JEANNE BAUER DAILY PAINTER

THE LONG VIEW

2010-11-29T16:02:00.001-08:00

Hiking up on property in Green Valley one can look south and locate the second morro in a string of seven, Morro Rock, with the Bay and Los Osos beyond.
My gallery mates pushed me to have a show and get with it, so I did, and I thank you all for the push. Left on my own, I'd still be on the lounge contemplating how blue blue blue the California sky really is. jb 2010

Can You Believe I'm Still Here?

2010-11-28T16:10:00.000-08:00

Hey Old Friends,
It has been just about a year since last posted! For those of you who wrote and called, thank you so much for keeping up with me. For those friends who thought I dropped off the face of the earth... I did..sort of. I'm just now climbing up out of the hell hole known to me as Valley Fever; hospitalized for two months and recovering 1 year ever since. It wasn't pretty and there are missing brain cells so if I owe anyone anything, commission, etc. Please do call or write. It's entirely possible I've overlooked work for you.
This is the first work I've painted since 2009 and it's a do-over at that. I'm back working in the studio now. Thanks for all your encouragements, everyone. jb

SILLY ON THE BEACH

2009-09-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

SillyGurl will not participate in the morning dog walk unless she gets a treat. This is her classic pose; sits there and waits until she gets her own way. I'm trying to move fast through some candid dog paintings but I'm experimenting with the techniques to capture very curly-haired coats. I overworked this a bit again.jb

LATTE GETS A TRIM

2009-09-28T13:14:00.001-07:00

We have seen this girl before, my sister's dog, LATTE. She needed a clean-up of eye hairs as per Mrs. Waller! I always dread going back in to touch up. I have that habit of painting way too much and overdoing it. I have six thousand brush strokes in this painting, so many overlayers. I went back to look at the blog of a painter I'm knocked out by, Carol Marine, and counted her brushstrokes on her latest work....25 maybe. I must get back to her basics. jb

RASCAL ON THE RUG

2009-09-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

I have never seen or met this pup in person; painted from a photo, so I hope I've done this pooch justice. Another 6x6 for the Open Studio Tour in Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, October 17 & 18.

I WANT TO EAT THIS SOOOO BAD

2009-09-17T10:03:00.001-07:00

This little cupcake is my entry into Different Strokes From Different Folks blog by Karin Jurick (Check side links) but I didnt finish it in time to meet the deadline, so I posted it unfinished, in my eyes anyway. I'm in slow motion lately; everything is a long labor. Look for a re-post down the line. jb

HAVAH THINKING

2009-09-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hi, Havah! Finally finished your painting. We are all so lonesome for you to come back. Pup goes,"Where is that kid?..where's the kid?...where's the kid? love, GeGe.

LULU EVERY MORNING

2009-09-12T19:28:00.001-07:00

I always meet this dog on the beach every morning, She loves a head rubbing and puppy-kisses. So sweet and gentle. Part of my Los Osos collection of dogs I'm painting to include in the open Studio Tour October 17 & 18. 6x6 small format animal portraits in oil, $100. jb

A MORNING CHILL

2009-09-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

I actually can feel the cold, damp under this eroded cliff. I used my paint very thin on clay board and then worked with dry-brush and glazing. believe it, there are a hundred layers on this. Sometimes I daydream and then find I've glazed the thing into oblivion. Love the way the clayboard sucks the oil mediums up. jb

MUSEUM COVE LAUNCH

2009-09-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

I have been painting on both smooth gesso panels and canvas panels. Somehow I have a shipment of clayboard meant for water mediums and I guess oil pastels, but someone in the art supply store said just paint on whatever you want with oils. Paint with oils on heavy watercolor paper, etc.
So the clay board soaks up paint immediately. I was playing with thinning paint, also using glazing and dry brush techniques with the oil pigments. I'm much pleased with the first few results. It's like painting a fresco and I'm crazy about dry-brush strokes. Took the picture while out kayaking. This is our launch spot in Morro bay. jb

COVE BELOW THE MUSEUM

2009-09-09T18:26:00.001-07:00

UP BROADERSON HILLS

2009-09-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Three and a half months off. Had a wonderfully fine summer playing with grandchildren; very difficult getting back to any work at all and any great artistic jag I might have been on... well, I just have to start over again. Open Studio Tour is the weekend of October 17 & 18 this year. I'm working on a variety of pieces, but here is a good start. jb

