Sauvie Island

Painting en plein air at Sauvie Island is like being in another country, another time, with wide open spaces and the sounds of birds. Fall is full of ripe colors. Painted sunflowers, corn and pumpkins, one day. Another day found a dirt road to a lake and blackberries, wildflowers, trees and clouds. Cows ambled past.

Crystal Springs

Painted at Crystal Springs on a cool day with a hint of Fall, a relief after the hot Summer haze. Using a new palette with a wet sponge, my acrylic paints stayed wet and flowed like watercolor, which suited this scene of a waterfall flowing into a wide pond full of quacking mallards. A pale willow tree spreads out in front of a curved bridge.

Summer Haze

It's been hot and hazy, due to wildfires in nearby mountains, creating a bright orange sunset and golden moon. Walking on Powell Butte, the haze covered mountain views and it was too hot for me to paint plein air, so I photographed wildflower covered meadows and retreated to my studio to paint. The next day I cut and tore and pasted papers for collages, and painted an abstract on canvas, still influenced by the golden haze.

water, rocks

More moving water over mossy rocks.

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.

waterfall edge

Looking up to the edge of the waterfall, it seems to flow out of the sky; the mist nourishes moss and cools the air. Acrylic, 10" x 10".

waterfall

Walked the trail at Wakeena Falls in the Columbia Gorge on a hot summer day, enjoyed the sights and sounds of water splashing on mossy rocks, cool mist, different perspectives.
10" x 10" gallery wrapped acrylic.