January 1, 2009: New Year, New Light and Video

I always think it a good idea to start day one of a new year with something that represents the plan for the whole year. This year my plan is for more light, more art and more videos! Watch a short video of my painting on the left appear like magic in this film shot from start to finish while completing Point Reyes Light. Best wishes for the New Year, Seamus

Art Break, Art Workshops

Suzhou Canal, 32x16, Oil on canvas


32" x 16", Oil on canvas on board

I’ve been thinking a lot today that it would be a good moment for a little art.
You may recall that I painted a smaller version of this setting in Suzhou, China some time ago as part of the daily painting series. This time its larger and one in a series I’m currently working on entitled Passages. I hope you experience enjoyment from this work!
I also wanted to let you know that I have three weekend painting workshops coming up in October:

October 10 - 12, Portrait in Taos

October 24 - 26, Fundamentals in Berkeley

October 31 - November 2, Portrait in Berkeley

Just follow any of the links for more information or pass this along to a friend! Thanks!

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Full Moon II

36" x 36", Oil on canvas

Always something special about a full moon. I wanted to celebrate the new year with a new painting and a new format and decided to do so with this first painting in a series of medium scale works.

It has been a while since my last posting. The last quarter was a busy one for me with portrait commissions, workshops in Taos and Berkeley and art events. I have a lot planned for the new year.

As you probably noticed, I've moved away from the daily paintings as I want to explore new ideas in varying sizes, like this Full Moon II painting, which is based on one of the smaller daily paintings. I will continue to post more work and notes about it in future emails.

For the new year, I've updated the web site to make it easier to let you know about upcoming events and workshops as well as available paintings and prints as well as new videos. I welcome your comments on the new site.

Wishing you the best in the new year.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Shadowy Bridge, Guatemala

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

A few wires, a couple of boards, a lot of air and the long shadow of the

legs.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Hollow Tree, Guatemala

10" x 8", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

My daughter Emily brought me to this hot spring surrounded by hollow trees in Guatemala where she is working for the Peace Corps.

I’m happy to know that we can be of benefit to other people by what we do - like Emily’s work in the Peace Corps. I wish for more of this. Read more about Emily.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Aquatic Park

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

From an early morning visit to a park close to the studio in Berkeley.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Taos Porch

7.5" x 10", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A scene near my studio in Taos. I’ve decided to vary the size of the paintings a bit (along with the price) just to keep the blog new. This one is 7.5” by 10” and framed in a shadow box .

I’m giving two workshops over the next two weeks: Basics of Portraiture and Fundamentals of Painting.

A Berkeley Daily: Tree, Sunset, Guatemala

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

What is it about the earth turning away from the sun that is so fascinating?

I will be busy giving two workshops over the next two weeks: Basics of Portraiture and Fundamentals of Painting. Still may get in a painting or two!

A Berkeley Daily: Lamp Shade, Antigua

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

After painting this, everywhere I walked all I could see were the shadows.

A Berkeley Daily: Near Todos Santos, Guatemala

4.25" x 6.75", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

The countryside between Todos Santos and San Martin in Huehuetenango is quite spectacular.

A Berkeley Daily: Bamboo Redwood

6.25" x 3.25", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

It surprises me that bamboo grows right alongside redwood.

This weekend - June 9 and 10 - I'll be exhibiting new work at my studio, along with invited artists Sarah Berkeley, Heather Chou and Johanna Atkinson as part of East Bay Open Studios. If you are in the area, please come, see the art, meet the artists and tour the Sawtooth Building where another twenty-five artists will also be open.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Hills, San Geronimo

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

I love seeing - and painting - the designs in nature.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Across the Street, Guatemala

6.25" x 4.25", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

Geometric abstract? Just across the street looking out my front door in San Antonio Huista, Guatemala.

The first two weekends of June - 2, 3 and 9, 10 - I'll be exhibiting new work at my studio, along with invited artists Sarah Berkeley, Heather Chou and Johanna Atkinson as part of East Bay Open Studios. If you are in the area, please come, see the art, meet the artists and tour the Sawtooth Building where another twenty-five artists will also be open.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Three Jars, Midday, Guatemala

6.75" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

The same subject in earlier in the day: subtle and fascinating differences.

A Berkeley Daily: Banana Shadow, Guatemala

5" x 3.5", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

There is a lot to see in shadows.

I've been asked what happened to the daily painting blog over the last month or so. Well, I was on a trip to visit my daughter Emily, who is working there for the Peace Corps (read her blog). Whenever traveling, I always bring my paints and a read more...

A Berkeley Daily: Bougainvillaea, Guatemala

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

Bougainvillaea in San Antonio Huista, Guatemala.

From a recent trip to Guatemala.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Victoria’s Vase

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

A still life in a landscape setting.