LATTE

2009-05-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

LATTE. Another portrait of a family dog, my sister's dog Latte, a french hound. Finally back to work after a month and a half off...a little stiff, but I started six paintings hoping to smooth out. jb

LOST AT SEA

2009-03-27T17:40:00.001-07:00

My most recent entry for the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog hosted by Karin Jurick. I enjoyed the figurative work in this challenge and I'm really pleased. The reflections and light on the wet sand is working for me. jb

SUSHI SAUCE BUBBLES

2009-03-18T12:50:00.001-07:00

Here it is: Blog Entry 100. Love it. This is my entry into this week's Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. Check all the entries - link in the right column. Always a difficult challenge each bi-week entry. I enjoy participating; I must check to look at everyone else's work at least every hour on the hour. Always a surprise. jb

SILLY SILLY

2009-03-11T12:54:00.001-07:00

I had another go at my dog, one of the dogs, SillyGurl. I gave the first picture to granddaughter Havi and then had to have one for myself. My whole career working with glass, I have not a single piece of my own work; likewize for textiles. So this one we will keep. I did one of Puppy but it was purchased by one of her admirers! I'm trying to capture all our dog friends in Los Osos for a show. Hope to see you at the Bayfront beach. jb

SOPHIE

2009-03-08T11:40:00.001-07:00

Painted dogs all week long. Everyone should have their portrait and their pets' portrait done ..I guess include the children too. I'm just doing something every day to keep loose. Commissions accepted, by the way. jb

Gold Sky

2009-03-06T01:09:00.001-08:00

I like to get closer and closer in on the same vistas I paint over and over. I fell off my flipflops again and twisted my knee up so I can't get very far afield to new hikes. Three days off now to garden and paint...Show coming up in June and Open Studio Tour in October. jb

DEEP REFLECTIONS

2009-03-04T09:08:00.001-08:00

My latest entry in the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog(see link right). This is a success for me for several reasons...I reused a painted-over panel; I painted loose and free; I finished in an hour; I love the brush strokes; finally, I haven't been able to paint for weeks due to brain malfunction freeze-up due to general mental/physical breakdown called life. jb

WORKS IN PROGRESS

2009-02-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

I have lost it the last week...nothing has worked out. I wiped eight panels and these two were barely salvageable. Here is the question: What do you do to panels that have been painted on, paint dried and now you want to use it again? Do you re-gesso it? Do you paint over with a new oil ground? What? jb

SILLYGURL WORK IN PROGRESS

2009-02-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

My dog Silly Gurl, rescued from the pound..dead dog walking. Her name is SillyGurl because she just is a silly girl. We don't think she is really a dog. We think she is someone or something else come back for a specific reason and she's really horrified to be a dog.
Speaking of which... a loving, sad farewell to Ella Bella and Obie, two apple-head longhairs who lost their lives to a greyhound rescue dog doing what greyhounds do best, chase small things. They are in dog paradise, with Aggie and Pebo, where all best loved dogs go. Sad night indeed. jb

LEROY

2009-02-07T18:48:00.001-08:00

Leroy's portrait commissioned by my sister Ann for Leroy's owners. I'm saying Leroy is rocking that "do." jb

OLD OAK

2009-02-06T10:38:00.001-08:00

Perfumo Canyon Road winds up and over the coastal range connecting Los Osos Valley with Avila Vally. Just reaching the top before descending down into late afternoon Los Osos. One of those brilliant days where everything is possible and nothing can go awry. jb

ON THE TRAIL VALENCIA

2009-02-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hiking down the trail from the top of Valencia Peak in Montono D'Oro, 5 minutes from the house. jb

WINDOWS, SAN FRANCISCO

2009-02-04T11:10:00.001-08:00

Another entry in the Different Strokes From Different Folks blog hosted by Karin Juric. The links are to the right. I really struggled again with this one as my hands shake too much for linear work. After at least ten days and twenty paintings-over, I quit at this last version, which I admit I like. jb

