Early Bird gets to watch at Heron's Head Park

Last weekend I was up extra early to get some reference photos of my new favorite subject, the Third St bridge aka Lefty O'Doul Bridge. The Giants were in Philly and the light would be perfect in the morning. I got some great shots and after grabbing breakfast at Just For You I found myself with an hour on my hands before I could go visit some friends at their Open Studios. I noticed that there was this newish building at the end of Cargo Way. So I decided this would be a perfect time to go check it out this Heron's Head Park. It was just great. The Ecocenter was closed, but walking down the old Pier 98 now a grassy penninsula with a lush salt marsh along the right side was way more interesting. There were a ton of birds- egrets, pelicans, gulls and sandpipers. If you are an early bird, I highly recommend checking out this great park. Watching brown pelicans diving into the bay for fish right across the water from my shipyard studio was fabulous.
Directions to the park.

Progress on Week One's painting

Hi, I wanted to show what I've started with Week 1. Still need to add a little detail in the figures and work on the transition between today and the future me.

One Week down

Wow, the week just flew by. I was busy tying up loose ends and getting ready for Open Studios. Thanks so much to those of you who made it out this time. I know it was tough for some with the Bay Bridge out of commission. I had a good week with exercise and eating, losing 2 pounds; a great start. During some downtime this weekend I've sketched out my first painting. In many ways, I'm excited and nervous but glad that I've gotten started. Typically I'd be spending time over the weekend working on the painting for the week, but this time I was busy with visitors, so you'll have to wait a little longer to see the results.

New Year-long Project

I was coming home from a trip to Toronto a month or so ago and got to thinking about ways that I might have better success achieving my personal goals. Specifically I want to exercise and paint more consistently. I seem to be very good at doing one or the other with some intensity, but it never quite lasts. I guess I'm a bit of a binger by nature. So, the idea came to me that I should find a way to combine them and focus my energy. A few friends thought that setting up an easel on a treadmill was the way to go. However, I can only imagine the mess and not the success. Instead I will be embarking on a new project. For the next 52 weeks, I will exercise and otherwise maintain healthy eating habits. At the end of each week, I'll complete a painting reflecting my thoughts and feelings from that week. So on Monday Oct 26th I'll be getting started. Come back every week, if you want to keep up on my activities.

still working

It's been a busy week. I have been super busy at the office so I haven't gotten much time in at the studio. I've finished another painting and started on one last one. I still need to leave time to varnish and clean up before next weekend.

more painting updates

I have been mostly absorbed with painting and getting ready for open studios. Since it's only a few weeks away, I'm happy to say that I have 4 pieces finished, one halfway there, and another still in the starting blocks. I'm feeling good about having some smaller (and cheaper) work to show. I'm still enjoying my San Francisco Close Up series. To see the work I did for last Spring, you'll have to go to my website. Here are some sneak peeks that I will post to the website next weekend or so. First up is the completed Askew painting. 127 lightbulbs in that A, I'll have you know. Next to it is the just started, yet almost done A Grey day, still missing some lightbulb detailing.

Under that are two smaller clock detail paintings. First is Almost Eleven and next is Half Past Six. The two clocks are my first completed acrylic paintings.

Fall 2008 Update

Well I'm happy to report that I've been painting, since I haven't been here updating the blog. I'm still painting things I see around San Francisco too. Things that are new are some new work in acrylic on wood panel and stretching watercolor paper over wood stretcher bars. The latest work is a little smaller in size but it seems bigger without the glass to hide behind. You can't tell by the photos, so you'll really need to come by and see it for yourself. Everyone is worried about the market. While I can't speak for everyone, it does seem like I've been painting more.

Work in Progress

This is just an update of some work in progress. I've got to finish one for the Artspan Gallery as part of this year's Fall Open Studios. The last time I was able to show here I sold the painting. That one was also a last minute paint and hang piece and I don't even have a photo of it. This year I am doing some smaller pieces based on my San Francisco Close Up series. The first one is an abstract Sutro tower, which may be just about done. It's interesting how looking at the painting through a photograph helps to see what isn't quite done or when it's finished.

