THE SUNSET BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER

I painted this sunset while it was fresh in my mind ( the next day) I was inspired not only by the sunset, but by the feeling there, for a few moments overlooking the Pacific, in southern California, when we all paused to enjoy nature in all it's splendor. It mattered not who we were or where we were going, what our politics were or how much money we had. For a few moments we were as one, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

WINTER 2017

This winter was a challenge for me, artistically, spiritually and physically. For many months I had no inspiration in the studio, but I challenged myself to go in a take up the brush anyway. I have been yearning for a deeper expression in my work, so I consciously let go of any purpose to the work and let the paint take me where it would.  Without "rules" I created from a place beyond my consciousness . This is what came from that meditation. To me, I have written in paint, my inner voice this winter. Can you hear me?

PLAYING TO THE DAPPLED LIGHT

Playing to the Dappled light came from a photo I took of a street musician in Southeast Portland. I truly regret not getting her name, but I feel like I am intimate with her now, having studied the photos I took for so long. I continue to explore the techniques of watercolor using acrylic and also used some palette knife. I learned a lot about "seeing" dappled light, and love to be challenged with the crazy ways my brain is working!!!

ALA PRIMA BRANTA NEGRA, MAZATLAN 2016

LOOKING RIGHT

LOOKING LEFT

Little sketches with watercolor in Mexico last winter. These are a gift for Beth and Denny, who invited us to visit them there. The deck is right next to the beach and these were our views :-)

STILL A CRACK OF LIGHT

STILL A CRACK OF LIGHT

This painting is the last of the "oregon coast" series. It was begun on a rainy day near Newport with color washes worked in the wet of the day, plein-air, so I had the feeling and the movement of the water. But it sat around waiting for more inspiration for a few months until I got a message in my head from the composition. I like to listen to images, and let them tell me what to say, if possible.

THE SERIES: BEAUTIFUL OREGON COAST

TOP 'O THE DUNE

NATURES CATHEDRAL

I'm having fun with this series on the Oregon Coast! Got inspired on this trip and still have one more piece in the works. In these pieces I was inspired by the dune grass and other flora and fauna on the coast. I was able to capture moments with my camera, as in Top 'o the Dune and Natures Cathedral  .  In Sea of Grass  my intention was to capture the vibrant feeling one gets when standing in the midst of this amazing habitat. This painting was completed plein-aire and mostly alla-prima. I love using color to depict perspective and lead the eye.

Although the Newport Bridge had to be in the composition,
I did not want it to be the focal point. I am finding my style of using watercolor technique along with the texture of  impressionistic brush strokes to be what is working for me at this point.

SEA OF GRASS

Always finding happiness in my art world......sometimes the best escape and most positive addition I can give to a troubled world.

Tiny Fairy Cat

Fun doing this portrait study of a friends rescue cat

Copper River Dipnetting

I took this photograph many years ago in Chitna, when we made our annual pilgrimage 400 miles south to get our salmon for the year. Michael and I agree it evokes the sense of the place, and we enjoy this painting in our new Oregon home.

CHELSEA IN ARLE

Just finished this painting of my surrogate daughter, Chelsea. I worked from a photograph I took in Europe of her 15 years ago. Chelsea has had a sad and trouble filled life, and since I have lost track of her whereabouts, but still think of her every day, the process of painting her in this peaceful pose has given me some peace, as well.

Georgia on My Mind

Flowers are a challenge for most artists, I think.....at least they are for me. So I approached this Peony "from a different direction", in that after studying my photo image for many days, even weeks, I began my drawing from a black and white rendition. I had underpainted my favorite turquoise . As I made my eye "see" in an abstract way, I began to really have fun in the rendering. I often paint in a watercolor style, having been exclusively watercolorist for so many years. Now, with acrylics, I naturally go there. As I began to develop the colors, I found referencing only the B&W allowed me to develop my own colors. I just loved the way the turquoise underpainting peeked through. The actual flower was bright pink!