BELL TERRE

2009-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

I finished this work of my house on Belle Plains Road. It was an old historic Civil War road up from the creek off the Potomac River, into Falmouth and Fredericksburg at the fall line. I was forever finding artifacts from the war as the property was a calvery camp during the march up into battle at Fredericksburg. Miss Elizabeth, over 100, died in the room with the light on. She was a seamstress in life and when renovating the house, I found her needles and cases along with handmade lace , buttons and woven fabric remnents under the floor. Her spirit stayed on when she passed a hundred years ago and appeared to me several times while I was the owner the property. Why I never painted the house when I was standing in the woods surrounding the place before is unanswered. I named the home Belle Terre because it was. jb

BLEAK COVE WINTER

2009-01-24T13:42:00.000-08:00

Rework of an earlier painting idea on a cold winter day. jb

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL

2009-01-22T14:07:00.000-08:00

My last challenge from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. (The link is to the right or click the painting title.) Thanks to those who write and leave comments for me. I truly appreciate your thoughts and praise. I have to say these challenges have been difficult for me. Oil painting in general is daunting for me. Oh, I get it, but I can't leave it alone. I changed this one radically at the very end...couldn't leave well enough alone. Great lesson in values. This is supposed to be a night scene. I've even stood right there a hundred times and still it was tough. Love the challenges though. jb

WINTER BEACH

2009-01-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

January has been a beautiful month here in Los Osos, California. All sunshine and then some good hard rains here and there so the beach flora is all penny-candy colored and the sea is all froth. jb

JANUARY LOW TIDE

2009-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

JEANNE BAUER PAINTS DONNA BEVERLY

2009-01-08T11:53:00.001-08:00

This was by far the most difficult challenge for me. I painted this portrait of Donna Beverly for the Different Strokes Blog. (SEE LINK RIGHT) We were paired up to paint each others portrait for our year-end challenge. It was difficult. I tried to be loose, but I painted tight. I tried to be colorful but painted too realistic. In fact, there are 32 better paintings under this one but I just had to add that last touch, which blew it, which led to painting over a little more. Then my husband showed up and said no, she's more zen/sad/meditative and I'd add a little more...mouth/lips/nose were changed at least 20 times. jb

BELLE PLAINS

2009-01-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

Work in progress. I have been painting every day. But I have been away since 12/15/08 and it's tough painting on the road, especially with oils. I had the best time with my grandson and we painted or drew something every day.
Before I moved to California, I lived in Fredericksburg, VA, in a two-hundred-year-old house on the Potomac River. I always meant to paint it, but never did. I've been dreaming about that place for a while so I started some works. This needs much work so stay tuned. jb

BRIAN

2009-01-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

I have been interested in portrait painting lately. This is a work in progress of my son Brian when he was just out of the Navy. I'm afraid to touch it now for fear of blowing it. I always over-paint. jb

ON BEING TAGGED

2008-12-21T21:41:00.000-08:00

Two different artists have tagged me in recent weeks and I haven't had time to respond until recently...so I'll take a stab at it over the next few days. I'm in Texas with my best boy, Jay, and that is priority for me. But in essence, if you are tagged, tell seven things interesting, preferably unknown about yourself and tag seven people you think deserve recognition.

1. I am pretty much a loner and can exist for long periods without leaving the grounds or studios. I can survive on netflix, cream of wheat, organic veg. broth, chocolate, some fruit, no phone, no visitors, music.
2. Fortunately for me my husband is a musician -keyboards, piano, jazz, funk, soul, any kind of rock ,every genre -so there is always a good soundtrack behind everything at my house.
3. We have a family conference every night in the livingroom, always at the same time with our animals....they insist. Everyone gets a loving and a kissing, and fluffing and petting and the dogs compete to see who can pick up more dog toys in their mouth.
4. Silly Girl is a terrier/australian shepherd; Puppy is a border collie/australian shepherd; Mother's Baby is a main coon with six toes and a puff ball tail; Sweetie-sweet-sweet is a black and tortise maincoon/mix. I saved all of them from the "end" at the pound.
5. I honestly get along best with babies, small children, dogs and cats. The first thing I ever teach new babies of any race or breed is to give a kiss, always gotta get the puppy kisses. On babies, neck meat and chubby cheeks are the best, then toes.
6. I am married to a guy from highschool who would never go with me anywhere I tried to get him to go. I grew up on the south shore of Long Island in the 50's and 60's and was a wild surf girl with a volkswagen and a long board and he always had to rake the lawn or practice piano. We married in our livingroom 35 years later.
7. I have always lived in very old spaces with ghosts who have made themselves known to me. I always took the message very seriously and stepped back from the brink of despaireach time. jb

