Chrysler Building, N.Y. City

If you've never seen Thomas Schaller's watercolor paintings I would recommend a visit to his web site at http//:thomasschaller.com He is fantastic at painting buildings and cityscapes. Every once in a while I attempt a cityscape, some times I nail it and some times I don't. 9"x12"

My Affection For Confection - acrylic

I painted this a couple of years ago and put away thinking I didn't like it that much and as I was going through my stash of stuff the other day just happened to pull it out. Much to my surprise I wondered why I didn't think it was any good before and now I like it. I took a photo of the painting and opened it in Irfanview and did some cropping and that was the solution I was looking for. I think maybe I get too close to my paintings and just get tired of working on them. The best solution I find is to put it away and look at it some other time, maybe next week or next month when I can see it with a fresh eye. acrylic on stretched canvas 12"x16"

Auburn Farm

This is watercolor I did last week before the weather changed and got more like winter. I drove up highway 49 just outside of Auburn, Ca. and parked just off the road for about an hour to get this view. From Roseville, I don't have to drive more than half an hour to get into farm country with the rolling hills and massive oaks so it makes for a nice painting trip.

Pacific Coast

After a few changes I'm calling this one finished. 36"x36" oil on stretched canvas

California Coast

This is the biggest painting I've attempted so far, 36"x36". My daughter gave me this canvas for my birthday last June and told me "Paint bigger Dad", so I've been staring at the canvas wondering what the hell I would paint on something that big. A little intimidating for sure. I was trying to decide between the Grand Canyon and a California coastal and this is what I ended up with. I love the ocean and beach so it was a natural for me to go with the coast scene. I'm not quite finished yet so didn't sign it.

Boats Along The Sacramento River

Most people who don't live in California aren't aware that Sacramento has waterways that stretch all the way to the San Francisco Bay. These are a couple of boats moored just north of the marina. 8"x10" oil on canvas

Another Rooster - watercolor

What can I say but, another rooster. available at my ETSY shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/168712261/crowing-rooster-original-watercolor

Buddy - watercolor commission

A memorial portrait of a pup who passed away a few months ago for a couple in Texas. I'm very happy with this one.

Boat House - oil painting

I found this little spot on the Sacramento River and thought it would make an interesting painting. The trees are changing and the fall colors are showing nicely. I doubt I'll be able to come down to this spot once it starts raining and the river rises but there are several little sand beaches along the river now.

A Dad And His Dog - watercolor commission

A guy got ahold of me through my Etsy shop and asked if I would do a painting of his dad and his dog. This is the rendition from a photo he sent me. Commissions welcome just go to my shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/BillsArtShop

Folsom Oaks watercolor -- Most people think of Folsom as the prison Johnny Cash sang about but its also a huge man made lake behind Folsom Dam that feeds into the Sacramento area's water supply. The dam (lake) is fed by the American River. Around Folsom Lake on one side is the famous prison but the lake is surrounded by the Folsom State Park and Recreation area. I don't know how many hundreds of acres the park is but it's huge with many heritage oaks and abundant wildlife. A great place to paint too.

Union Pacific Crossing

A little plein aire watercolor of a place in Newcastle, Ca. where Callison Rd crosses the U.P. tracks. I was hoping a train would come by but no luck. Available - contact me if interested.

No Picinic Baskets For Yogi And Boo Boo

Due to the government shut down our President Obama has ordered the shut down of our national parks and causing Yogi and Boo Boo Bear to go hungry. Maybe they'll eat Ranger Smith instead.

What? You talkin' ta' me?

I like chickens (and roosters), they poke around the yard looking for bugs and worms or whatever they think they can eat. The rooster is the king of the yard and will challenge anything that comes in his direction, especially another rooster. They are fun to watch for sure. acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper.11"x7""

Sleeping Violet - watercolor sketch

This is (about) a twenty minute sketch of my boy's dog asleep on the couch while we were visiting.

Toys - still life in oil

I liked the colors of the toys our grand kids have strewn about the house when we baby sit so, I decided they would make an interesting painting before I cleaned up. 8"x10" oil

Griffith Quarry - watercolor

I spent a couple hours exploring the Griffith Quarry in Penryn, Ca. and was able to paint this little watercolor of the area behind the actual quarry. The Quarry itself is very overgrown and hard to get a good view. I'll go back again and try to paint the actual quarry site if I can see it well enough.

Postcard From My Back Yard

I'm a fan of the blog Postcards From Detroit and borrowed Stephen Magsigs title for this post of my small (5"x7") oil painting I did in the back yard. These are some Elephant Ears Near the corner of the house I thought were interesting. What do you think?

Amsterdam (again)

I painted this from my files of Europe vacation photos. It's one of the streets in Amsterdam and a government building (I think) but not sure. Anyway, it was a real challenge but I like a challenge. - watercolor 10"x15"

Rough Rider - biker watercolor

When we lived in the foothills of the Sierra's near the little town of North San Juan, bikers were a part of the scenery. They would stop at the local bar for a beer before riding up to Downieville and were always interesting to watch speed down Highway 49.

I Know, It's Only Rock And Roll, But I Like It...

----- watercolor

Union Pacific #604

I really enjoy painting outside, in artsy talk it's called en plein air. I can get a better feel of the subjects size, colors and shadows when I'm there looking with my own eyes rather than rely on a photo. I did finish this in my studio so I could put in the details like the lettering. The Roseville rail yard is just a few miles from my house and the view is changing constantly with the coming and going of the trains. I think it's very interesting, I guess because I've liked trains since I was a kid. This is 8"x10" oil on canvas panel.

Self portrait in watercolor

I painted this from a black and white photo so I wouldn't be influenced by the colors of the photo.

