Posts Categorized: Dry Ink

Citron Fire Rd

Posted 2021/12/28 by Sterling

Misty rain this afternoon up on the hill above Larkspur.

2021 Little Black Sketchbook

Posted 2021/12/17 by Sterling

Here is another sketchbook. I guess this one documents season 2 of the great covid pandemic. Less drawings at home,…

Post Rain Vineyards

Posted 2021/12/15 by Sterling

I was in Alexander Valley this morning because I was told there was snow on the mountains yesterday. Alas, no…

Corte Madera Marsh Trees

Posted 2021/12/15 by Sterling

The rain stopped, the sun came out and there was a beautiful sunset over by the estuary in Corte Madera…

Minecraft Morning

Posted 2021/12/12 by Sterling

It’s raining pretty good outside so the boys curled up in my bed and started building in their realm. Rudie…

Clouds Above the Bay Club

Posted 2021/12/08 by Sterling

There were some great clouds yesterday over by Marin General Hospital. This is the view looking north across the street…

Hal Brown Park

Posted 2021/12/07 by Sterling

Looking south over the salt marsh towards the bridge from Hal Brown Park at Creekside.

Morning on the Marsh

Posted 2021/12/01 by Sterling

There was a very lovely peach colored sunrise this morning. The light cut through the low misty fog and colored…

AV afternoon

Posted 2021/11/27 by Sterling

Started this outside on Friday but had to run and so I finished it up at home.

Thanksgiving Hills

Posted 2021/11/25 by Sterling

Hiked up the hill with the boys with pick and shovel in hand. They were on a mission to dig…

Mount Saint Helena from Alexander Valley

Posted 2021/11/21 by Sterling

I was in Healdsburg last weekend and had two free hours so I drove up to Lytton Springs Road and…

Misty Ring Mountain Rocks

Posted 2021/11/19 by Sterling

I woke before the sun so I hiked up to the top of the Ring Mountain Preserve hoping for a…

Corte Madera Creek 2nd pass

Posted 2021/11/16 by Sterling

The first pass of this painting never sat right with me. I was waiting for another over cast morning with…

Phoenix Lake Shrooms

Posted 2021/11/12 by Sterling

Lunchtime painting. I walked up the creek towards the Phoenix Lake spillway and found a lot of fungi blooming on…

Fountaingrove Overlook

Posted 2021/11/08 by Sterling

I had to stop on the way to Zeldie’s house to paint the dramatic clouds above Santa Rosa. I drove…

Clouds Over Kentfield

Posted 2021/10/26 by Sterling

Lunchtime painting over by the Tamalpais Creek bridge, Looking west towards Kentfield. Really wet on the trails after the storm,…

Tam from McInnis Park

Posted 2021/10/25 by Sterling

The post rain clouds were fantastic this afternoon. I caught them at the tail end of the day over at…

Post Rain Reeds

Posted 2021/10/25 by Sterling

Walked across the street to see what the heavy rains and flooding the day before had done to the salt…

Morning Clouds Above AV

Posted 2021/10/23 by Sterling

I drove up to the ranch yesterday morning and just as I got to Alexander Valley the rain began to…

Winery Driveway

Posted 2021/10/22 by Sterling

The light yesterday afternoon were pretty fantastic. I had some time before driving back down to Marin so I swung…

Outgoing Tide

Posted 2021/10/19 by Sterling

Painting next to the footbridge behind Kent middle school. The tide went out faster than I expected and I saw…

First Rain

Posted 2021/10/17 by Sterling

Big deal here in drought stricken Marin CA, it actually rained! Excitedly I took my gear across the street and…

Corte Madera Sunrise

Posted 2021/10/13 by Sterling

I couldn’t sleep so I drove over to the bay to paint. I set up on the north side of…

Creekside Dawn

Posted 2021/10/11 by Sterling

The wind woke me up around four this morning and after a fruitless effort to go back to sleep, I…

Larkspur Morning

Posted 2021/10/09 by Sterling

After my morning coffee I stepped across the street to paint the salt mash. I like how shadows from the…

Harry Allen Trail

Posted 2021/10/08 by Sterling

Freezing and windy, that about sums up this mornings painting session. It’s was as if an invisible hand flipped a…

Behind Kent Middle School

Posted 2021/10/05 by Sterling

Lunch painting. Looking north behind the track by Kent Middle School next to Corte Madera Creek

Larkspur Salt Marsh

Posted 2021/10/05 by Sterling

This mornings painting of the salt marsh across the street. About 2hrs.

Mt. Tam from Larkspur

Posted 2021/09/20 by Sterling

My internet was down so I stepped across the street to paint while I waited for it to return. I…

Corte Madera Creek

Posted 2021/09/03 by Sterling

I’m not sure where the boarder between Kentfield and Larkspur is but it’s probably about where I painted this. This…

Smokey Kentfield Sunset

Posted 2021/08/29 by Sterling

I’m back in Larkspur so instead of smokey vineyards now I get to paint smokey salt marshes. Here’s the view…

Behind Uncle Jim’s

Posted 2021/08/27 by Sterling

This morning I drove out to the creek behind my uncle Jim’s house and painted the view looking west. It’s…

Thick Veil of Smoke

Posted 2021/08/18 by Sterling

Woke up to a fire alert for Willits and then while I was painting got another for Corte Madera. You…

Vineyard Oak in the Smoke

Posted 2021/08/16 by Sterling

In was very hot and smoky in Alexander Valley this afternoon and the thick atmosphere really made the landscape pop.…

Garden Fountain

Posted 2021/08/12 by Sterling

Painting on an overcast day in mom’s garden.

