Thursday, October 20, 2011

Untitled

Untitled by MARCIO ROGERIO - FOTOGRAFIAS
Untitled, a photo by MARCIO ROGERIO - FOTOGRAFIAS on Flickr.

This is not a painting, but it is one beautiful photograph of a beautiful beach. Congratulatins to Marcio Rogerio, the photographer.

Friday, June 4, 2010

San Diego Watercolors, 1960s scenes...

The first of a set dedicated to the memories of San Diego in the early 1960s. Watercolor pencils with brush washes and some pen and ink details.

LIBERTY IN SAN DIEGO 1960S STYLE By Robert L. Huffstutter

When I got out of USNTC Boot Camp in 1960, I received orders to COMNAVAIRPAC across the bay at NAS North Island. It was a great duty station, working for the flag officers and Naval Air matters. At that time, there was no Coronado bridge and the only way to get downtown was via the nickel snatcher, a USN boat that went from NAS to the foot of Broadway. The walk up to the center of San Diego to Union Square was an experience with the various tattoo parlors, cafes and beer joints. The drinking age, however, was strictly 21, and most of the clubs enforced this with no exceptions. But there were some place off Broadway that would bend the rules. The bar above was not one of them. The old bar named Pearl's Harbor was strictly for the old vets who were in World War II, so that was not a hangout for us young guys. At the time, many of the guys who were in WWII were still on active duty and finishing up 20 years of service. Wow, time flys. When I think of being in the service at the same time the guys who won the war were in the service it blows my mind. Anyway, that was the way it was in 1960, and it was a different America back then. The coffee tasted different, the hot roast beef sandwiches were richer and thicker and nobody was worried about how much fat we consumed.

There was no major racial strife--most all the guys got along well; it mattered little about color or religion then. Despite the tales that might be spun by the left, there was equal treatment and equal opportunity in the USN in the 60s.

So, that's the way it was in the summer of 1960 around Pearl's Harbor. The beer smelled good drifting through the door, but all of us who were not 21 had to find a lesser establishment to buy our draft beer for 20 cents a mug. Bottles were about 35 cents. When we finished up the night, we walked back down to the foot of Broadway and caught the nickel snatcher, a little craft that was a bit bigger than an admiral's boat, and headed back to the Naval Air Station, eating our cupcakes and drinking our coffee or pop, hoping we wouldn't stumble getting off the boat. That was a liberty in downtown San Diego, 1960s style.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Afternoon run


Afternoon run
Originally uploaded by bobster855
Afternoon run
Waikiki, Oahu, 2/10/09.

Uploaded by bobster855 on 10 Feb 09, 8.17PM PDT.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

DETAILS OF: HOT DOGGIES, A WATERCOLOR

AN ESSAY ON WATERCOLORS BY ROBERT L. HUFFSTUTTER

If there's one major truth about painting with watercolors, it is the sense the artist has that the painting is either not "quite right" or "not quite" done, two sensations that can totally ruin what could have been a fairly decent watercolor.

These two personal assessments are not restricted to the zany or psychotic artist, they are absolutely normal whether one is a Sunday painter or commercial artist. How do I know? Simple, I have been around long enough to know these facts through personal experience and through conversation with other artists. Moreover, observation is the evidence that supports these opinions. What can we do to minimize our cost of expensive French watercolor paper and increase our confidence and self-esteem?

The answer is as primary as a a set of Prang watercolor paints. Remove the painting and set it aside for several weeks. Look at it after the time lapse and ask yourself several questions. Should there be more black lines around the window sills? Do you really need to make the blonde's hair longer? And how about the biceps of the men showing off--should they be more pronounced and obvious? Should there be two more palm trees down by the beach? After pondering over these superficial dilemmas, one will usually decide that enough is enough.

Now, about the part that there's something about the work that is "not quite right." That, unfortunately, is the realization and admission that only a few people can paint like Don Kingman. If we are so naive or vain that we do not want to exhibit until we perfect our art to the heights that Kingman's art has reached, we might as well put the brushes and paints out in the garage and wait for a neighborhood sale.We must believe that although we are not as professional and prolific as artists like Kingman, we must accept our style as our own and learn to appreciate it as our contribution to the very large and sometimes hollow world of art. To continue our momentum and keep our spirits positive, we need to keep painting as many subjects and scenes as possible. Sooner or later, we will accept ourselves as being the best we can be and understand our style is unique.

