Mini Videos: join me in my studio.

Painting Faces

Painting faces and keeping them small and loose is a special challenge.

First Pass: The Sisters

I met these four siblings on a vacation in Mexico where they took my painting class. They lived in four corners of the country and rarely got together, so they commissioned a memento of their time at Rancho La Puerto.

Rainy Day Watercolor

In Palermo, Sicily we had rain, and more rain. After seeing the sights that we could, I retired to my hotel room to enjoy painting from my photos of Rome.

Painting on the Bus: yes I can!

On trips with a group there’s often lots of downtime riding the bus from one city to another. That’s a great time to work on paintings using that day’s photos!

Deep Shadows: digital sketches

Digital sketches are a great tool for sorting out values (light/dark design) and colors before I start with paint. 

Neighbors: keeping it loose

I use big brushes to keep my strokes loose in this painting of a shady street in old Salamanca, Spain.

Shared Gelato: how I get a quick start

I love using Procreate to make quick value sketches that let me plan my paintings.

Let’s Take A Break - last fixes

A few last-minute touches to correct value and color on this scene from Mexico.

Corner Shadows - Value Sketch

A peek at my design process before I put paint to canvas.

Harbor Queen - Completion

Look over my shoulder as I paint this scene of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

How Many References?

I wish I could work from my imagination. But since I can’t I give myself as many references as I need to get the job done.

Value Study

I do these digital value studies to work out the composition. Then when I’m actually painting, I can concentrate on color and technique. One thing at a time.

Unified Colors

I worked on this series of 12x12 paintings together, bringing each to the same stage of completions before moving on. One key aspect of my process made the difference in terms of unifying their look.

Breakfast by the Pool- digital sketches

I’m really loving using the Procreate app on my iPad to create digital value and color sketches for new work. It’s such a versatile tool!

Midday Break - middle stages

This stage of painting is all about refining the values and colors so that the big picture works. I try to resist the urge to fuss with details until the end.

By the Arno - value sketch

I love my value pencil sketches! It’s such a satisfying way to work out the composition of a painting.

Pushing Light & Dark

I'm working on three mini paintings of Washington, D.C. to refine the values within the light and dark areas to create form and show the direction of the light.

I Couldn’t Resist

A few last minute changes to improve the values on Riverwalk Promenade.

https://youtube.com/embed/E1XOXanbsBo