The second one is an A from the Ghiradelli sign. This particular one is called Askew. Not only is the perspective a little askew (I even got a little dizzy taking my reference photos from this odd angle) but the frame I used to wrap the paper is also not square. I don't know if anyone will notice, but I'll be sure to tell whoever buys it, since it can't be framed in a normal squared frame. I still need to do a lot of work on the Askew painting. I'm definitely putting off the painting of the light bulbs. I liked the idea of them, but the actual painting of 50+ bulbs is less exciting.



Both of these paintings are done in a wrap-around style. The painting extends around the edges. I saw a painting in the CCSF gallery done this way and I was intrigued. Doing these painting was also fun, so if it's well received, you can be sure to see a lot more of these. Both are still in regular watercolor and will be spray varnished so that no additional glass is needed. I intend to do some smaller acrylic paintings with a watercolor technique. I've already prepped the wood panels, so all that's left is the painting.

100 little indians in a row

On a friend's recommendation, I made a point of driving down the Great Highway to Ocean Beach on my last AWS Friday. It was a little foggy on the coast, but it didn't take away from the view that day. San Francisco-born artist, Thom Ross, had erected his beautifully painted plywood cutouts along the beach in the same place as a his inspiration, a black and white photo of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show, was taken back in 1902.


I took a few photos with my iPhone but the photos don't properly capture the scale and the fabulous detail work on all 100 life-sized pieces. I loved the flags, ribbons and feathers that were integrated into the painting as they flapped in the ocean breeze. It was a very enjoyable afternoon distraction. Below is my favorite indian. I was hoping someone would go up and pose while I was here, but alas no takers.

stretching paper

I am branching out, so to speak, and trying something new. I was at a art material expo and was chatting with an artist who had these wonderful watercolor paintings of crystal and glass. She stretches her paintings over wooden stretcher bars and I was inspired to do the same. I boughts some big beefy bars so that there would be some substance to it and perhaps it would look so good I wouldn't have to frame it.

First I started with a big sheet of watercolor paper. I wet it in the tub and after the first couple of times I managed to stop spraying myself. I let it hang a bit so that I wouldn't slop too much on my way to the kitchen table.

I cut the paper about 3 inches over the frame and trimmed it again once I set the stretcher bars over the paper. I tried a bunch of different corner techniques and settled on one that gave me a neat square edge. I was a little worried about the bubbles, but after I stapled the frame using a standard canvas stretching pattern and set it to dry. They came out looking pretty good. I'll be doing some small and some very large paintings on it. I took a varnishing class as well so there are bound to be at least one or two good varnishing stories after I finish up the paintings.

Wacky Twinkie Clay Sculptures

A while back I talked about this idea I had to actually sculpt stuff using twinkies. Well I hemmed, I hawed, I bought some twinkies. Then I bought more. I was cleaning and found the bag of twinkies and decided that something had to be done. So I called Becky and told her that I had a wacky idea and that she was just the accomplice for me. Yep this Sunday was the day.


So I pulled out 8 twinkies for each of us and we started cutting them, separating the yellow cake from the toasted brown bottoms.


Then you mush them up. For a while until they start looking like modeling clay. Modeling clay made from twinkies. At no time did I want a twinkie. I knew they were kinda old and the last time I ate them they were incredibly sweet to my palate. But after they start looking like a mushy ball of yellow and brown clay, you really get over any thoughts of eating it. Although I'm quite sure that it still tastes a bit like twinkies. We let it sit for a bit since they were quite a bit soft. After about 20 minutes it started looking good.

I decided to make a monkey since I was using the anniversary flavored banana creme twinkies. Becky began working on her mermaid. It was a little tricky getting the clay to stick to itself, but it came out looking pretty good. Now we just have to wait for the clay to dry.

