Every town has a breakfast place..

The Summerland Beach Cafe - expanded from an original centurty old home, is one of the best and most popular breakfast and lunch [only] hang-outs in this beach town. I went back to Summerland to paint last week [see below] and was reminded I had painted this one last year on an overcast afternoon. I re-worked it trying not to over-work it for a neighbor pal who likes both the place, and had enjoyed the painting when I painted it last July. I'm waiting for the lacquer to dry so I can drop it in his mailbox.

A winter morning in Summerland, CA

It's a cold an rainy day outside the studio window - and the closest you get to a "winter feel" in S. CA - and a good day to start on a winter sceen that was posted as a snapshot last winter by a pal in Newport, R.I. It;s a great challenge in terms of color for sure. The photo was snapped by a friend of hers, and shown newport at dusk ina snowfall. You can feel the cold, and almost smell the firplaces starting up. What you see here is the dark, medium and light contrast painting to give me the shapes and values. On to adding the colors next.

"Moose Stands Guard" was begun last year as I sat and waited for my grand daughter to wake up from her nap at her friend Mia's house. I sat out front and began this painting. It stayed in my stack of "work to finish". I added the stroller as a "nod" that there are kids who live and play in this house, as well as a yellow ball for "Moose" that sits just in front of him on the sunlit drive. To me the ball says this is dog friend to the kids who loves to play, but who takes his "job" of watching out for them very seriously. Don't get too close if Moose doesn't know you. Now I can send it off as a surprise "thank you" to the family of my granddaughter's pal. I am happy with it.