On another Northern California trip I decide it's time to bring oils because I like the immediate vibrancy and hoping to capture the colors quickly. This is a plein air sketch and I spent about 40 minutes before calling it quits. The lighting had changed a lot. I am also using a new travel paint [...]
Today, I’m painting something a little different. It's going to be a quiet, moody grey seascape. This was painted at Navarro Beach, on the road to Mendocino, more than four hours from where I live. When we first arrived, the sun was out, and I took time to scout a location. But when we returned the [...]
When I travel, I’m always on the lookout for interesting places to paint. It’s simply part of who I am as an artist. I’m drawn to locations that offer something visually unique—places that invite me to slow down and really observe. What immediately captured my attention here (at Honokōwai Beach) is the unusual shallow rock [...]
2025 was the fastest year of my life — and one of the most transformative years I’ve ever had as an artist. At the start of the year, I quietly launched a completely new art form: live edge olive wood fine art surfboards. And yes… I know that’s a mouthful. I went all in. New [...]
Watch Me Paint TWO Kauai Watercolors in my Sketchbook Want to see TWO watercolors today?? In this video, I’m approaching the same subject in both Horizontal and Vertical versions…and you can tell me what you think turned out to be the Best. I’d love to hear in the comments below…I know that I have my [...]
Click (below) to Watch Video: I painted this Blue Island House in a little over an hour. I’m going to show you the entire process. You can watch all of the color and timing decisions that I’m making. Blue Island House is available, here, if you'd like to own this original watercolor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMijbMhey9c&t=650s I [...]
Click (below) to Watch Video: Join me for a late afternoon watercolor on a beach in Carmel where I'll paint 3 more watercolors and hopefully it will give you ideas on how to approach a quick plein air study. This is the continuation of my last video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMefR2XGs7A
Click (below) to Watch Video: Join me for a late afternoon watercolor on a beach in Carmel. In the video you’ll be able to see how I quickly captured this scene in watercolor and hopefully it will give you ideas on how to approach a quick plein air study. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUdeAwH9TOg&t=98s It’s late afternoon [...]
Click (below) to Watch Video: Recently I spent some time doing two of my favorite things, painting in watercolor and hanging out on the beach. I brought along a brand new watercolor travel sketchbook. I’m particular about watercolor paper…as not papers perform well. That said, I was excited to give this sketchbook a try.I also have [...]
Have you ever tried to paint Dahlia's? If so you know that they can be tricky flowers to capture in paint. I'm going to show you how to quickly capture the essence of an Orange Dahlia in watercolor in 3 Easy Steps...and then we'll continue on to practice loose wildflowers and leaves. These techniques will [...]
This plein air painting study was filmed beautiful Carmel a year ago. I'm posting it now. Hope that you find this watercolor session both relaxing and entertaining to watch. Below are my thoughts about decisions that I made while painting on location with changing lighting conditions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4OWhLrQ2wo&t=773s After sketching out a scene to the (right) [...]
Little did I know that when I began this white flower painting tutorial, it would take me one complete year to finish. I will talk more about why that happened and how I overcame the motivation block. This White Flower and Tulip watercolor was a request from a client and friend who owns several of [...]