The Art of Glass: Google Glass Painting Video

Saturday, July 13, 2013

My original tweet to Google was that "If I had Glass".... I would use it to record bikes while out riding to get new images for my paintings... or this was the essence of the concept. I wanted to get unique angles that I normally can not get from a bike. So far, I have some pretty nice photos and video that have been inspired by my bike rides with Glass. I will post a few below, along with this short Vimeo video, showing my process painting from the Google Glass video. You may view the full video of the mountain bike ride and painting in my previous post.

The Art of Glass: Google Glass to Oil Painting

Friday evening  |  July 12, 2013

"Celia on the Rocks" 5" x 5" oil on canvas, ©2013 C.Proppé

The Google Glass video I uploaded to Vimeo today (Mountain Biking Marin) is part of my process to document cyclists and bikes for reference for my oil paintings.  Tonight, I was inspired by a friend and amazing painter, Kanna Aoki, to paint something small from my work.  I knew I was going to do this, but Kanna gave me the extra push on Facebook today.  Thank you, Kanna, for getting me going.  It's hard to just start painting sometimes!  This is a tiny, 5" x 5" oil painting of Mt. Bike rider, Celia Graterol from the beginning of the video.  I took photos to document the process with Google Glass, but I'm having trouble uploading them tonight.  It used to do it automatically, but for some reason, my Glass is FULL and I can't empty it! (eek!... I guess it's not so bad to have a Glass that's full... that's supposed to be a positive thing, right? ;)

The Art of Glass: Mountain Biking Marin

Mountain Biking Marin with Google Glass from Colleen Proppé on Vimeo.
A Google Glass visit with the Founder of Mountain Biking Marin, Celia Graterol. Mountain Biking Marin offers guided bike tours and corporate trips to ride the best mountain bike trails around the San Francisco Bay Area + Tahoe, as well as customized mountain bike skill clinics.

Wed - Friday July 10-12, 2013

Founder + Instructor, Celia Graterol of "Mountain Biking Marin"

This week, I had the pleasure of riding my bike alongside(well, behind) a former US National Downhill Champ in Mountain Bike Racing.  Celia Graterol is a resident of Mill Valley, and married to the marvelous, "Sally around the Bay".  Sally walked my dog, Mesa, while I followed Celia through shin-scratching chaparral and marveled at her goat-like prowess on rocks that dropped off into the fog.  I have had my days with such rocks, but I am ten years rusty from raising twins... so, Celia is very impressive, also being a mommy and three years my elder.  She is fun and inspiring, and knows all the best legal trails and deer paths in Marin and Tahoe.  She also is known for bringing her Ukelele along on rides, and being from Brazil, she can sing a mean Mariachi tune that will warm your heart after a Summer ride through "Carl the Fog".  Celia founded Mountain Biking Marin in 2002, where she has many instructors who assist her in corporate mountain bike rides, group lessons, clinics and individual instruction.  Check them out!  They have a new website in the works but for now, you can find them here.

The Art of Glass: Bike Ride in Marin Watershed

Saturday June 29th, 2013

Today is day 4 beta-testing Google Glass.  See my previous 2 posts for how I picked up Glass in SF, and shared it with 20+ kids so far.  Today, I had the pleasure of a casual, solo mt. bike ride in the Marin Municipal Water District.  I am stoked!  The best thing about GLASS is that it allows me, someone who loves to take photographs, to not have to stop and pull out my camera all the time.  This is HUGE!  Watch the video.  I edited in iMovie this evening.  From bike ride to video, all in one day.  Pretty amazing.  I have included a few of the still shots from Google Glass, below.

Go, Google Glass!  Go iMovie.  Feeling much better after some exercise too.

Left:  Dark, polarized twist-on visor.         Right:  Clear, twist-on visor.

Enjoy these other videos I created using Google Glass:

• Kayaking with Google Glass

• Trail Running with Google Glass

• Interview with Google Glass: 3 Ring Cycles, Bike Shop in San Anselmo

• Kids, Word on the Street, and Google Glass

• My San Francisco Adventure to Pick up Google Glass

In the Studio Today... Burley Parade; Day 2

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

"Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30".

To read about the inspiration for this painting, click here to read my previous post.

In the Studio Today..."Burley Bike Parade on Shaver Grade"; Session #1

Monday, August 3, 2009
Day 1; "Burley Parade on Shaver Grade", near Phoenix Lake. 24" x 30". I have been wanting to paint Burley bike trailers into my paintings for a while now, but have had the hardest time coming up with a concept for this. We have pulled our twins in Burley trailers since they were under a year old. They are pretty much beyond Burley's now, at age 7, but we have a very fond appreciation for the great rides we were able to take, with the boys keeping quiet in the trailer, or falling asleep for much of the bike ride. We even pulled them with a tandem mt. bike with string lights all lit up at night. I hope someone will enjoy this painting with memories of transporting their kids as I have. It's a gamble to paint something new and different, but if you don't take the chance, you never grow... right?

In the Studio Today...Ridgecrest Sunset Cyclist; Final Painting

Friday, July 31, 2009

DETAIL OF HILLS: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.

"Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest", Ridgecrest Blvd., Mt. Tamalpais State Park,
Marin County, California."2 ft. x 4 ft.", o/c.

DETAIL OF CYCLIST: Sunset Cycle on Ridgecrest.

Please come see the painting in person, September 1st at a wine and cheese reception in downtown Mill Valley, California. A beautiful place to ride your bike!

September 2009
The Depot Bookstore & Cafe
Solo Show of Cycling Paintings
87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, CA
Opening Reception; September 1, 6pm to 7pm