Now for the tagging part....have to work on that a bit...stay tuned.jb

KARIN JURICK'S BEST BOOTS

2008-12-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

I have been painting, working, healing, working, painting. Blogging went by the wayside. I'm leaving for Texas tomorrow until after the new year. I shipped my paints so I can at least keep up with Karin Jurick's Different Strokes blog challenge. This close up of one of her boots was this week's challenge. I gave my self four hours over two days and still I over-painted. There are, again, at least three great paintings under this final. I love the colors though.

Special thanks to those folks who have tagged me in the last few weeks. This is indeed a special honor and I hope to carry on the game as soon as I get to Texas. I have to get three to four weeks of legal work out before I can ever take off. So I couldn't get a blog entry in even though I'm working on six small paintings.
Take care, my friends, and enjoy this winter solstice season. jb

BLEAK COVE

2008-11-23T19:59:00.000-08:00

The last few days have started out marvelously brilliant. By late afternoon you definitely knew it was fall. I caught the cove just as the brilliant light faded back. Standing at the edge of the cove, one could feel the rising damp coolness of the beach below. Said a prayer for a dying friend.
I'm lost...I can't seen to put it all together. jb

LOW TIDE

2008-11-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

This is the first painting I'v completed from my first "walk" after knee surgery; Just down to the dog beach around the point in Baywood. This is my first view in the morning and the last view at night..never tire of the scene...so fortunate this is my home. My goal was to work fast and lose yet still catch the wonderful quality of light and atmosphere of early morning tidal flats. jb

GOLDEN EVENING

2008-11-20T10:07:00.001-08:00

This is one of the last paintings I did before the October show and one of the first to sell. It never fails....whenever I do something just for myself, no real purpose...it's the first work to go. jb

UPSIDE DOWN

2008-11-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Well, finally back in the saddle.The last four months have been a joyride of sorts. The first of October was dedicated to getting ready for our county Open Studio Tour which goes on through October. In November daughter and grandchild moved from EastCoast to West Coast and stayed with us during the transition. Pure Joy! even though I had fallen in August and now had surgery for knee tear etc. Bad News falling when you are older.
However this is a painting on Karin Jurick's Different Strokes Blog I participate in. Ceck it out. the link is also to the right. You had to paint the piece upside down. Just focus on the shape.
After not painting for two months it was tough to get back to work. jb

BLUE WAVE

2008-09-28T10:42:00.001-07:00

High surf warnings and monster breaking wave...that's all the entertainment we need this weekend. "What did you do this weekend?" "Watched waves break." and paint. jb

WHITE PUMPKINS

2008-09-26T17:06:00.001-07:00

White Pumpkins, Second Try. I got so wound up painting this week, I decided to do my own portrait just for kicks, which is a real stretch for me. I started it as I was finishing this one, so I had to walk away so I'd get the pumpkin colours out of my head.
Getting out to the studio every day, especially early,what a difference. Every day I understand my oils a little better...what does what when. I've been consciously putting together all the little tips I'm reading and observing and It's starting to come together. jb

CHALLANGE NUMBER 4

2008-09-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

This work in in response to Karin Juric's Different Strokes From Different Folks blog. I loved this subject matter so much I painted it twice from different perspectives. jb

SEPTEMBER LATE AFTERNOON

2008-09-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

I painted this pochade just as the afternoon warmth began to fade. The water was so still; I was mesmerized by the light and my elevated perspective. Lovely afternoon daydreaming.

In response to a comment on the prior post: I have been watching Karin Juric's videos so I was most definitely influenced by her beautiful work...but really, I went back to basics and broke it all down piece by piece into shapes and values which I took also from Carol Marine's workshop. My muse is "The Jas de Bouffon" by Cezanne, at the very begining of this blog; the brushstrokes!

