Day 27

Paradise Cove, Twilight, oil 9" x 12" canvas board $135

Paradise Cove, a short drive from Madras, downhill, then uphill and across a narrow bridge to this place to view the fading light, colors glowing on bare cliffs.  There was a single small boat, just a dot, I left it out but remember the feeling of peace and solitude.  Maybe next time I'll be there on a boat, painting!

Day 26

Red Ridge, Madras, oil 10" x 10" canvas $125

Somewhere outside of Madras, on the way to rock hunting at Richardson's Rock Ranch, the sharp angle of the red ridge contrasts with pale gray green sagebrush and desert foliage.

Day 25

Desert Gold, oil 10" x 10" on canvas, $125

Now I've just about caught up with #30paintingsin30days challenge!  Yesterday morning's photo did not look right when I was going to post it last night, so had to wait for daylight to photograph it again. Meanwhile, I painted this one of the area west of Madras, where we were looking for a creek to go fishing and ended up rock hunting instead!  Lots of rocks, sagebrush and dramatic desert scenery, not as red as the Painted Hills, more like gold glinting in the sunlight hinting at hidden treasure.

Day 24

Red Hill, Sagebrush oil, 10" x 10" canvas $125

These red clay hills in the Painted Hills almost look like they were mysteriously transported from Mars, but they are beautiful in their own way.  Painting desert scenes always reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Georgia O'Keefe.

Day 23

Red Earth, oil on 8" x 8" canvas, $85

Another view of the Painted Hills in Central Oregon, this one a close up view of a very red hill as seen from the trail.

Day 22

Painted Hills Trail View, oil, 10" x 10" gallery wrapped canvas $145

The Painted Hills, one of Oregon's 7 Wonders, has mind boggling colors, composed of stratifications of volcanic clay.  There is little vegetation except in crevices and crannies where the soil has eroded over time. We took a scenic drive from Prineville and arrived late in the day, hiked around and took many photos.  A realistic rendering hardly looks believable, so I decided to be let the paint be thick and wild on this canvas, painted over an already textured earlier work.

Day 21

Beyond the Curve, oil on 12" x 12" gallery wrapped canvas

Last August I attended an intensive workshop with the talented artist and instructor, Za Vue.  We were situated along the bank of the Lewis River in Ridgefield, Washington and for the most part, ignored the scenery while practicing color and value studies.  As helpful as this practice was, I wanted to spend more time exploring and painting the river.  The next day, I went back to see the art exhibit at the nearby Summit Grove Lodge, and spent some time taking photos along the river.  This is a painting of one of those views, hopefully capturing the spirit of the sunny summer day.  There is something intriguing about placing an "S" curve into a composition, the way it leads the eye beyond the curve, making you wonder, what is back there and what lies ahead?

Day 20

Girl in the Garden Chair, oil 12" x 16" canvas, $225

While painting plein air on a summer day at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, I spotted a little girl in a big Adirondack type chair.  A bit chubby, squinting in the strong sunlight, she looked pretty and happy by herself.

Day 19

Ashley at the Cafe, 11" x 14" on canvas board $195

At Studio 30 last Friday, I painted two studies of the model, Ashley, the first one a portrait in profile.  Then I attempted a larger view including the table and objects on it:  coffee cup and saucer, sugar bowl, vase with rose, etc.  All the elements did not add up to a complete whole.  I worked on the painting for awhile and realized that it could not be "fixed", it's a wipe-out!  Luckily I had photos from different angles and decided to do another painting from a frontal view revealing more of her face, gesture, less distracting detail.

Billie, a slight modification in the background from the previous post, 9" x 12" $135

Day 18

Billie, 9" x 12", canvas $135

She did not start out as a portrait of Billie Holiday, but seemed to be listening to music from the start, could be a warm violin sonata from the classical station I usually have on in my studio, or something Latin, maybe Brazilian jazz.  But she gradually reminded me of Billie, maybe she is listening to sultry blues, having romantic memories.

Day 17

Ashley in Blue Hat, 9" x 12" canvas, $135

Ashley was our model at Studio 30 at Cathedral Park Place, a well lit studio space with supportive, talented artist friends.  I painted two versions of Ashley, this one first, a portrait with the suggestion of her aqua blue scarf and hat.  I liked her pensive expression and youthful skin.  The other is unfinished, maybe it will appear tomorrow or morph into something else!

Day 16

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Girl with Fan, 9" x 12" canvas $135

An image I found online of a pretty young woman in a white dress on a sunny green field, holding a fan.  The photo was by queenwerandra at deviantart.com.

Day 14 & 15

Chihuahua Mix, oil 9" x 12" canvas board, $135

Don't get me wrong, I'm a cat person, not a dog person.  Don't like getting barked at or slobbered on!  But I make an exception for cute, little dogs.  Walking in the neighborhood, I came across a man with two adorable little dogs, so asked what they were.  He said "chihuahua mix", but they might have been part wiener dogs, or papillon, or just furry little mutts enjoying their walk in the sunshine.  They were so frisky, taking a photo was tricky, just got this one.

