Over the Sea 4

Georgia Okeefe, Rene Magritte and many others showed you can put things in the sky and get poetry. As Christmas has come and gone along with the deep snow, I`ve been messing around in my studio gearing up for the New. I`ve painted over past failures while letting a bit of the old show through. The sky is so forgiving.

Over the Sea 2

The wine dark sea as Milton Avery would put it.

Over the Sea

For Mackenzie Tipton.

Christmas Thicket

Interlude

Maybe I`m distracted, it is Christmas. I feel like I forgot how to paint. At least with oils. Might be best to return to the watermedia. I did this little abstract painting a couple weeks ago.

Along the Creek

Minto Brown 2

Spillover Study

From 2006. Early Summer on Sauvie Island.

Minto Brown Island

A new oil painting of the nature preserve in Salem Oregon.

Winter Wetland

From the archive. I`m working on oil paintings for the first time in six months. It took a couple of days to get used to it`s viscosity, and to have such control, it stymied me. With watercolor on the plastic paper 'Yupo', the paint has it`s own agenda. It`s more a collaboration.

Mural-Estacada Oregon

Last winter after hiking in Milo McIver State Park we went into Estacada to eat lunch and hopefully find this amazing artwork. A picture of it had been in the paper years before and I had saved it. After weaving back and forth through the small town without any luck, I gave up, thinking I remembered wrong. We sat down in the A&W with our food and John looked up and over my shoulder, through the window and there it was! I only wish I had written down the name of the artist. Isn`t it stunning? I think it`s called "Tree of Life".

Before the Forest Study

Late Fall Study

A Copse of Trees

Rain on the Stream

This piece and "Edge of the Pond" will be included in a small works show at the Waterstone Gallery this December. I`m the guest participant of Charlie Schweigerts`.

Edge of the Pond

This invention began with the simple idea of water and grass. I wanted the painting process to lead without reference or design. Long 'narrative' watercolors full of texture and painterly incident are percolating inside. I may need a bigger studio to accomplish what I`m thinking but that may be coming too.

Riverbank 2

This is the last of the small paintings for my December show at the Migration Gallery in Charlottesville Virginia. The riverbank is Ross Island. The subject came from a river 'cruise' John`s parents gave us for Christmas. It was really fun. I have not been on enough boats.

Light in the Forest

New Season

Winter Oak

Grizzly Peak

This mountain dominates the views in Ashland Oregon. Across the valley from the town, it seems to hover at eye level, always a constant presence.

Into the Canyon

Oneanta Gorge, the most haunting place in Oregon.

Winter Wetlands

Used some watercolor crayons here for texture. The marshes are particularly beautiful when they`re dormant, much more color.

Above the Falls

On Monday John and I took Laura Foster`s new book "Portland City Walks" to Oregon City to do her tour of that community. Beyond fun! It had history, culture, industry and amazing views. One of them was Willamette Falls.

nov. 1

It`s fall. I`m out like everyone else enjoying the bright color, the beautiful angled light, the exhilarating air, all of it. When I try to paint that, there doesn`t seem to be enough colors to get it right. Then I remember a truism I often forget. When that happens, I`ve already used too many. Here are three stages of this painting as I try to complete it. I may have ruined it in my effort to tone it down.

Moonrise over the Valley

Fog on the River

Orchard

Clearing

Went for a walk while my car was being serviced and came upon something like this. The path led to a view of the river.

Edith`s Aspen

I stole this composition from the Canadian painter Edith Dora Rey. Hope she doesn`t mind.

Windbreak

The Mountain from the Train

Did several paintings from the sketches I drew on that trip to Seattle.

Up into the Vineyards

The Cristom vineyards, where I was encouraged to do some work. Hillside plantings make for better wine. Some struggle for the vine is good.

Sideyard Study

At the White Bird Gallery.

Estuary Island

Summer Hillside [it`s origin]

When I was younger I thought painting landscapes from photographs was a seriously bad idea. The photo flattened reality in an obvious way. I arrogantly thought I could spot one instantly. Then a mentor showed me his process and his fresh results. Then along came digital cameras and their amazing software. Then it dawned on me, I didn`t have to sit in the sun with my sketchbook every time. I could take a picture. Now the plein air experience is truly valuable much like drawing from the figure. With a companion or a group it`s a fun opportunity to be social and working. But no doubt about it, the camera is quicker. On a trip to Ashland in 2004 I sat in the backseat sketching and taking photos from the moving car. The picture above led to the small study which begat the larger watercolor which someday may become an even bigger oil painting. Just from a casual snapshot.

Rain over the Valley

Border

Morning on the Channel

Another boggy painting. These paintings are of the many sloughs, channels and estuaries that become more numerous as the Columbia nears the Pacific. At the Hanson Howard Gallery.

Figure Study

Nocturne 2

All of the sudden I`m having a show of small paintings at the Migration Gallery in December. These will be watermedia on Yupo mounted on panels. So six weeks to get this together. I`ve found I like a challenge and a deadline. I just hope my patience with Yupo holds. Most of the time I love it, then eventually it`s unique properties start to drive me crazy. All I want in those moments is for the paint to hold still. Sometimes I`ll be lucky and remember what Richard Diebenkorn said to me in a workshop, 'sometimes you have to create a problem to solve one'.

Demonstration Painting-Into the Gorge

From the benefit for Basic Rights Oregon last Saturday.

Nocturne

Fancy word eh? sounds French or something :) This is new, and I`ll have it with me tonight as I do a demonstration painting to be auctioned in support of Basic Rights Oregon, our local champion for equality for the GLBT community. This is their big fundraiser extravaganza and I`m part of the entertainment.

Shallows

Another new work! Slowly, I`m getting my stride back.

Wind

New Work! it`s only 12"x12" but it`s the largest painting I`ve completed since June.

Oaks Bottom-Moonlight

Watercolorists who use a butcher`s tray for a palette will have noticed as they mix their colors, spectacular things happening on the tray. Painting on Yupo is similar. Quite often it`s best to just get out of the way.