Clark Park & Coyote Hills
The Wind
26" x 28"
$400.00
26" x 28"
$400.00
I call this painting The Wind, because of the
dramatic clouds, seen as swirls of white paint
above the hills. The warm reds of the rocks contrast the green of the vegetation and the
cool blues of the shaded slopes. This somewhat abstract view of Coyote Hills was based on my earlier drawings and paintings of this view.
dramatic clouds, seen as swirls of white paint
above the hills. The warm reds of the rocks contrast the green of the vegetation and the
cool blues of the shaded slopes. This somewhat abstract view of Coyote Hills was based on my earlier drawings and paintings of this view.
The Castle #3 (The Castle in Hot Colors)
oil/canvas
30" x 40"
$600.00
oil/canvas
30" x 40"
$600.00
Several of my paintings of Coyote Hills (including the two seen here) use the same composition, abstracted from an actual view of a mountain pass. The “castle” is my name for the portion of the Coyote Hills where the hill appears to be cut through to create a rocky summit. The notch created here divides the scene in two: the right side overlapping the left side and revealing another hill behind the first. The challenge in painting this scene is how to balance the two sides using simplified shapes and strong warm colors. Many of the earlier attempts were more naturalistic. Heightening and intensifying the colors and simplifying the shapes helped me to organize and unify the painting.
Smile of Coyote Hills
oil/canvas
30" x 40"
$600.00
oil/canvas
30" x 40"
$600.00
This painting has the same basic configuration found in other paintings of the “castle”; at one point in its development it seemed to show a smiling face. Hence the title: Smile ofCoyote HilIs. These hills are located on the north side of Fullerton. They rise up a couple hundred feet and overlook the city. A fence closes off much of the unused land which at this point seems destined for housing developments and perhaps a nature reserve. For two decades I have lived nearby and can walk to an entrance in a few minutes, which explains my many landscapes of Coyote Hills.
Coyote Hills #2
oil/panel
11" x 14"
$200.00
oil/panel
11" x 14"
$200.00
Afternoon light on Coyote Hills viewed from the
West brings a new richness in form and color to
the steep cliffs and to the trees at their base.
You can almost feel the force of the glacier that
cut through the stone millennia ago and left behind this magnificent set of hills.
I am particularly pleased with the rhythm created by the yellow-green trees which recede from lower right to upper left. This rising action of the trees is circumscribed by a path or roadway which ends at the horizon. The upper third of the painting, including rocks and sky, became a key area of interest. Painting the face of a great cliff which has split into two parts, while maintaining a unified horizon, was a major challenge.
West brings a new richness in form and color to
the steep cliffs and to the trees at their base.
You can almost feel the force of the glacier that
cut through the stone millennia ago and left behind this magnificent set of hills.
I am particularly pleased with the rhythm created by the yellow-green trees which recede from lower right to upper left. This rising action of the trees is circumscribed by a path or roadway which ends at the horizon. The upper third of the painting, including rocks and sky, became a key area of interest. Painting the face of a great cliff which has split into two parts, while maintaining a unified horizon, was a major challenge.
The Castle #2
oil/canvas
16" x 18"
$400.00
oil/canvas
16" x 18"
$400.00
This painting of Coyote Hills is one of the oldest
in the series. Seen in the early morning from a high and more distant and viewpoint the landscape appeared to divide into warm foreground and cool background. The “ Castle”looks lower here at the right hand edge of a long diagonal ridge which casts a shadow on the cliff side below.
in the series. Seen in the early morning from a high and more distant and viewpoint the landscape appeared to divide into warm foreground and cool background. The “ Castle”looks lower here at the right hand edge of a long diagonal ridge which casts a shadow on the cliff side below.
Coyote Hills, Up the Road From Rosecrans
oil/canvas
14" x 14"
$400.00
oil/canvas
14" x 14"
$400.00
Drawings for this scene were made from the
closed-off entrance to a construction site near off Rosecrans near the fire station. The painting foregrounds the deep shadow of the late afternoon sun as it climbs a grassy hill at whose summit lies another “ castle”- like formation of sandstone. I was intrigued by
this rich opposition of light and shadow as well as the powerful contrast of near and far which met my eye as I looked up the hill along Rosecrans.
closed-off entrance to a construction site near off Rosecrans near the fire station. The painting foregrounds the deep shadow of the late afternoon sun as it climbs a grassy hill at whose summit lies another “ castle”- like formation of sandstone. I was intrigued by
this rich opposition of light and shadow as well as the powerful contrast of near and far which met my eye as I looked up the hill along Rosecrans.
Coyote Hills Canyon Stormy Sky
2019
oil/canvas
30" x 26"
$400.00
2019
oil/canvas
30" x 26"
$400.00
A return to the visual idea of the “castle”, where a large stone form reaches to the sky and a partly shaded mass lies opposite. Twisted areas of warm color in the foreground stand for trees and echo the swirling movement of the clouds above.
Coyote Hills Landscape #3
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
These Coyote Hills landscapes, while seen at different times of the day, have the same goal: to capture the ruggedness of the terrain by emulating the play of light and shadow as it crosses the landscape. A shared palette of warm reddish tones and cool gray-greens reflects the dryness of these Southern California hills.
Untitled Coyote Hills - Fullerton Hills
oil/canvas
26" x 30"
$400.00
oil/canvas
26" x 30"
$400.00
Although this painting still represents Coyote Hills, it was the last canvas painted in this series and the most literal. The view across a somewhat open field to a settlement with houses and a barn. A large group of trees marks the middle ground, while in the distance rises a profile of the hills. The sloping range of clouds was painted as a contrast to the serenity of the rest of the scene.
