This was a studio painting I did in January of 2019. I don’t often work from photos but I decided to try to paint this scene as a gift. Below you will see the block-in. It is very dark, which is my trademark-start! Super ugly! Once I had my shapes blocked in, I went right to the cars. I wasn’t sure I was up to the task and knew they would make or break the painting. I remembered advice a friend gave to me: if you paint a group of anything, all you really have to do is get a couple right and the mind fills in the rest; no need to render every bend in the metal- what fun is that? I had to decide what was the essential part of a car that says it’s a car- It’s the shape of the window agains the curve of the metal roof. It’s the dark underbelly, hubcaps and lights. I looked at the imperfect overlap due to road and driver imperfections. I worked into the night on this one- but the cars took just one try! Whew! When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t wait to see the painting- that’s how I knew this one had that “something”.

This one was juried into the Greater Bay Area Open at the New Museum of Los Gatos and also won Honorable Mention at the Santa Clara Triton Art Museum 2D Works annual statewide juried show (that was a mouthful!). Not sure when I’ll actually gift it. It’s currently in my kitchen where I feel like I have a view of SF just outside! Is it a re-gift if it’s been viewed a lot on other walls?