On Wednesdays during the non-rainy months there is a farmers market in downtown Portland full of fresh produce, flowers, good food and lots of people. I set up my easel across from the flower sellers watching them make and sell bouquets while others passed by or relaxed, eating lunch. "Bouquet for the Lady in a Straw Hat" is 9" x 12", painted in oil en plein air. Later, I re-worked a previous painting of the same scene, "Flower Sellers", also 9" x 12", adding more color.
Another Wednesday at the Portland Farmers Market at the South Park Blocks, this time I painted colorful vegetables across from the Rick Steffen Farm booth. It's wonderful to paint something that looks good enough to eat, and then it is! Oil on 12" x 16" canvas board.
The South Park Blocks in downtown Portland become a Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays,
providing feasts of every type. I set up my easel across from flower sellers displaying sunflowers and dahlias of every color and variety and painted in the dappled shade, with nearby banjo music. This 9" x 12" canvas board is painted in oils in plein air. I brought home more dahlias to inspire more paintings.
I've been to the downtown park blocks several times recently to paint, once at the lively Wednesday Farmers Market, and returned on Saturday, a cooler day, for another view of the Shemanski Fountain, with the classic beauty of Rebecca at the Well. Both days were full of color, light, people, trees, architecture and sky. I enjoyed comments from passersby, like the seven year old boy in an Obama tee shirt who told me that he wanted to be a famous artist when he grows up (me, too)! Not all artists appreciate being distracted from their art work. On Saturday, my friend Vicki approached an unknown artist and was told " I'm here to paint and that's it, so please leave me alone!" If you see me outside painting, anywhere, feel free to say hello!
Both paintings are 11" x 14" on canvas board.
The California Impressionist exhibit at Portland Art Museum is well worth a trip downtown.
