Mom asleep in hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.