Mt. Hood

 Mt. Hood Obscured

 Mt. Hood Revealed

Mt. Hood Winter

Three views of Mt. Hood, the first from photographer Kary Stewie, the second from a photo by Tim Young, the last one from my own view from Mt. Tabor.

Mt. Hood Obscured is part of a show at the Pittock Mansion, "Mt. Hood Perspectives", opening January 31 and running until July 5.  There is plenty of time to tour the elegant Pittock Mansion, see (and purchase) artworks by local artists, and stroll the grounds with expansive views of the city of Portland with Mt. Hood in the distance.

Early March

 Powell Butte View of Mt. Hood, Spring plein air 9" x 12"

Powell Butte, View of Mt. Hood, Spring 5" x 7"

It felt like Spring, anyway there was some sun, so I went out to Powell Butte for plein air painting.  The view of Mt. Hood was inspiring, but it was so windy that I had to hold on to the easel with my left hand and both feet while painting!

Naturally, that meant I could not step back periodically to check the composition from a distance.  So I painted fast, packed up and went back to my warm studio!  The second, smaller painting has a tighter composition without the distraction of every branch and tree, and more texture which I think conveys the brisk atmosphere of the day.

Winter already?

On this rainy Fall day, I'm looking forward (and backward) to Winter.
Two 6" x 12" oil paintings, based on previous plein air pencil sketches and paintings, my favorite view of Mt. Hood from Mt. Tabor, when clouds break to reveal it in snowy majesty.

Sunset, sunrise

The view of Mt. Hood from Mt. Tabor is one of my favorites, and I go there often to sketch, paint or just view the mountain. Saturday I painted plein air during the sunset on a warm, cloudless night. There was a brilliant moment when the hills caught the last bright gleam from the west, then all the colors faded.

The next morning I woke up early and saw that it was already getting light so I returned and later painted this 6" x 6" canvas from memory. The mountain was in sillhouette and everything was in shades of blue except the warm glow in the few clouds.

Thought about returning this morning but woke to rain, thunder and lightening! Everything changes...