New studio gouache painting 🙂

Yesterday, I taught a workshop for the Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association. I was asked to come teach plein air oil painting to a small group of the members. I had a great time! Folks enjoyed my demo, and it sounded like everyone was really happy with my advice and guidance.

Despite my extreme lack of energy today, I managed to get a lot of this done tonight. What's left is the thick application of paint to really bring the highlights to life.

Sometimes I like mixing secondaries to get a "primary." It's the illusion of blue that I created by mixing my greens with dioxazine purple. This was a fan little start

I don't know if gouache is pushing me into a more detailed way of remembering, or if I was always drawn to this method and gouache is better suited to it than oil? Either way, I'm enjoying going down this path.

Who says gouache has to be flat and chunky?? Once you really learn the medium (and how to paint) you can get an amazing amount of subtlety from it. This was mainly done by texture and subtle layering, but it takes less time than you might think to get this effect.

My favorite part of this piece is the waves #thesearanch #oilpainting #landscapepainting

Ok I'm much happier with this one now

Much like springtime itself, the scene really didn't come alive until the flowers came to be.

The next step is to make the flowers not look pasted on

I like the clouds so far, but I'm not totally convinced they are as good as they could be. I think I'll work on the foreground more then reassess.

The foundation of that first layer allows me to build a more complex tapestry of color and texture over it. There is still another layer or two before it's finished, but each one builds upon the others to create the illusion of depth and detail.

The gorgeous yet terrible-for-the-environment sea figs of Sea Ranch. Beautiful Intruders.

"Gold Along The Path" 7x12 inches. Gouache on paper mounted to board.

In atmospheric subjects,I tend to work from back to front. I like to establish the amount of value/color contrast in the background as soon as I can. Helps me set a range to work inside of.

Been working on this one here and there over the past week or so. Gouache is great for just picking up, doing a few things to the painting, then stepping away for a while. It's pretty much always there when you want to paint. The ultimate convenience medium.

I thought I had a picture of the first layer, but alas. This is from Ring Mountain last year during a particularly good bloom up there. All the flowers will come in the next layer

I'm really looking forward to building this one up. I remember the day very clearly. It was know if those warm spring days where you could tell the flowers were just loving it

The block-in stage is a great time to try and experiment and build up a little texture as you go. Add as much energy as you like to the painting, and it will come through in subsequent stages.

I always think the block-in stage is one of the more interesting stages in the painting process

The newest painting out of the studio! "Looming Beyond The Ridges" 7x12 inches. Gouache on paper mounted to panel.A really nice format actually. Give it a try!

"Salted Wood" 6x8 inches, Gouache on watercolor paper mounted to board.

"Point Arena Lighthouse" 18x24 inches. Oil on linen. The lighthouse has always been a symbol of guidance, but here it also feels like a witness, quietly watching over 150 years of tides and storms.

"Strata And Churn" 8x12 inches. Oil on linen mounted to board.

"Eroding Strength" 8x12 inches. Oil on linen mounted to board. I love how the light carves the cliffs into sculpture. What feeling does this play of light and shadow stir in you? Does it feel more like a portrait of strength or of impermanence to you? I’d love to hear your take.

"Flight Above The Fault" 12x20 inches, Oil on linen board. There’s a rhythm to the waves here: crash, retreat, breathe, over and over again. The birds know where to go, as if they are on a mission that only they have been briefed on.

"Arena Tide" 8x10 inches, Oil on linen mounted to board. This painting evokes a memory of stepping around the tides in search of hidden treasures, those treasures being as simple as a jewel-like shell or rock. The feeling of discovery is surprisingly satisfying.

"Above The Gentle Waves" 24x18 inches, Oil on linen board

“Arena Cove Panorama” 9x24 inches. Oil on linen. In this painting, I wanted to capture that contrast of jagged rocky crumbling cliffs versus the calm waters of the cove. A conversation between strength and stillness.

Highlighting fantastic palaeoartists: 渔火 on xiaohongshu, a mixed-medium artist from China. Magical depictions of theropods. Pictures are panels from their Spinosaurus comic.

First off, thanks to those reposting my art and all my new followers! I added these paintings to my website and will be giving my newsletter subscribers the opportunity to collect these Wednesday. Join the waitlist here: eepurl.com/hDSY4L

Here are those requested close-ups. Add you can see, zoomed in you can tell how loose and nondescript the actual marks are.

The update. I mostly worked on the middle third of this painting. The illusion of intricate detail was super satisfying to create. I'll share some close up brushwork later to show you what I mean

The bottom half of this painting was some most fun I've had painting in a while

The top 3rd is basically finished. This painting illustrates why I think strong establishments are so important. It just makes the finish that much easier. Plus it's more fun

Building spiritual capital through art: sergiolopezfineart.substack.com/p/building-s...

Today's work on the waterfall. Still needs another pass, but I think the next picture I will share of it will be in its frame #yosemite #bridalveilfalls

Painting waterfalls is a lot of fun! #bridalveilfalls #yosemite

Getting close to done. Really didn't like how the gold looked on the frame so I did a rub of oil paint on it. Will probably do a second pass on the frame

Really excited to share this show with you all!

Sometimes the block ins take a while but that's ok. It's better to set up the painting for success in the early stages to make the finishing stages way easier

I don't think I've ever tried to paint a waterfall at this size and scale before, but I have the perfect frame for it

Sometimes the block-ins take hours, but they are worth it

My last one of the week. Will be showing this one and everything else I did at the plaza in Sonoma. Come see me and about 29 other artists there today!

Fun day of painting at the coast today! #sonomapleinair

My painting from Annadel today. My first piece of the week for Sonoma Plein Air. 9x12 gouache

A study of Lower Yosemite Falls in gouache. Not an easy one!