Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Posted in Featured Posts, General - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 1 Comment

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge has walking trail consisting of shallow ponds, marshes, open fields and communities of woodlands along the water banks. 200 species of birds fill the air with sounds and the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge is celebrated in this En Plain-Aire Oil Painting. This method of painting is impressionistic and painted from the inspiration of this location. Prints available at Fine Art America oil painting framed printsoil painting greeting cards oil painting posters

“Sunset Seascape”

Posted in Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

This is a seascape I started sometime ago. My technique and style has changed. It was interesting to see the changes. I am happier now but feel the technique was smoother before but really didn’t feel like it was mine. I used the color notes over the old piece. Will probably add a rock on the lower left side. 8″x10″ stretched canvas. And overall I am happy with the direction I am taking now it just feels good and free.

“Apollo”

Posted in Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

I painted in the art school studio today and was actually relieved that it was raining. How can you figure that out one weekend celebrating the sun and the next relieved to just sit and paint in one spot. I painted “Apollo” from a bust I have in my class room. He is a favorite of mine and just called to me to be painted on this rainy Saturday afternoon. 6″x8″ raymar canvas.

“Painting of the Rose”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I worked on the “Rose” Oil painting.  I have used the pallet knife and  color note theory.  The color note theory is full color seeing and way the Impressionist view the  painting of  light.  The theory started at the Cape Cod School under Henry Hensche.  Seeing light is what the theory and great artists find is a universal foundation of beautiful color in painting.
As Lois Girffel says in her book “The Impressionist Landscape”, “Once you enter the glorious world of Impressionist color you will never go back.”

“Broken Fairy Wing”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I started doing a butterfly and felt it needed something else and looked around the studio and saw this little green fairy with a broken wing. Putting them together makes for a story..the butterfly coming to offer his wing to the fairy. In my world the butterfly wasn’t harmed as he could easily grow new wings. All he needed to hear was “Thank you for coming from the little green Fairy. Do you think she said something like that to the butterfly and got her new wing?

Famous Fairies in Wikipedia.

Daily Painting, “The Grotto Angel”

Posted in Plein-Air - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

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.

“Still Life Red Vase”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts, General - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I set up a still life with a red vase.  I just love these little paintings; this one is 6″x8″ RayMar Canvas Panel.  They are like little precious jewels. Who needs diamonds when they can paint? Perhaps there would never be a blood diamond in our history if what we really valued was art.

“Flying Turkey”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

For today I painted a cute little turkey that one of my students brought me as a gift. He was so excited to present me with this wonderful present I just had to put the little Turkey’s image on canvas. I thought it looked like it was flying on the blue carpet so called it, “Flying Turkey”.

“Ancients Teachers”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I painted on a canvas I had started a long time ago. Previously I had sketched the Egyptian Sphinx and the cheetah but had not finished the idea and the composition. I felt the ancient practice of Yoga and ancient art work well together and  have a story to tell. The arches in the painting  start small and expand just as with the practice of Yoga ones body and consciousness also expands and becomes more flexible and strong. I finished the sketch and went on to the color notes. Tomorrow’s daily painting will be the next step, redefining the shapes and working toward the detail and highlights.

I found a wonderful site for more information on the Cheetah. I enjoy doing research on the images in my paintings. The searching always reveals interesting concepts and life lessons.

“Officer’s Row Foliage” Vancouver, Washington

Posted in General - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Daily Painting today was at Officer’s Row In Vancouver. I painted with four painters from the Breath of Plain Air Group. One of the group, Lisa, had purchased a painting by Kitty Wallis and she was thrilled with her purchase. We had a beautiful day of painting and talking. One car stopped and three people energetically jumped out to see what we were doing. The little girl happily announced “I am painting now too!!! I am going to an art class. It was a Hallmark moment. For those of us who love art painting is one of the best things in world.

Laura shared her sketches from her recent trip to Poland. She had a handmade sketch book made of watercolor paper. She worked mainly with pen and ink. She went with a group of artists which made the trip an extra special treat for an artist.

“Mom and Dad”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I drew a colored pencil drawing of my Mom, and Dad for the Art House Co-op Project.  The theme of the project is “Everyone you Know”.  It has been interesting and enlightning to go through old photos to renew my relationships with everyone I knew.

“Frosty Orange Abstract”

Posted in Art Techniques, Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 0 Comments

Friday’s are always busy days but I still was able to get in my creative flow with this acrylic Frosty Orange Abstract. I achieved this look by toning a canvas panel with frosty orange acrylic paint and then pouring the other colors on the canvas randomly. I will develop this abstract into another painting at another time.

CD Cover Design

Posted in Art Techniques, Commercial Work, Featured Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 24, 2010 - 2 Comments

Last Week was full of opportunity and activity.  Richard True called and wanted to have a inner insert in his CD of a man painting the original painting CD cover Design.  He wanted a man in a funky hat standing in front of my painting.  A puzzle for an artist to solve.  I found the funky hat and a model, my husband Tom, and a sunny day to photograph his.  Thankfully being confident with Photoshop and  help from my graphic design Daughter, Chelsea Weiler, I was able to put him in the painting.  wonderful feelings of gratitude when it all came together with awesome results.

Daily Painting “Francis”

Posted in Art Work Posts - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 20, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today I painted a Portrait on a 6″x8″ Ray Mar Canvas Panel. This portrait was a face from my imagination. Francis was the name that came to my mind when I titled the painting. I used the lighting techniques from another source.

CD Cover “The Painter”

Posted in Featured Posts, General - Written by Sandra Longmore on October 20, 2010 - 0 Comments

Today Richard True, songwriter, picked up the image for his new CD, “The Painter”. It was interesting to create an image around someone vision. A woman standing in the surf with the Tillamook Light House in the distance with surprised recognition and anticipation. 16″x20″ on archival canvas board. Prints available at Fine Art America. oil painting prints

Wikipedia Encylopedia had this to say about the lighthouse. Nicknamed “Terrible Tilly” (or Tillie), for its situation on a rock in the stormy Pacific Ocean, the now-decommissioned lighthouse was built in 1881 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the leadership of George Lewis Gillespie, Jr.. The structure has attached keeper’s quarters and a 62-foot tower that originally housed a first-order Fresnel lens 133 feet above sea level. The light was visible 18 miles out to sea. Lighthouse keepers were hoisted onto the rock with a derrick and breeches buoy. Maritime author and historian James A. Gibbs served one year of duty as a lighthouse keeper beginning in 1945. Storms continually damaged the structure, sometimes throwing large rocks against the tower. In 1934 the fresnel lens was shattered during a violent storm. The entire lighting apparatus was replaced with a modern rotating beacon. Diesel engines were installed to provide electricity for the light and station. The original light was an incandescent oil vapor lamp. The lighthouse was shut down in 1957 and replaced with a whistle buoy, having become the most expensive U.S. lighthouse to operate. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981[5] and is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In 1980, the lighthouse was purchased by a group of investors and converted to a private columbarium. Access to the site is severely limited, with a helicopter landing the only way to access the rock, and it is off-limits even to the owners during the seabird nesting season.