Spring 2008 Update

A few new things are happening. A big one is a new web design. Speaking of big, I'm still working in a larger format and This season I'm working BIG. I was a little frustrated by the size limitations of watercolor sheets, 22 x 30 inches. So I bought a huge roll of watercolor paper and have less constraints on my work. They will likely be 30 x 40 inch pieces. No little works this time around. This spring the new work I'm showing is a continuation of the San Francisco close up series. It was fun to pick out a few more places that I hope you will recognize, but perhaps not right away.

Twinkie Goodness

A while back, Cathryn and I met up with an old friend of her. They were having some sort of Girl Scout alumni retreat. The focus was on crafts and relaxation and as we approached the dining hall, we could see two women in massage chairs, working hard at the relaxing part. Since it was still early we took a tour around to see what projects people were working on. One particular activity in the corner caught my eye.

It involved twinkies. Specifically, using twinkies as a modeling clay and sculpting with it. I was horrified and fascinated. I took one of the the instruction sheets, because I will do this. I will sculpt something using only twinkies as the "clay".

Here are the instructions. If you were the person who came up with this idea, please contact me so I can give you proper credit for this.

Twinkies Project

Goal: To sculpt "anything" from 4 packages of TWINKIES

Things you'll need
4 packages of Twinkies - that's 8 cakes total
1 knife
plastic or latex gloves


Step 1: Open 4 pkgs of Twinkies.
Step 2: With a knife, slice off and save the base of each Twinkie.
Note the base is a different color and will provide a contrasting color for whatever you choose to sculpt.
Step 3: Mash all the base pieces together with your hands (this is a great time to put on those gloves) and include as much of the white cream filling that may be stuck to the bases. We will be using every part of the twinkie for this project. Continue kneeding until you have achieved a uniform color and consistency. Set aside in a ball. The stickiness will go away eventually and you will have what resembles "play dough".
Step 4: Do the same with the rest of the bars. This may take a while...persevere.
Step 5: Think of something to SCULPT! Sleeping animal...Christmas tree ornament...pretty much whatever!

Once you've finished sculpting, place on a firm surface to dry. Your finished product will harden and keep FOREVER! It will never rot or mold, but it will always have a bit of that "Twinkie" smell.

If you complete this project one rainy day, please send me a picture so I can post it here.

Fall 2007 Update

Welcome back. This season I'm working BIG. My new work is still watercolor on paper, but I'm working on full-size sheets. While working larger than I'm used to brings on some interesting challenges, I have to say that I'm please with the way the work is coming out. I thought it would be interesting to play with contradictions, so the new work I'm showing are a series of close up paintings of familar San Francisco landmarks.

Spring 2007 Update

I'm back in the studio again. I've made some changes to the space and am pleased with the nice white walls that replaced the dark wood paneling. I'm finishing up a series of Tessellated Paintings just in time for Spring Open Studios at Hunter's Point Shipyard. This series was strongly influenced by the mosaics I saw in Rome last summer. In addition to this busy weekend, you can see my art up in Petaluma at the Aurora Colors Gallery from April 28 - May 26 for their May Day exhibit, showcasing All Things Bright and Beautiful. They are located at 145 Kentucky street in downtown Petaluma.

Winter 2007 Update

Thanks for stopping back. I've settled down again this winter. It was a lot of fun traveling to Italy to visit family near Bari and to spend more time in Rome. I'll have some different work to show this spring. Influenced by the stained glass and mosaic tilework I saw in Italy, I am working with watercolor and gouache on paper to create my own interpretation of mosaics and silk paints and dyes on chinese silk to make silk stained glass. Check back from time to time to see some sneak peeks available in my online gallery.

Fall 2006 Update

I've been busy traveling and exploring some different techniques and mediums this summer. This fall I'll still be showing watercolor pieces but next spring there is sure to be some new work a lot different from my current style. In addition, I've gotten a more permanent space in 101 on the other end of the building, space 2108. So be sure to stop by to see me during Open Studios in October or call to make an appointment to discuss purchasing existing work or commissioning something new.

Please be sure to stop back. Also if you'd like to receive updates by mail or e-mail, send me your contact information.