Blossoms/allergies

Three blossomy entries to weather sketchbook. I am attending an intense photoshop workshop in Hollywood this weekend and have no time for REAL ART! I don't even have time to hide my clips on the sketchbook photos.
Plus, I have horrid allergies to: IN PARTICULAR- all the non-native Chinese Elm trees around town! Cut them down! Plant native trees!!! This IS the time to visit LA and Hollywood in particular though. Driving with the top down at night and smelling the jasmine and orange/lemon blossoms.

Man about to be married

this is a study for a painting called "Man about to be married II". I painted another "man about to be married" 20 years ago and I only have the slide available. It was a large oil painting similar to "Man with gas can" which I painted around the same time. Oil on canvas 70 x 84" (in two panels). The study (30x22") is stabilo aquarellable on strathmore plate bristol. I plan to do either an oil of this, or a large watercolor. Thank you to TB (an actor- but really was about to get married) for posing.

some cucumbers and sugar swivels

This is the new weather sketchbook which I made out of an old book cover and 90 lb. arches hot press paper. Not an ideal sketchbook paper-wise. It's good if I paint/draw on only one side.
There's nothing like an IN-N-OUT burger every couple of weeks.. ..... The sugar sticks came with some lattes in pasadena. I love these. They are a nice invention and a fancy way to start an overcast morning.

Driving past Point Dume

This is the last page of the 5x5" Hand Book Journal Co. sketchbook that is my "weather sketchbook". It is a quick road sketch while traveling the PCH. The photo below is the sketchbook on top of a hand made sketchbook made from an old book cover and filled with Arches 90lb. HP paper. It is the new weather sketchbook. The paper is too thin to be much more than a weather sketchbook. As I'm posting this, a breeze is coming right through three citrus trees that are blossoming and carrying an incredible scent. I'll have to post more later.

Asian air pollution

It looks like I may have to postpone my "cars splashing water" series since it doesn't rain in Los Angeles. I will get to return to my firefighter series however as soon as more assholes throw their cigarette butts out their SUV windows. I really don't understand how anyone can do that. Like my bumper sticker says, "HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS". Our beaches and streets are not ashtrays. I have one more page in this particular sketchbook (5 x 5" hand book journal) that I may or may not fill.
8 march is a quick sketch of some sweet-potatoe fries served with blue cheese and a sprig of rosemary. It's very delicious with a pale ale.

Holly Golightly's dress

This little-couple-of-inches of newpaper was the only good news in the whole front section of yesterday's paper. Money from the dress (which I drew laying on the ground like most of my figures) will be building 15 schools in India.
I took this picture of a magnolia yesterday at The Huntington where I gathered alot of painting reference. Today I went back to Pasadena to the Pasadena Museum of CA art where I saw a fantastic watercolor show in the back gallery. Definately recommend it.

Another handsome mandolin player

I went to the Huntington thursday. Again, just another beautiful day in paradise. I love this statue.

Last days of February

Even though the weather report is for showers, these past two days are incredibly beautiful. Wonderfully chilly and bright "Colorado" skys. Eggplant and Jacaranda pods.

Two days of nametag wearing

These are the trailers on the lot at Prospect Studios and as I was passing by them and without dropping names, let me just say that the most handsome, "dreamiest" man on tv right now said to me, "Just another beautiful day in Paradise". And it was - even though the weather says partly cloudy.
My next name tag is from the Animation "Chocolate Oscars" party the night before the Oscars where all the animation nominees get together for dinner. (I am not a nominee but I would love to work on someone's film as you can see by the small type on my nametag). This is a pic of Producer, Lise Fearnley, of "The Danish Poet". I'll post more pictures later. Good luck to all the talented artists tonight.

Magnolia

Two weather sketchbook entries. Magnolia from M.'s tree. Ink and watercolor. I have a wonderful Pentel ink/brush pen from Japan that was given to me by a person living in London. I haven't seen one like it in the states. He gave me plenty of refills for it, so I hope it lasts for a while. The "car splashing water" image is from a new series of watercolors I hope to do of cars splashing water. This image is based on an image from the newspaper which is how my firefighter series started. firefighter. And click here too. I'll be posting some of my older "newspaper image series" that I did a couple of years ago. The newspaper is great inspiration for me. I have always liked ink and newsprint.

Descanso Garden

A flowering cherry tree at Descanso Garden in La Canada Flintridge. This place is beautiful in February. Watercolor on Strathmore Plate Bristol. 30x22". I love this paper because the watercolor just sits on top of the surface.

Pulling Dandelions

The latest entry of my weather sketchbook. Stabilo in 5x5" Hand Book Journal. Below is a quick watercolor of the same dying dandelion in my hand made sketchbook of 90 lb. Arches HP. I pulled a bucket of dandelions today, listening to a mourning dove which is exactly what I had to do as a teenager for a chore and/or punishment which seemed like a huge ordeal then, but actual therapy now.

Isabel Bishop

"Head" c.1938. Pencil, ink, and oil 15 x 11 " One of my favorite artists, Isabel Bishop. I highly recommend looking at her work. There's a great book by Helen Yglesias that I found at my favorite used book store.

mid february

This is all food for some reason, going into the weather sketchbook. All food from a recent pasta dish that my sister made. Stabilo and watercolor in 5x5" Hand Book Journal.

Girl on Sixteenth Birthday

Ritmo charcoal on Strathmore paper. Image: 15x9". Girl is wearing some sort of feathery tiara.

Early February weather sketchbook

Summer in socal. All I have time for is a couple of small sketches. Although I hope to have some studio time soon. On another note, I want to thank Katherine of Making a Mark for some blogging how-to advice. I soon hope to have some category listing on the Right side of this blog. Having time to get organized would be great.

New month

stabillo and watercolor and Los Angeles Times in Hand Book Journal (arches 90lb. hot press paper glued in R side to compensate for thin paper).

wet weather sketchbook

I am a caregiver to a hip replacement patient and find that I have to put any drawing/painting on a backburner. Here's one I was able to get to.

wind.wind.warm.

Weather sketchbook entries for 22 january,23 january and 24 january.
Stabilo aquarellable and watercolor in 5x5" Hand Book Journal. Click on image to enlarge.

Two charcoal drawings

Woman with wrinkled shirt. Charcoal on Strathmore, 15x10".
Woman with hurt lip. Charcoal on Strathmore, 15x10".

Seriously tired of the wind

Two days of wind - the first seeing all my navel oranges which are still unripe, laying on the ground around my tree.
Making cranberry bread with tart oranges on day 2.

Two paintchips

Two quick paintchips. Gouache.

Cold weather

I believe that I lost a young Meyer Lemon tree to the freezing temps here in LA. My agaves are all toast as well. Hopefully my mature citrus trees are o.k. The cold weather is great besides that.

weather sketchbook

two entries building up to the cold

admiring Suzanne Somers

Click on image for detail. The weather report today comes from the front page and not merely the California section.