I just focused on what info was given me, Karin's mandate. Thank you so much for noticing. jb

MOVIE MAN

2008-09-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Here is my second go at Karin Juric's Challange on her blog DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS.
I'm totally pleased with this figurative work and I actually had so much fun painting this piece. The thing is, I think I'm getting it, working in oil. I love that someone so talented and admired by so many shares so much. Thanks Karin. I'm ready for lesson four. jb

MESA

2008-09-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

SETTING SUN

2008-09-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

LATE AFTERNOON

2008-09-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

CRACKER JACK

2008-09-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

I follow several artist blogs whose work I never tire of: Karin Jurick has started a challenge blog, a call for enteries-Different Strokes For Different Folks- to post your painted version of one of her photographs. Her painting is the first on the blog and all contributions are posted thereafter. I love it. I jumped right in. I had a direction, a mandate.
This work is Cracker Jack, Karin's dearest dog, now passed. As I was painting I was thinking about all the dogs I'd lost and how. I'd get weepy and take a mis-brushstroke and mess the thing up, repaint until it was mud, painted a new version, made mud...Ten layers! Three days!
Ckeck her work out. You won't be disappointed. jb

ANOTHER SUNNY DAY

2008-09-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

One can tell the California Weather on the central coast by my blog...Sunny days the paintings come out all orange, yellow, pink...Fog bank rolls in, all paintings turn out grey and purple. jb

LONELY WALK

2008-09-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have fun playing with textures and techniques. I like to use glazing and drybrush strokes when I work in acrylics. I'm so struggling with oil paints. I'm wating for that magic moment Karin Jurick talks about when she "got it" working in oil. jb

GLORIOUS DAY 2

2008-09-02T14:15:00.001-07:00

A pochade captured on the same beach path we walk every day. The day was so clear and bright, I had the darkest of glasses and a deep-brimmed hat on, and still everything turned to golden sunlight. jb

ALMOST ABSTRACT POCHADE

2008-08-28T09:45:00.001-07:00

I'm posting in reverse today. I have painted every day since 8/15 however family and eldercare responsibilities, plus a wrecked knee had done me in as far as posting. But here it all is, the last ten or so daily paintings. I had that many unfinished acrylics I'm preparing for my Open Studio Tour, 10/11 and 10/12 in Los Osos, CA.
This painting is a fast pochade just to capture color and shape of this wall of rocks on a canyon walk.

BLUE WATER

2008-08-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

POCHADE! I love that word. I am really enjoying painting fast and small. I was working in acrylics because small children are around and always want to get into the studio with me, so I'm working but playing it safe, avoiding a mess. At leasst with acrylics you can hose them down afterwards..the kids, I mean. jb

TIDAL MARSH 2

2008-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

just messing around with watercolors. jb

2008-08-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

MOON OVER DUNES 2

2008-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

GLORIOUS DAY

2008-08-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

What a day! All sun and wind and glorious. jb

TIDAL POCHADE

2008-08-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

I had my acrylics on the trail and captured a fast Pochade of the tidal marshes along the road out to Morro Bay. One thing I learned about orange: once it's down it's hard to get around it! jb

EVENING MARSH

2008-08-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

I am truly taken away standing in the golden evening glow walking the tidal marshes, just twilight. Pochade! jb

MOON OVER DUNES

2008-08-12T09:44:00.001-07:00

I never tire of capturing the moon; Sometimes I freeze waiting on the dunes for just the right moment in moontime. I switched over to working with acrylics and oil pastels this week, just for fun. jb

WHALE WATCHING

2008-08-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

Whale watching in Big Sur. Staring out to sea for several hours, this is my binocular view. jb.

OPEN SPACES 2

2008-08-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

I'm posting this painting a second time because I want to offer it up for auction on eBay.
I'm teaching myself to do all this and it's tough. Where is a tech kid??? jb

TIDAL BEACH

2008-08-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

I reworked an earlier painting and I'm happier with it. What a learning process working in oil has been for the last two months. I picked up some unfinished acrylic paintings and drawing work and I'm struggling to get the feel of the brush strokes back. jb

EARLY DAWN BAYWOOD

2008-08-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

I paint this view ..well, a lot. It's the place we meditate coming around Baywood Point walking the dogs. I can't answer why I focus so much upon it. The view is never the same, morning after morning. jb

