Beverly's Art Class

Our weekly class is held on Fridays at Beverly's in Rocklin. We occupy a nice room in the rear of the store from 10 to 1. We normally have a full crew of students along with a wait list.

During a class one day, I began to sketch my view of the students. I wanted to show them how to just start drawing and whatever comes out--comes out.

This scene shows the students totally focused on their art. Ink and watercolor.

Stackers Now Rolling

After a December snowstorm, I was walking along the Union Pacific tracks near Applegate in the quietness of newly fallen snow. I was there to see the new stacker trains now able to travel this route now that all the tunnels have been retrofitted to handle loads of this height. Soon, a train came rolling by tugging its huge load. When these heavy loads pass you it is surprising how quiet they are. Image one shows the train coming from Reno with I-80 in the background. Image two shows the train as it passed heading west into early morning sun.

Because I am a train buff, I loved this experience. I was able to take many photos, got back home and put my ink to the paper. Ink and watercolor.

Movie Memory

About forty-some years ago, shortly after we were married we went to see the movie Lawrence of Arabia. Long movie, fantastic scenery, great music but totally boring. In fact, at intermission we thought the movie was over. We didn't care if half the movie remained to be seen--we left.

The cover art for albums and the movie is shown in this post--well, it's a Terry Banderas sketch of the good art. I always liked this artwork. To this day I love the theme music from that movie. I'll bet most of you in cyberspace have never heard of or have seen this movie.

Nowadays, even if I wanted to see this long movie again, I could not because now I could not stay awake to even see intermission. Ink and watercolor.

Piggy Banks

I discovered a piggy bank that my mom had hidden or lost in all of her stuff in her home. I brought it home and sketched it. One piggy bank looked too sparse so I added two other little pigs for more interest. While they are clumsy looking, they are colorful and were fun to sketch and paint. Ink and watercolor.

Benicia Port Terminal

I sketched this view of the Benicia port terminal in the Carquinez Strait which meanders in from the San Francisco Bay area. I was hoping to have a huge cargo ship docked but there was none--only one on the other side of the stretch of the strait.

Except for the noise of automobiles and trains traveling over the bridge on I-680 to the left of this image, this entire scene is very peaceful. I was positioned on a hill at an old military base. I was all by myself with no one to bother me. I loved it!. Ink and watercolor.

Lincoln Victorian

This very noticeable Victorian home in downtown Lincoln makes people do a double-take when they pass it. The purple paint job is quite striking. I discovered it one day while driving around looking for things to draw. I did the painting and it sold along with my Auburn Victorian (posted October 2009 on this site) at my last art exhibit.

Our friends Joe and Cindy Moore have both of the Victorians nicely framed and hanging in their home. Ink and watercolor. SOLD

Snow River

A quiet little river meanders through snow covered land surrounded by trees. The slow moving river lends itself to a very quiet mood somewhere in the wilderness. Ink and watercolor.

After The Storm

The rain is gone but the puddles remain on a farm landscape. This is a simple painting where I focused on puddles and hints of reflections. Ink and watercolor.

A Scene From Klondyke

This ink and wash image is a Terry Banderas redraw from a book published many years ago by my idol Earl Thollander. This little store and post office in Klondyke, Arizona, is typical of the type of structures found in the southwest USA. Colorful and simple, this scene shows the peacefulness of days gone by. Ink and watercolor.

Sheltered Waters

Let's warm things up a bit!!!! These two colored desert cliffs surround the pathway of a cool river spilling into the edges of a desert. The water is inviting as it nears its final destination after the long haul from the surrounding mountains.

Seems like once I get into the winter months I start thinking of warmer scenes. You may be the same way. Ink and watercolor.

Grand Canyon Shadows

When you surrender yourself to nature it is very fulfilling like when you see stunning views of the Grand Canyon.  I sketched the image from a photo while at the library and completed the drawing at home. The actual view in person gives you little doubt why we can so easily surrender to nature's beauties. Ink and watercolor.