Coming back to art late in life....and LOVING IT!

The summer heat can make plein air outings pretty challenging.  I met in Sutter Creek with my friend and art mentor Howard Rees to paint the old mining foundry buildings located there.  We were painting by 9 am, but we could already feel the heat coming on.  By noon it was time to quit. 

I understand that this historic group of buildings is now being restored...or at least cleaned up and propped up.  That's good news.  It's a fascinating place to paint and I'd love to see it gradually brought back to life.  I haven't painted these two particular structures before.  It was a great exercise in focusing on the major shapes while still capturing the feel of all the junk everywhere.   

The River Road Gallery on Main Street in Locke, California is a relative newcomer to this fabulous historic Delta town.  The Gallery will be hosting a reception for photographs of Locke by Guillaume Chauvin on Saturday July 22 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.   At the reception, I will also be showing some of my work for the first time at the Gallery.  Locke has long been a favorite painting location of mine and a place where I have developed many artist and shop-owner friends.  It will be a treat to be represented by the River Road Gallery right on Main Street (and, by the way, right across the street from the famous Al the Wops bar and restaurant)!  

If you haven't been in Locke for a long time....or worse yet, never...consider coming down, seeing this historic town, maybe having dinner and a beer at Al's, and of course stopping by the Gallery to enjoy some art and wine and say hello.  I hope to see you there!

(Locke is about 30 miles South of Sacramento.  The easiest way to get there is to use I-5 to the Twin Cities Road exit.  Go West on TCR until you dead end at the River.  Turn left (South) on River Road for about three miles.  Watch on your left for Locke and turn left off off River Road into town.  There is a parking lot at the North end of the town, or, if you're lucky you may find a spot on Main Street. No the buildings will not fall on you or your car.  Probably.) 

I recently commented to my good friend and fellow artist Ruth Andre ( ruthandre.com ) that although my studio was overflowing with paintings I am sometimes at a lost to find a painting to frame for a show or to exhibit on this site.  It seems like most of the paintings I have are studies and sketches: practice works to hone skills, test new techniques, and sometimes just to blow off the rust. 

They end up in The Pile!

Obviously they serve a purpose.  There is no performance without lots and lots of practice.  To be able to paint well, you must first paint not-so-well.  But these studies can be a form of therapy as well. 

I've been experimenting with abstract figurative painting under the guidance of an artist friend.  The results are more sketches and studies, but like anything new, it is a challenge to learn enough of the "language" to be able to function even minimally.  And then there's the falling-off-a-cliff feeling of getting outside the ol' comfort zone.  Help!

Setting aside the assignments and big fat flops for a while, I returned to a comfortable favorite...portrait studies.  I did go outside the box slightly by painting on Arches "Oil" paper...essentially watercolor paper treated to accept oil paint without future deterioration.  And I further experimented with a watercolor-like technique that I like.   It felt good to release the negative energy build up, sit down at the easel and just spend a little time on a favorite subject.  It may be another sketch destined for The Pile, but that's okay. I feel better.  Do-re-me-fah-so-lah-tee-doe. 

"Simone", an oil sketch on paper.  16" x 12" 

Painting portraits is never boring.  Frustrating?  Challenging?  Humbling?   Yes, all of those, but never boring.  I suspect that it's a subject that an artist can study for a lifetime and never feel mastery.  Bringing the feeling of life and personality to a two dimensional canvas is the ultimate triumph, seldom realized.  That's why I look forward to weekly open studios and the opportunity to try again. 

This is Qiana, our beautiful model from last Monday.  She was a joy to paint. I look forward to the next opportunity.

Painting in Locke California is a treat for any plein air painter.  The buildings are 100 years old and for the most part un-restored.   It's something to see.  I don't know of any place like it this side of Bodie.  Locke is not a ghost town though.  Many residents have been there for decades, while a few are comparative newcomers.  Some have opened modest little shops and art galleries.  And of course in the middle of town is Al the Wop's, a well known watering hole to delta residents and bikers everywhere. I first visited Al's about 1970.  And just this week I had lunch and a beer there with friends after finishing this sketch of Ning Hou's Gallery.  Ning is a nationally known artist.  A visit to his gallery is worth the trip...and so is the rest of the town.  And don't forget a cheese burger, fries and very cold beer at Al's.   You'll find Locke not far from Walnut Grove South of Sacramento about 30 miles along I-5, then west on Twin Cities Road.  It would make a great Sunday drive.

This work is available framed and with free shipping.  Please visit my Plein Air Gallery on this website.