Recent Inspirations - 30 Day Challenge

"Quiet Sunset - Laguna Beach"

Oil on Linen Canvas    6x8"

Available Here

On our trip to Southern California last month, us girls had a nice dinner on the cliffs of Laguna Beach at Las Brisas Restaurant. We enjoyed a lovely view, and then after dinner we walked down to the beach. I must have taken a 100 photos! It was the most beautiful evening. Very few people on the beach, and then a just married couple made their way down the steps along with a few friends and a photographer. 

Looking up the beach or down, the light was fantastic. We stayed out there for a long while, just enjoying the waves. 

Recent Inspirations - Ocean Colors - Painting 15

"The Magic Hour"

Oil on Linen Panel    8x8"

This piece is a total experiment/study. I wanted to play around with color. While in Pacific Grove last April for a month of painting, studying at the convention and teaching a workshop, I took plenty of photos. The evening light there is truly amazing. 

I've decided that I want to paint several studies so I can learn to capture what I remember from that area. This is the first one, and I tried not to get too picky with color and brushwork. I want to let things happen with the brush. I'm excited to paint more of these and explore different compositions while pushing color and lot's of paint!

It will have to wait until I get home from another quick trip to Sacramento this weekend. I'll see you when I get back.

Recent Inspirations - Day Ten

"Memories of Montmartre"

Oil on Cradled Panel  6x12"

I had fun with this little photo I took in Montmartre last Summer. Very good memories indeed!

"Truckee Love"

Oil on Linen Panel    9x12"

Available Here

I have lived in Truckee, California for almost a year now. I opened my Studio downtown last November and I am loving it. Life is different here. Slower. The people are incredibly friendly, caring, active. 
This view is right above where my studio is, at the top of the stairs. It is a beautiful view. I see it all the time and it changes everyday, as does the weather here. The light through our little town is beautiful, and I especially enjoy it in the late afternoon, when there is still a little snow on the mountain and it has a pinkish hue. 
This painting is from a photo taken a little earlier in the day, at the beginning of Summer. I'm hoping to paint this one again as the season changes this coming year.

Recent Inspirations - Day Seven

"Sunset View at the Keyhole"

Oil on Linen Panel   9x12"

Available Here

This is another beautiful spot that we painted en plain air last week. I can't believe i used to live near here in Southern California, back in my 20's. I appreciate it so much more today. It has so many beautiful places to set up and paint. 

This too, I had to paint a second time. Looking forward to planning another trip to this area...

New Inspirations - Day Six

"San Clemente Pier Palms"

Oil on Linen Panel

Available Here

Another photo from last week on my girl trip. I loved this scene and painted it once per "plain air", but wanted to paint it again. When I get out there and I'm looking at some beautiful scene that I don't often get to see, it is overwhelming. I need to study it, and take time to paint it again in order to understand what I'm looking at. So, attempt number two! I hope to paint it many more times. I really am enjoying this view with the palm trees lined up in a lyrical manner.. Really fun!

Recent Inspirations - Day 3

"Dana Point Harbor View"

Oil on Linen Panel   8x10"

Available Here

This past week I spent a week hanging out with good friends in Southern California. We got to paint, take photos, visit some beautiful sights and visit the San Diego Museum (Sorolla!), and the Festival of the Masters. It was an exceptional trip. 

I painted this piece from a photo I took of the Dana Point Harbor. This was my first attempt, but I plan to paint it many more times from different perspectives in order to learn from what I was looking at. It was really the best of times.....

Recent Inspirations - Day Two

"On the Road Again"

Oil on Linen Panel   8x10"

Available Here

Day two of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I chose to paint a photo from a recent road trip to South Dakota. I was attracted to the pastel colors of the landscape passing by. I like the simple moving stripes of colors as they speed past the window.
A different and new subject for me, I am enjoying the view from the car window. Below I've uploaded some of the photos from the process of painting. I washed in the underpainting using my clear washy medium mixed with the transparent paint colors.

"Recent Inspiration" - 30 paintings in 30 days

"Laguna Beach Sunset"

6x8" Oil on Linen Panel

Available Here

I'm struggling with focus. My life has been so full of fun and travel this Summer. Wonderful really. But I have lost my focus on painting. My love for painting is still in tact, but there is no flow. So I've decided to take on the challenge that Leslie Saeta has proposed again this month. Paint a painting a day for 30 days. We will see how is goes.
My quest-
I am looking to grow in the next thirty days. My goal is to use a thin transparent underpainting and then add large strokes of opaque impasto on top. Should be fun!

*These paintings will be available on the Daily Paintworks Website.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 14

"Times Three"
Oil on Linen Panel   8 x 6"

I painted this last night and decided to take the day off from painting today. I'm gonna spend some time with my daughter, sister and her family for our twin birthdays. 

