"Bottling the Juice--Columbia Gorge Organics"

12"x12"

Oil on Panel

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Here's one more painting for our Uncommon Beauty project. The subject here is a fellow working at Columbia Gorge Organics which raises organic fruit and makes organic juices and bars--very delicious!!  Here, he is bottling the day's juice.  Visit http://anuncommonbeautyproject.blogspot.com to see all the work for this project and to read about it.

"Saturday at Cascade Alpacas & Foothills Yarn Shop" (sold)p"

12"x12"

Oil on Panel

The latest in the series of paintings for "An Uncommon Beauty--Paintings of Life and Land East of the Cascades"!  Visit my NEW BLOG about this extensive undertaking by clicking on the above link.

This painting is of one of the owners, Thomas, at Cascade Alpacas and Foothills Yarn in the gorgeous Hood River Valley. They raise the alpacas, shear their yarn, spin it, sell it, etc. along with other types of yarn in their shop.  Their meticulous care of their award-winning animals keeps it all going strong.

"Packing Up Apples"

16"x12"

Oil on Panel

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Holidays are past and life is getting a bit back to normal and for me that means getting back to painting! This is another painting for our "An Uncommon Beauty" project. The setting is a packing house in the Hood River Valley that is owned by one of the larger orchardists in the area.  I asked and found out that a big farm as far as orchards go is 500 acres.  That was interesting to me, as a big ranch in SE Oregon could be 25,000 acres, and a big farm in the Klamath Basin could be a couple of thousand. . .everything is relative!

"Feeding the Chickens"

6"x6"

Oil on Panel

$125 plus $10 domestic s/h

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The more I looked at yesterday's painting, the less happy I was with it, so here it is with changes.  I added the chickens and changed a couple of other details.  I think it's definitely an improvement!  Needless to say, yesterday's painting no longer exists. . .

"Lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, New Canaan" watercolor study

Watercolor on 140# Arches

16"x12" sheet size

$100 includes domestic s/h

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I just returned a few days ago from a trip to the east coast.  I'd hoped to do some watercolor sketches on the trip, but just didn't get to it--lots of photographs, though, and lots of ink sketches of people in the airports!  As the title says, this study is from Le Pain Quotidien in New Canaan.  I loved the light in there and am looking forward to doing an oil painting of this subject.  I had to look up "quotidian" (qotidiEn in French) and it means "daily". . ."our daily bread". . .how nice!

"Santa Monica Pier"

5"x6"

Oil on Panel

$115 plus $10 domestic s/h

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Is it hot yet?!  I love the light in this--same time of year as "Cannery Row", my previous post (early November) on the California coast.  It is so easy to see why it's a draw for artists! 



"Untitled #3"

20"x11"

Oil on 1 1/2" cradled panel

$300 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This is the third of a series of paintings I've been (slowly!) working on.  The others were posted on April 30.  I have liked working with just the figure.  I like exploring the idea of the person without a context.  I think about how we pass each other throughout a day, coming into each other's existence for a split second, maybe a little more, but then pass and never see each other again.  These paintings are a way to explore that and, also, a way to prolong the moment.

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'What's Happening Over There?"

8"x10"

Oil on Board

$175 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I have lost count of how many paintings I have wiped off this week!  It seems to be a time of finding a new way and not alot is working right now.  I've often thought of the words of an art prof of mine many years ago--I had reached a plateau and drawing wasn't going as well as it usually had.  He told me not to worry, that it was because I was learning something new.  I don't know how many times I have passed that on to my own students over the years when they get discouraged, but I sure don't like having to deal with it myself--especially after so many drawings, paintings and so many years.  I guess there are two ways to look at it:  1.  I will never find a place to "rest" with my painting where things predictably work or, 2., I will never find a place to "rest" with my painting because there is always growth and change.  Ok, I know the answer. . .it just isn't always very pleasant!!  (:  Happy growth in painting to us all!

"Practice Pieces #2"

21"x14"

Oil on panel

NFS

Well, there are quite a few things about this painting that make it a practice piece!  First off, I have wiped off two nearly completed paintings before I decided to go ahead and call this one that I would photograph!  Then, I used a very limited palette:  cad red medium, yellow ochre, ivory black, radiant and titanium white, some raw sienna and burnt sienna.  I bagan the painting each time with a strong charcoal drawing I was very pleased with.  My challenge was to see if I could utilize more flat areas of color than I usually do--not so much modeling--and keep some of the line quality.  I'm not so sure I succeeded, but it has been a good exercise--each time I've painted it!   I will probably wipe this off. In the next one, I want to concentrate on trying to get some warm and glowing skin tones.  I have a difficult time finding the colors to use to get something that I like the looks of.  For this, it was OK.  I knew my limited palette had--well, had limitations!  We'll see what the next version brings!

