2019-2020 Sketchbook
64
images this gallery.
I started this Sketchbook toward the end of 2019 and I completed it around march 2020.
Covid 2020 Lockdown
For our second round of covid stay at home orders the boys and I have been trying to use our time wisely. They have spent the last few weeks speed running Super Mario Bros, mastering Punch Out, and boldly adventuring in Zelda while I have been documenting their progress in oil.
This is my first large oil in a while (3ft x 4ft) and I’m much happier with it than previous attempts. All the practice in the field is slowly paying off I guess. This time it was much less a roll of the dice and I got the colors more or less where I wanted them. It helps that the lighting in the living room never changes and the kids don’t move much when glued to their screens.
Oil on Canvas. Mostly Rublev paints from NaturalPigments. Lead titanium white, vermillion, bone black… walnut oil. 4 main passes with scrape downs in-between. A few nights of work over the last month. From life, no photo reference.
Rainy Day Fig Tree
The first rain of the year. Set up under the eve of my house and painted the fig tree in the front yard.
Miracle Mile
Walked down the hill to catch the last rays of light and the evening commute here in San Anselmo. Standing over by Play Well looking east towards United Market.
San Anselmo
Spent the afternoon in downtown San Anselmo trying capture the warm atmosphere of all the families celebrating the victory of Joe Biden and a Kamala Harris. There was live music and lots of kids running around while people excitedly talked through n95 masks, popped champagne, ate pizza and drank beer. Joy was everywhere. It was fun to watch. Clearly no one here will miss Donald Trump.
Ross Common
I was painting by the post office steps today in Ross, CA and heard a great deal of cautiously optimistic chatter regarding the election. One gentleman summed up the mood of the community thus, “We might actually be able to sleep next week.” Wouldn’t that be nice.
Greenfield Ave
Hanging out on the corner of Greenfield Ave and Greenfield court looking west with Red Hill in the background and a guy with a flat tire waiting for a tow in the foreground.
Smokey San Anselmo
Today would have been the kids third day back in school but this is 2020 so the school was closed because of bad air. The glass fire up in Napa is still raging and the smoke is now pouring into the Bay Area. Smoke means interesting landscapes though so I found my way to the El Camino Avenida overlook in San Rafael around sunset and painted the view looking back towards Red Hill and San Anselmo.
In the shade of the oaks
It was very hot and dry in Alexander Valley yesterday. I spent my afternoon standing in the shade of an oak grove on the family ranch, painting one of the oak trees that survived last years fires. The threat of fire was everywhere, still. Ash scars and burned out stumps are in the foreground. Smoke from the glass fire currently raging over the hill near Mt. Saint Helena drifted into the Valley and filled the landscape with an ominous warm haze. Once again it is a tinder box.
Barber Ave Bridge
Walked downtown to paint and grab a burrito. Barber street looking west from the bridge over San Anselmo creek.
