The Dance

Friday January 24th, I take the remembered energy, from the cold painting frenzy of the prior day's experience, indoors. I am in the warmth of the artists' studio in front of a still life, but still in an obsessive search to create repeated irregular patten that moves through the picture plane creating rhythm.

"Resonance" 11" x 14" oil on panel

Ready, Set...Go!

 

"Mt. Hood" oil on linen

Thursday January 23rd, not ready, not set, but we went painting after our Alla Prima breakfast meeting. The sun has been out, but it is cold if you are not prepared. 1 lonely mitten, a t-shirt and North Face fleece did not quite cut it. But what a rush, out on the highway staring down Mt. Hood painting with Za Vue. Paint fast and furious!

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.