Summer Plein Air

 Summer Meadow, Powell Butte

 Sauvie Island Wetland

 Columbia Gorge at Rooster Rock

Villa Catalana Pond

This summer I have not been able to paint plein air as much as I'd like for a variety of reasons, although it is always such a pleasure and challenge!  These are a few that were completed this summer.

In May I painted at Powell Butte Nature Park, beautiful at all times of year even when views of mountains are obscured by clouds. 

I've also painted at Sauvie Island and the Columbia Gorge at Rooster Rock State Park.  The painting of the Gorge is currently on view at Oregon Society of Artists, then will move to Rose Schnitzer Manor at Cedar Sinai Park after September 9.  

In August I painted at Villa Catalana as part of their annual Art in the Garden.  I completed a painting of the stone villa started the previous year from the same location, then turned my attention to the pond with water lilies and lotus flowers.  It was like a vacation in Europe in Oregon City!

Plein Air at the Villa

 Villa Catalana Stone House 11" x 14", oil on canvas board $150

 Villa Catalana Lotus Pond 14" x 18", oil on gallery wrapped canvas $350

Last Saturday was the second annual garden party at Villa Catalana where artists were invited to paint plein air.  The gardens are sumptuous with rare plants and a large pond with lotus flowers.  A jazz band played on a gazebo overlooking the pond while guests strolled with glasses of Villa Catalana Cellars wine.  Although the location is in Oregon City, it felt like a vacation in Spain or Italy!  The air was hazy with wind blown ash from wildfires east of the Cascades, but it was still beautiful, especially the vivid orange sunset.  I painted the Villa Catalana Stone House that afternoon, and brought with me several paintings from last year including the Villa Catalana Lotus Pond.    Art, music, fine wine: a lovely day!

Villa

Why travel to Tuscany when there is Villa Catalana vineyard and garden in Oregon City?  As part of their Art in the Garden Party, I made several trips to paint plein air, take photos, and enjoy the wonderful scenery based around the Romanesque stone house complete with red tile roofs, Corinthian columns, balustrades, arches, and sunny skies that made me feel I was in Italy!  "Villa Stone House" started plein air and studio finished, is 11" x 14"

From the terrace there was a view of a pond with waterlilies and lotus flowers. On Saturday evening, during the party, we were serenaded by a jazz trio.  "Villa Catalana Pond" painted from photos and imagination, is on a wrapped 16" x 20" canvas.

My last plein air painting from Saturday, "Waterlilies and Lotus" is 9" x 12".