The Rest Stop

I couldn't resist showing you this one too...a bit more of the driftwood rest stop structure on the Blind Beachwalk. Well...with those old sunglasses I'm wearing and I guess beany could conceivably be mistaken for a very small seeing-eye dog...Naaaah! Just a taste of salty, windblown, sand-flecked, ironic visual humor. I do need an operation to eliminate an impairment in my right eye, but I'm far from being blind. Mahalo ke Akua! Aloha, Timo

Blind Beach Rest Stop

Greetings from Blind Beach! A good friend took this photo of Beany & I at a driftwood rest stop on a very windy day recently. Very invigorating, I must say! I picked up about 40 lbs of beach gravel for a future project I want to do too, so I got some additional excersize on the way back from the 3 mile walk on the beach. Beany loves it out there. As do I! We definitely need to go out to the ocean more often. Aloha, Timo

Another Finished Portrait

I finally started painting again after about 2 weeks of just not feeling like doing anything. I finished the portrait of Charlene & Bear last night. I'm happy with the outcome. Now it just has to dry.

"Sunrise Soliliquy"

This large oil on canvas studio painting of a wave breaking on North Jenner Beach titled: "Sunrise Soliliquy" is 36" x 60". Done in 2003, it is also part of the group hanging currently in the tasting room at Woodenhead Winery on River Road between Fulton and Forestville here in Beautiful Sonoma County, California.

The Studio

My current painting studio is the livingroom of this old summer cottage in the hills of Hacienda on the Russian River. Built in the 20s, it is an interesting space with an absolutely beautiful fireplace. I'm scheduled through happenstance to move from here by the end of May, so I'm recording some images from it now. It's been a fairly pleasant and productive experience here. I feel very fortunate in this current economic climate to have as nice a place to be in as this at all. I simply cannot afford it any longer. I'm not afraid of these larger unplanned changes any more, so it's ok. I'll do just fine wherever I am. "Yesterday is History; Tomorrow is a Mystery; Today's a gift! That's why we call it"The Present" Mahalo Akua! Aloha, Timo

"Sonoma Coast Rocks"

Also in the show is this oil on masonite painting called "Sonoma Coast Rocks" 36' x 24" which was done originally in 2003. However, being my own worst critic I wasn't completely happy with all of this studio piece, so 4 years after I signed it, in 2007 I went back and did the subtle changes that made it finally say what I wanted it to say. It all works for me now. Mahalo Akua!

"Serenity"

The autumn colors along the Russian River near Korbel were the subject and inspiration for this oil painting on linen titled "Serenity". It is another of the paintings being displayed at Woodenhead winery. The size is 42" x 30". It was done in 2004.

"Down the Shore"

My brother used to keep a small trailer on the edge of the cliff at the Timber Cove boat landing here in Sonoma county California. If you walked to the edge and looked down, this is the view you got. I did this painting from a snapshot I took in 1984. I'm surprized I still have it. I like it alot. It's another of the pieces in the current show at Woodenhead winery tasting room. It's an oil on canvas, 30" x 40"done in 1997. Enjoying life today! Aloha, Timo

"Joy"

This painting called "Joy"is another one that is in the show hung currently at Woodenhead winery. It was a studio composition bringing together various elements of our local environment out in Jenner where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean. The main subject being the Tower of Jewels Echium flower being visited by a ruby throated hummingbird and a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. However the situation is enhanced by it's placement in front of the mouth of the river, which serves as both a rookery for the harbor seals and an excellent place for well formed waves, which are frequently enjoyed by the local surfers. This painting is an oil on canvas measuring 50"Vertical x 22"Horizontal done in 2004. Mahalo & Aloha, Timo

"Eucalyptus Cowspell"

Another painting in the new show at Woodenhead is this 36" square oil on canvas studio painting of a hereford cow and her mixed breed offspring standing in the dappled sunlight under some big Eucalyptus trees on the old Willig ranch above the town of Jenner at the mouth of the Russian River. My friend Jonnie took the picture, but I drove her to the spot where they were so I did have a hand in getting the image. The only things I edited out when I painted it were their ear tags. I gave them their freedom in this portrait anyway. By the way, I enabled the comment aspect of this blog somewhat so if you've tried and been unable to do so in the past, try the comment link again now. Mahalo for stopping by. Aloha, Timo

"Pomo Canyon Whiteface"

I've been treating myself for a cold for the last 3 days at home. It has been a creative endeavor involving vitamin C, raw garlic, Vick's Vaporub, zinc lozenges, water, apirin and lots of rest. I am feeling a bit more alive today, but still have some symptoms in my chest. I'm glad I have enough firewood to stay warm through this ordeal. I haven't accomplished much in the way of painting. I did however hang most of a show of my work in the tasting room of a local winery called "Woodenhead" on River Road between Forestville and Fulton here in beautiful Sonoma County. There are 14 paintings there as I write this and still space for me to hang a few more. I'll get over there hopefully today sometime to finish hanging the show. This 18" x 24" oil on canvas painting of a friend's Hereford bull with a view of the entrance to Pomo Canyon is one of the pieces represented there, but the show is a blend of subject matter including vineyards and seascapes. Check it out if you're in the area. Mahalo, Timo

Plein Air Gem

I did this small plein air painting on a friend's old olive ranch in the hills above Napa a few years ago as a warm up for a large portrait of her house. The old model A truck was just too good to pass up. I ended up donating the painting to the Napa Valley Land Trust for a fundraiser. They only got $450. for it. I wish now I'd given them something else. I thought it was a great little painting considering I did it in 3 hours. Just looking at it again so I can let it go. Mahalo for joining me today. Aloha, Timo

Bob

Here's Bob as the watchful guard kitty.

The Love of Bob

I've had my cat(?) Bob since he was a tiny kitten. I got he and his brother Bill when I was living in a little house on Old Redwood Highway between Santa Rosa and Windsor in 1997. Billy got run over by the delivery guy for the Press Democrat early one morning about 8 years later in 2005 when I was living on the hill in Jenner. I grieved for months it seemed at the time and I still miss him very much. However Bobby Manx is the cat in my life for the rest of his. He's a real Manx, with 24 toes, long back legs and a short tail. He was a great hunter when I lived in Jenner. Often bringing me his trophies to see before eating them. He knocked a hummingbird down one day and I was unable to save it even though I got it from him right away. It died in my hand. What a sad moment that was. I haven't been witness to him catching anything here in Forestville. There are a lot of cats running around so maybe there's just too much competition. At any rate he now eats the same dry dogfood from the same bowl as my Sh'tzu/Yorky Beanie. But, he also has a thing for canned salmon. He'll eat the pink, but really prefers the red which is twice the price of course. Oh well... He is pretty special. So I don't mind. Besides he gives me SOOOO much love! Aloha ke Akua! The Love of God! Mahalo nui loa! Aloha, Timo

Charleen's Portrait

Getting back to Charlene's portrait a little while has brought it a bit closer at the end of the latest session. I've been busy with other things the last few days. I went to my friend Gary's and cut firewood again Friday. Then I helped a good friend clean out her garage after the meeting yesterday morning. Today I did a meeting then came home and cut up all the logs I brought home Friday. Cooked myself some lunch and then went back to Guerneville and did my radio show. I might get some painting in before I go to bed tonight, but...I'm hungry again. So... Aloha for now, Timo

Very Unique Signs

Not much to say about these. I hope they're done, but Kevin (the Trailer Guy)hasn't seen them yet. I don't know where he's disappeared to...I haven't talked to him in a few days. I hope he's well.