Something New for the New Year

Over the Holiday break from my job, I've been working on something new: 

Finally Finished

Well, here it is finally finished (I think). I'm pretty happy with it, though there's always a few things I would do differently next time (if there weren't, I wouldn't be learning). Don't know what I'll do here next, I'm starting my new job next week and I don't know how much free time I'm going to have. I'm just enjoying my last few days of unfettered painting (though I'm looking forward to playing with a Cintiq at my new gig)

Back from another trip again.

I'm back from another vacation trip. We just spent four days in the Russian River resort area (What a coincidence, since that's what I'm currently painting). We had a fantastic time! Thanks to Margaret and Michael at the Fern Grove Cottages, (we always feel so welcome and have such a great time, when we stay there). I really got inspired and now I can't wait to jump right in and finish this piece. Here's the finished color sketch. I'm pretty happy with it, and I think the light filtering through the redwood trees is working much better now:

Work in progress

Here is today's work. I'm really struggling with trying to get the feeling of light dappled through trees. I know this is only a black and white value study and that it will be easier when I can use the contrast of warm and cool light to help it, but it's still not there yet. The construction of the car still has some issues as well, but I'll iron those out before I go to the final color. I do think it's pretty successful at capturing the mood and feeling of the vacations of my youth. It remains to be seen if my color rendering can do it justice:

Refreshed and ready to work.

Back after a short vacation. Nothing like escaping the dreary grey "summer" in the bay area. Several days spent breathing in high mountain air and swimming in clear blue lake water can really renew the spirit like nothing else.
  Filled with that inspiration, I came home and jumped right into a new piece (influenced no doubt by my getaway). This is the paint-ready sketch, it took me several hours today to get something that captured the feeling I was aiming for. This piece is an attempt to capture the essence of the Russian River resort area (in Sonoma California) as I recall it from my childhood. I find it particularly difficult to simplify objects as I attempt to design them in a consistent and aesthetically pleasing way. That simplification is so central to good illustration (and good design). I really struggle with it all the time. It makes me wish I had attended Art Center instead of my Alma Mater. Ah, well, here is the sketch. I'll be updating with images of this piece in progress over the next few days: