Desert Bridge at 6 x 6

"BNSF 7318  Bridge"   SOLD
oil on panel, 2011
6" x 6" (15.24cm x 15.24cm)

The BNSF 7318 at the top of the El Cajon pass on a cold, foggy day on one of many small desert bridges that hop over culverts and access roads.

The square format was a challenge to keep the locomotive substantial due to it's horizontal shape without resorting to an end view. Placing it high in the composition atop the bridge helped achieve that. The painting is now about both the train and bridge; the train due to it's brightness against the subdued desert palette, the bridge due to it's central position within the composition.

The zig zag line of hill, concrete, and vegetation on the right feeding into the road and leading the eye back up to the bridge and locomotive.114

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6" Squared Show Video

A video has been posted on the Randy Higbee Gallery Blog of the recent 6" Squared Exhibition and Sale.
This wasn't even the busiest part of the night. At some points you could hardly get through the crowd.
I managed to make a couple of unknowing appearances.
A fun night night meeting other artists, collectors and talking art. I even bought another artists' work and was fortunate enough to be able to hear her thoughts behind the painting... something you don't always get... and oh what a story! When I saw the painting I knew it was mine... some things you just know.

Oil Plant at 6 x 6

"Oil Plant #7"
oil on panel, 2011
6" x 6" (15.24cm x 15.24cm)
For Sale at Daily Paintworks, CLICK HERE


From my Oil plant series, it was an oil pumping station. I'm told it collected oil from local wells then pumped it, via underground pipes, to various oil refineries around the South Bay. It looked like it was built in the 1930's, although that's an educated guess. I wish I knew more about it.

Th oil plants dead and lifeless state emphasized by the climbing vegetation. The pipes or valves also seem to be sprouting from the bottom, adding to their anthropomorphic manner along with the two lights atop the the wooden structure that appear to be looking down.113

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6" Squared Show Pics

Random show pic

Random show pic

Random show pic

Random show pic

Fellow artist Vicki, myself, gallery staff member Terry

Gallery photographer Jessica and I think....   Don King

Gallery staff member Terry and her son in front of my paintings

Here are some pics sent to me from the Saturday night 6" Squared Artists Reception. Thank you Erich.

It was an exciting and enjoyable night.

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6" Squared Show Packed

This reception at this past weekends' 6 x 6 show was quite packed.
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to many artists and collectors.
There was lots of great art hanging, including some of my favorite artists.

The show itself will hang through May 6th so it's not too late to get down there and see for yourself.

Waiting for some pics from the show taken by their photographers, when I get them I'll post them here so stay tuned...

BNSF at 6 x 6

"BNSF 6631 Rain"   SOLD
oil on panel, 2011
6" x 6" (15.24cm x 15.24cm)

My fourth painting juried into the 6" Squared Show at the Randy Higbee Gallery. The 3 others here and here and here. If you are in the area it's worth checking out. The show promises to have lots of great art on display and for sale.

The BNSF 6631 near the top of the El Cajon Pass headed to the high desert in Southern California pulling a short string of passenger cars instead of the usual freight cars and cargo containers. Seen here punching out of the mist and into a clearing.
With it's lighter than usual load this train was moving pretty fast and despite it's climb up the steep long grade it rolled around the corner and was gone in a flash, traveling with a sense of urgency.112

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Refinery at 6 x 6

"Refinery #1"   SOLD
oil on panel, 2011
6" x 6" (15.24cm x 15.24cm)

Here is the third painting in the 6" Squared exhibition and sale April 16th at the Randy Higbee Gallery in Costa Mesa California. Two other's here and here.

One of the many reasons I love industrial subjects is the palette of colors usually found. The blues, greens, grays, earthy and rusty browns, ochres, creams, whites and black. This struck me for the taupe of the refinery and the clean crisp white steam set against the stormy gray blue sky.

Refineries are very complicated to paint but fascinating to study. Although made from simple forms they are incredibly complex in their construction, a seemingly endless configuration of pipes, tanks, towers, catwalks, poles, lights... miles of steel, aluminum, asphalt and concrete. Formally arranged, hard edged and grid like contrasted by the softer organic forms of steam and clouds.111

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Vincent Thomas Bridge at 6 x 6

"Vincent Thomas Bridge #2"   SOLD
oil on panel, 2011
6" x 6" (15.24cm x 15.24cm)

Here is a second painting that will be in the 6" squared exhibition and sale at the Randy Higbee gallery April 16th. For more info see my previous post below.

From my Vincent Thomas Bridge series.

Here’s a view of the bridge from below the roadway looking west toward the towers, the far tower barely visible behind the scaffolding being erected on the near one. It takes about six months just to wrap a tower for painting, first in scaffolding from the ground up, then wrapped in a white tarp to contain the work. The maintenance of the bridge is a constant job, never finished. This series will show not only the grandeur of the bridge itself but also serve as a tribute to those who maintain and keep it beautiful.110

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6" Squared Show - Randy Higbee Gallery

Click here and here for previous posts on this show.

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Bird Sketches

each-pencil on paper, 2011
4.5" x 5" (11.43cm x 12.7cm) "Small Bird Dark Background", top.
For Sale at Daily Paintworks, CLICK HERE

5.5" x 4.5" (13.97cm x 11.43cm) two birds unframed


Here's a couple more quick little bird sketches.
Framing as always, is best done by professionals. I'm ok at it but these people do it everyday and have a far better eye for it.
The frame was selected by an interior designer and one of the staff  at Art and Frame Company in Costa Mesa California (Randy Higbee Gallery).108,109

Graphite frame and gray matte really compliment the simple drawing rather than overpower it.

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Last Kiss

"Sunkist Packing Plant (w/ Contrail)"
oil on panel, 2010
8" x 6" (20.32cm x 15.25cm)


A section of the Sunkist Packing Plant in Orange County California, recently shut down and I feared was slated for demolition. Fortunately it looks like it will survive, a local college has begun taking over the site.

It served the citrus industry since 1945, collecting fruit from local farms, processing and packing it for shipment onto trucks. Here, the west side of the plant along the Amtrak rails receives the last kiss of sunlight, the wind raking away at the contrail.107

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