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.

I have been dabbling in watercolors this month. Most are up on Etsy already and many will be leaked slowly on daily paintworks. See the ad on the right for a preview!

Watercolor is a challenge in a wonderful direction for me. Light, shadow, another way to simplify- or get fussy when needed! I am exploring the technique and flow. Trying to find a zone in there somewhere. All of these are available in multiple sizes if you don't see it listed on my sites.

chicakdee

feather halo

crow

 

feathers in earth tones