Next Project - Great House in Newport, RI!

It's really a swell "century"classic with a great refreshed look thanks to the owner's love and care - and respect for great original bones. This one will be fun, and I will be sure to post photos. I am working on style as well as "time of year" decisions. Should it be winter with snow on the ground on a cold afternoon, or summer in the early AM? It will all depend on my mood when I get to it I guess - after the current video production projects are finished. Most likely winter, which will serve as a great "warm up" for the next painting...a winter canvas of a warf in Newport as well to be done from a photo sent to me by a pal.

FOR SALE - after the new year...

I have been encouraged to begin selling original works. I have decided to start that after the new year, so come back for a visit and pick something out. Price range [with very few exceptions] $50 - $125. Thank you for the interest.

"Ally at the Beach" a few hours of painting fun!

I wanted something colorful for that blank spot on the wall that is one of the first things I see in the morning. What could be more special than a portrait of my granddaughter! Based on a great profile beach photo [thanks to her talented mom], I set up the French easel in the garage for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, grabbed a "garage sale" 24"x 30" canvas, spread out the acrylics on the top of a trash can, and did my thing. I intend to put a deep gloss coating on it, and maybe a very subtle light pattern in the sky and sand - and I am signing up for a portrait painting class at the CA Art Inst. for sure, ... but for now I have my "Good Morning" Ally at the Beach to smile-start my days off great! It works for me.

Plein Air Bob CAPE COD painting tour, 2010

What a great place to just relax and create memories. That's what I did during my 2 week trip to Cape Cod. Two paintings are now with private collectors in Marshfield and Duxbury, MA. All the paintings below are done in 90 minutes as part of my plan to get "loose" and also just to enjoy the process, rather than labor over anything. Small and quick and never going back for endless and time consuming re-touching is great training and it worked for me for sure. The people you meet while your tucked in on a small quiet street in the early morning, or on a stone wall on the smallest village main street is great. My wife's family welcomed us as they do to that part of the world every year, and part of that included a last day tour of spots I may want to paint next year. WOW! I am really ready to go as soon as next August rolls around for sure. I packed only a small lap-top size paint box this year and a great canvas bag made for plein air get-up-and-go painting. It all fit in my suitcase so no $100+ shipping charges this year. The great Inns we jumped from one to another to included The Danl Webster Inn, The Lamb and The Lion, The 7 Sea Street Inn on Nantucket, and the Candelberry Inn. Great places all with super innkeepers to match. It was really tough to come home to CA this time - for the 1st time I can recall. This winter I hope to be off to Maui, Amelia Island, FL and maybe to Boca Raton, FL for a Beach Club poolside chill out. We'll see.