The Cazsh Life

Mom asleep in hospital

2009-09-08T13:04:00.001-07:00

Mom asleep in hospital P4162243crop
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

It's a rare opportunity I have to paint a portrait of my mother. Recently she was in the hospital and I spent many hours musing on her strength and frailty. I was fortunate to feel free to do this watercolor because my mother is an artist and has always encouraged this passion of mine. I was not afraid to show her this portrait, which come might interpret as less than flattering. Still, I am sure it will always be one of my favorites of her.

Carmel Beach

2009-07-24T07:29:00.001-07:00

carmel beach
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Although this was only 30 minutes on the breezy Carmel beach, I know I will remember this day for years to come. That is one thing I love about a successful plein air painting, that it captures the feeling, light and burns it into my memory. I love the trees of Carmel and the way you can so quickly leave the cars and houses and shops behind.

Sketchcrawl in SF chinatown

2009-05-18T07:35:00.001-07:00

Dragon Gate to chinatown
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

The Dragon Gate to Chinatown, San Francisco. We sat at the Starbucks on on the corner. The Starbucks was convenient but I was sorry that it replaced a small, affordable family hotel. I don't usually spend so much time on one piece during sketchcrawl but I had recently sprained my ankle so I was glad to sit in one place for a while.

Tulips

2009-01-22T11:40:00.001-08:00

Tulips P1202191
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Spring is coming! I started this oil because of the incredible color and freshness of the tulips. I didn't expect to leave it feeling so much like a watercolor, but there was a certain freshness with the "stained" background. I consider this more of a study in this technique. As always, I think I might go back and do more to this someday. I probably think that about all the paintings I have that have not yet sold.

Tea Garden temples

2009-01-12T19:47:00.001-08:00

Tea Garden temples P1112151x
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Saturday was the first sketch crawl of the year, although it was actually Sketch Crawl #21. The San Francisco folks gathered in Golden Gate Park and met at the end of the day at the DeYoung Museum. I started at 11:30 and ended at 4pm. I did 5 drawings for the day and spent the most time on this one. I actually added some of the washes later when I got home.

This is a drawing I did in the Japanese Tea Garden. It was the only ink drawing that I added color. Learn more about sketch crawl at the Flickr sketch crawl Pool or www.sketchcrawl.com

Saturday morning Reading Market PA302121x

2008-11-29T09:25:00.001-08:00

saturday morning Reading Market PA302121x
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

One of my favorites places: Reading Market in Philadelphia. I could stay here all day, eating, shopping, drawing, and people-watching. This is an ink wash drawing in my journal.

Mural - day 5 unfinished Tuscan scene

2008-08-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

Saturday - day 5 unfinished P8092029
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

I have posted some progress shots of a mural I have been working on. It is not finished but you can see 5 day's worth of work. this is an outdoor mural painted on rough concrete (in Acrylic) . For the series of progress shots from Day 1, please click through to my Flickr account. I also have a mural set that includes this mural in California and one I did in Texas.

101 Construction in progress

2008-06-12T15:38:00.001-07:00

101 construction close up P4051907
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Perhaps not a "pretty scene" as many landscapes are, but definitely plein air. Interesting that someone who stopped by my easel offered to buy this on the spot

Toronto Trip - Sleeping at JFK

2008-05-22T06:33:00.001-07:00

Sleeping at JFK P5151966
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

It seems that whenever I take a trip I think I will have time to paint. Hoever the only "extra" time I ever get is in the airport. Still I am glad that I have so many "models" at the gates. I love the juxtapositions of people forced into close quarters. Everyone wants to ignore each other so no one seems to mind as I draw them.

My Church by the lake

2008-05-21T17:08:00.001-07:00

Church by the lake P5171950
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

whenever I think I don't have enough time to paint, I remind myself that I can at least do a little water color sketch within an hour. it may not be great art but it is practice and relaxing. this is just a small thing in my Fabriano journal

Flying Rodin

2008-04-25T06:58:00.001-07:00

Flying P4191926
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

I've been doing some plein air lately, but nothing finished. Perhaps I should post some more "in progress". However, last Saturday I took a trip to Stanford's Cantor Museum (FREE) and one of the most amazing collections of Rodin outside of Paris. the sculpture garden is unreal. It was quite windy the day I was there or I would have spent the whole day there.

jane tree blossoms

2008-02-18T18:29:00.001-08:00

jane tree blossom P2171941
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

the awesome tree is in full bloom right now. It is all pods and blossoms, but no leaves. This is a small oil plein air painting that attempts to capture the luminescent beauty of the amazing color and blossoms

The red bench

2008-02-15T07:39:00.001-08:00

The red bench
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Another plein air painting. Rarely do I radically alter what I "see" in front of me, but this time the bench just screamed out to be red (and not the dark green that it actually is). Also, I rarely include a trash can in a landscape. But, after all, it's a city scene.

This is acrylic on archival board. acrylic has its own challenges when working outdoors. It dries so fast - permanently. this can be handy, but watch out for your brushes!

Scene: Lake Merritt park, Oakland, California.

New Mexico panorama

2008-02-10T06:50:00.001-08:00

New Mexico view P2091895x
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

This is one of the largest plein air paintings I have ever done. of course I had my uncle driving me in his pickup so I didn't have to worry about lugging this 18x24 piece of hard board too far. I propped it up on the top of his tool box in the bed of the truck. It was a very cold day but the view and the sun was so spectacular that no one seemed to mind.

the scene is just outside Las Cruces in southern New Mexico.

