u/Slushfund_Underwritr

Once a year, ABQ crushes the Balloon Fiesta. A week long festival where the lines to get in the park create a river of red brake lights at 5 in the morning. The colors from over 500 ballons in the sky is truly worth seeing in person. This little piece done in acrylic gouache was fun to paint

Mass Ascension I | Acrylic Gouache on Paper

New Mexico rock formations, three colors plus white

A quick study of rock formations in a remote area west of the Very Large Array in New Mexico. The geometry of the exposed rock caught my attention, particularly the changes in color across the sunlit faces and shadows.

I used three colors plus white. The purpose was to recalibrate my color sense by working with a constrained palette and making more deliberate mixing decisions.

Acrylic Gouache on Paper

Sunset Cliffs beefed out with some extra color and drama. Decided to render the subject with its namesake in mind

10” × 8” | Acrylic gouache on paper “Sunset Cliffs Color Study”

**Video Clip in Comments**Plein air piece looking out over the rugged coastline at Cabrillo National Monument. Lovely warm colors in the rock against the cool blues and greens of the water, with plenty of people exploring below.

The location was packed, so I put on my headphones to help me focus. A good idea, although several people were determined to get my attention anyway. Apparently headphones only get you so far. 😂

"Pacific Rock Shelves" 5"x7" Oil on Wood

A little oil study of a lovely Western Gull. Known for their large size, personality, and very dark gray feathers along the back, they are a must in beach scenes. Where there is human activity, there is seagull activity. 💯

Oil on panel | 4” × 4”

Morning Floral | 6” × 6” × 1.5” | Oil on cradled wood panel

These temperate florals came from a local flower shop and were originally brought home for Alli after her mother passed away following a long battle with cancer. I painted them in the morning light as the rays were pouring in from the sunrise.

The result is a small impressionist study, but also a record of why these flowers were in our home.

Eucalyptus near Lake Hodges, painted in gouache. Another piece drawn from the semi-dry, temperate landscape of Southern California.

Hodges Eucalyptus | 10”x6.2”

Above Hollywood Plein Air | 5” × 7” | Gouache

Plein air study from the Hollywood Hills, painted a few weeks ago with Danny Folkman. I meant to post this, got caught up with work.

Here I focused on Southern California’s color relationships: muted greens, warm earth, low chroma, and blue-violet distance.

I forgot to snap a on-scene picture, but luckily Danny got it in frame with his shot.

#PleinAirPainting #GouachePainting #HollywoodHills #CaliforniaLandscape #LandscapePainting

Above Hollywood Plein Air | 5” × 7” | Gouache

Plein air study from the Hollywood Hills, painted a few weeks ago with Danny Folkman. I meant to post this, got caught up with work.

Here I focused on Southern California’s color relationships: muted greens, warm earth, low chroma, and blue-violet distance.

Plein air gouache study painted yesterday along the trail at Elfin Forest Reserve.

I'm becoming increasingly interested in the temperate climate of Southern California as a body of work: dry vegetation, muted greens, warm earth, blue-violet distance, and the atmospheric compression that ties it together. I have resisted the urge to revise in the studio as I feel it is a direct record of the decisions, color notes, and conditions of the field.

Plein air gouache study painted yesterday along the trail at Elfin Forest Reserve.

I'm becoming increasingly interested in the temperate climate of Southern California as a body of work: dry vegetation, muted greens, warm earth, blue-violet distance, and the atmospheric compression that ties it together. I have resisted the urge to revise in the studio as I feel it is a direct record of the decisions, color notes, and conditions of the field.

Plein air gouache study painted yesterday along the trail at Elfin Forest Reserve.

I'm becoming increasingly interested in the temperate climate of Southern California as a body of work: dry vegetation, muted greens, warm earth, blue-violet distance, and the atmospheric compression that ties it together. I have resisted the urge to revise in the studio as I feel it is a direct record of the decisions, color notes, and conditions of the field.

Finished this 12” × 12” acrylic gouache painting of the rocks along La Jolla’s coastline on a cradled wood panel.

I had a heck of a time balancing texture, color, values, and keeping the light unique but believable.

I’ve been spending a lot of time pushing color farther than I normally would while staying disciplined with value. It teeters a line between chaos and control, and while I’m painting this way I can actually say my heart rate is elevated. Watch yells at me about my stress level being too high.

Coastal Color Study: Spanish Bay | 6”x6” Acrylic Gouache on Artist Panel less

I’ve been spending a lot of time pushing color farther than I normally would while staying disciplined with value. It teeters a line between chaos and control, and while I’m painting this way I can actually say my heart rate is elevated. Watch yells at me about my stress level being too high.

Coastal Color Study: Spanish Bay | 6”x6” Acrylic Gouache on Artist Panel