Out at Rockaway Beach today with at least 25 painting buddies. Lovely day and some good paintings. I snagged two, not well photographed, and a bit splotchy due to the fixative. But it was fun!
Had a great time painting in the sunshine out on the Moss Beach bluffs. Almost 30 painters! Everyone is eager to get going again.
Not my best, but it's been 3 months since the group was able to paint together. Lovely bright yellow oxalis all over the fields in Half Moon Bay. 12x9" pastel on Wine Pastelmat.
Farmer chased us all out.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
