Aja

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

Yes, Aja, like the Steely Dan song.

Piper Cub

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

This is the six-year anniversary for Paintopolis -- 410 posts so far. The very first post was of an airplane from the Santa Paula airport and so is this one.

Lotusland

Kevin Turcotte

3 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches

watercolor in moleskine sketchbook

There's an estate in Santa Barbara called "Lotusland" that has all sorts of painting and art possibilities in it.

River sketch

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on panel

This is the Los Angeles river in all it's natural beauty. I painted it while standing in the river basin, on a slight rise of concrete. While I painted I noticed an old man walking up the shore of the river, reaching into the water and pitching things up onto the concrete bank. He seemed surprised to see me, but continued on. Walking, stooping to grab in the water, and throwing things onto the bank. Minutes after he passed I suddenly noticed water flowing under my feet -- under my paint box and under my tripod bag, all resting flat on the concrete. Somehow he had diverted the flow of the river, causing me to beat a hasty retreat. So if this has a less finished air than most of my work, it's thanks to an old guy trying to clean up the LA river.

Beach fires

Kevin Turcotte

9 x 12 inches

oil on canvas, mounted on panel

cow skull

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

an older one -- from a trip to an old ranch in northern Los Angeles county.

Tiffany

Kevin Turcotte

16 x 20 inches

oil on canvas panel

First painting session of the year.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Kevin Turcotte

20 x 20 inches

oil on canvas

Santa Monica sketch

Kevin Turcotte

3.5 x 5 inches

sharpie marker on paper

Trying to keep it simple -- only two values and no preliminary drawing.

Last painting session of the year

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

This was from our last figure painting session of the year at the studio.

Drawings

Kevin Turcotte

18 x 24 inches

pitt pastel on newsprint

It's always good to draw!

Older model

Kevin Turcotte

9 1/8 x 12 1/4 inches

watercolor on hot press paper

Pensive model

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

We're trying to set up our lighting a little more professionally -- blocking a lot of the overhead fluorescent fill light so our spotlight can do what it's supposed to do. This was our first attempt.

From the Bluffs

Kevin Turcotte

20 x 20 inches

oil on canvas

Another painting from the current holiday show at the Easton Gallery in Santa Barbara.

Padaro Beach, toward the hills

Kevin Turcotte

10 x 10 inches

oil on panel

This one is currently in the annual holiday show at the Easton Gallery in Santa Barbara.

Anthony

Kevin Turcotte

11 x 14 inches

oil on canvas panel

From a recent session with Anthony, a jazz pianist, who also happens to be a model as well.

Rachel

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16

oil on canvas panel

one of the artists wanted a turban -- so Rachel was kind enough to accommodate him.

A quick little one

Kevin Turcotte

4 1/2 x 6 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

my friend Owen prepared this little panel and gave it to me for a try out -- I took it up to the Hahamongna Watershed Park near the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena and this is what I came up with. Great surface to paint on!

Olivia

Kevin Turcotte

16 x 20 inches

oil on canvas panel

Every time I paint a figure model it's like a sprint to the finish line. Three hours goes by in a flash.

Sandpit depths

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on panel

Arielle

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

In the canyon - Malibu Creek

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

Toni V

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

Not all of our models are named Toni. Just two of them.

Stacy

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

another from our weekly studio sessions.

Callie's Matilija

Kevin Turcotte

5 x 5 inches

watercolor on hot press paper

we cut back the poppies in the back yard this year and were rewarded with an incredible growth of these flowers. There are even a few still blooming...

Yuba River overcast

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

another painting from the northern part of the state

Deer Creek

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

I was up in the northern part of the state recently and did this little oil sketch one morning. When I was done I ate my lunch by the stream and counted at least ten good sized trout in the water. And me without a fishing pole.

Cliffs at Carpinteria

Kevin Turcotte

5 x 5 inches

watercolor on hot press paper

Toni's back

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

Japanese garden

Kevin Turcotte

5 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches

watercolor on hot press paper

From a sketching trip to the Huntington Gardens.

Behind the ranch

Kevin Turcotte

5 x 5 inches

watercolor on hot press paper

July Gloom

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

Usually here in Southern California it's only June gloom, but this summer some of it has extended into July. The overcast gives a nice soft light for painting. This was a lunch time painting during a class production designer Kathy Altieri was offering to the artists at work.

South of Tucson

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 12 inches

oil on panel

from a trip to Arizona a few years back.

Pensive Toni

Kevin Turcotte

16 x 20 inches

oil on canvas panel

Ranch view

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

Another painting from the same ranch as the last posting.

Ranch Eucalyptus

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

actually, what IS the plural for eucalyptus? eucalypti? eucalyptuses? There was definitely more than one here when I painted this.

Tortured Soul

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

Damien gave us a killer pose to work with -- a little more extreme than our normal sessions.

Stairway Urn

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 12 inches

oil on panel

Sometimes the subjects are close at hand -- this one was just down the street.

Russia

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

Sorry -- second go around for this image. I saw it on another computer and it was much too dark. I'm hopeful this time will be better.

Rio Grande near Taos

Kevin Turcotte

9 x 12 inches

oil on linen mounted on panel

from a while back when I was on a painting workshop in New Mexico.

Tujunga Creek Cliffs

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on panel

While I was painting this a couple kept peeking their heads out at me from near the base of the cliff. Sorry if I interrupted your skinny dipping, guys!

Olivia

Kevin Turcotte

12 x 16 inches

oil on canvas panel

From a recent figure painting session.

Overhanging Trees

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

I was painting this panel from a bridge over the wash and accidentally dropped a brand new brush into the channel. I could see it on the concrete about 30 feet below me and wasn't about to abandon it. I rigged up a hammer with duct tape -- sticky side out -- and dangled it down on a string. Snagged it on the first try!

Hills and Trees

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

Yes, we had some snow a few weeks back and I tried painting it as fast as I could -- much of it had melted before I could finish.

Gold Creek

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

since much of the Angeles Forest burnt last year I have had to explore a little further afield to find some nice painting spots -- this was a new area for me.

Octopus two

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on canvas mounted on gatorboard

eight more crazy legs

Octopus

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on canvas mounted on gatorboard

There comes a time when an artist just has to paint an octopus.

Blue Bridge

Kevin Turcotte

8 x 10 inches

oil on panel

Painted out near where Ballona Creek empties into the Pacific.

Cold Springs

Kevin Turcotte

6 1/8 x 7 3/4 inches

oil on panel

dropped off some work at the gallery last Sunday and took the opportunity to paint the always beautiful Santa Barbara landscape. The water actually flows over the road here and the occasional car drove through the scene while I painted.

Yuba River Rocks

Kevin Turcotte

6 x 8 inches

oil on panel

I used to live in Northern California and would venture up into the hills whenever I could -- while very cold this river was beautiful to paint.