Mac's Smoke Shop

Following the theme of nightscapes of local landmarks - I'm having fun with Mac's Smoke Shop in downtown Palo Alto.  I don't know the age of his establishment, but it's been around a good long time.  It has the best neon sign in town.  I took the photo of this shop at 6:30am in mid-March.  If you check back in another week, I should have a finished photo.  Thanks for dropping by...Mark

OOPS...I accidently replaced the finished painting with the painting in progress. 

Black and White Ruffed Lemur

Here you go.  Too cute for words...the black and white ruffed lemur....

Exhibitions

Last month I entered 4 paintings in a local painting exhibition that drew paintings from all over the country.  All 4 were accepted and are on display for the rest of March.  They can be seen at the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto.  Corner of Ramona St. and Forest Ave.  This is the first time I have publicly displayed any of my work, and it was real encouraging to have all 4 of my entries accepted. 

In a couple of months the same gallery is going to have an exhibition with the theme of "Animals".  I'm interested in participating, so this past weekend I made a trip to San Francisco Zoo to take some photographs.  I think there might be a few good paintings in there somewhere.  A couple of days ago I started in on a pretty cool little lemur.  He or she was hanging onto a tree stump with some bamboo leaves all around.  Here's the start...check back in a few days and I'll have an update.  Cheers, Mark

General Store Completed

This was a very fun piece to create.  Love the early morning light, the great colors, and the details provided by the roof, the gas pumps, phone booths and groceries in the windows.  If you ever drive down highway one just south of Carmel and stop here for gas you will be using more modern pumps.  I just couldn't paint in the existing high tech pumps - I traded them out for some vintage Sunoco Pumps.  And as you will notice the price of gas is a bit dated - by about 50 years - the age of the pumps.  Thanks for checking in....Mark

Carmel General Store

Last month on the same trip to Carmel that I photographed the Mission, I drove down Highway 1 just past Point Lobos, and there sits a quaint General Store - Gas Station.  I took an early morning photo, and this is the subject of today's painting.  I'm wrapping up the background, and trying to not overpaint it.  The size of this painting is 21" x 36", on masonite panel.  Check back late next week, and I should be close to done.  Thanks for checking in.   Mark

Thought I'd give an update...

Stanford Theater

Finished and off to the framer.  This was fun.  I really enjoyed laying down the vibrant colors, and shadows that are cast by the neon lights and night background.  I was also pleased that at the time I took my photo, Gone With The Wind was playing.  An all time classic for a classic theater.

My next painting is going to be the largest painting I've ever done.  A 24x36 inch painting on watercolor - masonite panel.  The subject is a Country Store - Gas Station located on highway one south of Carmel, near Point Lobos.  I should have something to look at in about a week - so please check back.  In the mean time...here's Stanford Theater, Palo Alto.   Thanks, Mark

Somthing New and Different

I've been wanting to paint a local (Palo Alto) scene, maybe a landmark.   So, I thought how about our Stanford Theater in downtown Palo Alto.  For those not familiar with this theater it opened in 1925.  In 1987 the David and Lucile Packard Foundation purchased the theater and restored it to its original splendor.  It plays classic movies year round, and at reduced prices both for tickets and popcorn!  Thank you Packard Foundation.  I've been taking my daughter Megan on dates to see movies here for about 20 years - and yes, we still do that...Casablanca for the 2nd time a couple of weeks ago.

 When I decided to paint the Theater, I also decided to try a night photograph and thus a night painting.  This has been fun!  Neon lights, night shadows, etc.  Very cool material...hope you will agree...

Check back in a week, I should be done.  Thanks for checking in, Mark