- Las Brisas, Laguna Beach -

This is a really beautiful spot in Laguna Beach, California. Another 24 x 48 canvas, I painted this view a couple of times. There were lots of tourists walking down that path in the painting and occasionally they would have a comment or two. I like that kind of interraction with people while I'm working...........(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- Malibu Canyon -

Here's a plein air painting that I did of a spot near a highway to Malibu Beach in Southern California (circa 1994). It was a large piece for plein air (24 x 48 inches) and a wind came up and the painting flew across the highway. I rescued it, touched it up, and took it home to finish in the studio. The colors were a little more intense in the original than this photo. I sold it to a fellow on the East Coast who collected California art...............(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- Model plus Projection -

In this session we had a projection of a Edward Hopper painting on the wall behind the model and did a 20 minute drawing with heavy concerns regarding composition. .......(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- Another Drawing in The Dark -

Here's another drawing by candlelight done in the same session. The limitations were the same as the last one, no lines, just masses, and moving from dark to light by picking out the lighter areas with a kneaded eraser.........(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- Drawing in The Dark -

We've had a couple of sessions of drawing in the dark in life drawing this week. We each brought in a candle and used some Rivas BFK paper, and some willow and compressed charcoal. First we covered the paper with rubbed in charcoal and without using distinct lines, but rather masses of value, we proceeded to draw the model. The model was lit with 8 or 10 candles and we were in the dark. We used a kneaded eraser to lighten the drawing where needed. It was a great lesson in seeing values. We did two 45 minute poses; each different. I'll post a couple of drawings from these sessions. .....(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- An Old Promotional Piece -

About twelve or so years ago I came up with this promotional poster to show some of the projects that I had done in the entertainment industry. It's kind of fun for me to look back on. You might recognize a couple of actors and a pop singer. The medical illustration was done for the "Quincy" TV series, and three of the paintings were done for "The Addams Family". I probably worked on 400 or so different projects from 1975 until I retired in 2000. Looking back, it was an interesting and varied type of work and we didn't have the benefits of computers......(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- THANKS!!! -

Just wanted to post a note of thanks to viewers of this blog. We are heading towards 150 visitors today and that is a new record. A special thanks for looking at my work and for your overall interest in art. Warmest regards, John Stewart

- A TRYPTIC -

Here is a tryptic (three panels) painting that I did in Corel Painter IX. If you examine it carefully you'll see that I used the same design with alterations for each panel. Corel Painter lets you do a lot of things that would be impossible with traditional media.
......(Please click on image to see a larger one)

- A Very Special Classical Painting -

Every once in awhile I like to post a piece of art that speaks to me with color, detail, composition or one that blows me away with it's technical qualities. Here is one by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. He was a Flemish/Dutch Renaissance painter and printmaker that lived in the 1500's. Click here to find out more about him........(Please click on image to see a larger one)