Splashmasters

Posted 2021/08/08 by Sterling

After a few days on the road, it was really nice to paint and spend some time with the kids.…

Mom’s garden

Posted 2021/07/11 by Sterling

Woke up early to avoid the heat and while I was having my coffee the light pouring down from the…

Patio Fading Light

Posted 2021/07/06 by Sterling

Quick low-light oil sketch of Alexander Valley after sunset. 1hr

Gravel Driveway

Posted 2021/07/02 by Sterling

Another crazy hot day. Around six the heat became tolerable so I walked down the hill and set up on…

Afterglow in the Hills

Posted 2021/06/29 by Sterling

Drove over to the other side of the ranch around sunset just to mix things up and paint the Valley…

Pruned Echium

Posted 2021/06/26 by Sterling

Post dinner patio color study. 1hr. Mom pruned the Pride of Madeira last week and it was looking pretty sharp.…

Driveway Cactus

Posted 2021/06/24 by Sterling

Standing by the compost pile wasn’t awesome but the light on the cactus this afternoon was so… here’s another color…

Office Hydrangeas

Posted 2021/06/22 by Sterling

Stressful day painting escape 1.5h

Over by Uncle Fred’s

Posted 2021/06/21 by Sterling

Couldn’t paint the last few days because it was deadly hot. I’m not happy with this sketch but I am…

Fire in Alexander Valley

Posted 2021/06/15 by Sterling

I looked up from my lunch to see smoke rising from the middle of the valley. At first it looked…

Sunday Morning Driveway

Posted 2021/06/13 by Sterling

Lovely day. Thought I would paint the view for the driveway while the boys had a lazy video game morning.…

Behind the house

Posted 2021/06/10 by Sterling

Up on the hill behind moms looking east. 1.5hr color study

Shop Oak

Posted 2021/06/07 by Sterling

Crazy windy once again. This is over by the vineyard shop looking east. 1.5hr

Geysers overlook

Posted 2021/06/04 by Sterling

After dinner I drove up the mountain towards the Geysers and pulled off at the first big pullout above the…

Zeldie

Posted 2021/06/04 by Sterling

My first attempt at a portrait with oils. Thank you Zeldie for being patient and brave enough to model for…

Hassett Lane

Posted 2021/06/01 by Sterling

Post coffee painting this time out on the west side of Alexander Valley on Hassett Ln looking west. Vinwood cellars…

Lazy Porch View

Posted 2021/05/29 by Sterling

Didn’t want to go out but still wanted to paint. Made it as far as a lawn chair on the…

Looking West, Again

Posted 2021/05/26 by Sterling

Had another go painting the view towards Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Went a bit earlier and got lucky as the…

Looking West

Posted 2021/05/24 by Sterling

Road the four wheeler up the hill and painted the view looking west towards Francis Ford Coppola winery. Once again,…

River Road

Posted 2021/05/24 by Sterling

Road my bike over to the river to get some painting time in. Didn’t put much thought into it and…

Windy Vineyards

Posted 2021/05/20 by Sterling

Huddled behind my car for shelter, I still had to hang on to my painting with one hand just to…

Black Sunglasses

Posted 2021/05/12 by Sterling

Got my covid shot yesterday so today I was mess. Felt like I had a really bad hangover, couldn’t think…

Looking back

Posted 2021/05/10 by Sterling

Before dinner I rode the four wheeler over to the lookout and painted the view back towards the Sheehy and…

Dam it

Posted 2021/05/09 by Sterling

Had a nice Mother’s Day with mom but I was late out the door again and didn’t have much time…

Dwindling light

Posted 2021/05/08 by Sterling

Found my motivation way too late. After dragging my heals I finally made it out the door only to realize…

Blue Gum Morning

Posted 2021/05/08 by Sterling

Spent the morning reading good reviews for The Bad Batch, which was nice, then walked behind the house and painted…

Todd’s Garden

Posted 2021/05/03 by Sterling

Post dinner color study of my brothers garden. 1.5hr

Roj’s garden

Posted 2021/05/01 by Sterling

I painted the garden behind the pool house while the twins went for a swim with their cousins. 2hr color…

Evening light

Posted 2021/04/30 by Sterling

Quick post sunset half hour color study. Looking west towards Healdsburg from Alexander Valley.

