Portrait workshop

Za Vue's intensive two day portrait painting workshop was spent at Studio 30.  I decided to try oil painting. as I've been painting with acrylics for the last few years, and wanted to try something different.  I like the ability to blend with oil paint, not fighting the fast drying time of acrylics.  We worked in limited palettes of black, white, red and yellow ochre, concentrating on value relationships and color temperature. Paintings were done from photos in just thirty minutes each, more time for live models, and a critique at the end so we could see everyone's progress.  Za is a terrific artist and instructor!  I had remembered oil painting from years ago as being smelly because of turpentine, but now use odorless mineral spirits.  I had been trained in the classic glazing method which takes a long time to complete one painting, but "alla prima" techniques can be quick and fresh. Most important, I just loved the flow and richness of oils compared to acrylics!

Plein Air!

Last Monday was a fine day to paint plein air so I went to the Crystal Springs rhododendron garden.
Families of people and ducks were out enjoying the sunshine, sparkling waterfalls, blooming rhodies and other spring flowers. I set up first by a small waterfall, and kept my camera handy so was able to capture this boy bravely walking across the rocks, added later.  At another location, there is a waterfall, stone walkway and wooden bridge, where I painted the pink rhododendrons reflecting in the lake.  Walking on Rocks is 10" x 10" on stretched canvas, Pink Reflections is 9" x 12".  Now that it's rainy, I can stay inside to paint from my photos.  Next time, maybe mallard ducks!

Rocks and water

Another of my series of 12" x 12" studies of rocks and water, this one started life as an abstract, but it reminded me of the other scenes of Johnson Creek and the creeks at the bottom of Columbia Gorge waterfalls, so it became more real.

Smith Rock

This is the second of my two paintings of Smith Rock now on view at Muse Art +Design on SE Hawthorne.

If you look closely, there are some small red spots that represent the jackets of intrepid climbers on these huge vertical rocks.  The scale is really massive!  These paintings will be part of an artist reception and auction on May 22, 6:30-9:30 pm. Come by or see museartanddesign.com.