Merced River Canyon in spring - Oil painting

Back to smothering paint with knife and loving it !!

Visiting Yosemite in spring has sort of become like a family tradition to us and we always make sure to drive through Elportal along the Merced river canyon. Spring this side is spectacular. Redbuds in full bloom along the Merced river provides a stunning contrast to the hillside poppies. This year there weren't as much poppies like previous years and yet it was still beautiful. This painting is based on a reference shot from up there.



Done on a 11X14 canvas with water soluble oil. Background sky & hills done with brush and the foreground foliage done with a brush & knife combo. Took me about 2 hrs over the weekend to finish this. Hope you like it :-).

Mexican Vase & Lemon - Oil painting

Here is a still life painting that I have been working on for a while... I enjoy painting landscapes and seascapes and try to avoid still life and potraits as much as possible. This was thrown as a challenge to me in an art class. For this particular study, it felt like forcing a right handed person to draw with a left hand ;-). But after a watercolor sketch of the same setup and two stainless steel practice studies later, I think I am finished with this.

Just from painting that stainless steel bowl, I learnt so much. No denying that still lifes are indeed foundation to capture the lights and shadows in a painting and I am sure I can take the learning to my semi impressionistic landscapes.

Done on a 16 X 20 Canvas with oil..



A Close up of the painting



My setup

Gallery show at Haus Fortuna

Haus Fortuna - A Petaluma store for fine Italian things will be featuring about 25 of my paintings from this month. Come and join us for the 2nd Saturday Art Walk - May 14 between 2pm - 7pm. If you are interested in attending the art walk on May 14th, send me a note and I'll look for you :-).The paintings will be up for couple of months. If you are passing through the town, do stop by Haus Fortuna and let me know what you think. Please feel free to pass this invite to your other artist and art loving friends..