Following the Plan

My plan is paint San Francisco landmarks and views. To implement this plan I decided to invite a fellow painter and commit to plein air painting in San Francisco every Tuesday, no matter what.

Yesterday the weather report was for wind and scattered showers—definitely not optimal for plein air painting, but we went anyway.

The weather was sunny with scattered clouds and no wind, a perfect plein air painting day. Recent rains colored sections of distant hills and the foreground. With the sun on my back and the sound of waves breaking on the beach, I chose colors and applied brushstrokes with delight! 

After about 3 hours, my painting looked like this:

Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Baker Beach Overlook

I need to paint a few more details on the Golden Gate Bridge, and perhaps tone down the burgundy ice plant on the dunes of Baker Beach in San Francisco, California.

Just wondering what you think...

More paintings of San Francisco

Balancing Unlikely Things

A week ago Saturday, I spent most of my day balancing creative work with necessary chores. But, even that balancing act left me wanting something else—time outside in the fresh air. I went to Rockaway Beach in Pacifica to enjoy the sunset.

To my surprise many rocks were rearranged, balancing precariously upon larger boulders.


No superglue or magic potions held these rocks in place, just the patience and fine adjustments of a man's hands.

I watched him concentrate as he gently moved the rocks into position—sculpting a new foreground for the sunset.



People gathered around. Some copied with smaller rocks. A child stood on one foot, arms out, tipping back and forth until she found her balance. Birds perched on nearby rocks. A guitar, a shoe, keys and other sorts of items were piled on top of the balanced rocks. Some toppled.

Cell phones and cameras snapped photos. Conversations among former strangers marveled.



At day's end I know I must balance creativity, time in nature, and social time to sleep well with a smile on my face. See more of these photos.

Are you aware you are balancing multiple things moment by moment?
What comes to your mind now?
How's it working for you?
What happens when things topple over?

Seeing Through the Fog

I'm studying the Pacifica Pier from different angles to find interesting perspectives for new painted compositions. Just before sunset the fog softened the edges of the cement and wood pier in Pacifica. The far end disappeared into the fog and sea.

After darkness fell, the same image appeared more dramatic with cast shadows and an orange glow from the lamps.

I'm always fascinated by seeing how the same place appears different through the seasons, weather, and time of day. What places have you noticed dramatic differences?

From hiding in the fog to seeing through the fog...what does this transition mean to you?

Hiding in the Fog

Tuesdays I paint in San Francisco and I have 3 paintings in process that require a sunny day. As I motored over the hill and into the city the sun shone, but the bridge was shrouded in low clouds. All I could see was the tip top of two twin towers. Across the bay, Alcatraz Island appeared to be floating in air, with portions of buildings unconnected to the rocky shore below.

Daytime fog is like an eraser that removes portions of things as it moves. Watching closely, the fog blurred the bridge, then made it appear translucent until it completely disappeared. Although the bridge remained, its appearance continued changing.

If I think of my white canvas as fog, then my colored brushstrokes gradually reveal what is hidden from my view. My heart and mind add passion and personality until the painting is completed.

Photos of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz in the fog.

Later, I'll post the paintings, since I did not work on them today.

Has the fog erased something in your view or clouded your vision? Describe your experience!

Making Details Tell the Story

When I slow down and get up close and personal, the fog clears and I see more clearly. This happened today while walking with a friend. Our conversation stopped us and we faced one another and the words I heard made me uncomfortable. Be real and reveal a truth that's been hiding away.

So I asked myself, will my creative endeavors ever provide ongoing (instead of sporadic) income for my life as a fine artist? I do need to be inspired and expressive—and I've found that ongoing income provides me the peace of mind and motivation for enhanced creativity.

As the morning fog in Pacifica was clearing, I captured details of the calla lily. I noticed the tip of the leaves and the pointed edge of the flower were quite similar. The flowers were unrolling spirally as they opened. The leaves unrolled from one edge to the other. Both are weak, soft, and vulnerable until they are fully exposed and mature. All stages of development were visible on one plant.

And the story of the calla lily continues...

Budding Calla Lily

Notice the tip of the leaf and flower look similar!

What details caught your attention today? Did you slow down and take a closer look?

Being My Best

Being my best is honoring who I am while choosing to be open to learning something new.

Today I went to a Conservation Photography workshop at the California Academy of Sciences. Conservation Photography is creating images that tell a story for a specific purpose. The purpose can be anything from an environmental concern, to aspects in nature, a social issue, or capturing images that need to be recorded for scientific or historical reasons. This is accomplished  by collaborating with a writer, a nonprofit, for-profit corporation, an historian, or a scientist.

I also learned why I must stop using the auto-mode on my camera and use the manual settings. To honor my creativity I must select what to capture, how to create the most memorable image, and how to frame it to communicate my message to the targeted audience who partners with me to facilitate change or positive action.

My image of the day is a painting of the sky. It sums up my experience at Lands End near the Cliff House in San Francisco where I stepped into the drama in the sky. See more sunset paintings.

Sunset Flavors

Did you learn something new today? How did it help you in the moment or later in the day?

Making Time Daily to be Creative

Today started with a perfectly bright, clear morning. The Pacific Ocean shimmered, just a few shades darker than the blue sky above. No wind. An optimal day for painting outside, but I was already committed to helping my mom with her taxes. Resolved to work efficiently, it became a satisfying task because I completed all the paperwork, with daylight to spare.

With camera in hand, I scouted locations for my new series of paintings of the Pacifica Pier. North to Mussel Rock is where I found these views of Pacifica. I'm thinking this view is most inspiring and just enough of a challenge to paint. More images photographed today.

Pacifica, California

Then on my way home, I stopped by the pier where fishermen and people of all ages walked and talked  with their eyes on the purple sea and warm, colored clouds. The Chit Chat Cafe on the Pacifica Pier is where you can purchase postcards, magnets, and notecards of Janet's painted Pacifica seascapes.

Sunset at the Pacifica Pier

What creative act or endeavor did you do today?