Corte Madera Creek
I’m not sure where the boarder between Kentfield and Larkspur is but it’s probably about where I painted this. This is the view standing by the College of Marin soccer field looking east towards the hospital. Lots of dog walkers.
Smokey Kentfield Sunset
I’m back in Larkspur so instead of smokey vineyards now I get to paint smokey salt marshes. Here’s the view looking north towards Kentfield, from the parking lot across the street from my apartment. It’s nice to be painting in Marin again.
This was a quick one. I only had about an hour. As soon as the sun set I got swarmed by mosquitoes and had to bail. I guess that’s what you get when you set up next to a marsh.
Behind Uncle Jim’s
This morning I drove out to the creek behind my uncle Jim’s house and painted the view looking west. It’s still very smokey in the valley which adds a lot of depth to the landscape but it was painfully hot so I didn’t have much fun today. We are in the middle of a heat wave and I being a fool, forgot both my hat and water. By ten thirty I had had enough. 1.5hr
Thick Veil of Smoke
Woke up to a fire alert for Willits and then while I was painting got another for Corte Madera. You couldn’t escape the smoke today if you tried. It’s blowing in from all over. Wildfires are awful but very selfishly I love how their smoke shifts the light toward warm peach tones and throws my normal color palette out the window. Alexander Valley looked other worldly this afternoon so I set up in the vineyards above my brothers house and did my best to capture the eerie light. 2.5hrs
Vineyard Oak in the Smoke
In was very hot and smoky in Alexander Valley this afternoon and the thick atmosphere really made the landscape pop. So much depth! I drove up above the winery and painted the view looking south until the heat overwhelmed me and I retreated back to mom’s house. I think is was 98°F by the time got back to my desk. I finished the painting looking out the window with a glass of ice water in hand and the AC to protect me. 2.5hrs
Garden Fountain
Painting on an overcast day in mom’s garden.
Splashmasters
After a few days on the road, it was really nice to paint and spend some time with the kids. We had a nice lazy morning watching Revenge of the Sith and then the day really came together as we met up with Jose and the rest of the Sheehy gang by the pool.
Mom’s garden
Woke up early to avoid the heat and while I was having my coffee the light pouring down from the hills caught my eye. It had a lovely peach tint. Couldn’t go far because the boys were sleeping so I set up by the garden and went to work. I came home about an hour and a half later to hungry kids and Sunday morning cartoons. Good times.
Patio Fading Light
Quick low-light oil sketch of Alexander Valley after sunset. 1hr
Gravel Driveway
Another crazy hot day. Around six the heat became tolerable so I walked down the hill and set up on the driveway. Shortly after the goats spotted me and trodden down the hill to hang out. 1.5hr
