El Matador

It's been too long since I've been out landscape painting and after a month of trying to coordinate with friends, I succeeded in luring my friend Nick Schumaker (http://nicholasschumaker.blogspot.com) out to El Matador. I have to admit that the weather only seemed ideal. Bright and beautiful, but windy and sandy. You can see the grains of sand that got into the paint when you click on it. I had to empty sand out of my wallet later too. I ended up having to work really quickly as my paint was drying on my brush and my palette kept drying out as well. To top it off, there must have been a record number of model shoots and selfi shoots that day passing through with camera crews and onlookers. There was even a guy with a metal detector. It's not just in the movies folks. But as you can see, the magic lives on. I'm pretty happy with this painting and after having been to El Matador so many times, what were the odds of finding a new and unique place to paint? Here's a recap of some of the El Matador paintings I've done over the years:

Vasquez Rocks 11_11_12

 First time to Vasquez in over a year.

Channel Island Harbor in October

10/14/12 

10/07/12

Still goin' to Oxnard. It's a great way to escape the summer heat of October. Yes, the summer heat of October.

Sept 30, 2012 Channel Island Harbor, Oxnard

Been awhile since I did a boat painting.

Landscape Paintings, August and September 2012

Lake Balboa, Van Nuys

Lake Balboa, Van Nuys

Balboa Park, near the golf course

Balboa Park, Van Nuys

VA Memorial, Santa Monica.

Still finding the sketchbook paper a little trick...

Aug 12, 2012 VA Memorial, Santa Monica.

Breaking in a new sketchbook! I love the bleeding effects of the new paper and the new texture really brings out some of the brush strokes, but it stays wet so much longer. Gonna have to watch that.

08_05_12 Upper Franklin Reservoir

May 27, 2012 Sepulveda Dam

May 6, 2012

The most beautiful day I've ever had at El Matador. Perfect, perfect weather.

May 20, 2012 Vasquez Rocks

A trip to Vasquez Rocks makes it official - California is now in summer season. I can still feel the sun on my back.

April 29, 2012 Sepulveda Dam

Sepulveda Dam. Again.

Apr 22, 2012 Sepulveda Dam

This past Sunday at Lake Balboa Reservoir.

Apr 15, 2012 Paradise Cove

I felt a little creaky on Sunday, but I still managed to pull this out. A good warm up for next week.

040112_Azusa Waterfalls.

Been a month since the last outing.

02_27_12 Morris Reservoir

Feb 19, 2012 Malibu Creek Park.

02_12_12 Stunt Road

Jan 29, 2012 El Matador: The Return

El Matador is a place of mystery and wonder. Why is every painting there good? Inquiring minds want to know.

Dec 29, 2011 Morgan Hill.

My last painting of 2011.

Dec 18, 2011 Swtizer Falls.

We didn't make it to the falls, but the vista was amazing and the lighting was crazy. So crazy, that it changed every couple minutes. These paintings are pretty small. I was hoping that I could keep up with the light, but a combination of sunset and settling fog just made it impossible.