We might even begin to really appreciate our work and feel a warm fondness and affection for our paintings in much the same manner as we appreciate the work of our favorite artists. There is nothing to prevent us from looking at Kingman's magnificent watercolors and hoping that in time, we will feel like we are getting better with the completion of each new and different watercolor. That is, I honestly believe, what Don Kingman believed each time he finished a painting. One fact is obvious, he knew when to sign his name to signify that it was done.

WATERCOLORS THAT ARE NOT QUITE RIGHT AND NOT QUITE DONE BY ROBERT L. HUFFSTUTTER

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Highway 101 near Malibu linen postcard

Highway 101 near Malibu linen postcard

Uploaded by amhpics on 25 Jun 08

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Room With a View


Room With a View
Originally uploaded by Dan Gregory
watercolor from a photo taken from my balcony in Key West. Little does this lass know she wound up in a painting.

Uploaded by Dan Gregory on 5 Oct

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Where the girls are


Where the girls are
Originally uploaded by bobster855
Where the girls are

Uploaded by bobster855 on 15 Sep 09, 6.58AM PDT.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

venice, california sketch 1960

This is a nostaligic memory sketch of Venice Beach, California as I recall it the first time I saw it in the summer of 1959. I recall the aroma of sub sandwiches, the tantalizing scents of suntan lotions and the sound of uproarious laughter as I walked along the promenade, that cement strip that some refer to as the boardwalk. Jumping on and off the trams seemed to be the kind of fun that delighted the adolescents back then. The drivers didn't scream or shout, they treated everyone like they had a transit pass. There was a lot more drinking out of brown paper bags then as compared to those savoring the last exhaustive inhalations of joints.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

SANTA MONICA PIER WITH MERRY GO-ROUND, WATERCOLOR BY R.L.HUFFSTUTTER


the car on the beach


the car on the beach
Originally uploaded by dmarsh451
THIS IS A FORD. THIS IS A FORD ON THE BEACH. THIS IS AN OIL PAINTING THIS IS COOL.............OIL ON CANVAS BY DMARSH
Uploaded by dmarsh451 on 23 Nov 08

Saturday, May 23, 2009

CIMG3165


CIMG3165
Originally uploaded by superde1uxe
AN ESSAY ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF PHOTO IMAGES BY R.L. HUFFSTUTTER

THIS IS ONE TO STUDY AS ONE MIGHT STUDY A CANVAS IN A GALLERY. I CAN ENVISION STUDENTS SEATED ON BENCHES WITH THEIR SKETCH BOOKS AS THEY DO IN MAJOR MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD. THEY APPEAR TO BE CONSIDERING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE WORK AS THEY SKETCH THE ORIGINAL.

LET ME CAST MYSELF IN THE ROLE OF AN ART MAJOR SEATED ON AN OAK BENCH GAZING AT THE WORK BY SUPERDE1LUXE: How important is the lamp in relation to the rocks? Should the rocks be termed boulders? How far away are the islands? Why are the the boulders so close to the lamp? Is there a season when the lamp must be turned off at night to prevent hatching turtles from being confused about direction to the water?

Although at first glance, this photograph might look simple and elementary, but one can easily understand the complexities of studying images if one is interested in the varied images of art. As one who enjoys the story behind the work or image, this photograph offers much material to digress, study and note. It is an image that would be difficult to reproduce. Congratulations to the photographer and artist for a truly unique art photo.

Friday, May 8, 2009

090420


090420
Originally uploaded by J F Le Saint
ONE EXCELLENT BEACH PASTEL.........PASTELS ARE DIFFICULT, BUT THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL WHEN THEY LOOK LIKE THIS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARTIST J F Le Saint.............

8x10 inches
On Ebay

many of the works are for sale; work is done on a commission basis. Contact if interested, click on link to artist.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Atlantic Coast of Cap Ferret

a fabulous painting by Pat McDonald............

Off To Sea


Off To Sea
Originally uploaded by Pat McDonald
Off To Sea
Going to sea ....




I would leave the beach to run around on this tourist tug for awhile.