Rachel Harvey

Interlude

2011-10-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

18x24 inches

oil on canvas

The view upwards through the trees still has the power to draw me into the moment. For a brief instant, I feel again the childhood sense of being present. No future, no past, just now-- what a blessing of innocent youth.

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Fugue

2011-10-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

48x24 inches

oil on canvas

From the dictionary: 1a : a musical composition in which one or two themes are repeated or imitated by successively entering voices and contrapuntally developed in a continuous interweaving of the voice parts b : something that resembles a fugue especially in interweaving repetitive elements

I had thought about "choral group" as a title, because I felt these trees were making music together, and I stumbled upon this definition of a "fugue" and it just fit.

This is also in the "Trees" show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR.

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Day of Grace - SOLD

2011-10-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

30x40 inches

oil on canvas

Anyone who knows me knows that along about October I start griping about the weather. It shouldn't come as a surprise to a native Oregonian that summer here is just a blink between the wet seasons, but every year I get indignant that the warm weather is over already. And yet I LOVE the fall colors. Hence the title of this painting: a day of grace, or, unmerited favor. A day with the benefit of blue skies and a warm sun shining down on those lovely autumn hues.

This is hanging in the "Trees" show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR.

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Line Dancing

2011-10-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

40x16 inches

oil on canvas

Here's another painting that is in the "Trees" show. I didn't really know where I was going with this one until I was painting it-- it progressed to this point and said "stop." So I did. It's a personal favorite.

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Autumn Sighs

2011-10-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

36x12 inches

oil on canvas

This was painted for the "Trees" show at the Columbia Art Gallery, in Hood River, OR, showing this month. I truly enjoyed painting for this show. Trees are so human.

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A Cut Above - SOLD

2011-09-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

12x9 inches

oil on panel

I find the Coyote Syncline incredibly challenging to paint. It's amazing to look at in person, but it's difficult to translate to canvas its immensity. Especially plein air, since I paint pretty small outdoors. I feel this one is successful-- I was going for that early morning freshness. I hope you like it, too.

This is hanging at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR, as part of the 2011 NW Plein Air Show, during the month of September.

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Growth!

2011-09-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

Wow. I have discovered Carlson. Amazing that such a boring, difficult book could be so enthralling four years later. Who knew? Thanks to my first plein-air workshop instructor for insisting that all his students purchase this staple of landscape painting. He'll never see this, but thank you, John Budicin.

Oh, How I Love Cliffs! (SOLD)

2011-08-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

Horsethief Cliffs
11x14 inches

oil on canvas

Went out with a painting buddy today--and renewed my love affair with basalt cliffs. I had to get up at 5:30am to make it to the site by 7:45am (get self & kids ready, get kids to grandpa's house, stop for espresso, hour's drive to location) but it was worth it.

This one will most likely be in the 2011 NW Plein Air Show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon-- opening reception September 2.

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plein air painting

2011-08-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

10x10 inches

oil on panel

Went out this morning. This is probably destined for the 2011 NW Plein Air Show at the Columbia Art Gallery next month, but we'll see what I paint between now and Monday's deadline. It still needs a title...

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Taking the Plunge!

2011-08-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've been asked to teach, give private lessons, give demos. While flattering, I have resisted all requests for multiple reasons: inexperience, lack of confidence, lack of knowledge (I know this, even if they don't). Seriously, how do I teach when there's so much I don't know? Anyway, I finally did a demo at the Sunriver Art Faire last weekend. (The lady who arm-twisted me into it was on my hit list the last three gut-wrenching days beforehand, although I am now quite fond of her!)

So the demo consisted of the above three canvases: 1) a toned canvas with the sketch on it, 2) a partially-painted canvas (which I attempted to complete during the demo), and 3) a finished painting to show the audience where I was going.

Speaking of the audience, it consisted of 5-10 people who, for the most part, came and went. Which didn't hurt my feelings at all! There was one young girl who asked tons of questions and helped to make the hour pass quickly.

