Painting in the Gorge

Within the time we stood painting for a couple hours last evening we met people visiting from Israel,
Germany, and Ohio.

When you grow up in an area you can forget that some of  the most scenic wonders of the world are right in your own backyard. Standing before this majestic view in a solitude of connection of land and paint is a moment of grace for me...standing at the peak of all possibility.

20 minutes and I am home.

                               "Evening Grace"  12 x 16 Oil on Canvas

Yamhill Lavender Festival

Anne Amie Vineyard

Lavender at Jackson School

     It was a last minute decision entry at the Yamhill Lavender festival thanks to a sidewalk painting discussion with Za Vue last Thursday after the O'Conners breakfast meeting in Multnomah Village. I had painted at Jackson School the prior weekend. We dropped the three paintings off and headed for Anne Amie Vineyards. What a peaceful afternoon paint on the vineyard. One of my Jackson School paintings received an honorable mention. Beulah Park is a fun county venue for the week end festival with lots of lavender products and great to know most of the painters entered...a nice showing of our great Northwest painting community.

Ervin Garden

"morning"

oil on panel

     Five private gardens all in the Lake Oswego/West Linn area were part of the Garden Conservatory/Hardy Plant Society of Oregon tour today. I painted the same spectacular view of Mt. Hood twice on two different surfaces. The striations that the oil primed linen surface created curiosity and interest from numerous guests engaging in conversation of surface preparation along with their garden interests. Double booking my afternoon left  no time to scout the grounds. Bob and Mignon Ervin were gracious hosts to invite me back for another day!

                                                        "almost noon"
                                                           oil on linen

Forecast: Rain

Standing Wednesday painting sessions on Sauvies Island are for the moment and invitation for rain! I had seen Facebook posts of artist Dave McBride standing in the rain, 38 degrees at the waters edge,
a palette covered in water. How does he do this? I asked myself.

Last Wednesday, traveling with Chris and Tim Lally, we had a beautiful grey day on Sauvies upon arrival at the store. Dave McBride and Char met us and we were joined by Tim on location. All geared and excited to paint, it wasn't even 15 minuted before the rain came. And then it poured...and poured. The first painting is my exuberant grey start and my second painting a new experience in discovery of the results of oil and water. Can you really paint with water on your panel and your paints covered by an inch of water?  Food for another post!

My Own Backyard

Nice weather in Oregon can be so hard to come by. I've been painting indoors and wanting to get out and paint some landscapes. Outdoor light is outdoor light. Simplifying shape and creating design can happen even in your own back yard.

The Mayors Mansion

 I was conceived in this house but never lived here. My family lived in the Mayors Mansion on S.E. Ankeny Street from 1950 to 1960. They moved to a ranch home in N.E. two months before I was born. My father and his brother went in on the home together but after the two families spent two years together they were ready to sell. However, the house remained on the market for 7 more years. I have always wanted to paint it and I had some time to burn while my 13 year old had track practice in Laurelhurst Park today. It is a very large house to fit on an 8"x10" panel.

While outside the owner came out. We had met almost twenty years ago during a tour of the home with my mother who brought a box of photos of the house in the 50's. Recently the house had been on the market with no movement and it is now due to open as a bed and breakfast.

Fechin at the Frye

I have admired the work of artist Nicholi Fechin since first being introduced by California artist Dan McCaw while at Art Center College of Design in 1981. I saw some of Fechin's work while visiting the Fechin house in Taos a decade or so ago.

I went with a group of painters to the Frye Museum in Seattle, Washington yesterday. Up close and personal with these paintings was a spellbinding experience for the group. You can't quite take it all in while you are there and are planning your next trip before the first is finished. (the painting pictured is not in the exhibit but one of my favorites)

Plein Air Weather is Upon Us

I am impressed by Celeste Bergin's dedication to painting and to blogging. So much so, that I am prompted to make a post just to give myself the incentive to venture out of doors, outside, not in the studio. I have to confess I haven't been outside painting since last fall at the Alpaca farm in Hillsboro. Its like starting back to anything, 1 day a week will do!