Jennifer in Torn Jeans, oil 9" x 12" canvas board $135

Lat night's painting was a remake of Jennifer, who I painted a few years ago at Janet Amundson-Splidsboel's Candlelight Studio, in acrylic.  I felt that painting did not capture Jennifer's youthful beauty and wanted to try again in oil.

Day 13

Sunset at the Ranch, oil 6" x 12" canvas board $90

Growing up in Southern California, there were often spectacular sunsets, and my Dad loved them.  He would yell for me to come outside quickly, like it was an emergency, not a beautiful moment should be missed.  He was right.  I do miss a lot of sunsets in Portland, hidden behind clouds or rain, but this one was in Central Oregon, with a western view toward the Cascades.

Day 12

"Pugnacious" oil 8" x 8" $85

What is it about pug dogs that makes them so cute in an ugly way?  This flat nosed little guy was tugging at his leash, digging into the gravel, refusing to obey his master, sticking out his tongue, happily pugnacious!

Day 11

"believe in love" oil 11"14" on stretched canvas $190

The model at Studio 30 at Cathedral Park was "bil", a musician, songwriter, poet.  His initials stand for "believe in love".

He sang and recited a poem for us as we painted, both were about compassion, unselfish love.

Day 10

Portrait, Winter Solstice, oil 9" x 12" on canvas board $135

This Winter has not been especially cold or wet so far on this part of the Pacific Northwest.  But still, there is a desire for longer days in daylight, a return of the light now that the holidays are over.  This portrait is from a black and white photo by photodechobek, found online at deviantart.com, the colors just happened.

Day 9

Tim, oil on 12" x 12" panel

After the Alla Prima artist group breakfast meeting yesterday, a couple of us went to the nearby Multnomah Center to sketch.  Mostly we sketched each other, and other people in the Senior Center lounge.  I did a small pencil sketch of Tim Young, and back in my studio decided to try using it as a basis for a painting on a board that already had a bright yellow under painting.  Tim, with his long gray beard and pony tail, is a wonderful artist and colorful character, so I thought he deserves a colorful background!

Day 8

Orange Cat with Pillows, 9" x 8" stretched canvas

Last night's painting was of my sister's cat, Tiny, who is mostly orange, snuggled in red and gold pillows, a warm analogous color scheme.

Day 7

Blueberry Picker, oil on 8" x 10" canvas panel $120

A warm reminder of last summer's bounty:  picking blueberries on Sauvie Island.  I used a sunny yellow under painting to project through the greenery.

Day 6

Carousel, 10" x 10" oil on gallery wrapped canvas $125

For Day 6 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I combined two of my themes:  critters and favorite places.  This is not the same carousel of my childhood happy memories in L.A., chasing the brass ring while the horses pranced to music, the scenery whizzing by in a blur.  This is the carousel at Jantzen Beach, which has been lovingly restored.  The photos of the carousel in motion that I took are dark and blurry, and I tried to convey the feeling of motion in the rough strokes of the painting.  The painting was started on top of a previous painting, with some color and texture showing through.  I enjoyed painting this one so much, will do at least one other fantasy carousel!

Day 5

Cat on the Path, 8 x 8" oil on stretched canvas $85

Another portrait of Scooter, this one of his majestic fluffiness in Spring, on the path near the cherry tree, with scattered blossoms.

Day 4

"Cat with Cat Pillow" 12" x 12" gallery wrapped canvas $160 

The cat pillow, a gift from my sister, is larger than life so is somewhat surreal, especially the big eyes.

But Scooter does not seem to be aware of the big cat, it's just another soft thing on the sofa.

Day 3

"Chicken" 8" x 8" stretched canvas, $85

For Day 3 I decided to paint a critter from my photo files, this one is a chicken at Kat Sowa's blueberry farm

that was strutting around among grass and hay last summer.  I liked her strong profile and attitude.

Day 2

Wakeena Falls Nocturne, 9" x 12" oil on canvas

For day 2 I'm posting a painting actually completed a few days ago that will be part of the Muse Art 4' x 4' window display.  That will go on display on Monday, January 5 for the month, then individual pieces will be mounted and available for sale.  I have not visited any of the falls at night, it would be a slippery, treacherous path, so this view is imagined.

Day 1 2015

Rockaway Beach, 6" x 12" oil on canvas board $85

Day One of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I started on one of my favorite places, Rockaway Beach on the rugged Oregon coast.  To me, the huge tunneled rocks offshore sometimes look like an elephant, a sea monster, or castles.  On this summer day, waves flowed in regularly, the sky was a clear blue, but why paint just blue?  An Indian yellow undercoat cast a warmer glow to the blues and gray-browns of the rocks and made the sea monster look friendly.  Since I was up late last night for New Years Eve, this painting was started after midnight this morning!  All of the paintings on my blog are for sale, just send an email for details.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!