"High Desert Belly Dancers #1"

10"x8"

Oil on Board

$175 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This was a kick to paint, though intimidating for me!!  For one, I took my photos while the dancers were in motion, so obviously I didn't have the detail I was used to being able to look at, and, two, I haven't used these colors alot.  I found that the blur in the photos was to my advantage and allowed me to concentrate on the FEEL of the scene rather than trying to get everything exact.  Fun. 

"At the Curiosity Shoppe"

10"x8"

Oil on Cradled Board

Ready to Hang, No Framing Necessary

$140 plus $10 domestic s/h

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This painting's setting is in an independent little shop full of art, books and other "curiosities".  It's had a variety of locations in Bend here in the 20 years I've visited it, but has always been a place in town that people who are less conventional than others could find a home.  It's been much appreciated by those of us who need to feel that independent spirit in action.  I painted this about four years ago, just when I was beginning to get into "slice of life" paintings.  I was intrigued by the lighting and still find the subject compelling.  It will be available at this price through the end of January.

"Reading the Comics at Starbucks"

10"x8"

Oil on Board

$255 plus $10 domestic s/h

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Happy New Year to all!  It feels good to end the year by painting!  I've been away for the Christmas holiday and haved missed my studio. . .

I mentioned in the post before last that I wanted to do a larger painting of this young guy reading the comics while he waited for Mom to bring the hot chocolate (or whatever!), so thought I'd work on that today.  In the study for it, I worked on a dark-ground board and wanted to try a lighter one as well as different colors.  So for this, I pulled out the pthalo blue, dioxozine purple, rose madder, cad red medium, vermillion, cad yellow lemon and white.  It's one of those paintings that doesn't quite fit the mold for my eyes and that I will have to live with for a bit before I decide how I "like" it!  Even as I say that, I realize that I do--it's just that it feels like somebody else did it!!  Odd! 

"Waiting and Watching"

10"x8"

Oil on Board

$290 plus $10 domestic s/h

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One of my favorite places for subject matter is at Union Station in Portland, OR.  I love the light and the reflections that seem to be everywhere and the variety of people I see.  I like going to a public place and being able to just snap away to get my reference photos, but at the station, I feel so obvious and so aware of security issues that I don't do that much anymore.  I ask permission and am often turned down--oh all those people who could've be immortalized!!  (:

"Cruisin' Through the Park"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

Going through my photos today, I came across this one given to me by a friend and there we go!  I loved the carefree feel of the kid on his rollerblades.  It reminded me of riding my bike when I was a kid, feeling the air go through my hair, just being so into the moment. . .the wonderful thing is that it doesn't have to stop when you're a grown-up!  Think I'll get me some rollerskates!

"Breakfast Conversation"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

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I wish I could have overheard the conversation going on here!  They were so involved on a Saturday morning--makes me wonder what went on Friday night!

"Finely Crafted"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$100 plus $15 domestic s/h

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I imagine this scene of people browsing at a Saturday market could be seen just about anywhere, but THIS one happens to be this past summer in Ashland, Oregon. Ashland is such a beautiful town, lots of culcha!

Here are TWO NEW DAILY PAINTERS that I hope you will check out. They both work in oils. Though I've been doing mostly figurative paintings, their work inspires me to do some still lifes. Gwen Bell's blog address is http://gwenbellsdailypainting.blogspot.com and Becky Drees's is http://beckydrees.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Commission--Papa and Pup

6"x8"

Oil on Board

NFS

I was asked to paint this for a Christmas gift--it was so fun! The Papa looks like such a jolly guy and I LOVE anyone who obviously loves their dog!

"Santa Monica Pier #2"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

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I am getting together a group of 30 6x6 paintings for a special show over the holidays and this is one of them. Besides painting new subjects, I'm going back through images I've enjoyed working with and want to do again in a different size. This one was first posted as a 5"x6"painting in May. Click here to see it. I love the subject, the light and the colors.

Study For "Wedding Day"

6"x6"

Oil on Board

$140 plus $10 domestic s/h

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I've been wanting to do a larger painting of this image (my niece the day of her wedding), and was only thinking of her as the subject with no background. I looked at the photos, though, and liked the story that it suggested. She was at her childhood home, looking out the window after she had put on her wedding dress. Maybe she was just conscious of the fact that pictures were being taken of her, but, then again, maybe she was thinking about what lay before her that day.

"At the Carnival"

12"x16"

OIl on Board

I did a 16x20 painting of this subject a couple of years ago and just was never quite happy with it, so decided to try it again. This time, I feel like it really works. It is a more cohesive piece than the previous one. Here's a link to it if you'd like to compare and see what you think: "Carnival Time". The scene is from our county fair and I am saving this painting for a show in August.