Seascapes

Blustery Day, 10 x 10, Oil, 2023. Sold.

I painted this beach scene from North Carolina quickly, trying to capture the movement of the wind and surf. It's funny how painting can transport you to another place and time. I remember being really cold!

Beach near Montana, Oil, 18 x 24, 2022. Sold.

I've repainted this iconic scene several times, but think I will stop now! This is a beach near Montana just north of Half Moon Bay in Northern California. I loved the fog in the distance and the ice plant in bloom in the foreground. If you look closely you can see cars snaking around the cliffs on Highway 1.

Rough Surf, 11 x 14, Oil, 2020.

I've tried painting this rough surf several times over the years. The movement of the water is challenging, but I think I let it sit as it is now.

Peaceful Beach, 12x12, Oil, 2021. Sold.

I finally managed to get up North again and was inspired to try some new ocean scenes, and some new techniques. I have more time to paint now that I've retired.

Paper Diamonds, 8 X 12, Watercolor & Japanese Paper, 2015/2021. Sold (zrs)

This is another version of a Northern California scene that appeals to me. This one was created with watercolor and Japanese paper. It is free hanging with the paper edges showing.

Coast Guard Beach 1, 12 x 24, Oil, 2017. Gift.

I painted several views of Coast Guard Beach during a cold, misty summer day. I liked the tranquility and the muted colors. Occasionally the sun would peek through and create more intense colors.

Coast Guard Beach 3, Oil, 12 x 24, 2017. Gift.

The simplicity of this scene appealed to me with its clean lines and subtle colors.

Solitude, Oil, 15 x 30, 2016. NFS.

We visited our hometown beach during a recent California trip. It was quiet and tranquil, with just a few fishermen casting their lines to the sea. I loved the feel and sound of the waves.

End of Day, Oil, 20 x 16, 2016. NFS.

There is a daily tradition in Pacifica to go to the beach and watch the sun set into the ocean. Every sunset is unique—this particular one was a golden orb descending into relatively tranquil waters. I remember that even the surfers were transfixed by the intensity of this sunset. This is a revision of an earlier painting, with more subtle gradations of light.

Beach Friends, Oil, 12 x 14, 2014. Gift

I liked this perspective of the beach, with the group of friends meeting below and the wild flowers blooming on the bluffs above.

Rock Climber, Oil, 12 x 24, 2013, NFS

When Zach was small he would spend hours climbing the huge rocks at the ocean. He was completely focused as he tested his footing and found his balance. I enjoyed creating the surf as I remembered the sounds and salt spray.

Low Tide 3, Oil, 20 x 16, 2013, NFS

I am revisiting an earlier image that I rendered in watercolor, and later oil on paper. In this version, I’ve added Hannah in the middle ground and some figures further out on the bay. In this painting, I am working with glazes—slowly building subtle shifts of color.

Tidepools, Watercolor, 24 x 18, 2011. NFS.

When Zach was young, we really enjoyed exploring the coast of California. The tidepools at Point Lobos were a favorite. His little flap happy hat was bobbing as it caught the sea breeze.

Lobster Buoys, Oil, 11 x 14, 2011, Gift

Provincetown is perched on the tip of Cape Cod and seems to have more intense colors than the mainland. I often wonder if this is because light refracts differently further out to sea. I noticed the same phenomena in Key West. In Provincetown, the vibrant colors of the lobster buoys on the town pier caught my eye. I painted the buoys using thick paint directly from the tube, or with minimal mixing. The water and the sky were painted with glazes to give them a lighter quality.

Blue Inlet, Oil, 7 x 5, 2012. Gift.

There are so many hidden inlets on Cape Cod. I really like the diagonal shapes in this scene, with its restful sailboat in the background. I would like to revisit this image and create a larger oil painting.

Pedro Point, Japanese paper collage, 8 x 10, 2006, Gift.

Pedro Point was the southernmost beach in our small California town. I created this paper collage while remembering its beauty.

Pink Sand Beach, 16x16, Oil, 2023.

I found this beach scene on a website that provides royalty-free images for artists. I really liked the pink sand and the sunset colors, so I imagined I was there while I was painting. I have no idea where this is-- the Pacific Northwest?

Kelp Beds, 16 x 16, Oil, 2022. Gift.

I've always loved Point Lobos on the Central California Coast. While sorting old photos, I found this image from a decade ago. The kelp beds were thick and supported so much life, including sea otters. Sadly, I've read that the kelp beds have begun to disappear because of warming waters.

OBX Beach, 8 x 16, Oil, 2022. Sold (bp)

The Outer Banks has many beautiful and secluded beaches during the off season. I was trying to paint the interplay between the clouds and the waves as they were constantly changing.

Square Wave, 8x8, Oil, 2021.

I painted most of this small oil painting in one session, then came back to add some highlights. I'm trying to loosen up and paint more quickly and fluidly. I may paint this in a large format some day.

Blue Diamonds, 12x16, Oil, 2021.

I've painted this scene several times. It seems to sum up my fondness for Northern California.

Dark Cliff, 12x16, Oil, 2021. Gift.

I've been missing northern California since the pandemic, and thinking about the stark beauty of the coast with its intense rock formations, churning water, and singular peacefulness.

Coast Guard Beach 2, Oil, 12x16, 2017. Sold.

I liked the patterns the receding tide created and the gentle waves rolling in to shore.

Coast Guard Beach 4, Quietude, Oil, 12 x 16, 2017/2022. Sold (jk)

The receding tide left rivulets of water on the beach with colorful and playful shapes. The lone figure in the background was rested peacefully within the approaching fog.

Tranquil Beach, Cape Cod, Oil, 16 x 20, 2014. Lost.

I loved the perspective of this beach and sky. It was such a silent and tranquil scene. This was painted quickly with thick paint. I like its spontaneity and freshness.

Artist’s Shack, Provincetown, Oil, 8 x 16, 2013, Gift

The dunes near Provincetown are wild and beautiful. Artists are chosen by lottery to stay in the few rustic cottages that dot the landscape. I am applying thick paint—and scraping back to reveal the colors below.

Joyful Blue, Oil, 12 x 16, 2012, Donation

We visited the quartz sand beaches on the Florida panhandle. The skies and clouds were amazing. This is a study of the clouds. I added the two boys to emphasize the childlike feeling of joy when one surrounded by so much natural beauty.

Land’s End, Oil, 24 x 12, 2012, NFS

Land’s End is the point where the City of San Francisco turns toward Ocean Beach and points south. In the distance one can see the golden hills of Marin. Usually only a few fishermen and children dot the shore—it is often empty. In the lower floor of the iconic Cliff House is an old camera obscura that views this tranquil scene. Not much has changed since it was installed in 1946.

Tidelines, Watercolor, 9 x 12, 2011

I was experimenting with painting the surf and painted this image several times. I realized that I was caught up in the surf’s movement, so I added some dark lines—and stopped. It has an abstract feel—I may revisit this one day in oil.
Update: I painting over the top of this in 2022. It is now completely different. Titled Rough Surf, repainted in 2022.

Stormy Sea, Watercolor & Gouache, 10 x 12, 2005, Sold.

Stormy Sea is one of my oldest paintings. I painted it shortly after we moved to Virginia, as I was remembering the stormy surf of the northern California coastline near our Pacifica home.

TOP