I’ve painted outdoors and I’ve painted indoors… on location and in studios all over the world. People often ask me: Which do I prefer? Is one more authentic? Is the other easier? Over the years I’m thinking it is all up to the individual, what gets you stoked as a painter, what inspires your process.
MFA Studio: Oakland, CA
I suppose that when it comes to art studios, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked in some amazing spaces in the world. Some were corners in a room, others covered patios, basements, cantinas, spare rooms, garages and shared spaces with other artists. Some spaces I have lived and slept in, some had great surf and snowboarding right outside the door. Some studios have been the backdrop for tea parties, holiday parties, and art shows…others transformed into movie sets for numerous film projects. From the ancient olive mill in Tuscany to the the old Del Monte Cannery in San Francisco, all these spaces impart their energy into my work and inspire in their own unique ways.
In this, my 30th year as a professional artist, I’m looking back at those places with many fond recollections. The hundreds if not thousands (!) of paintings I have created over those years!
Click on any of the images below to view the slideshow.. and please check back to read more blog posts about each location, what kind of inspiration it brought to me and how it affected my work.
The studio, that space with all the energy it brings to me is a silent collaborator in my creative process, looking back at these images there is no doubt in my mind about that. My special thanks to the best studio mates ever: John Charles Jopson, Sandra Jones Campbell, Ratso, Renzo, Murphy…and of course, the first of my many Muses, Bird.
-
- First oil painting, Anaheim California
-
- On Location: Stuttgart, Germany with cousin Michael
-
- Stokesbary Studios, South Laguna CA
-
- Stokesbary Studios, South Laguna CA
-
- South Laguna, illustration studio
-
- “Bird in My Studio”oil painting 24″x36”
-
- Bird as Muse
-
- The view from the studio, El Salvador
-
- “Breakfast in El Salvador” 16″x20″ oil painting. My career as a painter begins with this piece.
-
- Where I got my painting habits
-
- Studio: The World
-
- On Location: Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines
-
- Studio: The Cannery, China Basin
-
- San Francisco
-
- On Location: The Wild Coast, Transkei
-
- Creating “SuperTubes” for the Surfer’s Journal
-
- On Location: San Francisco
-
- MFA Studio: Oakland, CA
-
- On Location: Maldives
-
- On Location: The Italian Years…
-
- Absorbing inspiration
-
- Somewhere in Tuscany
-
- Studio: Terry Road, Laguna Beach
-
- Studio: Laguna Beach
-
- My first Tuscan Studio
-
- Il Borro, Tuscany
-
- Painting al aperto with the village priest looking over my shoulder
-
- Studio: Il Borro
-
- On Location: Il Borro
-
- oil painting on panel
-
- Studio: Il Borro
-
- On Location: Il Borro
-
- Studio: Loro Ciuffenna, Tuscany
-
- The Crow finds good company c:
-
- 16th century olive pressing room
-
- moving in…
-
- somehow I collected chairs..
-
- Dream Studio
-
- had no heat but good friends kept me warm c:
-
- Studio transforms to film set
-
- filming for the short “I Bevitori di Assenzio”
-
- The Green Hour
-
- behind the scenes
-
- the “Green Hour” continues
-
- Eddie and Ratso c:
-
- Eduardo Gautier in his study
-
- “Eduardo Gautier”
-
- during filming the temperature in the studio rises….
-
- Ratso is spent…
-
- Live action painting with actor Pasquale Esposito
-
- a collection of antique frames
-
- One of the many commissions completed
-
- and in front of a Fiat 500 in Loro Ciuffenna
-
- Photo shoot with actress Stefania Stefanin
-
- “Alma Bliss”
-
- Photo Shoot with actor Gaetano Guarino
-
- “The Orientalist”
-
- The first of many poppy landscapes
-
- On Location: Somewhere in Tuscany
-
- A 1920’s beach cottage
-
- Studio/Home: Mammoth Lakes, California
-
- Neighbors peeking into my studio window
-
- It was a bit chilly in winters…
-
- Have a space, will fill it…
-
- Ratso in his element
-
- only a little powder..
-
- Shovelling snow in front of my studio to let the light in
-
- Only slightly distracted from work…
-
- Studio: with Sandra Jones Campbell, Laguna Beach
-
- Studio: Piccolo Molino del Corvo
-
- Crow finds a home…
-
- View from my studio
-
- On Location: home
-
- Studio: Piccolo Molino
-
- On Location: Laguna Beach
-
- Studio: with Sandra Jones Campbell in Laguna Canyon StudioPhoto: Robb Havassy
-
- with Mickey Munoz
-
- Festival of Arts Facade, Laguna Beach
-
- With Renzo, Laguna Canyon
-
- Studio: Mammoth Lakes
-
- With Renzo and my first Wave Painting
-
- On Location: Turquoise Coast
-
- On Location: Turkey
-
- The first of my Water Paintings
-
- Show with Sandra Jones Campbell, Laguna Canyon
-
- Water painting for Lahaina Galleries
-
- With Renzo, Wanda, Azul and Salvatore Ferragamo
-
- Setting up London Studio
-
- Cricket Pitch commission, London
-
- Graham Fine Art
-
- On Location: Graham Fine Art
-
- Studio: London
-
- Studio: Oxford
-
- Oxford studio garden & Murphy
-
- Studio view with Murphy
-
- Studio: Laguna Canyon
-
- Studio: Laguna Canyon
-
- Studio: Piccolo Molino
-
- Finishing commission Laguna Canyon
-
- Studio: Piccolo Molino
-
- Finishing commission for Graham Fine Art in Molino
-
- Late evening painting, Molino
When in Nice, the Marché Aux Fleurs at the Cours Saleya is a must see. A daily market that is one of the most spectacular in the South of France.
An overwhelming visual feast for the senses… the sights and fragrances of the many purveyor’s exquisite goods… the best of local Provencal produce and spring flowers which are at their peak of this year’s season.
This year’s poppy hunt takes us back to some familiar countrysides of the Luberon, with a stop in Aix en Provence along the way.
Our efforts were rewarded with some spectacular fields and ideal conditions.
