Portrait Tribute

Maya Angelou was a beautiful woman in every way and touched many people with her wisdom.
With this portrait I wanted to capture the essence of her vibrant, warm spirit.  Spread your wings and fly, Maya!

About Face

Last winter I started a sketchbook that I intended to fill with portraits.  Time passed, the weather improved and I've been outside painting.  Where did April and May go?  There is still space in the sketchbook so I found some interesting faces to sketch from the tv film "The Vikings".  Photos were by Jonathan Hession. Don't the men look rugged and dangerous?  

Looking back, I found a drawing that I wanted to paint.  Photo by Brian Ingram.  I don't know her name, so I'm calling her Amanda.  "Amanda" is in oil, 10" x 10"

Paint Out!

A sunny day in Portland, perfect for visiting the Rose Garden at Washington Park.  Not all the roses are blooming yet, but there was plenty of color and fragrance filled the air.  I set up in a shady spot in view of the fountain and painted en plein air for a few hours.  Afterwards, had a cool, shady walk through the Japanese Garden.  It is not possible to set up an easel there but I took lots of photos, mostly of mysterious koi, and sat awhile in the serene Zen sand and rock garden.  A blissful day!

Rose Garden Fountain, 11" x 14"

Gorge Spring

A small 8" x 8" painting of the Columbia Gorge from a photo taken in early Spring, some trees still bare, with a sprinkle of wild flowers. 

Plein Air

A cool double waterfall on a sunny day at Crystal Springs, blooming rhododendrons, surrounded by ducks, geese, and lots of happy people even on a Tuesday, what's not to like? Plein air, 9" x 12", oil.

Gorge

Another painting of Latourelle Falls, painted alla prima.  The first was larger, 14" x 14", slower, painted in layers to achieve translucence.  This one is 10" x 10", painted all at once in thicker paint, to capture the force of the water rushing and dashing against the rocks.  In musical terms, the first was andante, the second con brio.

Gorge

Painting en plein air at Guy Talbot State Park on a windy day at the Gorge last week, I walked the misty trail to Latourelle Falls with my camera, since it is too narrow to set up an easel.  This is my painting from a photo, 14" x 14".