February

 Zig Zag Through Snow, oil 11" x 14"

 Snowy Creek, oil 5" x 7"

Portland Snow, oil 11" x 14"

This winter has given us record snow and rain in the Pacific Northwest and I have not been eager to go out to drive, play or paint plein air!  Even bundled up, it's difficult to paint with frozen finger tips!  But I have been inspired and found some lovely photos by Canadian photographer Bonnie Sitter which were the basis for the two first paintings.  On a sunny day, I ventured out into the neighborhood with my camera and later painted the third painting.  The snow is gone for now, but not the rain and clouds, and memories and inspiration persist.

Tabor Path, 12" x 16" oil  SOLD

Just returned from where it was hung at O'Connors Cafe where the Alla Prima Portland group meets, is my painting from the Fall, Tabor Path.  It's my favorite path in the park, at late afternoon when the light from the West creates a warm glow.  My camera never quite captures that glow, along with the dark shadows from the trees, so I have to remember the quality of the light.  

 Acorn Squash, 8" x 8" board

 Fall Tree, 8" x 10" canvas

Fall Walk, 11" x 14"

Continuing with painting Fall colors although Winter is definitely here, with short gloomy days and lots of rain.  Luckily I have lots of photos taken during my walks around Mt. Tabor and Montavilla of brilliant color.  The acorn squash has been a center piece on my dining table for weeks, and unlike other still life subjects, it did not wilt, rot or get eaten, so I've set it up with some dried leaves and completed one small still life painting.  The two others are from my photos.  Can there be too much cadmium orange?  I seem to have a need for it, like vitamin D.  Today was a clear, bright, cold Winter day and I got out to see a different kind of beauty, a different palette to explore.

Note to followers, fans, and visitors to this blog:  The Google folks announced that to follow this blog, you must set up a Google account.  Please do!  I welcome your comments here or email me at: :stephanie.cissna@comcast.net.  Hoping you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Plein Air at Crystal Springs

It's not the peak of the rhodie season, but Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is beautiful at this time of year.  On a recent sunny day I painted plein air at the pond, where ducks and geese splashed through reflections of pinks and greens.  I'll be back when the irises are blooming along with more rhodies in every color, and in a few weeks the baby ducks and geese will be introduced to the world.  Spring Pond at Crystal Springs is 9" x 12"

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.

Mt. Tabor Sketches

Taking a break from painting lately: walking, taking photos, sketching, observing and just being on Mt. Tabor, enjoying warm afternoons and sunsets. Sketching is fast, easy, freeing for me. It can be done anywhere, on a narrow path, steep slope, on the spur of the moment, no heavy easel and gear, no pressure. Paintings will come.

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...