Thanksgiving - Fog in the Forest

                                                              oil on canvas 40x30
 "This is the day we are given, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Indeed, Happy Thanksgiving!
I first posted the following poem at Thanksgiving 2009. My Dad had recently died and these words meant a lot to me;
                                                                   

Thanks Given

We were nine.

We were eight.

We are seven.

We were together.

We are apart.

We were mother and father,

five daughters,

two sons:

Together. One.

Apart

In Virginia and Florida,

New York and Tennessee,

in Georgia

We were a family.

We are a family

come together

with spirit,

with ghost

Eyes looking down,

looking up,

looking out

To a hillside in Arlington,

to a headstone in Venice:

Two to make

seven into nine.

Lips pressing thank yous

on shadows of air

breathed in breathed out

paused

To save

for blessings

round tables

Together,

apart,

As one.

Copyright © 2009 Maureen E. Doallas [my pal]. All Rights Reserved.

Winter Fir

The Douglas Fir is the iconic tree of the Pacific Northwest. They are the original source of Oregon`s wealth along with the salmon. Even after a couple of centuries of logging, they are everywhere. I have two in my front yard! When left in peace they can become truly massive and are worth the effort to see in the protected groves of the Cascades or on the coast.
watercolor on Yupo 6x6


available work in the studio

Rainforest Ravine 2

Most of the painting I do is done at night, when I can concentrate. Yet I can listen while I work, to someone else, the radio, TV, podcast etc. Saturday nights used to be a black hole of worthy media relegating the evening to TED talks or silence. Now my local PBS station has the best lineup of the week on this night, including the wonderful show of stories, Snap Judgement. Last night the theme was gratitude. Appropriate for the best national holiday we have, here within days.
watercolor on Yupo 14x15


Available work in the studio

Rainforest Ravine

I have lots of new work but not much to say. It`s really winter here now. Things are quiet but I hear the rain in the gutters and the nights are blessedly long. We keep tiny Christmas lights on all winter for their cheer and I`m always amazed at how effective they are.
This is the time I wait for and do my best work in. It`s a dark, watery world perfect for painting.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in the studio

Rainforest Light 2

Kind of spring like but I just did it a week ago.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in my studio

Rainforest Light

Accuracy isn`t too important, getting the mood of a place at a certain time, is. When I paint these Dr. Seuss trees, I wonder if people outside the Pacific Northwest understand them? They`re green because of moss and they are distorted for the same reason. Big clumps of moss high up into the branches disrupt the expected proportions and give the trees a truly 'other world' look.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in the studio

November Rain

Days are short, it`s wet, but I think this is the most beautiful month in the Northwest.
I thought I had conquered Yupo with a multi-watermedia technique but now I`m finding a lot more possibility with just watercolor. The look is more like gouche maybe, there is plenty of Chinese white involved, but the brilliant white surface of Yupo reflects through anything.
watercolor on Yupo 20x20


available work in my studio

Rainforest Autumn

                                                            watercolor on Yupo 8x6

 My birthday walk, last week in the rain, has proven productive. I`m getting some work I like and it`s fantastic to have some continuity from painting to painting. Stylistically I`m as variable as ever but the theme of the autumn forest binds the work together. Nearly all of the them are watercolors and I`m using some new techniques which take advantage of the 'lifting' properties of Yupo. I`m really having fun and that walk was off the charts gorgeous. Because of the rain, I only saw two joggers, three industrious men with shovels and an ecstatic couple from India. They were so happy to see me, they wanted to exclaim about the beauty. Look what we saw:

available work in my studio

Autumn Sketch 3

I like this new little painting though the actual subject isn`t certain.
Tryon Creek Park, just north of Lake Oswego, is bordered by homes. This is a view from the forest into someone`s backyard where their east coast maples were a blazing autumn spectacle.
watercolor on Yupo 6x6


available work in the studio

Into the West

Today is my 60th birthday and I finally have convinced my family that I like it quiet, no fussing. At this age, everyone has personally known a life cut short. Our own survival just feels lucky. As on any other day, I will avoid cameras, mirrors and shop windows. Why dent the gratitude with rude reminders? I`m going for a walk in the rain in a forest I love. Like any other day.
watercolor on Yupo 8x6.5


available work in the studio

Thank You!

We`ve been overwhelmed by everyone`s sweet congratulations, thank you! This is the only time my personal story has intersected with our country`s cultural history in such a dramatic, significant way. It feels like the triumph it is! God bless America!

the painting is watercolor on Yupo 6x6

Randy + Johnny in the Beautiful Autumn!

                                                          when we were young [er]

                                                           watermedia on Yupo 6x6

Love is love. Today I married the man I`ve loved for 14 years, he is the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank you Yahoo! And thank you to all the open hearted citizens of Washington who voted for fairness, inclusion, and decency and made my wedding possible. It was a great day at Fort Vancouver!