HOLLISTER PEAK

2008-08-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

I am so wanting to hike the trail to the top of Hollister Peak above to open spaces above town. It's not open to the public yet. One of my favorite views driving home. jb

LOOKING UP

2008-08-06T21:42:00.000-07:00

A fast Pochade captured at the bottom of the falls, looking up one wall of stone and vegetation. jb

Cooked Pear

2008-08-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

First I dropped the pear, then Puppy got it, now the hot lamp lighting the scene is cooking it. Aromatherapy. jb

Off the Trail

2008-08-01T22:59:00.001-07:00

Sitting just off the trail up above Salmon Falls almost to the first camp, one can start to survey the Big Sur coastline. jb

Cove by the Point

2008-07-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

My second pochade! I completed this painting on the trail in one hour and fifteen minutes. The last fifteen minutes were overkill. Too much detail. I overpainted the nice loose strokes I had, however, I used a new panel ...Ampersand smooth gesso board. Beautiful finish. jb

Prefumo Canyon Road

2008-07-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

My first pochade! Painted this in an hour's time driving this road over the coastal range down into Los Osos Valley. Beautiful views every twist and turn. This was almost to the top of the grade. jb

Rough Water

2008-07-28T22:01:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you just have to go a little crazy. jb

Open Spaces

2008-07-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Path leads to oak groves in the open space, full of ticks, rattlesnakes and mountain lions. We climb to a rock outcrop called Tiki God. Sitting up there on the upper ridge we watch an eagle and hawks soaring on updrafts. Spend hours up there as I have a pochade box now. jb

Moon Setting

2008-07-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Love to catch full moons, Where they rise and they fall. jb

Volcanic Activity

2008-07-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

The central coast of California is formed from volcanic or earthquake activity. These moros are volcano plugs once under the now-eroded land at ancient sea level.

White Cliffs

2008-07-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

Climbing the chalky cliffs in Montano de Oro State Park, down by the tide pools. I destroyed my knee/right leg in my office tripping over the dog's bed a week gone and really couldn't get very much further. I like the cropped version. jb

Four Trees

2008-07-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

The last small glint of light before the fog enveloped the shoreline shone through a pause in the overhead dank. That one small ray of hope is what I chase. jb

Beach Pods

2008-07-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

Love the colors and shapes of the pods of seaweed and kelp washed up on the beach. Painted these sitting on the beach just as they lay in the sand.
I have a Pochade box on order; I can paint efficiently on site. jb

Be Bold

2008-07-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

No painting for days lately. Family visiting. Back in the studio, I forced myself to loosen up; get back to a basic set-up; practice some of the lessons from the Carol Marine seminar. This came together very easily this afternoon...I was thinking of that class all day. jb

Locked Up

2008-07-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

Unable to paint and yet drawn outside to the studio...so I cut up a painting and a scanned second and wove them together. Just passing time listening to some music.

Watercolor Canyon

2008-07-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

I took a thumbnail sketch and a fast impression of walls of stone, blooming sedum, cactus, wild sage at the bottom of the canyon. Natural aroma therapy. I needed it. jb

Bottom of the Falls

2008-07-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

Cool, dark, serene. jb

Haze

2008-07-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

There is only smoke in the air allowing no difference between fog and haze. Everything is colorless and flat, diffused. jb

The Hedgerow

2008-07-07T22:14:00.001-07:00

It's a dry hot hike up in the open space above town; the oak groves are cool and sweet. jb

On the Rocks

2008-07-04T11:41:00.001-07:00

I leave my panels around the studio and I can't leave them alone. I look at them and in the course of a few days, I see one thing out of wack...rework just a little. Much Improved. jb

Those Hills

2008-07-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

I am working on a series of hills and fields, trying to edit as much as possible and loosen up. These particular ones I try to capture in every kind of weather in every possible light. Just a calm exersize in stressful times...a parent in end-stage Alhizimer's, sometines all I can do is to paint those hills. Forgive me if ten versions pop up. jb

The Beach

2008-06-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

Coming up on the ocean after crossing the dunes is just magic...there is never NEVER anyone on the beach on the other side. We cross the bay in the Kayaks, hike the dunes and have it all to ourselves. For me, Heaven! jb

Another Cove

2008-06-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

I walk to this cove, Spooner's Cove, quite a lot. The cobbles on the beach are soft, smooth, chalky stones in every pastel shade and some beautiful ochers and pinks. They are comforting to hold and roll about in the palm of your hand.