A Berkeley Daily: Progress 05 - 'Point Reyes Lighthouse'

16.5" x 13.5", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

Step five. The last touches of a painting can read more...

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Progress 04

16.5" x 13.5", Oil on canvas on board

Step four. One fun aspect of using a painting knife is read more...

A Berkeley Daily: Progress 03

16.5" x 13.5", Oil on canvas on board

Step three. Read more about this painting....

A Berkeley Daily: Tree, Point Reyes, CA

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Beauty in twists.

This painting is the beginning of a new project. More later...

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Big Sky, Point Reyes, CA

4.75" x 6", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a trip to Abbott’s Lagoon in Point Reyes National Seashore.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Silhouettes, Hangzhou, China

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a visit to the tourist city of Hangzhou, China.

Read about this painting on the cover of The East Bay Monthly.

A Berkeley Daily: Cliffs, Laos

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Cliffs on the Mekong River in Laos.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Phonebooth, Edgeware, England

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Hard to miss these London phonebooths.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Tree, Nicasio, California

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

The sunlight falling on the curved trunk of this tree caught my eye.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

It was a little foggy during this particular visit to the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Mexican Marigold, Berkeley, California

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Little yellow marigolds in Kat’s delightful garden.

If you will be in the Berkeley this Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17, stop by Berkeley Open Studios from 11 to 6. On Sunday, hear Deborah Tayleur with An Drochaid play live Celtic music at my studio.

A Berkeley Daily: Sunrise, Waterville, Ireland

4" x 7", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

It occurs to me that quiet and simplicity are what make sunrises so fascinating.

If you will be in the Berkeley this Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17, stop by Berkeley Open Studios from 11 to 6. On Sunday, hear Deborah Tayleur with An Drochaid play live Celtic music.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Canal, Suzhou, China

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a trip to Suzhou, a canal city west of Shanghai.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Lighthouse, Point Reyes, California

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Just past the trees, the scene changed from misty to mysterious.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Light, Point Reyes, California

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

From a visit to Point Reyes on a misty day with poet (and cousin) Sara Tolchin.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Pear with a Twist, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Hmmm... a red pear with a slight twist. Thanks to Loreta Landucci, the painter who brought the objects to the studio.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Akami, Tochigi, Japan

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

One of the practices I appreciated in Japan was taking shoes off when entering homes or shrines.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Watchtower, Berlin, Germany

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

The grey winter skies in Berlin were accentuated by this stark reminder of a darker past.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Young Neighbor, Bikaner, India

6" x 4.75", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

Neighbors of our guesthouse in Bikaner invited us in for coffee and to meet the family. The openness of the people in India was a sharp contrast to the culture where I live.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Limes, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

Even limes have shadows!

A Berkeley Daily: Full Moon, Berkeley, California

5" x 4.5", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

It was a perfect full moon rising, just above the hills.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Rain, Studio, Berkeley

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire

I still enjoy painting portraits, like this one of Rain Stickney.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Monastery, Kyoto, Japan

6" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold
A quiet moment at a monastery in Kyoto.
If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Mekong River Pilot, Pakbeng, Laos

4" x 10", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

The navigator of a long boat on a trip down the Mekong River in northern Laos.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Persimmon, Studio, Berkeley

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I tasted a persimmon for the first time last night and decided to paint one this morning.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Sunrise, Sanchi, India

7" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I woke up early on my last day in Sanchi to see this sunrise.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.

A Berkeley Daily: Umbrellas, Hangzhou, China

5" x 6", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I was sitting with friend and poet Laurel Bastian watching the sun set over the lake, when this caught my attention.

You can read more about A Visit to the Art City of Hangzhou on my travel blog.

A Berkeley Daily: Bottle of Wine, Studio, Berkeley

11" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I often work in monochrome - it offers a way to convey the subject clearly while leaving space for the unspoken.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Three Oranges, Studio, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I like oranges more than radishes.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Cliffs, Ballinskelligs, Ireland

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

The setting overlooking the Waterville Bay from Ballinskelligs, Ireland.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Fairy Fingers, Cill Rialaig, Ireland

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Sold.
Painting under grey skies shows the color best. Foxglove, known locally as Fairy Fingers, were growing everywhere at Cill Rialaig.
If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Mañuko Benta, Bermeo, Spain

4" x 5", Oil on canvas on board, Inquire.

After a visit to the Guggenheim in Bilboa, I traveled to the northern coast of Spain - a stunningly beautiful setting - and stayed in the tranquil town of Bermeo. How odd to discover that the serenity had not always been this way: nearby was the town of Guernika, otherwise known as Guernica. Sometimes we do strange things to one another. I chose to paint.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, send me a note.

A Berkeley Daily: Three Peppers, Studio, Berkeley

5" x 4", Oil on canvas on board, Sold

I enjoy painting all kinds of subjects, including still life arrangements. This one was done in the studio in Berkeley, California.

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, click here.