June Plein Air

Gorge at Crown Point 9" x 12"

Spent a wonderful day in June plein air painting at Crown Point looking out at the Columbia River Gorge.  The clouds looked ominous, but the rain waited until the following day.  It's been that kind of June, some clouds, rain, then 90 degrees, even 100!  I don't paint outside in the rain or hot sun, I do like to enjoy myself!  And that day was lovely, lots of friendly tourists asking questions and taking photos of themselves in front of the fabulous view.  A gentleman from Austria was of the opinion that the Danube might be more beautiful than the Columbia, but to me, the Columbia Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in the world and I never get tired of painting there.

Plein air

This is the season for plein air paint outs and I've been busy out there in on good days this week.  Monday I went to the Columbia Gorge and revisited the Women's Forum with the view of Crown Point, then found a wonderful spot to paint near the Vista House parking area.  It was not windy and there were just enough curious and friendly tourists to be interesting but not distracting.  I painted one of the Gorge view on a 6" x 12" panel, then a quick sketch of the Vista House, but it looked like a muffin so I ate it!  Not really, it got painted over back at my studio.  

During the week I painted flowers from a Farmers Market bouquet and today I painted flowers at R. Blooms in Lake Oswego.  More flower paintings will follow!