Looking South

Posted 2021/04/30 by Sterling

On the hill above my brothers place on a bright afternoon. It was mid day and way way too bright.…

Oaks on the hill

Posted 2021/04/28 by Sterling

Well I guess summer is here. I nearly melted in the heat of the sun while painting this and the…

Trespassing

Posted 2021/04/27 by Sterling

The neighbor’s security detail thought I was an intruder so they called me in and I got a visit from…

AV Post Rain

Posted 2021/04/25 by Sterling

Alexander Valley got some long overdue rain today. After the shower I climbed up the hill to paint the dramatic…

Mom’s Driveway

Posted 2021/04/20 by Sterling

View from my mom’s porch, overlooking Alexander Valley. Funny story, I am in the process of selling my house and…

Farm Pond

Posted 2021/04/20 by Sterling

Plein Air 1.5hr Study of one of the ponds on the family ranch.

Phoenix Lake Dam

Posted 2021/02/23 by Sterling

Cruised up and over Bald hill on my bike looking for a place to draw but the light wasn’t great…

Indian fire Road

Posted 2021/02/04 by Sterling

I rode up Indian Fire Road to do a little painting this afternoon.

Office plants

Posted 2021/02/02 by Sterling

After a month long hiatus, I dusted off my brushes and got back to the business of painting random things.

2019-2020 Sketchbook

Posted 2021/01/04 by Sterling

I started this Sketchbook toward the end of 2019 and I completed it around march 2020.

Covid 2020 Lockdown

Posted 2020/12/27 by Sterling

For our second round of covid stay at home orders the boys and I have been using our time wisely.…

Rainy Day Fig Tree

Posted 2020/11/17 by Sterling

The first rain of the year. Set up under the eve of my house and painted the fig tree in…

Miracle Mile

Posted 2020/11/09 by Sterling

Walked down the hill to catch the last rays of light and the evening commute here in San Anselmo.

San Anselmo

Posted 2020/11/07 by Sterling

Spent the afternoon in downtown San Anselmo trying capture the warm atmosphere of all the families celebrating the victory of…

Ross Common

Posted 2020/11/05 by Sterling

I was painting by the post office steps today in Ross, CA and heard a great deal of cautiously optimistic…

Greenfield Ave

Posted 2020/10/20 by Sterling

Hanging out on the corner of Greenfield Ave and Greenfield court looking west with Red Hill in the background and…

Smokey San Anselmo

Posted 2020/10/01 by Sterling

Smoke means interesting landscapes so I found my way to the El Camino Avenida overlook in San Rafael around sunset…

In the shade of the oaks

Posted 2020/09/28 by Sterling

It was very hot and dry in Alexander Valley yesterday. I spent my afternoon standing in the shade of an…

Barber Ave Bridge

Posted 2020/09/24 by Sterling

Walked downtown to paint and grab a burrito. Barber street looking west from the bridge over San Anselmo creek.

Beach Drive

Posted 2020/09/21 by Sterling

Post work painting session. Looking South on Beach Drive in San Rafael around sunset. I’m really glad I had my…

Red Hill Rooftop

Posted 2020/09/14 by Sterling

Climbed up on my roof to clean the gutters but painted the view instead.

Boyd Memorial Park

Posted 2020/09/13 by Sterling

Standing on the corner of B street and Mission Avenue in San Rafael looking west on a Smokey afternoon.

Another Smokey View

Posted 2020/09/08 by Sterling

It’s gross outside. Smoke from the Willits fire has turned the whole neighborhood a peach hue.

Bald Hill Ridge Trailhead

Posted 2020/08/29 by Sterling

Finally got away from my desk but I only had an hour before the sun set, so I quickly drove…

Morning Smoke

Posted 2020/08/23 by Sterling

Looking out the living room window the air is heavy with smoke from the Napa and Sonoma fires.

Mt. Tamalpais in the smoke

Posted 2020/08/20 by Sterling

Rode my bike up the ridge above San Anselmo looking for something to paint. For me, painting Mt. Tam feels…

Sunset View of Fires in Napa

Posted 2020/08/18 by Sterling

Drove over to China Camp after work to paint the smoke from Napa and Sonoma. It made for a rather…

Backyard Brush

Posted 2020/08/07 by Sterling

I was supposed to cut down brush but instead I found inspiration and pick up my paint brush.

Late day Summer light

Posted 2020/08/02 by Sterling

Just looking down my driveway

By the pool

Posted 2020/06/21 by Sterling

I took the boys for a swim and was able to get a quick oil sketch in.

Oleander

Posted 2020/06/08 by Sterling

I ran out of panel boards to paint on, oh the joys of social distancing, finally made some more and…

The Old Barn

Posted 2020/05/10 by Sterling

This afternoon I drove to the family ranch to enjoy a social distancing mother’s day BBQ. Emerging from self isolation…

Alpine Lake Tree

Posted 2020/05/09 by Sterling

Rode my gravel bike out to Alpine Lake and painted a tree next to the side of the water

General Kennedy Ave.

Posted 2020/04/30 by Sterling

I made this oil sketch back in February during a lunch break. It was a holiday for most people so…

Crooked Staircase

Posted 2020/04/29 by Sterling

I painted the unkept hillside to the south of my house from my living room window. Gravity is slowly pulling…

Yellow Jacket Bush

Posted 2020/04/23 by Sterling

A battle with a hive of yellow jackets was once waged here, many lives were lost, today it’s just the…