Low Tide, Edge of the Estuary

The last painting of my stay here, I go home tomorrow. What a wonderful place! Because some fellow artists/bloggers have mentioned me recently, I know I have more visitors. And I suspect 99% are artists. If any of you consider yourselves landscape painters, I strongly suggest you apply for a residency here. If you can get away for awhile. It is an ultimate, unmessed with environment, beautiful beyond imagining. I was one of 9 chosen from an applicant pool of 90. I have never heard of such an advantageous ratio. In my exit interview yesterday, I urged them to accept artists who might want to use the surroundings as their subject. The idea of a retreat is great but this place as a source for work should not be minimized. Really, apply!

Saplings Near the Water

Everything is greening up, early spring I guess. That makes me nervous.
I hope I can complete one more small piece. To help with the drying, I use Winsor Newton alkyd titanium white as well as their Liquin medium to mix with my oil paints. Because I do paint thinly, I usually have a dry surface the next day. I can`t imagine waiting for the paint to dry without them.

Salmon River Estuary

Still more like a mural than the Chinese scroll in my head, but it may be worthy.
Just a few days left here at Sitka and I think a couple more paintings.

Alders through a Clearing

Alder Rainforest Study

Thin oil paint; the transparency of watercolor without the grief.

North Shore

With the ocean 1/4 mile away, I had to paint it at least once. As layers set up on a new long painting, I`ll do smaller work like this as well. There is nothing benign about the Northwestern sea, don`t turn your back on it. I wanted to paint a 'tonal' piece with a hint of menace.

Trail through the Winter Thicket

Another little study I did two days ago while thinking about a long composition. A way to proceed came to me on a run yesterday. After blocking in the forms last night with it`s multiple viewpoints, it looks like a travel poster for the Oregon coast.

Coast Stream Study

Never underestimate what a nice person can do. Yesterday Carol Marine praised my work in her blog, today my counter has gone crazy. Two more weeks before the end of this residency. The Big Idea I came here to develop, hasn`t much. I have four long canvases waiting yet everything I want to paint is vertical. This won`t remain unresolved.

Alder Rainforest 2

Alder Rainforest

This place is National Park quality yet it`s these bare winter trees that get me.

Headlands Study

I may be learning laptop skills, such as where to angle the lid/monitor. Possibly picking up on Photoshop too. My pictures I know have been awful as I try to figure it out. This image seems better. It`s a small piece done in between larger efforts.
Meanwhile high wind warnings are in effect. It makes a truly awesome sound coming through all the trees. This morning I had a beautiful run before things got dramatic.

Alders and Estuary

Alders, Meadow, Sky

John arrived today and we walked out Cascade Head. Such a spectacular vertical climb, it`s like hanging in the air! This oil was painted after walking the same hike the day after getting here. The alders are so gorgeous with their silver bark. The meadow is absolutely vast and the sky very close.

From Cascade Head

It`s been raining so much my paint isn`t drying. I have three oil paintings in process. Remembering that David Roberts has done interesting work with ink on Yupo, just before leaving the studio last night I gave it a try. One of the reasons I keep trying with this paper is because Sitka accepted me on the basis of my work with Yupo and the project I proposed was to be with Yupo. They don`t care but I was feeling defeated by it and that felt unacceptable. So I did this ink brush drawing today as I waited for the oil paint to set up.

Elk! Nature walk and a new start!

As I left the bathroom this morning I glanced out the window and about 30 elk were grazing by the parking lot. They`re big! Then we were taken on a tour of different ecological zones within the area. I can`t say I`ve ever stood in the rain, on the side of a mountain, with three other people talking about science and literature with everyone happy to be there. I began a long painting based on the landscapes I`m seeing here. I had an obvious revelation that this is exactly what muralists do, create a type of visual narrative. I`ll play with this composition and see how it develops. The look of a mural isn`t quite what I`m after.

The Last Yupo Watercolor

This is the first watercolor I`ve completed in nine months. On Yupo no less. It`s the Devil`s paper I tell you, Devil Paper!!
I just wanted to paint yesterday after our orientation and buying groceries. Thought I`d give watercolor a new chance. It`s looking like a 40 year relationship may be ending. Why don`t I feel sad?
This afternoon I began one of the long paintings I came here to do. I`ll take some pictures of my progress.

Sitka!

Just an amazing location, wonderful facility [I have my holy grail of simultaneous oil and watermedia areas], super kind and helpful staff, and sweet fellow residents. Soon I hope to have new work to post. I`m also on a Mac for the first time unsupervised. Wish me luck, the webmaster does not arrive until Sunday.

actually this is posted by Randall, not John.