Winter Rain

Well the winter rains have arrived putting out the last of the fires here in southern California for now. This painting is of palm trees, bright blue sky and the first hint of smoke from a wild fire that will soon darken the other wise seemingly perfect day

I'll be safe and warm on a Winter's day. 12"x12" oil on board -SOLD

Happy Thanksgiving

6"x6" painting oil on canvas of the California wild fire of last month. - SOLD

Hollywood Hills

Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs appearing nude- well if they can do it so can I, it's my blog right?

This photo was taken last March I had just moved to LA, I was asked to pose for naked photographs, some of the images of me ended up on greeting cards why you ask did i do it? - my ego at age 45 suffice to say was more then happy to say yes.

Joan Didion

To the Editor:
It was evening of the third day of fires whipped by the infamous Santa Ana winds. It felt like sunset on another planet as I saw a truck drive slowly by with a driver staring up at the palm tree in our front yard.
Later, there was a knock on the door. I answered. It was the truck driver. He offered to buy the palm tree in our front yard.
There was an eerie silence as I stood there in the orange smoky haze, ashes falling like snow on Mercury, and blinked two or maybe three times.
By motivation, this had absolutely nothing to do with the fire — it just seemed like something that would happen in Southern California.
As I quietly closed the door, I thought about Joan Didion; she would understand this.

Tom Impelluso
San Diego, Oct. 24, 2007
New York Times

If it seems my blog is becoming a blog about palm trees - that may be the case but it is not my intention. The intersection of the fire, palm trees and Joan Didion in this letter was just too good to not post here.

Los Angeles

http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/greater-los-angeles.html

try this article written about Los Angeles so true and we still love it

Wild Fires

View of my loft with the sun filtered thru the smoke on October 23, 2007

Devil Wind

Well it's been hot and smoky around Los Angeles this week, the sun filtered by smoke the region engulfed in flames and yet here in the middle for the city life has gone on as normal I guess whatever that is. It was everywhere in the news, the air and conversations ............ so I painted this scene which i think so captures the ying and yang of life here in Southern California.

Devil Wind 12"x12" oil on board

Fault line

Not the best photo of this painting, did it yesterday, paint is still wet - the board it's on was, well a little broken and smashed up I guess I got mad at something. Pretty sure it was not the board- so I glued it back together and painted over all the Fault lines and broken corners.

Fault line 12"x12" oil on broken/board

The week that was ............

Well this weeks Palm tree sketch needed a name. I did not have to try very hard

"Hollywood Values "



12"x12" "Hollywood Values"

HOLLYWOOD VALUES

US President George W. Bush ripped into "Hollywood values" on Monday, in a surprise attack at the entertainment industry that overwhelmingly backs his Democratic foes.Bush's rhetorical broadside came as he paid tribute to the new chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, noting that his parents were well regarded behind-the-scenes players in the US movie industry.

I'm in different parts of Hollywood almost everyday in fact I took this picture on Monday, the same day George Bush attacked our "values". If you drive up Beachwood Canyon drive and stay to the left - most don't know how- you come across great views of the sign, which back in the day as a real estate promotion actually said HOLLYWOODLAND.

I know alot of people who live and work in Hollywood they are very nice friendly people who work hard, love their families, their country, their pets and their city. Say what you will about them but I have yet to see any of them start illegal needless WARS at the corner of Hollywood and Vine .

Palm Trees

12"x12" oil on board - A quick painting /sketch of three Palms, nothing says Los Angeles like palm trees,

the tall ones you see along the streets are Washington 'robusta'. They are striking, noble and often even sad and lonely, they catch the sun and wind , frame the sky and at night when illuminated are dramatic just like the city it self.

Three Martini Lunch/ SOLD

Small painting 9/2007

I'm posting a photo of this painting because i like it quite a bit, its a quick sketch/study really maybe took one hour 12"x12" oil on board it needs a very large gold frame around it (i think) don't get alot of feed a back about it - maybe here i will not sure why, i think it is fun to look at. It is a painting of something, but im not sure knowing what adds anything to enjoying it.

September 2007

I was away for a month went to Seattle and Bellingham to see my parents who are not doing well i took my camera and thought i would take alot of photographs but i only took this one from the deck of my parents house its sums up my trip much better then words can.

WET PAINT

I've been working on this painting for over a year actually started it last year but killed it - this is a big painting of a very little moment most people almost never see or watch and that with out we might not even be here - honey bees are dying out in massive numbers - what does that mean- for us, for plants, for food crops, for the future? Some day this painting will have a name but its along way from done just a few layers down now added the first of many backgound layers and a glaze on the flowers today

Cliff wanted to see abetter pic of this so here it is let me know what you think, again it's six feet by six feet oil on canvas and board.

the view out my window

http://centralcitye.blogspot.com/2007/08/fire-station-number-9-getsreality-tv.html click on this link - this fire station is right across the street form me if you talk to me on the phone usually you can hear the sirens - the red painting (Eng. company 209) maybe you can see the connection they leave the station on a call what seems like every ten min. or so. It is the busiest fre station in the United States. - ah yes tell me about it !!!!

Studio View

Two in progress 7/25/07

The TEN 6'x6' oil on canvas and board

Engine Comapny 209 6' x6' oil on canvas and board

the Virgin of Guadalupe 6'x6' oil on canvas and board

Coffee and Dougnuts

6'x6' oil on canvas and board/ detail above

Back in LA

August 1st,2007 just got back from a a trip up the coast of California to San Francisco, some
highlights - Highway one, Hearst castle and the new deYoung muesum here are a few pics now back in LA getting back to painting have been away from brushes 10 days - too long!!!!

Will August 2007

Blog post number one here, I'm an artist living and working in downtown Los Angeles, i just moved to LA last year to change everything and start painting - prior to moving here i was a Landscape designer in Seattle where i went to collage and lived for 25 years - enjoying the sun here the people and exploring California.