The Fox & Hounds

If you take the walk across England up near the border with Scotland, the trail walks right past this Tavern.  You'll be glad you stopped here.  The sign on the front of the tavern is a real piece of art.  It was fun to try and recreate this great art in my painting.

I've just started a painting of my favorite peak and lake in the Sierra's.  1000 Island Lake with Mt Ritter in the background.  This painting will be more mountain than lake.  This will be my 3rd painting with the lake and mountain.  Every year or so I need to do a mountain / lake landscape...I happen to have some quality photos from hikes up there so here we go again.... Mark 

B&B Tavern

Well, revisiting subject material from England.  A few years back on our walk across England we stayed at this quintessential rural B&B / Tavern.  Nothing like the convenience of relaxing and dining, then walking upstairs to retire for the day.  This place was as cool on the inside as it appears from the outside.

Should be done with this painting next week.  Not sure what's up next...any suggestions?  Mark

Gondola Parking Only

Came across this photo in our travel archives, and decided this might be interesting to paint in miniature.  So this painting is 61/2 inches high and 11 inches wide.  This was fun and I think I'll be doing more miniatures.

Cinque Terre

For fans of Cinque Terre, Italy, you might recognize this slice of Riomaggiore.  This town is the most southern of the 5 towns, and if you took the walk from north to south you probably caught a boat just below where the photo for this painting was taken.  For your journey back to your starting point.  Next up another Italy landscape - a Tuscan setting.  Thanks for checking in...Mark

Riomaggiore

A few years back when Elke and I were in Cinque Terra, Italy with our friends Dennis and Chris we took that great walk from town to town along the Mediterrenean.  The most southern town is Riomaggiore.  This is a painting from a photo Elke took.  What I like about the composition of this painting is that it is tall and narrow - very similar to the feeling you get standing at the foot of the town.  It feels like they crammed this beautiful little town into a narrow valley that runs straight down into the sea.

You'll get a better sense of the proportions when I hopefully wrap this up later next week.  I can't wait to paint the boats at the bottom of this scene.  Merry Christmas!  Mark

Monterey wharf pelican

It's been a busy month since my last post.  Travels to Ecuador, 4 failed paintings, finally something finished.  I was down to visit an artist friend of mine in Carmel a couple of months ago.  I missed him, but I had my camera with me and headed over to the Monterey wharf.  It was pelican day or so it seemed.  For me pelicans are a real joy to paint.  The feathers are a test, their bills are just so colorful and unique.  And their eyes seem very friendly.  Maybe the fact that they let you get so near helps you feel like they are friends.  This white pelican has great colors in its feathers.  Oh yea, I also like his/her little cormorant buddy.

Thanks for checking in...and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!!   Mark

The Sherlock Holmes with friends

The Sherlock Holmes restaurant/bar is a wrap.  When my wife took the photo of this restaurant on a walk in England we were accompanied by some good friends.  Although they weren't present at the photo taking, I thought they would be perfect sitting at the tables on the sidewalk.  Here you go...by the way, the big red thing in the foreground is a mail box.  Very cool, and provides some nice balance to the composition.