Retirement? No way!

Last December was my last semester teaching Fine Art for the local colleges.  I wanted to step back from "teaching" and break rules.  I hit the ground running with a series of oil paintings inspired by the Ocean.  I went to different beaches in Laguna painting and sketching, then returned to the studio to create paintings that captured the energy of the sea.  Meanwhile, I have been working on a new series which is more abstract.  Posts soon to follow:)

Captured Light      24x30

Driven by the Spirit    18x24

Picnic Beach    18x24

Rising Tide    18x24

Tablerock at High Tide    24x30 

 These are just a few of the 9x12 oil sketches done in the process.

Latest project: San Clemente Public Art
This is one of 5 Light Utility boxes selected to be painted this year by the City of San Clemente, Ca.   The box I painted is located on Camino de los Mares and the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center-San Clemente.  To see a video by Roger Merril of all the artists and their work, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/SanClementeCommunity#!/photo.php?v=430505087045430&set=vb.526258914074607&type=2&theater.

BUCKET LIST

THE BUCKET LIST OF A 40 YEAR OLD WHO PLANS O LIVING TO 140 YEARS OLD

Attending a 3 day CAC (California Art Club) Sculpt-in, I sculpted this figure and met a great group of sculptors.  Knowing time was limited, I set a personal goal of experimenting with resin clay over water based clay.

This is the finished clay sketch, which was fragile as you can see the head fell off. 

I added the resin clay to the weaker areas first and attached the head.  It worked out great!

The patina is metal coating with m20 accents.   

TRANSITIONAL OPPOSITES IN HARMONY, bronze.

Synergy at work, as I was finishing up, I received a call for artist to submit to a juried show callled "Spiral Bound: The Spiritual Journey of Ageing."  BUCKET LIST as well as TRANSITIONAL OPPOSITES IN HARMONY were accepted.

http://FrontPorchGalleryCA.blogspot.com .

WE'RE OFF TO JOIN THE CIRCUS

Well, maybe we will just stay home.  I am so excited about my new outdoor studio.  Rich and I put our heads, hearts and hands together to create this new 12 x 20 foot work space; all for around $100. 

We have a large cemented side yard.  The previous owners had some eye hooks in the eaves.  I bought a 12x20 foot tarp and used my workbench as a base for a support beam.  with a little help from some old umbrella stands, voila!  

Rich tightening up the turn buckles.  This technique  was inspired  from his ham radio days putting up antenna.

My current indoor studio is nice but I really needed some work space for my larger sculpture. Notice the access to the driveway, with easy load access to a truck for the large sculpture.

I also have a view to my "Fairy Garden," which hasn't been planted yet, but will be a lot of fun.

Ella Singh

Here she is, finished and ready to be delivered.

This view shows off her beautiful headdress and lovely snout.

Here she is at the her new home.  She has an ocean view, the lucky gal, adjacent to a beautiful swimming pool patio.

Catching a Wave

Can't wait for summer.  I have been visiting the local beaches searching for subjects to paint.  This is the third painting this week and below are the steps to making it.

Montage Beaches

"Ella-Singh" 

My little 2 1/2 old grandson gave the sculpture a hug and said, "Baba, it's finished." Too bad I didn't get that picture.  Basically finished and loving it, just need to clean up some areas and put the final protective coating on.  The collector titled the sculpture  Ella-singh.  

 It's a joyful sculpture that I am sure will be loved. Ohhh Ella-Singh.