Reworking More Paintings

Lately I have been going through my stack of previously done paintings and reworking them in the studio. I have been adding gouache, pastel and colored pencil as needed to enhance and add energy to paintings that I feel were still lacking. Here are a few examples.

The top sketch is of the Athenaeum at Caltech; the middle one is a view from under the Colorado Street Bridge; and the bottom one is a of a collection of cottages at Crystal Cove.

Backyard Sketches

Here are a couple of sketches I did yesterday afternoon while just hanging out in the backyard. You don't need an awesome subject to inspire you - anything will do, and the more you practice, the better you will get. 

Los Angeles Sketches

Here are two paintings I did a while back, but wasn't quite pleased with. As time goes by, I learn new things, and sometimes have a fresh vision for a painting that has stumped me. I added bold and bright color to the top painting. In the bottom sketch, I added pen and ink and a few more selective washes to  the sky and the darker tree areas. Coming back to an old painting is fun and quite satisfying.

Park in Temple City

Here are some images from a painting I am working on of the City Park in Temple City. 

Mood Sketches

These sketches were done from photo reference for the purpose of exploring different moods, lighting conditions and feelings. The original photographs were taken in the middle of the day, when the light is very ordinary. After blocking out the shapes and line work with pencil and pen, I experimented with different colors to suggest early morning sun and moon light. Working small, in a sketchbook, allows me to be bold with color and not be concerned with detail, or making a final perfect painting.