Sorolla's Light

On Friday I headed down to San Diego with my friend Sydney to see the Joaquin Sorolla exhibit at the The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park before it closes on the 26th of August.

It is an amazing show to say the least!

I have always liked his work but to see his work up close and in person allows you to see each bold brush stroke, the vibrant colors he used and his beautiful use of light.

I was blown away!

Photo's in art books and on the Internet just do not do it justice.  There is so much light in these beauties!

 "I could not paint at all if I had to paint slowly. Every effect is so transient, it must be rapidly painted.” - Joaquin Sorolla

Heading to SFO

If you happen to be flying with United in the next few months take a peek at the Collector pop-up  store in the

newly remodeled Terminal 3, post-security Boarding Area E (United Airlines)

Three of my paintings are heading over there for a few months.

French Waiters #7

 French Waiters #5

French Waiters #2

Please drop by and let them know that Jeanette sent you!

Bon journee!

New Summer Work

I have been busy with a large commission piece and I didn't want to post photos of it in progress because I wanted my client to be the first to see the finished piece.  She loves it and has it hanging in her living room. The painting is of a favorite coffee shop she used to frequent in North Beach, San Francisco.

Caffe Trieste

I also just completed a painting for an upcoming show entitled "White Balance".  I love whites!  There is so much subtle color reflected in whites.

Summer

Thursday I began painting a night scene. In 8 years of painting, I have never done a night scene. It is looking at Cafe du Metro and the church is St-Sulpice in the Saint-Germain district in Paris. The church was made famous in the book/movie "The Da Vinci Code". My girlfriends and I were walking back to our hotel from dinner when I photographed this scene.

The beginnings of "St-Sulpice, Paris"

Great Reception

Last Friday night there was a fine reception at the Collector in Berkeley.  Wine, cheese, music and intriguing artwork!

These are 6 in my "French Waiter Series".  They will be at the Collector until the end of August. 

A Gallery in Berkeley

I have had the honor of being asked to participate at a gallery in Berkeley, "Collector".

Hope you can join me at the reception on Friday, July 11th from 6-8!

The Winter Prune

Whenever I drive around the Napa Valley, I always take my camera with me.  There is always something going on in the vineyards.

The mustard isn't showing in this shot but it is there in other pictures.

Several years ago I took some photos of the field workers pruning the the long canes off of the cordons, which is the lateral growth.  The mustard was already blooming and I was taken by how careful this man was with the vine.  Even though I am sure he had cut thousands of canes, he still was treating this cut as important. 

My rough, beginning sketch

The Winter Prune - 18 x 18

This painting is on it's way to Mason Cellars Tasting Room in Napa later this week for a show with my Bay Area Studio Artists group.  I have one more painting to finish and then it's off to do the hanging!

The Getty 2014

Over the weekend I was able to spend some time at the Getty Museum in Southern California.

They have these wonderful metal sculptures that have Bougainvillea and Roses growing up through them to hang over the top and form shade as well as beauty.

A few of my favorite pieces that hang there are -

"Wheatstacks, Snow Effect, Morning" by Claude Monet

Just look at the beautiful color in both the haystacks and the snow.

"Les Iris" by Vincent Van Gogh

 

 

 

 

 

Overheard a guard say that they paid 90 million for this painting and it is now worth 108 million. Glad someone has money and can share this beauty with the world!

"Young Ladies Admiring Japanese Objects" by James Tissot

"Portrait of Louise-Antoinette Feuardent" by Jean-Francois Millet

"Portrait of Therese, Countess Clary Aldringen" by John Singer Sargent

"The Laundress" by Jean-Baptist Greuse

 This was a favorite find.  It was hidden around a corner and is small but sweet.  The laundress had dressed up in her Sunday Best for the portrait, not what she would usually wear to scrub clothes.  The frame is original and was designed by the first owner of this painting.

"Dancer Taking A Bow" by Edgar Degas

This is a little out of focus because it was in a room with very low light.  The Getty had all of their pastels and sketches in this room.

"Houses at Bougival (Autumn)" by Camille Pissaro

"The Portal of Rouen Catherderal in Morning Light" by Claude Monet

Mr. B checking out Monet's painting a little closer as we will be traveling to Rouen, France this Fall.

"The Promenade" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

"Portrait of Maria Frederike van Reede-Athlone at Seven Years of Age" by Jean-Etienne Liotard

Time for a break.....

View of Santa Monica in the foreground and Los Angeles in the back