Fall Beach

Remember Fall? Just a few weeks ago I went for a walk at Sauvie Island on the beach of the Columbia River. It was sunny and serene, although hunting season. This is a small 8" x 8" study I started plein air and finished later. The photo was taken with incandescent light (since there was no daylight at all today) so the clouds look a bit dingy. Oh well, the winter solstice is past and the light will return!

Layers

Two paintings developed from the William Park workshop. For the less successful ones, the choices are to just keep on going to develop or "fix" it, paint over it to become something else, or save it as a reminder of your learning process. I did a complete paint over of one of the paintings of a river based on a value study by Celeste Bergin posted on her blog. Hers was mainly in grays and vertical, I used a horizontal format and added warm and cool colors. The layers are mostly thin glazed layers, with some of the color and texture of the original painting showing through.

The eye peeking through a veil was started on the first day of the workshop. At first there were abstract lines and shapes, a round form became an eye, and a bit of blue was added. Other layers gradually transformed it. It reminds me of a dream of a bride with a veil, torn Japanese paper collages, the misty waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge, rain.

Workshop day 5

On the last day of the William Park workshop I worked on my larger canvas portraits of Fred, 20" x 24" and 30" x 40". It was great to work larger after so many small pieces, working larger uses more of your body with energy and feels like an immersion into the space of the painting. It was really interesting to see the development over days. Nothing is finished, maybe there will be more crows or fish, colors change, everything will evolve!

Workshop day 4

Day four was full of activity. In preparation for Fred's afternoon model session, I painted a 20" x 24" canvas in rectangles of different colors, thinking there would be different images in different spaces, maybe some flowing into others. It was a single long pose, not quick motion filled poses suitable for sketches. I started in the lower middle, put in lots of detail, then realized I did not like the size and location on the canvas and it would look too crowded filled with other images. The next day I painted it out and started over again, larger. But before that happened, Saturday night I went into overdrive and started a really big canvas, 30" x 40" to bring into the studio on the last day.

Workshop day 3

Day three was working on and developing previous images. Things changed, for better or worse. I went back and forth looking for what was calling out for change, piling on paint in thin glazes or thick with white. Fred has many manifestations, he is a dancer, an actor, a trucker, old, young, he wears shirts of many colors. Birds come and go. No expectations.

Workshop day 2

On Day 2 of the workshop more color was added to previous paintings and we had a model, Fred. I worked on watercolor paper with thinned acrylic paint and an ink pen. Some of these studies will be developed further, some are just what they are.

Workshop Day 1

Started a five day painting workshop with William Park at his studio in Portland. His paintings are a blend of abstraction, figures, images, sensuous colors and textures. His demonstrations were amazing. Then I had to start somehow in blacks and white only, no subject, just whatever turned up. Recognizable figures and landscapes show up sooner or later for me, because that's what I'm used to seeing, drawing and painting. A round shape became an eye, angular shapes became trees. I felt restrained at first without color, then suddenly found beauty in textures, lines and shapes. Towards the end of the day color crept in, just a hint of blue. Only one painting remained a pure monotone.

Fall Colors

This is what my neighborhood looked like when I walked on a bright Fall day. 10" x 10" acrylic on canvas.

Full Circle

There was great creative energy last night at 640 SE Stark. Full Circle Gallery and the Artichoke Gallery showed a variety of interesting things including intricate carved philosophical jigsaw puzzles, found object jewelry, hair jewelry, painted plates, paintings of all subjects and media on different surfaces. Next door, a large mural was being created to music and changing colored light, and when I realized that all were invited to join, I grabbed a big brush and made big strokes of color. Full Circle has come full circle and will close at the end of December, so this is the last show. Jim Orman will continue to make his wood furniture, Elaine Treadwell has her own art projects, June Underwood continues with her amazing paintings. I wish them much success and happiness! Come by during this month for holiday shopping, to see my paintings or just to see a wonderful space at 640 SE Stark, Portland.

December First Friday

This is an invitation to come to Full Circle Gallery tonight, December 2, for the Holiday Art Show Reception 6 - 9 pm, 640SE Stark, Portland. I'll have small 6" x 6", 6" x 12" and 10" squares acrylic paintings, all themes, all colors, all inexpensive & giftable! The Show & Sale continues through December 24 and everything is cash & carry so you can take it home and wrap it for a gift!

Edge

Days are getting shorter, the light is waning. The Edge is light/dark, warm/cool, land/water, hope/faith. 6" x 12" acrylic, gallery wrapped canvas. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Bend

A walk in the park in Bend on a crisp, clear Fall day like they have in central Oregon, we stopped to take photos of the river. Ducks were swimming, they are only dots in this painting. 10" x 10" acrylic on gallery canvas. We're going back to Bend soon, hope for more gorgeous picture-perfect weather!

Sascha

Life drawing sessions are always an enjoyable challenge even though I've been drawing the figure since high school. We started with quick sketches, warming up to 15 minutes and longer poses during the three hour session. This one was done on a previously painted 6" x 12" landscape giving her long, languid body some background composition. The studio was warm on a rainy afternoon, and I was lost in shapes and colors.

Flower Market

Our neighborhood Farmers Market is over with its colorful flowers and produce, but I painted this from a photo. I feel like I need to store up my own collection of color before Winter washes so much of it away.

