Painting of "The Backside of Mt. Lassen"

This is a plein air watercolor that I started on location on the backside of Mt. Lassen, a volcano that is about an hour away from where I live. Although I painted it in October of 2007 with a group of Redding artists, I finally got around to finishing it today. I plan to put it in my May 2009 "California Landscapes" show that I'm having at the Red Bluff Art Gallery here in Northern California.

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~ LAGUNA BEACH DRAWING -

I did a drawing today using charcoal pencil on a full sheet of very soft charcoal paper (20 x 23 inches). I did it as a possible study for a watercolor, although I might do it in acrylic. The location is a favorite spot of mine in Laguna Beach, California and there is a painting that I did on that subject several years ago, on this blog (somewhere).


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~ A SELF PORTRAIT ~

I think it's a good thing for an artist to do a self portrait from time to time. Some do it more than others. I've done three or four in my lifetime. This drawing was done in 2004 while I was sitting on our co-op gallery in Ferndale, CA. I used an Eagle draughting pencil on a very unforgiving surface of rough watercolor paper on a block, only because it was the only thing that I had with me at the moment. All you need to do your own is a pencil, paper, and a free standing mirror.....have at it!!!


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~ OUT OF THE PENS OF BABES ~

My granddaughter Grace is five years old and loves to draw. She did this one this morning and calls it "The Beauty Jewell". It's been said that artists go through several phases: (1) drawing as a child (2) developing art skills (3) formal training (4) process of un-learning or breaking the rules, and finally (5) drawing as a child. I guess that could be true.....

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~ CRUCIFIXION DRAWING -

Although I've done drawings of Jesus before, I've never done a drawing of the actual Crucifixion. I did this one today using Corel IX with the pencil, smudge and eraser tool. Did a little bit of touch up with the oil brush also. This one is out of my imagination, since I didn't find any suitable research other than a straight-on view from an old Spanish painting.


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