Art-A-Fair Drawings 3

Sketchbook drawings

ballpoint pen, Sharpie markers bullet and fine point, Copic value markers, 2015

sketchbook 6" x 8" (15.24cm x 20.32cm)

Final week end for Art-A-Fair! The show closes this Sunday at 6:00pm. Still time to make it down there this weekend and enjoy the art and culture! Goooo... now!

These I was really just letting my imagination have at it.
Initially I was focusing more on laying down strong simple compositional shapes and not so much any actual subject in mind other than the possibility of using them for my Industrial Garden series over on my Avid Art 2 blog.
The only exception to that is the bottom one where, although still from my imagination and still focusing more on laying down strong simple compositional shapes, I was thinking of real world. I have done so many industrial paintings/drawings over the years that I wanted to test myself and see what I could come up with without drawing an actual site as I usually do.
I find we know more than we think if we trust our memory.

I have done a lot of experimenting with these drawings in technique, approach, looseness vs. tighter, etc.
All good exercises meant to keep the creative juices flowing.322,323,324,325,326

Art-A-Fair Drawings 2

Sketchbook drawings

ballpoint pen, Sharpie markers bullet and fine point,
Copic marker, 2015

sketchbook 6" x 8" (15.24cm x 20.32cm)

More booth drawings from Art-A-Fair. The second down from the top I started using Copic markers. That one a warm gray 5. Other sketches where I used additional Copic value markers will soon follow in more posts. 318,319,320,321

Art-A-Fair Huntington Beach 1

"Huntington Beach 1"    SOLD
oil on panel, 2015
5" x 7" (12.7cm x 17.78cm)

Here is a painting currently in my booth at Art-A-Fair and another from my Urban Seascape series. Late afternoon in Huntington Beach, which is south of the previous two Seal Beach from the series. If you look closely it shares the same background of the LA/Long Beach Harbor as the others, the reason I refer to them as urban seascapes.

This was one of those extremely windy days when the sand and ocean mist fills the air and the heavy surf is a continuous unrelenting roar as the waves pound the shore one after another, too much for swimming. It is those conditions that make for a great opportunity to paint the coastal atmosphere which really is the intended subject.
The figures provide the interest in what would otherwise be a simple and too-horizontal composition without them. It's the figures which link the horizontal bands together , a design device I learned from studying the work of Winslow Homer, one of the supreme seascape artists.

As a footnote I will say this is not the best photo and is not showing the warm/cool subtleties or saturation of color. The nearest figure is wearing a cad red coat which is not showing up well and should read with a bit more saturation and the upper left corner should be a cool pure white.317

Art-A-Fair Drawings

Sketchbook drawings
ballpoint pen, marker, 2015
sketchbook 6" x 8" (15.24cm x 20.32cm)

While sitting in my booth at Art-A-Fair I am drawing in a small sketchbook to pass the time. Most are from my imagination or memory.
These are various combinations of ballpoint pen and a bullet and fine point Sharpie.
Initially I was drawing/painting with my iPad but the battery in it has neared the end of its re-charge life cycle and will hardly take a charge anymore.
Traditional media doe not require batteries.312,313,314,315,316

Art-A-Fair 18th St. Nocturne

"18th St. Nocturne"    SOLD

oil on panel, 2015

5" x 7" (12.7cm x 17.78cm)

Here is another painting down at Art-A-Fair. I love the nocturne and that stillness of night.

We paint what we see. The view from my balcony, which I have painted several times. This one from early in the evening, lights still on in many of the homes. I love the linear quality of the lit power lines which break up the sky, make the composition more dynamic and gives the painting some energy.311

Art-A-Fair SPIDER!

Yep, a tarantula visited one of the artists booths, a nice big scary one! The spider, not the booth. Gives new meaning to buyer beware, lol!
I won't mention his name (Bill!) because he is afraid of spiders and came (running) to me to "Get it!"
Which I did and a beauty he or she was. I released in back into the wild of course... ♪♪born free, as free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows♪♪... well, you know.
Can't blame the spider I mean after all it was Free Entry night at Art-A-Fair and why not take it as a compliment considering all the other booths he/she could have visited. Must have been his shiny art that was so attractive.

Just one of several critters I have seen around Art-A-Fair, the others being rabbits and raccoons coming out of the hills, all furry I might add! So much fun here! Excitement galore!
We had the fire a few weeks back, the heavy rains two weekends ago... all very eventful.

What next I wonder? Stay tuned!