Flowers

I went on a crazy flower streak lately- after painting a series of owl portraits I needed bright color, and went on a flower binge.

I looked at Dutch inspired arrangements and photos of brightly colored flowers like peonies and poppies. I looked at Bonnard and Schiele for courage to break out of my norm and take a few risks with my color choices and technique.

Every painting is a lesson. I learn something every time about painting, about myself, and I love how intimately I get to know each scene or item I am painting. 

Here's what I did- All originals are still available.

Casita

Last week I was in Sedona, Arizona. I hadn't been there before and was immediately in love with the canyons and landscape. I couldn't wait to paint this when I got back. Here is the first of hopefully many paintings inspired by the Southwest.

Emchantment 2014 5x7 inches oil on canvas

CA series

 So I was thinking about my love of the landscape around here, wishing for warmer days and summer when the grass is dry and I can hike up in the hills. I made this series so I could be there in spirit if not in person.

These are up in Berkeley now, contact me if you are interested and I'll give you the info for the gallery. In a nutshell it is called Collector Gallery on College Ave. Great people.

cityscapes of San Francisco

I took a couple photos I liked enough to paint of downtown SF. Although I am hoping to paint more street scenes, I am drawn more to my own street in the suburbs, which I will share when I ahve a couple done.

So here is the city. I kept the palettes simple and focused on the light. I could have been looser with the technique. I think sometimes brush choice makes a huge difference. I need to stick with bigger brushes and stop with the tiny ones. I get caught up in detail and forget the big picture. Literally!

Geary Street 5x5 oil on panel

Transamerica 10x10 oil on panel

happy summer update

after a little break I am back to painting and doing my thing. I took a couple trips and have resurfaced newly inspired.  the Diebenkorn show at the De Young especially got me all charged up wanting to try some cityscapes and use bolder colors.
when I was at UC Berkeley in the early 90's I had professors who were heavily influenced by the SF Bay Abstract Expressionist movement. re-visiting Diebenkorn's works done in Berkleley gave me a sense of blonging and hope.

here are a few pieces I have done in the last few weeks. enjoy!

email me if you are interested in any of these, thanks!

spring inspiration

hi,

I have been wanting to "feel" the colors lately and have found great templates like barn faces up close to do that with. Here's a sample of what I am doing ...

if you are interested in prints or originals, they are found at my etsy site here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/clairespaintings

I am going up to Mendocino next week and will be back full of inspiration to paint new coastal and rural CA scenes. 

Spring 2013

I think with Spring arriving I am inspired to work with more color in oils. I was commissioned to do a little house painting (see first image), and in doing so I felt the freedom I sometimes feel to go beyond the colors I see in real life. I want to experiment with colors next to each other and their rhythms. I choose houses and simple barns to free up the ability to show a more "color field" approach to composition.I am looking at Hopper, Thiebaud, Kahn and Rothko for inspiration and guidance.