New Exhibitions for January 2012

Accepted into the California Art Club exhibition "Iconic California" is my artwork "Bay of Crystal Cove" 16x12, oil on linen, framed $500. The show runs from January 13 - May 15, 2012. Opening reception is Sunday, January 29, 2012 from 4-6pm.  The exhibition and reception is being held at the Altadena Town & Country Club, 2290 Country Club Dr., Altadena, CA 91001.

Also, two of my artworks were accepted into the next Socalpapa (Southern California Plein Air Painter`s Association) exhibition. The show, "Best ofthe Best" starts January 4, 2012 and ends Feb. 26, 2012. Opening reception is January 7th from 4-6pm at the art gallery Socalpapa on 300 E. Bay Dr, Newport Peninsula, CA.

 

"Laguna Oasis" 14x11, oil on linen, framed - $475

"Sycamores Backlit" 16x12, oil on linen, framed - $475

I wish you a Happy New Year!

New Exhibition at Socalpapa Art Gallery

I will be in attendance at this opening reception held at the Socalpapa Art Gallery this Saturday, September 17th.  The art gallery is located on the Newport Peninsula at the Balboa Fun Zone adjacent to the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.  Time is 4-6pm.  The exhibit includes juried selections picked by signature artist Jeff Sewell from our Southern California Plein Air Painter`s Association (Socalpapa).   I have two pieces hung in the show and two pieces not framed in the art bin.

Ventura Cypress, 8x10, $350 framed.

This image above shows the location that the plein air artwork was painted at in Ventura, CA.

"Serene Reflections"  8x10, oil, $350 framed.

The image above shows where it was painted en plein air on location.  Hence the title of the exhibition.

Above artwork is "Beachcomber Diner"  6x8, plein air oil  $200.  Available in the art bin at the Socalpapa Art Gallery.

The above painting is "California Palm",  another 6x8, plein air oil.  Available in the art bin also, $200.

If you are in the vicinity of the gallery, stop by and view the exhibition.  Here is a google map of the location.

Rags to Riches Stamp from Zazzle.com

 Rags to Riches Stamp from Zazzle.com
This was approved by the US Postal regulations! One of my artworks, now can be used as a stamp to mail your letter, cards and packages! Booklets available online at Zazzle under my account, visions2art! A sheet of 20 is $20.25.  Click on the above link to take you there directly.  You will see exactly how it appears as a stamp with the US and zigzag die cut border!   So cute!

Beachcomber Martini Time, new plein air impressionism oil painting

"Beachcomber Martini Time" is a wonderful new work from my recent vacation at Crystal Cove Cottages.  It is 16"W x 12"H.  Oil on linen panel.  I painted this on location, it took three days of working in the same spot at the same time of day.  That is because of all the detail, if it were an easier composition, it would be a one day painting.  A customer of mine was asking why artists do not paint the Beachcomber restaurant there.  I soon knew why, to paint it full on erases the beach atmosphere that it overlooks.  Well, that is the reason why people love this place so much, it sits right on the beach.  So, I thought, "How do I capture the Beachcomber, the Crystal Cove setting and a bit of the blue ocean it overlooks?  I came up with two angles, one that is south of this spot and this one that looks back at it from the north side.  Now, we got atmosphere and the Beachcomber restaurant, plus it is Martini time.  The black flag is raised on the flag pole at martini hour which is about 5pm everyday.  It is a ritual that everyone loves.  I got to loving it as I observed the little saluting ceremony each day.  Happiness and beach bliss.  Cheers!  This is on hold for sale approval already.

Spring Fair & Art Festival, Country Style Hoedown!

Just letting you know of an art fair I will be in next weekend.  I`m in booth space #29.  I will have a full display of my original art for sale.  This should be fun for anyone, there is so much happening there.  See you!

Ironstone Vineyards "Spring Obession" Art Show & Sale

The two above oil paintings of mine were accepted into the Spring Obsession Art Show at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys CA.  The paintings are Veil of Oaks 6" x 6" and Santa Margarita Lake 14" x 11".  The show begins March 5 and runs through May 8, 2011.  It is more than an art show, they have live music, culinary events and tastings.  People come all the way from San Francisco annually for this happy event. 

Spring Symphony in Bommer Canyon, California Impressionsim Landscape Oil Painting

"Spring Symphony in Bommer Canyon"  20"W x 16"H, oil on hand stretched, hand gessoed linen by Esther J. Williams.  This was actually from last year when I visited the Bommer Canyon, one of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy lands in March 2010.  The flowers were abundant then.  I painted a burnt red oil sketch of the scene on location on this large linen canvas and drew it in my sketchbook, along with many detailed notes on the lighting, colors and atmosphere. My time was too limited there to be allowed to paint it on location.  I took high resolution images and went home in hopes of finishing it, but it got pushed aside due to other pressing projects.  When I did a new year cleaning of my art studio, I rediscovered this large piece and went to work on it within a week.  Funny how things happen, I procrastinate and it took a week because I wanted to read some new techniques on art by a great artist Thomas Buechner who wrote "How I Paint, Secrets of a Sunday Painter".  In his book he talks about many things in delivering the paint on your canvas, how to arrange the composition and lead the eyes to the center of interest and more.  I was glad I read it, it acted as a guide to me to push me into a new direction.  I also have been reading the Edgar Payne book on Composition of Outdoor Painting.   I could not wait to start the painting, but then I saw a hike I wanted to go on with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, so I went on  nearly 7 mile hike this past Sunday to Dripping Springs in Limestone Canyon.  I nearly died of exhaustion, I was out of shape from the winter holiday season!  The head field person wanted to call a ranger to truck me back the last 3-1/2  miles but I told her my pride wouldn`t allow it, I kept hobbling along.  I am getting bad knees and hip joints in my mid-50`s.  It was all worth it, I got to see the early spring flowers popping up all over the canyons, I smelled the unique flavor of the oaks in the air, the new wild oat grasses, the wild sage brush and so many other delights to my senses.  I took all of that and banked it in my mind to place that freshness into this painting as if I had been there in Bommer Canyon again on that spring day. The green colors were all over the canyon hills that day.  But for the sake of not over doing it with the greens in the painting, I painted complimentary colors, lke red and oranges in a imprimatura layering to provide a middle tone to place my upper layers of color over.  I used larger brushes and some galkyd-lite to make almost a watercolor effect in this bucolic setting.  I started with warmer colors, even though you could not see burnt oranges and reds in the grasses, I did it for the painting`s sake and the viewer`s emotions.  I really like this effect of color transition and will use it again and again.  I can`t wait to see more spring flowers on another hike I will go on this Sunday in Fremont Canyon which is a flower photographer`s hike!  Only 3 miles and slow paced!  I will definitely paint something from that visit or ask the Irvine Ranch partners I know to be taken out there so I can paint it en plein air.   I feel lucky to be alive and to be an artist.  The price of this is $950 framed.  I will be entering it into a Spring Judge Art Show.  More details later. 

Best of the Best Art Exhibition, SOCALPAPA Art Gallery 1/8/2011 - 2/27/2011

A new exhibition that two of my works are in.  To see all the information, go to here, my website blog.