Coyote Hills Landscape #2
2016
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
2016
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
A distant view of Coyote Hills. The warm
tones of the limestone hills dominate the lower
two thirds of the painting. The whole scene is structured on a restful framework of zig-zagging diagonal lines. From the left horizon across to the “castle” on the right, to the shadowy ravine at the middle left , across the bottom third of the scene to a bush on the right side, and finally up the foreground slope to a large tree at the bottom left corner. All of this without sacrificing the naturalism of the place.
tones of the limestone hills dominate the lower
two thirds of the painting. The whole scene is structured on a restful framework of zig-zagging diagonal lines. From the left horizon across to the “castle” on the right, to the shadowy ravine at the middle left , across the bottom third of the scene to a bush on the right side, and finally up the foreground slope to a large tree at the bottom left corner. All of this without sacrificing the naturalism of the place.
Coyote Hills Landscape #1
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
Early in my searches of the landscape North of Fullerton I came upon this view. It is my favorite view of Coyote Hills, and what I later came to call the “ castle” because of the craggy peak in the upper right corner of the painting. Among my paintings there are at least a dozen versions of this motif. In this one and several others I liked the feeling of deep space and extreme verticality that comes from contrasting the foreground trees with the implied depth of the ravine below them. And in turn moving from that depth to the height of the peaks above.
The Buddha
oil/canvas
12" x 16"
$400.00
oil/canvas
12" x 16"
$400.00
This Buddha was the first Buddha I painted.
Its location: Black Star Canyon. It was started in the late afternoon and stopped because of darkness. Finished the next day. The color and shape of the central mass feels about right, but in the supporting hills I pushed the contrast between the reddish rock and the green foliage. I still like the majesty of the central peak (the Buddha).
Framed in a thick black frame.
Its location: Black Star Canyon. It was started in the late afternoon and stopped because of darkness. Finished the next day. The color and shape of the central mass feels about right, but in the supporting hills I pushed the contrast between the reddish rock and the green foliage. I still like the majesty of the central peak (the Buddha).
Framed in a thick black frame.
Harsh Clarity, Clark Park
oil/canvas
8" x 10"
$400.00
oil/canvas
8" x 10"
$400.00
The trail entering Clark Park from Rosecrans drops off suddenly on the east side of the park.
I simplified the scene to increase the feeling of
a disappearing path. The foreground elements - rocks, trees, the trail itself - are compressed in space to allow the background - distant hillside and late afternoon mottled sky- to open
up the space and suggest an abrupt drop off at the end of the trail. Framed in a thick black frame with a hint of gold.
I simplified the scene to increase the feeling of
a disappearing path. The foreground elements - rocks, trees, the trail itself - are compressed in space to allow the background - distant hillside and late afternoon mottled sky- to open
up the space and suggest an abrupt drop off at the end of the trail. Framed in a thick black frame with a hint of gold.
Bridge in Clark Park
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
Clark Park is a short walk from my house in Fullerton. It is usually filled with people. This day it was deserted and I was able to set up an easel and record the scene en plein air. The focus of the painting is a bridge seen from a steep height and the light reflecting off the water beneath it.
Clark Park, Afternoon
oil/canvas
14" x 14"
$400.00
oil/canvas
14" x 14"
$400.00
The trail which surrounds Clark Park climbs to
a summit on the North side of the park. This painting records the landscape visible from the summit in late afternoon. I was able to capture the shadows on the hillside including the fading light on the trail below.
a summit on the North side of the park. This painting records the landscape visible from the summit in late afternoon. I was able to capture the shadows on the hillside including the fading light on the trail below.
Coyote Hills #1
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
oil/canvas
16" x 20"
$400.00
This is one of my most carefully designed landscapes- and one of my most true to life
paintings as well. It was the outcome of extensive sketches and careful drawings of portions of the landscape. Its effectiveness is due to the controlled reduction in size of natural objects like trees as they recede towards the horizon.
paintings as well. It was the outcome of extensive sketches and careful drawings of portions of the landscape. Its effectiveness is due to the controlled reduction in size of natural objects like trees as they recede towards the horizon.
Partly Cloudy #3
oil/canvas
26 x 30
$400.00
oil/canvas
26 x 30
$400.00
Deep Vista # 4. Coyote Hills. The warm reds of the rocks contrasts to the greens and violets of the vegetation and the shadowed slopes. The "castle" effect allows endless variations on this theme. All of these depended initially on either drawings or photographs or both.
Hazy Path Clark Park
2017
oil/canvas
15" x 19"
$400.00
2017
oil/canvas
15" x 19"
$400.00
The strong contrast between the dark evergreen tree in the foreground and the
much lighter grove of Eucalyptuses at the horizon reflects the haziness of this day. The curved trail is typical of the more formal trails seen in this park. Framed in a thick black frame.
much lighter grove of Eucalyptuses at the horizon reflects the haziness of this day. The curved trail is typical of the more formal trails seen in this park. Framed in a thick black frame.
Parking Station Nine
oil on panel
15" x 17"
$400.00
oil on panel
15" x 17"
$400.00
This painting records one of the parking stations that visitors may use as they drive around the circumference of Clark Park. The tree limbs with their sparse leaves and the ground cover of reddish orange reflect the season when this was painted. Framed in a beautiful gold colored frame.