Night Falls on the Winter Orchard

Cold Fog on the Slough

I`m still painting from memory the late fall watery landscapes of last year. Something about the decay and smell of humidity is so exciting. The colorful leaves remain far into December. Those atmospheric scenes will be visible again soon.

October Thicket

Sauvie Island Field

Last week when my friend Lake was visiting, we went out to Sauvie Island with my sister in law Norma. Both are manical gardeners so we stopped at the amazing Cistus Nursery. Their specialty is hardy exotics and there were many. The drive was gorgeous. I don`t think there is a more spacious place in Western Oregon. The area set aside for farming is all vast fields with magnificent banks of cottonwoods in the distance. It`s almost unbelievable how pastoral it is. In a twelve inch square, I`m trying to suggest such space.

Avalon

From my biomorphic abstraction period ten years ago. I`m wrestling with some small oil on panel landscapes at the moment. I will prevail.

Late Summer Creek

Last weekend the family gathered on Lacamas Creek to disperse my brother`s ashes into the water. Ritual usually annoys me but this was moving. We pushed Mom a half mile in a wheelchair on a dirt trail to get there. Gary left us too soon.

Oneanta Gorge [2002 and 2009]

I hope to walk up this amazing 'slot' canyon this weekend. There is a huge logjam at the mouth but beyond, it`s an easy stroll through the water. My old friend Lake will be here for a visit. She was 28 and I was 19 when we met. Now she`s 64 and I`m 55. I wonder if we can get over those logs?