I took this photo at the studio a few weeks ago. Didn't get the chance to paint it that day, but I really liked it and thought it would be a fun one. My friend Renee has these little bottles that hold three flowers. I liked the pink on pink with the contrast of greens.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 12

"Yellow"
Oil on Linen Panel   8 x 8"

Last year we while walking through the Chelsea district in NYC, we ended up waiting to cross this street and my eyes immediately grabbed onto this perfect setting of yellow's. I wanted to paint it today as a study for a larger piece. I learned a lot about what not to do the next time.

The woman is standing too low in the composition. The buildings in the back are too warm. I think I'll fade out a lot of the color other than the three points of interest on the woman, cab and traffic light.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 10

NBC NYC
Oil on Panel   6 x 6"

We see this on TV all the time so it was fun to walk around this area and then go up to the top for the areal view. One of my favorite places to visit, the streets of New York City. Are we having fun yet?

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 9

"NYC Window"
Oil on Linen Panel   8 x 6"

A photo from our trip last summer to New York City. I enjoyed taking photos of several of these window scenes. I always thought it would be fun to paint them. One of the things I love about New York is the beautiful display windows along the streets. The stores don't even have to be open because the lights stay on all night. You can see them from a distance and as I would walk up closer I could see how big they are...

This painting is available on the Daily Paintworks Website.
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/randy-blasquez/new-york-city-window/167123

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 8

"Pick Me"
Oil on Panel   6 x 6"

You know I love tea cups. Well, my friend Anne has asked me to paint her Mother's and Grandmother's cups for her kitchen. I brought her collection home and they have all been sitting on my kitchen table for days while the light comes and goes. I love the reflected light that comes through the windows at different times of the day. I just leave my camera handy so I could snap photos when I see something beautiful happening. Then I'll move the cups around, stack them in different ways, all the while I am looking for interesting shapes and values and beautiful colors.

This painting is available at the Daily Paintworks Website.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 7

"Light of the Bay"
Oil on Linen Panel   6 x 8"

Today's painting is from a photo of San Francisco in the evening. Again I love the lights that glow at this time of day/night with the blue hues contrasting with the warm light. One of my favorite cities, I'm feeling fortunate to live only a couple of hours away from there. I'm looking forward to painting with Ken Auster in the City next October for a three day workshop.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 5""

"Green Apple Set Up"  SOLD
Oil on Panel    6 x 6"

I set this up for my Oil Painting Class at Patris Studio in Sacramento last year. I loved the complementary colors and decided it would be a good exercise. The mirrored vase was my favorite part to paint.

This artwork is available for sale at the Daily Paintworks Website.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/randy-blasquez/green-apple-setup/165504

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 4

"Let's Cross Over"
Oil on Panel   6 x 6"

It's that time of day that I love to walk in the city, and what's better than The City of Light? It's not dark and it's not daylight, it's that in between light that I love. Dark enough to see the lights come on with a special kind of glow.

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 3

"Je prendrai un café crème"
Oil on Linen   12x9"

Today was a long day. Teaching until the late afternoon and then I always stop by to see the grand kids after class. Consequently I ended up painting late when I got home. I had started this piece a few weeks back and decided to finish it up. I took the photo in Paris one morning. I loved the Bistro for the beautiful lights on the ceilings as the reflections bounced into the mirrors all around the bar.

This painting is available through Daily Paintworks.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/randy-blasquez/cafe-creme/165215

Still Life/City Life - 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 2

"Late Summer Days"
Oil on Panel  6 x 6"

Today is a still life day. I love painting them. When I first started painting I was in love with the landscape. But after I started teaching I learned the value of the still life. I set them up in the classroom and we all learn to "observe". We have to continually teach our eyes how to see like an artist. It's like learning a new language.

Anyway, today I love the still life, usually florals. At the same time, I have been drawn to the city streets, so I will be painting both these 30 days. 

This painting is now availabble at the link below:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/randy-blasquez/late-summer-days/175027

Still Life/City Life - 30 paintings in 30 days - Day 1

"Flag City", Oil on Panel, 6x6"

I've decided to paint all City Life and Still Life paintings for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge this time around. I have been moving away from landscape for a while. It's funny how we (artists), tend to move around in our tendencies toward new inspirations. At least that's true for me. 

I was in NYC last year and took hundreds of photos. I especially enjoyed the evening walks and the lights of the city. This hotel was especially pretty, all dark except the beautiful warm glow of the lights above the lobby with the display of colorful flags. I knew I would have to paint it.
This painting is available on the Daily Paintworks Website.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/randy-blasquez/flag-city/164472