“Columbia Tech Center” Plein Air Painting

I set up at “park”. The name of the park is “The Columbia Tech Center Park. It is only 10 min from my work. Located off 164th behind the strip mall. I had located a bench by a beautiful ond and landscaping and painted away before I started my Thursday Classes. The park is used by many business people for a noontime walk. We are fortunate that the city planners think of adding natural settings to our urban development.

“Floral Still Life”

Today I set up a still life on the deck. I have been inspired to use a lot of light and color after reading Susan Sarback’s Book “Capturing Radiant Light and Color”. The roses were from my cousin, Frank Hecker’s garden. Frank is the past-president of the “Rose Society” and his backyard is full of many different varieties of plants and flowers. I could have set up in my studio but I really like the fresh air and atmosphere. When the sun shines all my

Daily Painting, “The Grotto Angel”

Sipping a green tea latte in Starbucks and reflecting on my day I decide to write this post.  Today was the Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters Breakfast Meeting.  We did critiques on paintings including one of mine.  A critique always brings out a variety of emotions in a artist and I am still processing mine.  I really don’t want to make the changes suggested as I am ready for the next thing.  I have to remember this feeling when I am working with my art students when I tell them..there is just one more thing to adjust and they let out a loud groan.

My daily painting was done at the “Grotto” in Portland Oregon.  They were putting up Christmas lights.  Thousands and Thousands of twinkie lights.  It was very festive and magical. I painted a pastel of a Angel praying on toned pastel paper.

Saturday Plein Air Class

"Plein Air Class"

Today’s daily was my Saturday Plein Air Class and we met in Jef Gunn’s Studio.  We viewed our monoprints and critiqued past paintings for the class.

“Sauvie Island Plein-Air Painting”

Today’s Daily Painting was a trip to Sauvie Island with Jef Gunn’s Plein Air Class.  We meet at the Rain Studio on Reeder Road.  The weather smiled and the sun came out making a beautiful painting day.

In the painting I used a “z” composition and Jef suggested I put in the trees in the upper right so that the viewer would “have a way to get back”.  After the trees went in the composition was improved.  Jef also suggested that a “an composition should be like a sauce  cook it down so it has a resonance”. On edges he suggests that they become more beautiful by working and reworking.

“Daily Painting”

"Daffodils In Progress"

Daily Painting today was on the Pastel Daffodils Plein Air Painting.

“Washougal Lion”

My first day of daily painting I felt very excited and felt like secret door known only to me had just opened to a new land of adventure and fun..

A broad smile spread over my face as I set aside my usual Sunday activities and happily started to paint En plein air a French expression meaning “in the open air.”

I set up my new “Thumb Plein Air set up”, which I had purchased from Judson’s Art Outfitter Supplier. I wanted to see how it all worked and the set up was great. I wanted to get a set up that was very compact and set up easily. I set up in the carport and was very glad as I made many trips into the house to get additional items for my set-up. I felt like I had returned to a long missed part of myself.

8”x10” Oil on Ray-Mar archival Canvas Board $200.00

“Steigerwald Lake Wild Life Refuge”

"Steigerwald Wild Life Refuge"

I finished this painting today today in the studio of the Steigerwald Lake Wild Life Refuge in Washougal, Washington. I have been studying Camile Przewodek’s work since I took her workshop last month and can see the influence in this painting.

It’s been a couple of months since my last posts.  I intend to catch up with the news of the last few months.  I have been doing a lot of painting and creative work but havn’t been posting.  I was sharing daily creativity with other artists but our little group wasn’t active and I soon lost my momentum to post.  I could see a difference in my own creative flow as well and am considering starting a group for daily creativity on facebook.

Sauvie’s Island Plein Aire

Today we went to Sauvie’s Island, Rentenaur Road.  It was a memorable day of paining with the Jef Gunn Group.  The rain had stopped and left a sweet freshness that invigorates and uplifts the artists and our ears were treated to a symphony only nature after the rain could achieve.

I used my new purchase of a Unique Quiver Brush Case Includes 17 New Brushes! from AWS Art Supplies.  The Brushes have extra long handles and were a treat to use on this days plein-air painting.

Along with my original painting paintings I can now offer painting canvas prints, prints,painting prints, framed prints,painting framed prints,painting posters, and painting greeting cards see my gallery at Fine Art America.

“Daily Painting”

Mary Hill Painting in Progress

Daily painting is studio work on the Mary Hill Museum Plein Air Painting I started on Saturday. 10″x12″ Oil Painting on Ray Mar Panel.

“Woodburn Tuilip Festival”

Daily Painting today is from the Tuilip Festival in Woodland.  A very windy day but beautiful surroundings.  Tuilips as far as the eye could see.  I did this pastel painting on Wallis Paper.  6″x8″.

“Mono Print Class”

Daily Painting today was my Saturday Afternoon Plein Air Class with Jef Gunn.  We had a weather report of snow and cold winds so Jef decided we would do a mono printing at his studio.  He had recently purchased the mono print machine and was happy to use it with our class and so were we.

Mono printing is the transfer of ink from a plate to  paper, canvas, or other surface that will ultimately hold the work of art.  The image is painted on a plate using ink or oil paint we had our choice and then transfered using the pressure of the monoprint machine.

“Laurel Hurst Park”

"Laurel Hurst Park" Portland Oregon

Daily today was the finish of another painting I had started in the summer of Laurelhurst Park.  I don’t think I would have taken another look at this painting if it wasn’t for my daily painting committment with two other artists.  Laurelhurst is located in NE/SE Portland and is a popular spot for picnics, dog walking/running and of course plein-air painting.  There is a man-made lake which was originally a natural pond.  The pond is very picturesque with the ducks and geese and reflections of the surrounding beauty.

Daily Painting is  about what’s going on in my world of art; daily paintings,  art, my process, and my thoughts about art in general.  I have a commitment with two other painters to email a daily painting by 9:00pm every day.  There are no rules and this creative penatration of daily painting has greatly inflenced  my daily life and art has started to grow in tremendous and unexpected ways.

“Maryhill Museum”

Daily today was a Portland Plein Air and Studio paint out at Maryhill Museum.  We had wonderful weather and a great turn out.  It was so inspiring to be in this atmosphere of the Columbia River Gorge, Peacocks, and artists behind their easels.   I will be adding studio time for more detail to this painting.

“Jackson’s Bottom Wetlands”

"Jackson's Bottom Wetlands"

Daily Painting today was studio work on the plein air oil painting of Jackson’s Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro.  10″x12″ on Ray Mar Canvas Board.