Energized and inspired by the coastal mountains, bluffs, and beaches that surround my studio in Half Moon Bay, I start an oil painting with a brief charcoal sketch. Often I follow this up with stronger sketch lines using a thinned wash of a color that calls out to me.

 I am painting on larger canvases now and really enjoy applying sweeping lines where necessary.  Each painting is unique and each stroke makes me feel good!  Photographs can be a welcome aid but eventually the painting itself will start to tell you what to do next.