CAPTURING SOME RAIN

This is my first rendering of a rain scene. I experimented with glazing and a few other techniques to get the feel of it. I will probably continue to really "see" the rain, with lots of opportunity in the beautiful Northwest.

ROCK N' RABBIT

Lot's of fun playing with my back yard rabbit painting :-) This little guy was so entertaining, shyly eating the grass, and afterword , sometimes laid down in the sun and stretched out. Alas, his comfortable attitude may have been his demise....as I have not seen him in a few weeks. So glad I captured this moment while he was with us.

I was experimenting with textures and techniques, so that was fun as well. My challenge was creating the atmospheric perspective in a very small space. I'm happy with it

PLEIN AIR OREGON COAST

I think I can live with this Oregon Coast view. It was such fun to paint "plein air" for the first time in a long time. The weather was perfect and I was able to set up (with the help of my good husband) right next to the rv on the road. People were walking by and the energy from the tide change in this spot was so exciting. I hope I was able to capture the movement, essence and freshness that I was feeling :-)

FROM WILLIAM PARK WORKSHOP

I enrolled in a 5 day worksop with local painter William Park (www.williampark.net) 

Only lasted 3 days due to the physical intensity of this type of class. But I learned a few new techniques, and was reminded of some old ones. I really just wanted to start getting to know the "artist network" a bit here in the Pacific Northwest and maybe meet some new friends. Having a beautiful new studio at home makes it easy to isolate.....as all creative people know....not good for mental health! This painting is the beginnings of practicing Bill's process. I will probably work on it some more, and I was able to have fun, which is what he advocates in painting :-)

Im Back.....

ABIQUE

This painting has been my umbilical to my painting life for the past year. It has been in process all that time, and kept me tied to my ultimate goal of getting back to it. It is now hanging in my living room! I took the photograph while traveling through Georgia Okeefe country, in New Mexico a few years ago, and even though I now live in the Pacific Northwest, a part of my soul will always reside in the desert.

OLD FRIENDS

This is a most recent effort, experimenting with pen and ink, oil pastel and acrylic.  I love capturing moments in time and hoped to give an impression of the unrelenting passage of time, and the vignette of that moment. Slightly Andy Warhol, but not my intention. The figures came from a photograph in THE SUN by WILLIAM CARTER.

NEHALEM BAY, OREGON

This was begun as a plein air depiction of this beautiful bay. We spent several days camping above it and enjoying the relaxation and bounty of the Oregon Coast. Nice memories of fresh crab, campfires and good friends visiting.

AFTER A YEAR of not painting.......

My Backyard Gull-Friend

After a year of not painting, I finally am in my new studio in our new home in Oregon. I decided to donate to the Audubon Society here in Portland with this 6x6 inch donation to their 2014 project in the Wild Arts Festival . This little bird was a good friend and advocate during a particularly stressful time in the building process. The sun broke through and my friend was quietly basking in it on the top of a framed wall.

I wanted to capture the shadow of her head and the light on the feathers. It was a fun warm up for my rusty brush, all for a good cause :-0

Sunset on my Passion Flower

This was the last painting I did in Florida. Watching these prolific Passion Flowers on the hedge outside my window has been an inspiration. Starting to think about a new palette for Oregon!

ALASKA HOUSE ENTRY

I painted this with a large palette knife ( almost 4 inches ) triangular in shape, after a 3 day workshop I took in New Smyrna Beach. It was a growing experience to focus on creating the composition in a different way. I learned some new things and was reminded of some old things, so all in all, I was pleased with the effect. One has to refine one's language to a more simple expression, when the tools we are given are limited. It is a metaphor for life, I think. We focus on only the important things to tell our story.

OPENING TO THE LIGHT

THIS IS THE FINAL PAINTING Adjustments made to balance the composition

Just a little square take on a macro rose. Challenged by semi-abstract and square composition.

YESTERDAY

I have been creating this image in my mind for 6 months, but finally broke through the impasse and started laying out my vision. Taking a refresher class at Crealde School of Art has gotten the creative juices flowing again! There is a story here, of course, but my hope is the viewer will find their own.