I have not been to Europe for 36 years, and at the first stop I am not dissapointed. Madrid is amazing! Being in the presence of the incredible architecture, broad avenues, narrow streets and vibrant people is a huge breath of fresh air, and distinctly not American. This city wasn’t designed around the car, thus people walk everywhere. And why not, there is gorgeousness everywhere. A city to be proud of. I thought I was only going to be here two days, but I am extending it to three, ‘cause there’s too much to see.

The Painting below is my first of this trip and was hard won. It is done in Gouache, which is like water color paint, but thicker. I have not used guoache like, maybe ever, so I felt pretty clutzy the whole way through. This is a corner of the Playa de Santa Ana. My AirBnB host, Antonio, mentioned that it reminded him of an Edward Hopper painting, and I agree. Tomorrow, hopefully I can get some oil painting going. That is much more my comfort zone.

The Process

It’s hard not to look up when you are in Madrid.

First drawing of the trip. In lieu of scrolling on the cell phone while at the Seattle airport. Next post…Madrid, the Prado and Sorollo museums.

Week 2

I braved the elements and went outside for a view of the whole building and the surrounding landscape. Painting outside is not just an outdoor activity, but almost a sport. It requires strategy, stamina, the right equipment and the ability to work with what nature throws at you. It is an exhilerating experinece that I highly recommend. Here the video that goes through my process, and below is the final result. Enjoy!

Slated for demolition…this former catholic seminary now enjoys a second life as a destination hotel, and as the subject for this painting “The New Day”. It now hangs in the Grand Hallway.

Week 3

Painting in the dining room of Cedar + Elm was an interesting experience. . People came and went. Staff bustled about. I painted in the corner next to the grand piano.

The Process

This is the 2nd day at The Lodge at St. Edward Park, where I continue painting a three-foot by four-foot canvas, that was drawn out the day before. Today's job is color and values. I come close to completing the painting. A few more hours and it will be done, and be hanging in the very hallway in which it was painted next week.

Kamela Daniels, Art Program Director for The Lodge at St. Edward State Park, invited me to do a 3 week residency there. Here is Day 1 - A Drawing. Beginning of a large painting, and good food!

Yesterday I decided to do three plein air oil paintings in one day. On this video I take you through the process. Notice the background music (happy birds)

In preparation for my Residency/Workshop I did simple composition studies of the barns around the property. The emphasis is on a simple shape statement. Any detail is the icing on the cake of clear structure of shapes and darks and lights.

I have drawn/painted this barns a bunch of times. It is the giant madrona tree looming over it that keeps me fascinated.

I am really looking forward to this. Three weekends that end in a plein air oil painting workshop. The plein air season begins!

First figurative painting in awhile. There are weekly faculty figure sessions at DigiPen, and I decided to take part. Yes the model is wearing horns…and a mirror dress that reflected around the room like a disco ball. She was super enamored with all the artwork, which let me know that she didn't model very often. The painting was a mad scramble…but when isn't it?

A mural I painted in 6 hours….including coffee break and lots of socializing. It was on the now demolished McFeeds store on Vashon Island; where Vashon Center for the Arts now stands. That was like 8 years ago….and people still wax nostalgic about it. The impact that 6 hours can have.