"Downtown Maupin"

6"x8"

Oil on Board

This is of a little town in eastern Oregon which is a well-known place for river rats to put into the Deschutes River. It was so quiet and I felt so conspicuous as I was going around taking pictures! I liked the tension between the light and dark shapes. While I was painting it, every once in awhile I'd be seeing this great abstract composition happening and I hoped to keep that flavor, too. I'd like to do this again and explore those aspects more, exaggerate them. I find it quite a challenge to not put in too much information! My intention is to spend alot of time this summer (in spite of the gas prices!) going around rural Oregon and painting what, to me, feels "rural". Visiting Maupin is a start!