This is painted with thin acrylic washes and only a few dabs of thick paint at the bottom. in the sunny air, the washes dried very fast and some even froze a little befor drying. it was a magical day that hooked me on plein air painting forever.

The miniskirt

2008-02-04T11:07:00.001-08:00

miniskirt P2021913
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

we had another figure drawing marathon yesterday. These marathon days are so much fun. I can't explain it. I only wish that I could have done it all day.

This ink wash drawing is from the last marathon in November. Most of the figure drawings are nude, although this one isn't. Costumes are fun sometimes. Later this week I'll be positing some from yesterday.

If you want more info about figure drawing groups, the history of it in the bay area, how to start your own, and more! check out Peter Steinhart's book - The Undressed Art: Why We Draw

http://www.amazon.com/Undressed-Art-Why-We-Draw/dp/1400041848

Grand Lake theater drawing

2008-01-28T21:31:00.001-08:00

Grand Lake theater P1201914
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Our beloved neighborhood theater opened in 1926 (as a silent movie theater before the days of "talkies"). It is still the cornerstone of the neighborhood and I love seeing it every day. This is a simple ink wash drawing / painting with white pastel highlights. I wanted to evoke a timeless feeling as I hope the theater will last at least another hundred years.

Morro rock and pickup

2008-01-24T21:13:00.001-08:00

Morro rock and pickup P1201916
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

Here's a drawing from the sketchcrawl in May 2007. I wasn't in San Francisco to meet with the group, but the great thing about sketchcrawls is that you can do it from anywhere. Artists can post their work to Flickr where we can all see pictures done the same day, from all over the world. Sometimes there is a theme, sometimes not. I was in Morro Bay for this sketchcrawl. I did this ink wash painting/drawing from the parking lot near the prominent Morro Rock. It is always frustrating to me how these picturesque "attractions" always have these ugly parking lots crowding them, but that's life, and in this case the contrast made a better piece I think.

Sketch Crawl 17- San Francisco

2008-01-21T11:25:00.001-08:00

Transamerica and Coppola buildings P1201904
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

We met at Portsmouth Park in Chinatown but by the end of the day I had worked my way to a sidewalk cafe bordering Little Italy with a view of the Transamerica and Coppola buildings. this was my last and most ambitious piece of the day -- the only one that I broke out the watercolors for. I love these two buildings, both with their distinctive wedge shapes. They were perfect for the soft and hard treatment of pen and watercolor. it was a gorgeous and fun day. Dont miss the next sketchcrawl! you can do it from where ever you are - http://www.sketchcrawl.com

Asparagus bunch

2008-01-16T20:09:00.001-08:00

asparagus
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

This is one of a series of 4 oil paintings I did which were inspired by the beautiful summer produce in California. I wanted to keep these simple and focus the color and brush strokes on the inner glow and richness that seemed to come from within the asparagus.

Chorneau: IN THE WEEDS

2008-01-10T07:23:00.001-08:00

IN THE WEEDS oilandwaxonpaper 40x30 2003
Originally uploaded by rchorneau.

I found another great artist on Flickr. there are so many that are so inspiring and it is so great to find and connect with them via the internet. Check out Raymond's work. It's magical. He lives in NC. I love his textures and colors. His figures are primal and dreamlike. Click the picture to go to his flickr images.

Comma cafe in the afternoon

2008-01-08T16:26:00.001-08:00

comma cafe
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

I always sketch when I travel but I don't always keep my journals in order so it is often hard for me to "recreate" a trip chronologically.

I also don't always get a comfortable spot like at this Coffee Shop in Carson City, NV. I love trying to capture the people and the action in a scene like this, while not making it too confusing. I usually start with the subject that I think will move first or is most interesting. In this case I started with the man and his dog at the counter.

Christmas Night

2008-01-05T21:27:00.001-08:00

tommy watching TV ver4
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

That quiet time when all families turn from tree to TV and you wish you had given Dad the wireless headphones to watch the football game. I love Flickr. It's amazing how you can get instant feedback from some of the best artists in the world. Not only do they appreciate your work but they help you improve it. First I did an ink sketch and then shaded it with photoshop. I posted several versions and got some great feedback about my technique. Thanks R8r! check out my Flickr site to see the various versions of this drawing. Next I will do a color version. Happy New Year everyone!

sleigh

2007-12-23T16:22:00.001-08:00

sleigh 41050
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

I am in Canada for Christmas and the lights are wonderful at night especially in the snow. several parks have very complex light displays so I thought I would have fun with some night exposures. Who knew I would catch Santa in the process! Ho Ho Ho everyone!

on her side

2007-12-15T07:10:00.001-08:00

Our weekly figure drawing group has dissolved. It's a victim to rising rents in the area. The artist who hosted it had to move and now I am in search of a new group that is easy to get to by public transit. Life and its changes, like the wash on the paper you never know what it is going to do. You adapt and hope that it turns out to be something beautiful and good.

Embarcadero fog

2007-12-12T07:39:00.001-08:00

Embarcadero fog 120507_1445a.jpg
Originally uploaded by rudisillart.

This was a spellbinding scene as the fog rolled in on Market street at the Ferry Building. I took this with my cell phone and hope that one day it will become a large painting. sometimes the magic happens and we have to be there to experience it and then try to share it. the challenge: how to keep the feel of being captured in the motion of the fog and moving light. yet, it is the Muni bus wires that are the real star here and capture my eye.