Day 10

Portrait, Winter Solstice, oil 9" x 12" on canvas board $135

This Winter has not been especially cold or wet so far on this part of the Pacific Northwest.  But still, there is a desire for longer days in daylight, a return of the light now that the holidays are over.  This portrait is from a black and white photo by photodechobek, found online at deviantart.com, the colors just happened.

Day 9

Tim, oil on 12" x 12" panel

After the Alla Prima artist group breakfast meeting yesterday, a couple of us went to the nearby Multnomah Center to sketch.  Mostly we sketched each other, and other people in the Senior Center lounge.  I did a small pencil sketch of Tim Young, and back in my studio decided to try using it as a basis for a painting on a board that already had a bright yellow under painting.  Tim, with his long gray beard and pony tail, is a wonderful artist and colorful character, so I thought he deserves a colorful background!

Day 8

Orange Cat with Pillows, 9" x 8" stretched canvas

Last night's painting was of my sister's cat, Tiny, who is mostly orange, snuggled in red and gold pillows, a warm analogous color scheme.

Day 7

Blueberry Picker, oil on 8" x 10" canvas panel $120

A warm reminder of last summer's bounty:  picking blueberries on Sauvie Island.  I used a sunny yellow under painting to project through the greenery.

Day 6

Carousel, 10" x 10" oil on gallery wrapped canvas $125

For Day 6 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I combined two of my themes:  critters and favorite places.  This is not the same carousel of my childhood happy memories in L.A., chasing the brass ring while the horses pranced to music, the scenery whizzing by in a blur.  This is the carousel at Jantzen Beach, which has been lovingly restored.  The photos of the carousel in motion that I took are dark and blurry, and I tried to convey the feeling of motion in the rough strokes of the painting.  The painting was started on top of a previous painting, with some color and texture showing through.  I enjoyed painting this one so much, will do at least one other fantasy carousel!

Day 5

Cat on the Path, 8 x 8" oil on stretched canvas $85

Another portrait of Scooter, this one of his majestic fluffiness in Spring, on the path near the cherry tree, with scattered blossoms.

Day 4

"Cat with Cat Pillow" 12" x 12" gallery wrapped canvas $160 

The cat pillow, a gift from my sister, is larger than life so is somewhat surreal, especially the big eyes.

But Scooter does not seem to be aware of the big cat, it's just another soft thing on the sofa.