Golden Girl

Still using an Autumn pallette of golds, umber, and crimson, I painted this model with curly blonde hair. Metallic gold paint bits were added for additional sparkle.

Autumn Mood

Another portrait from a photo in Autumn tones, acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12".

Autumn Mood

A moody study from a photo in Autumn tones of umber, crimson, golds recalls the changing season, darkening of the light.

More Jadene

Continued paintings of model Jadene from Janet Amundson-Splidsboel's Candlelight studio. On top, a 6" x 12" canvas portrait. I also brought a previously painted landscape that I found a bit boring so I put Jadene in the foreground and added some Fall colors. Nothing like a redhead in a red hat to add excitement to a landscape! I'm feeling a need for Fall colors so must go out to paint plein air before rain chases away the gorgeous leaves!

Spring, Fall

Two views of Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, a favorite place during any season, will be part of Nature in our City (Parks!) I'll have three paintings displayed in this group show at Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, November 3rd-30th. Proceeds from art sales will fund hands-on restoration and outdoor education for local schoolkids. The opening night reception is Thursday, November 3rd 5:30-9 pm, with free music and refreshments!

Jadene

Several portraits of Jadene, a dancer, hat maker, artist and lovely model!

Collage

Torn Japanese paper, images of flowers, a photo of peeling paint, the word "amore" snipped from old sheet music, layers hide and reveal like the effects of time and weather. Collages are works in progress. They may be cut into greeting cards, grouped together in a frame, painted over to become something else.

Luminous Views

First Friday at Full Circle Gallery was a wonderful time with a great mix of people and art! Elaine Treadwell did a great job of presenting my paintings as featured artist and "Columbia Twilight" has sold! I continued to play with making collages of recycled plastic for the SOS Security Blanket. "Luminous Views" continues through October at 640 SE Stark Street, Portland, for more information see FullCircleGallerypdx.net.

Luminous Views

For this First Friday October 7th I will participate in two show openings. At First Circle Gallery, 640 SE Stark, Portland, "Luminous Views" includes several recent landscape paintings, both plein air and studio based on Northwest scenes. Many are of water, the Columbia River and waterfalls, such as "Columbia Twilight" looking east on the Columbia Gorge. The opening reception is 6-9 pm.

Also at Full Circle Gallery, Mercedes Rodgers of the Full Circle Gallery in Florida, will be showing the SOS Security Blanket made of squares of recycled plastic. Artists are invited to create 5" or 10" squares to be included. For more information, see FullCircleGallerypdx.net.

The Johnson Creek Art show also opens Oct. 7 at Spring Creek Coffee House in Milwaukie, 4-8 pm. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Johnson Creek confluence with the Willamette River to celebrate an improved habitat for salmon and trout. Contributions from art sales will be made to the Johnson Creek Watershed Council to further their commitment to a cleaner environment.

I hope you can join me or visit either of these art shows during October!

Sauvie Island

Painting en plein air at Sauvie Island is like being in another country, another time, with wide open spaces and the sounds of birds. Fall is full of ripe colors. Painted sunflowers, corn and pumpkins, one day. Another day found a dirt road to a lake and blackberries, wildflowers, trees and clouds. Cows ambled past.

Crystal Springs

Painted at Crystal Springs on a cool day with a hint of Fall, a relief after the hot Summer haze. Using a new palette with a wet sponge, my acrylic paints stayed wet and flowed like watercolor, which suited this scene of a waterfall flowing into a wide pond full of quacking mallards. A pale willow tree spreads out in front of a curved bridge.

Summer Haze

It's been hot and hazy, due to wildfires in nearby mountains, creating a bright orange sunset and golden moon. Walking on Powell Butte, the haze covered mountain views and it was too hot for me to paint plein air, so I photographed wildflower covered meadows and retreated to my studio to paint. The next day I cut and tore and pasted papers for collages, and painted an abstract on canvas, still influenced by the golden haze.

water, rocks

More moving water over mossy rocks.

Villa in the Gorge

Joined a group of Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters and others for a wonderful day painting at a Villa in the Columbia Gorge. I was here two years ago and returned to exactly the same spot next to a shady pond, the end of a trickling stream, surrounded by greenery, with mossy rocks catching the afternoon sun. We shared a potluck lunch and a small black cat kept me company, almost knocked over my easel! Photos show the pond, my painting in progess and completed, 9" x 12" acrylic.

waterfall edge

Looking up to the edge of the waterfall, it seems to flow out of the sky; the mist nourishes moss and cools the air. Acrylic, 10" x 10".

waterfall

Walked the trail at Wakeena Falls in the Columbia Gorge on a hot summer day, enjoyed the sights and sounds of water splashing on mossy rocks, cool mist, different perspectives.
10" x 10" gallery wrapped acrylic.

Old House

There is something satisfying about painting an old house, for one thing you don't have to worry about straight lines, as the structure gracefully bows to the forces of time and gravity. This old house is a short walk from Latourelle Falls in the Columbia Gorge, a beautiful setting to contemplate man's place in nature. Everything eventually gets covered in moss and lichen and weeds, reverting to lush greeness. Latourelle House is painted in acrylic, plein air, 11" x 14".