What is it about boats?

So I just put the finishing brush strokes on my row boat painting...I'm pleased with the results.  What is it about row boats, sail boats, canoes, kayaks that is so esthetically pleasing?  It must be the lines and curves - some of the similar graceful shapes of the human body.  I really enjoyed creating this watercolor.  The scene is peaceful, the colors perfect - even the aqua-bluish color of the ropes tying the boats to the trees.  Perfect!  My job was to not screw it up, and bring a little more contrast and vibrancy than the original photo.  Since you are not seeing the photo - you'll have to trust me - I think I did.  Not sure what is next, but I'm searching...thanks for coming by....Mark  (I'll have a better photo in about a week after my photographer does his thing.)

Irish row boats

Some friends took a fabulous trip to Ireland this summer.  While there they took a photo of a couple of row boats tide up on a pond among the high grasses.  They thought their photo was reminiscent of the kind of paintings I create...so they sent it to me.  They were 100% correct.  I love their photo, and here is my rendition after about 40 hours so far.  I'm about half way to completion.

Check back in a couple of weeks...hopefully I'll have it signed, and off to the framer.  Thanks for coming by...mg

Tuscany By Red Sportscar

Once again I am painting an iconic scene, this time Tuscany.  For this painting I chose to paint on watercolor panel.  Watercolor panel is a masonite type of board (very rigid) that is covered with a material that accepts watercolor paint.  I chose to be slightly looser with my technique since this scene is not that complex.  I enjoyed the simplicity of the scene, the late afternoon sunlight.  And of course the little red sportscar, which would have to be the best way to tour Tuscany.

Sunrise at the dish

A couple of years ago I took some sunrise photos while walking the Stanford dish trail.  I finally got around to painting one of them.  Looking back toward the unyet risen sun, the silhouette of a couple of oak trees against the morning sky is a wonderful sight.  Here's my simple rendition...

Next up a plate of food.  Yes, really, I'm going to paint a yummy chicken sandwich, with chips and beer.  Photo taken at Inca Lounge, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Adam's little girl

Just finished this, (I was going to say simple little painting), but it wasn't that simple.  But it is a little smaller than the sizes I normally do.  I enjoyed the problem of making water drops rain down on this scene.  Anyhow, here it is...

Not sure what's next for my palette...stay tuned.  Thanks, mark

Enjoying the fountain

A friend photographed his 3 year old daughter playing in one of those fountains that shoots water up through the concrete pavement.  He asked if this was a potential painting...heck yes.  Here's the start...

Hopefully will have this completed in the next week to 10 days.  Thanks for coming by. mg

Helados con amigos

I finished my young friends in Cuenca, Ecuador.  Since the kids were all eating ice creams in the park I have titled the painting, "Helados con amigos", Ice creams with friends.  I'm really happy with the result.  I left the background kind of a stylized nothing.  There were people walking back and forth, but they took away too much from the focus on the amigos up front.  I'm traveling to Cuenca again in a few days, so  hope to come home with more photos of life with Cuencanos.  Here you go...

Parque Calderon Amigos

While I was in Cuenca, Ecuador in January, I was sitting in the central park when I spied these young friends enjoying their ice creams together.  I carefully snapped this photo which I hoped might make an interesting painting.  Here's the start...

Merced River Reflection, finished

A couple of weeks ago I put the finishing touches to my latest painting...Merced River Reflection.  I took the liberty to add a deer to this painting.  One morning while in the midst of this work I had read Psalm 42 in the Bible...adding a deer seemed appropriate.  Here you go...

  

El Capitan reflection

Just last week a couple of climbers completed a first ascent of a difficult route using fingers and toes and no hardware on El Capitan, in Yosemite.  El Capitan continues to draw climbers, photographers, and artists.  This is my second painting where El Cap is a major theme.  This time though, for this spring time painting, El Cap is just a reflection in the Merced River.  Here is a photo of the first few hundred(s) of brush strokes.  Check back in a couple of weeks, hopefully you'll see s reflection, water, and a few thousand more brush strokes.
Thanks for coming by...mg