Villa in the Gorge

Joined a group of Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters and others for a wonderful day painting at a Villa in the Columbia Gorge. I was here two years ago and returned to exactly the same spot next to a shady pond, the end of a trickling stream, surrounded by greenery, with mossy rocks catching the afternoon sun. We shared a potluck lunch and a small black cat kept me company, almost knocked over my easel! Photos show the pond, my painting in progess and completed, 9" x 12" acrylic.

Plein Air in the Pearl and Newberg

This First Thursday I attended "According to Northwest Light" at Albina Community Bank in the Pearl. It was a juried exhibit of plein air paintings by the Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters, and it was an honor to be selected with this group. Included are two of my paintings of the Columbia Gorge, at Rooster Rock and Benson Lake parks. It was a fun gathering of my fabulous artist friends and other friends of art! Come by through August at Albina Bank, 430 NW 10th Avenue, Portland. To see other images of the First Thursday opening, see http://celestebergin.blogspot.com.

This is another painting of lavender inspired from a photo taken at Stonegate Lavender, West Linn. Two of my plein air paintings from there and one painted at the Blue Heron Herbary in Sauvie Island are on view as part of the Lavender Festival at Cusick Picture Frame, 608 E. First Street, Newberg, open Tuesday through Saturday, through August.