Bernard V. Fallon

Back from a 5-day painting trip a few weeks ago.

Sea Lions, Channel Islands. Image © 2010 Bernard Fallon

Our trip was organized by artist Dave Gallup and a bunch of us got to see an extraordinary aspect of California. Here’s a couple of oils that I completed.

Freshly Caught Whitefish. Oil. © Bernard V Fallon

Rocks

A freshly caught Whitefish and a dramatic aspect of East Anacapa Island at the sea lion colony. We were anchored and painting the views while others were diving, snorkeling or kayaking, when the sea mist enveloped everything. Quite eery. The photos show our boat the “Conception” at anchor with a diver and kayak; and the sea lions lazing about.

Our Boat

I’ve been working with pastels over the Summer. I like to start with medium ones to start with, to establish the big shapes. Get the drawing and basic design done first. Then it’s time to apply the thicker , more painterly layers to establish what is important for the viewer to absorb. attached are a couple from Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. The other is a wine country barn near Paso Robles that fills the heart with warmth.

"End of the Day" 11 x 17" Pastel on Board. September 2010. © Bernard V Fallon

I saw this beautiful barn on the road from the coast to Bakersfield. It was the end of the day.

California Poppy flower field in full bloom after the recent rains in the Antelope Valley. Photo © 2010 Bernard V. Fallon

Went for a drive to the Poppy Preserve off Hwy 14. The flowers were in full bloom after the recent rains. I had never seen them before and they were great – just rolling away in different directions. Weather was overcast which didn’t spoil the experience, it made it look flatter from a painting and photography point of view.

California Poppy flowers in full bloom after the recent rains. Photo © 2010 Bernard V. Fallon

I painted with Jacques Valin last week near Steve Shriver’s place. Various people stopped by and looked at the works in progress. A woman on horseback stopped and made various maneuvers to get a better look at what we were doing. Difficult on a horse. Then Steve Mirich and Margaret appeared. Having seen the William Wendt exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum with Robert Elliott the previous week, a discussion broke out about Wendt’s use of sky tones over his landscapes, and how he incorporated upward or downward viewpoints into a painting. At this point, I could see the shadows were changing my composition. Then Dan Pinkham drove up and stopped. Well, a great chatter started.

Jacques was already finished and packed up. I was done for the day, and headed out to Utrecht Art Supply in Santa Monica.

Wednesday, 14th of Jan, I started teaching a new class at the Palos Verdes Art Center – beginning painting. I gave a talk and then we started some simple painting exercises in thinning out paint, and using color to create form. I’ll photograph some of the work this week and we’ll see how they progress over the next few months. Should be interesting!

Friday 16th, I went with my son Patrick to the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. They were hosting the World Press Photo 2008 exhibition and seminar. Tim Hetherington, also from Liverpool, who won the World Press Photo in 2007, gave a most dynamic presentation of his photos from West Africa and Afghanistan. He and other presenters later gave a guided tour of all the exhibited photos.

I have been asked by the British Film Institute to write a short essay to accompany their DVD release of the 2008 film documentary “Of Time and The City”, which is director Terence Davies autobiographical love song to his home town of Liverpool. The film uses 3 of my photographs, and they’re also used in the publicity.

I’ve been out painting in the snow, and on the beaches south of LA airport. I’m going to post 2 paintings soon.

Next week I start teaching at the Palos Verdes Art Center on Tuesday night. It’s a beginning painting class. All media. And I’ll bring acrylics, oils, watercolor and pastels if you are not sure which to pick.

Currently I’ve also been very involved with the Redondo HS Auditorium. We have had non-stop shows in since early December, and the new stage manager, Monty, is just getting acclimatized.