas available. Partly because of bay and ocean and mountain combos and partly because there are many many viewing points to see a broad panorama. But a panorama isn't the only thing in plein air!

Yesterday I had to swap our painting sites due to a weather front and ended up mid-Bay at Treasure Island. Vistas galore in every direction, starting with city skylines, islands and peninsulas and mountains, and even the boats and bridges if that's your thing. Most of us got lured into doing the SF skyline, and by way of confession, urban skylines are not my fave. I did it, but didn't feel inspired and it shows in the pastel of that below. But I didn't want to waste the time, so whipped out my watercolor kit and dashed off a simple but effective view of some of the islands and land masses, which did work. YMMV, of course.

Well Hung!

 We hung our new painting exhibit, "Wild Art", my conception, at State Street Market in Los Altos, CA. State Street is an upscale food hall that is brand new and had never had any exhibitions before, so we broke the ice. Yesterday we had our "Meet the Artists" event with a decent showing, considering zero pre-event publicity, and everyone loved it. Especially the venue owner, who decided on seeing our exhibit that he want to have artists exhibit on a regular basis. 

Some nice compliments for my paintings and all the artists. I have only 2 in the show, to be fair to others, because, though I organized it with some help, we wanted to give everyone a shot. There are 34 paintings by 24 of our Burlingame Plein Air Painters group. We're hoping to have more shows in future, and since this one is already laid out, we may be able to move it around a bit before its novelty expires. A LOT of work to do this, though!

My Jefferson Award

 Go figure. In my 53 year career I've done hundreds of things deserving of recognition, that remain in obscurity. So this time I get an award and a ton of recognition when I feel the credit really goes to my staff and volunteers. But life is full of ironies (it's actually like a beanstalk, isn't it?)

Bart's Jefferson Award

Pebble Beach (not the golf course)

 Out painting at Pebble Beach today with the crew. Good weather, great turnout and paintings. I got mine done early, 20x10" pastel on white PastelMat. "Pebble Beach Headland", Pescadero, CA. B. Charlow 2022

Not really what I wanted, but

 Folks seem to like this one, despite the fact that it feels sort of blah to me. Up at Bell Ranch again. 8x10" pastel on white PastelMat.

Not my first Rodeo (Beach)

 From yesterday with our Burlingame Plein Air Painters group at Rodeo Beach in Marin County, CA. 12x9" soft pastel on brown PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022.

Fixed myself up but good!

 Out in Half Moon Bay with the painting group again today. Did a nice one, but kind of darkened and spotted it with the fixative, so lost something. Ah well.

20x10" pastel on white PastelMat.

Ah, Italia!

 Having just returned from a long awaited trip back to Italy, I find myself in posession of 9 lovely small line and wash panitings. Still have the touch, and I painted almost daily, something that I am not sure I ever did as prolifically before. 

Varios sizes, ink and watercolor on watercolor paper. Sites in Milan, Cinqueterre, Florence, Perugia and Bologna.

Framed and hung

 Gave one of my pastel paintings to a friend at work. She had it framed and it came out very well. Here it is on her wall with some glads from my garden.

From Indians to cowboys

 Great day with the Burlingame Plein Air Painters in Marin at Olompali State Park. Historic site for 6,000 years of habitation, including a famous hippie commune in the 60s! Miwok huts too.

I snagged two watercolor line and wash paintings, about 7x9" and 6x9" respectively.

B. Charlow 2022, Novato, CA

Gunfight at the OK Corral

 Nearly 30 painters at Long Branch Saloon in Half Moon Bay, CA. 4x10" pen on watercolor paper and 9x12" pastel on white PastelMat.

Pearson-Arastradero Preserve

 Pearson-Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, CA. I got this one of a "Eucalyptus in a Meadow" against a hill and mountain backdrop, with a field of flowers to boot! 9x12" pastel on Sand PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022

White House (the other one) Creek Beach

 Great day painting with the group at Whitehouse Creek Beach in Pescadero, CA, today. 9x12" pastel on light blue PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022. Wanted to capture a tonalist more monochromatic rock scene, with subtle colorful light glazing. The painting wanted more color oomph, so we settled between us on this:

In Da House!

 Dubeneck House in Hidden Villa, Cupertino, CA. B. Charlow 2022. 12x9" pastel on SienaPastelMat

Just Bluffing

 Sunday's opus. Plain but expressive. 9x12" pastel on Gray PastelMat. Bluffs at Moss Beach, CA. B. Charlow 2022

Flexing my Mussel Rock

 Out with Burlingame Plein Air Painters today at Mussel Rock in Pacifica, CA. Overcast and got cold and windy, but we all had a blast. I've been painting so many coastal scenes that this time I just turned around and painted the flower covered hillside. 9x12" pastel on white PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022

Cameron's again

 Today's painting across the field from Cameron's in Half Moon Bay, CA. 20x10" soft pastel on white PastelMat. B. Charlow 2022

We had over 20 painters, a good lunch outdoors together, and some fine paintings.

Twofer day!

 Great day at Lands End in San Francisco. Great views and over 30 artists turned out to paint today. I got two, a 12x9" pastel on Gray Pastelmat, and a 10x4" watercolor. B. Charlow, 2022.

Crystal Springs on a crisp winter morning

 Out at Crystal Springs Golf Course in Hillsborough, CA, for a gorgeous morning painting. Big turnout, great weather and some great paintings. I got an Asian esthetic pastel on White Pastelmat 20x16". Biggest pastel I've painted so far. Wanted to capture the atmospherics with the fog on the reservoir and bright winter sky. See what you think.