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?