Tomatoes and Peppers

A watercolor of some of our tomatoes and peppers grown in the backyard. Yum! Nothing better than home grown tomatoes.

Nubbin's Drive In

This is a little burger joint in Roseville that's been in business since the 60's. (?) Not sure when it started but it's got that 1950's design which is why I decided to paint the place. I set up my easel and started painting about 9:00 and quit around 10:30 when the sun started beating on me. Hey, it's hard to paint outside (en plein air). The shadows are constantly moving and the colors change with the sun's movement so ya' gotta paint fast. I finished in my studio.

Morning On The Lake

I came home with several pics of Lake Tahoe and was amazed at the sunrise after it had rained the day before. I tried to capture the colors in the clouds and the reflection on the water. I also added some foliage in the foreground to give the picture more depth.

Rafting Down The Truckee

On my way back from Lake Tahoe last week I stopped along the Truckee River to capture the beauty of the mountains and river. I set up my easel along the side of the highway and proceeded to paint away for about an hour when a big gust of wind came up and blew my box of paints and brushes down the embankment. I was behind the easel so was able to catch it before it blew away too but had to climb down the hill and fetch all my stuff. After I climbed back up I decided to go home and finish in a more secure environment. That's the problem with Mother Nature, you just never know what she's going to throw at you but that's part of the fun.

James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano R.I.P.

One of my favorite actors, sorry to see him go at such a young age. acrylic on 140lb watercolor paper.

Ristorante Italiano - acrylic on paper

This is from a photo I took on our trip to Europe a couple years ago. I don't remember where this place was but we didn't visit Italy so your guess is as good as mine. I liked the façade and figured I could use the pic as inspiration.

Bronco - en plien air

This is my effort from David Lobenbergs' plien air class yesterday, my old Bronco. It's amazing how fast the sun moves and the shadows change. When we started the Bronco was in full shade and two and a half hours later it was in full sun. I split the difference and put it in half shade.

A Gift From The I.R.S.

A.G. Holder Answers Congress

Attorney General Holder answers question by the House Oversight Committee about Fast and Furious, New Black Panther Party intimidating voters, I.R.S. scandal, A.P. scandal and he doesn't know nothin' about nothin'. Makes me wonder where he works.

Justified - Timothy Olyphant Portrait

'Justified' is one of my favorite T.V. drama shows. There's just something about a bad-ass good guy chasing the bad guys and kicking butt. If you haven't watched the show, you might want to check it out.

Portrait Studies in May

Results of my work at David Lobenbergs watercolor portrait workshop. Much learned about color, hues and values. A great time was had by all.

Benghazi won't let go

I posted this cartoon last October but I knew that wasn't the end of it. I will never understand why Hillary and the whole Obama administration had to lie about the attack and death of our diplomats in Benghazi.

Noah - watercolor portrait

I've been inspired by my watercolor teacher David Lobenberg to try my hand at portrait painting. After struggling with three botched attempts I started analysing the colors and values of his portraits. Then I took a look at John Singer Sargents work and the colors and shadows of his work. I came to the conclusion I was trying too hard at realisim and turned towards more of a modern impressionist style. I tried to convey the feeling of the boy's sober attitude and it worked much better. Portraits are not easy but I'll keep trying. After all, I like the challenge of trying something new.

Little House in Davis

This is a little house in Davis, Ca. I painted en plien air last year during the Davis plien air competition. 8"X10" oil on canvs panel. If you'd like to own this nice little urban landscape to hang on your wall for $99.00 drop me a note.

Country Road - watercolor

This is the result of my work with David Lobenbergs workshop. David has given me a new way to experience the watercolors. He's a great teacher if you get the chance to paint with him. 11"x14" now available at my Etsy Shop BillsArtshop.etsy.com

Bath, England - watercolor

This a watercolor (11"x14") from a photo I took in Bath, England. A pretty fascinating town in the southern part of England where the Romans developed natural springs for the legions to get clean and relax after a hard day of raping and pillaging. The baths are still in use after two thousand years which has a lot to say about the Romans engineering and building techniques.

Wet Land Study II

What I saw..... What I painted....... The great thing about painting as opposed to photography is, with a painting you can be selective and leave out things you don't want in the scene, like a building or light post, or add something you think might be interesting or could add to the scene.

Wet Land Study

A block from where we live is a little stream and marshland that I walk by almost every morning and I finally took the time to do a little plien air painting of the area. This is the view from a small bluff of the winding stream with blue vetch in the foreground. The California Poppies and lots of wildflowers are blooming so I'll be back for more painting. I spent about an hour getting this on canvas and made a few color changes when I got home. This is an 8" X 10" Oil on canvas panel. If you'd like a print of this go to http://1-william-reed.fineartamerica.com/

Soul Sista'

I've enjoyed watching the American Idol since it first started and decided to paint a portrait of one of my favorite singers on the show, Candice Glover. She really puts her soul into her performances. Acrylic on stretched canvas 12" X 16"

36 Cevy Finished

Well, here's the finale. After fooling around with this for almost a week, I'm done. With all the chores, etc. I rarely get to finish a painting in one day, rather, I work on it let it alone and work on it again when I get a chance and finally finish after a few days or more. I really don't mind painting this way as it gives me a chance to stand back, sleep on it, fix what I don't like and finally get to a point where I think I've got a decent painting to show.

More Painting in Progress

Contiuing on with the Chevy. I've still got a ways to go until I'm happy.

Painting in Progress

I thought I'd share the progress on my latest painting of a 1936 Chevy. The background I'm aiming for is a street scene of the 1930's with a Soda Shop as the main store. The soda and icecream shops in the 1930"s were the places where the kids met after school and hung out. I'll post the progress as I move along on the painting. This is a 16" X 20" stretched canvas and I'm using acrylics.

The Presidents Answer to the Sequester