STORY BEHIND TURTLES SUNNING: A friend stopped by and said turtles were sunning on a log down by the lake get your camera. . . he and I got in my golf cart and went down to the second lake. . . parked about a quarter mile away and quietly (45 minutes for 500 feet so as not to freighten the turtles) and we were able to take pictures. The turtles are very sensitive to noise and repeatedly jumped off the log. BRUSHES: #12, W&N Series 7 round, 2" wash
Accepted in CWA Signature Member Show, SFO Academy of Fine Art; Vacaville Art League & Gallery, Annual Inspirations Non Juried Show
Awards - 2 - Accepted in CWA Blackhawk, Gallery Concord, WASH, Vacaville Gallery Annual Inspirations Show, Finalist in "The American Artists Magazine."
STORY BEHIND FOURTH FLOOR #1 AND #2: Taken from a black and white picture of an old victorian - did it because I wanted a challenge - 290 hours with a #3 round, #6 round. These two paintings were done all cross hatched, layer upon layer.
Awards - 4 - CWA 37th National Exibition, CWA Blackhawk Members Exhibit; Gallery Concord, Gallery 48, Folsom, CA., WASH Members Choice
STORY BEHIND ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB: Tiger & I had visited Vancouver and friends took us to dinner at the Yacht Club. On leaving saw that all masts were down (173) because a storm was approaching. Awesome sight. Took a picture then started working on it through two operations. 476 hours went into this painting. The trick was to make sure the painting was easy and done in a shorter period of time. Cross hatched because my hands were so bad it was hard to hold a brush. BRUSHES: #000 & #4, W&N Series 7
Awards 2 - CWA 36th National Exhibition, SFO Academy of Fine Art; CWA Blackhawk Gallery Accepted in WASH Open Show, Vacaville Art League & Gallery, Open
STORY BEHIND Airhead and Macho: This piece was commissioned with the express request that each dog's personality be protrayed. As they lived next door, I had a pretty good idea of their personalities. The miniature pincer sitting on the cushion was male and had a 'protect all' nasty attitude. The female was definitely an airhead. She was flighty, couldn't figure her way out of the house. Painting in its entirety was done in cross hatching. BRUSHES: #3 & #4, W&N Series 7
Awards None - Commissioned work never shown, now in Austrailia
STORY BEHIND this LOGO: One night I had a hard time sleeping and finally fell asleep. I had a dream. They say you always dream, but you couldn't prove it by me. I have remembered only three in my lifetime. The dream was the logo coming down out of the black (sounds weird) all light and softness into my head. I got out of bed and picked up my colored pencils and drew what I 'saw.' Can't draw the sense of peace that surrounded me while I was seeing it or while I was drawing it. That drawing is not for sale. What you see is what I saw and has become my Logo.
Indian Girl
This is a 45 minute painting/study and is not for Sale. 300# Fabriano Atristico. Millard Sheets was the instructor teaching visual retention. The exercise was to study the subject for two minutes, then turn your back and paint.
UNKNOWN STORY BEHIND "Turtles Sunning" would be altered to read:
Alan Silva came running up one morning in early April 2003 and said "Bondi, grab your camera the turtles are sunning in the second lake on the big log" ((he needed me because I have a golf cart (smile)) Knowing that the turtles are incredibly skittish, we parked at the "No golf Carts Allowed" sign and one step, stop, another step,stop quietly (for 45 minutes) got as close to the log as we could (log WAS at the other end of the dam). Well, Alan couldn't stand it and when we just about got to the point where we could use the zoom on our cameras, he romped ahead and made a noise which scattered the turtles and seriously aggravated me - one who cannot 'romp'.
As luck would have it Alan finally quieted down, stood still, and the turtles started returning to the log - as you can see from the painting, each of their little necks are stretched to the hilt to make sure they are alone. I have pictures of each one as they return. I selected this last one to paint and the rest is history. In fact,anyone coming by our site could have or may have watched me paint this painting as I was working on it August through October by the roadway on our site. This season, Y. Halop Lord will be painting again in the same place. So, stop by and look at the next award winner, well, maybe.
Alan continues to ask for credit in the execution of this painting. Here it is - thanks for the support Alan - you were there in the beginning - we had fun. . .you may have a similar picture, but you do not have this painting. It is the history of this type of painting that is so fascinating. This type of painting involves a lot of work and planning, then there's the showing. . . all of which took five years with others in between.
The rest of the story is that it was entered, and accepted (which is no small thing when there are hundreds of entries and only a few are accepted) in the W.A.S.H. Member Show held at the Sacramento Fine ArtsCenter every year. At the Reception for the show, I knew I had received one award. . . then they have what is called the "Peoples Choice" Award wherein all visitors through the month get to vote for the painting they like. In other words if they didn't like what the Juror picked as "Best of Show" they pick what they wanted.
I was sitting in the back of the room demonstrating watercolor painting, not paying attention to the ceremony. Ron nudged me and said, "Bondi, that's you - get up there" - In addition to the first award, I had received "Peoples Choice" too.
No pun intended, and I can say it here with impunity, but I got caught with my pants off. Seriously surprised. Alan wants credit too - here it is again Alan,thanks for telling me about the Turtles Sunning.
Of course, it is for sale, but barely as I'm still enjoying the painting as well as the 'win', but, I'm moving on.
Awards - 2 - Accepted in CWA John Muir Show, WASH, Vacaville Gallery
STORY BEHIND PRICE OF PEARLS: Tiger & a friend went shopping for work boots. While there I thought how much men put into providing for their loved ones and wanted to do a symbolic painting. After a year of setting up different still life's I put my painting chair on the counter, threw my robe over it, tossed in the work shoes, flowers, Belleek vase and all my pearls. That was it. Don't move, take picture and paint - smile. BRUSHES: #4, #6, 1 wash brush.
STORY BEHIND MENDOCINO COAST #4:
Ron (Tiger) and I enjoy Fort Bragg and try to visit every couple of years. There is a little motel there right on the coast. We go over to Mendocino and enjoy the galleries. I have done three other paintings which have all sold. This is the last one.
There was a time we didn't have enough money for me to purchase any more paper - I had one piece left and it was very old and had been extremely expensive - consequently, I was hesitant to put pigment on. But, I have to paint or go crazy, so I decided to do this last one of Mendocino - while visiting Fort Bragg, Tiger dropped me off at the top of a cliff overlooking the coast as the fog was coming in. With just Paynes Grey, this wonderful paper, paper towels and a large brush this painting was excuted. Final touches were put in when we returned from our visit to the most beautiful place on the coast.
LINKS: yhlh2ocolor | Paintings 22 x 30 finished | Half Sheets | Quarter Sheet Paintings | Thumbnails 5x7 | Little 1s and Odd 1s | DAVIS RANCH PAINTINGS | Freight Studies | Asilomar Retreat | Qs like Why Y Halop Lord | Quotes N Thoughts | Talk 2 me | YHL LINKS | Untitled 18 | Untitled 21 | Untitled 24 | Untitled 25 | Untitled 28 | Untitled 33 | Asilomar 09 Pics