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.

Flower Girl

Farmers market flower girl, small and bright,

Making colorful bouquets to delight!

Flower Girl, 6" x 6", acrylic.

Verdant View

I started this 10" x 10" painting a few weeks ago after a walk through a densely forested trail at Rooster Rock park. It was one of those "can't see the forest for the trees" situations. Suddenly, light was revealed through the "V" of an old tree covered with moss, and luckily my camera was with me. I used different acrylic media to accentuate the textures of moss and bark.

Next month I have several shows! Two of my plein air paintings will be on display at the Hillsboro Plein Air Exhibition August 2-31 at the Walters Cultural Arts Center main gallery. The opening is Tuesday August 2 at 6:00 pm, with music and refreshments!

Next First Thursday August 4, I'll have two paintings as part of "According to Northwest Light" at the Albina Bank in the Pearl District. The reception is 6:00-9:00 pm, and Albina Bank is located at 430 NW 10th Avenue, Portland 97209. Come on by!

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...

Radishes and Gold Jacket

On Sunday I completed two small paintings. First, a 6" x 6"still life of radishes, too beautiful to consume before painting their vibrant redness in a green bowl. Later, Nancy posed in a flashy gold jacket at the Candlelight Studio. She seemed to be channeling her inner rock star, maybe 80's era judging by the big shoulders. I painted on a 6" x 12" canvas panel. What do these two have in common: warm colors! After plein air trips to see mostly green foliage and gray skies, it was great to rediscover red!

Hillsboro Plein Air

Spent two days plein air painting in Hillsboro. Yesterday I went to the Jackson Bottom Wetlands with vast views of meadows spotted with poles with attached birdhouses for all types and sizes of birds and bats. I did not notice many birds but did spot a deer in the middle of the field! The weather was perfect, then got a bit hot, then hotter. I had to takes shade breaks. There is always something with plein air, bugs, weather, my easel falls over, I get hungry, etc! But that is just part of the challenge, and incidental to why we do it. It just is the best way to experience reality and nature and really be there. I thought about all that this morning as I drove back to Hillsboro looking at the very cloudy sky and wondering how we were going to paint costumed models in the rain. There were tents, and the drizzle was not an issue!

Above are my two paintings of Birdhouses at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, and Two Girls in the Park. Ok, one of the girls is missing her head but I liked what the shape did for the composition.

Flowers in Yellow Vase

Started a small 6" x 6" simple still life last night around 11:00 and it was anything but simple! Flowers are complex! Next time I'll paint just one flower.