Old Road 2

2008-06-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

I had a great day painting all day. I finished up the old road piece I had started. Tomorrow, a new hike, a new painting subject. jb

Small Cove

2008-06-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here, the coastal ranges abruptly stop and fall into the sea. Left to the sea to wear themselves out, small coves shelter the sea's secrets.
I find water hard to capture, but I'm always drawn to it. jb

Old Road and Woods Across the Bay

2008-06-24T21:24:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the sun hits the tops of the trees and sets everything glowing gold. I am so taken with this little piece. This one I declare finished. I love it. jb

I started four paintings and made a good first pass, but not finished any: Preview. I so enjoyed not only capturing these images in sketches and washes on the trail, but painting them has proved to be a true lesson also. I think I'm getting it with oil paint, working easy, but not quite loose yet. jb

The Pallet

2008-06-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is the piece of kraft paper that covers my work counter when I'm painting. I wipe my brush on it, remove paint from the brush before cleaning in the faux turp. Example: I use so much paint that somehow doesn't end up on the actual panel. I insist on over-painting and making a dull meld. I'm trying to break that habit.

I love the abstract random wipes though. I'm keeping all my wipe-papers now. jb

Across the Bay

2008-06-22T17:13:00.000-07:00

Every morning we walk the dogs a mile or so to the beach along the point of Baywood Park. It curves around the bay and at the end, one faces a view across the bay that always vibrates to me no matter what the light. It is my morning meditation; I love to paint it.

I was working with a small round brush and felt easy about it... more importantly, I quit before I added to much, keeping some of the nuances of stroke, color, medium, random luck. jb

On the Dunes, Early

2008-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

The fog was nowhere. One could see all the way to the far point early this morning. We walked the beach with the dogs to cool off before the sun was high. I was supposed to be proofreading depositions; I painted instead. The colors on the beach kept calling me. I had to go. jb

Green Fields,Early

2008-06-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Third day of oppressive heat and relentless sun. I'm about as cranky as it gets. But I did work through it all. Sometimes I like to paint the same view over; the weather is always changing and the absence or presence of the marine layer changes everything. I end up seeing something that wasn't there the day before. I have to say painting everyday in oil is really a learning experience for me. It's tough. I make quite the mess. jb

Haze Today

2008-06-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

Everything is a haze because of the fires burning to the east and south. It's impossible to be outside today. When you get used to a constant 65 degrees, 108 is way too uncomfortable for me. My paint turned stickey and matted. I quit with only getting this far with acrylics. jb

Green Fields

2008-06-18T20:06:00.001-07:00

Anywhere you look from my house is open space. The hills are all gone gold now. No rain until late winter. The colors of California stun me into submission. I must paint. This painting just fell into place today...the sun was so brilliant I was insane with peace and pleasure. jb

Back Over the Dunes

2008-06-17T17:32:00.001-07:00

I can hardly believe I live where I do. I get everywhere I want to go on foot, with the dogs, including this walk over the ancient dunes that separate the ocean from the estuary, the small bay, where I take a daily hike. jb

Vine Bud & Leaf

2008-06-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

I always found the smallest of flowers or vines to be most interesting subjects and some of my best designs in the past were drawn from the tiniest detail of vine. I worked on this and two others over the weekend, one of which is so messed up... well, it needs to be wiped.

Rocks

2008-06-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

I worked on this for a very short amount of time...I think under an hour or maybe just and hour. I've painted this view several times because the weather is always different here, day by day, so I always get a new perspective. I like it. I'm painting another version in mixed media, so we'll compare the two. I'm working on getting e-bay up for this work...bear with me. jb

Back in the Day...Needlepoint Designs

2008-06-11T09:51:00.001-07:00

I used to paint needlepoint canvas skrimm, designing mostly for huge projects in churches and cathederals, temples of worship all over the United States, some to Europe, the Carribian, South America. The designs were then covered in tapestry stitching, blending threads of fiber to achieve the colors in the canvas. I'm just starting to upload theses designs on my web site. Check them out if you are a needlepointer. jb