Overall, a good experience. I'm glad I did it.

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The Short Season

2011-08-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

Summer Blues - SOLD

30x40 inches, oil on canvas

Summer Song

30x40 inches, oil on canvas

I thought I'd post these together, given the "Summer" titles. There is something about both of these that evokes in me the feeling of a late, warm, summer evening, with the soft breeze on my cheek and a contented feeling of being alone with God. It's funny how you can feel alone but absolutely not lonely-- one of the sweet pleasures of life.

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Painting, painting, painting-- Really!

2011-07-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I have actually completed two large paintings and several small ones since I last posted, but am unable to upload photos of them as my camera battery has died and I have lost/misplaced the extra battery and charger (Sony! argh).

So, instead, here is a photo of a painting I helped install in a collector's home last weekend. My camera was set on landscape, so it's a bit blurry and dark (this should not come as a surprise to anyone who's been following me for very long-- I'm notoriously scattered), but you get the idea.

what to paint... thinking...

2011-06-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

I went out plein air painting this morning and it was disastrous. I'm glad no one else was there to see! So I'm now back in my studio contemplating what to paint. I need to reassure myself that I still know how! thinking, thinking...

painting, painting, painting

2011-06-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

This painting just came off my easel. I started it before the open studios tour and have worked on it here and there since then-- it's fought back. :) I'm pretty pleased with the final result, though.


untitled, 30x40 inches, oil on canvas

Whispers on the Water will be at the Columbia Art Gallery this month.

Whispers on the Water, 12x36 inches, oil on canvas

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Open Studio! May 14 & 15

2011-05-10T19:07:00.000-07:00

Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour this weekend-- 10-5p, Saturday & Sunday. I've got walls full of new work that haven't hit the galleries yet-- come and be the first to see! Here's one of them:

Whispers on the Water

12x36 inches, oil on canvas

Hope to see you here!

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My New Book!

2011-05-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

I actually have been painting lately, just not posting. One of the projects I've been working on that's now complete is My New Book!
Please check it out-- and leave a comment while you're there!

I'll have copies available at the upcoming Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour, May 14th & 15th, or you can order online. Thanks for looking!

Underneath a Painted Sky & Until Tomorrow

2011-04-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

18x24

oil on canvas

18x24

oil on canvas

I am on a sunset/evening light kick right now, with no sign of stopping!

Both of these paintings are currently at The Pines in Hood River, Oregon, as part of the preview show for the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour, in which I will be participating. The preview show will run through the month of April and the tour is May 14 & 15-- hope to see you at my studio!

A time-lapse of the painting progress for "Until Tomorrow" can be viewed here:
timelapse video

Another Painting Truism

2011-04-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

It's not smart to place your coffee cup right next to your jar of medium...

(and the first, in case you didn't see it or forgot):

When painting and at the same time dealing with a cold, it's important to remember which hand is holding the kleenex and which has the painty paper towel...

Daydreaming

2011-03-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

8x16

oil on canvas

There is something about looking up through the trees and seeing the sun filter through that harks back to childhood. I can't be the only one who spent hours and hours in the summer laying in the grass, watching the clouds, listening to the insects, and squinting up at the leaves until they sparkled like stars in my blurred reality.

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Passing Time

2011-03-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

6x6

oil on panel

I did a very large version of this several weeks ago ("Force of Nature") and used up the leftover paint on my palette to paint this little one-- just finally getting it posted.

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Pals

2011-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

6x6

oil on panel

Still being fruity...

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A Pair of Pears: Take Two

2011-03-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

6x6

oil on panel

Here's a second version of the pears-- this time done more loosely. And the title can be interpreted more than one way, which is always fun.

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A Pair of Pears

2011-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

6x6

oil on panel

Some fruit fun. :)

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Rachel Harvey Art - Until Tomorrow - oil painting time lapse

2011-03-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Last Impressions

2011-03-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

18x24
oil on canvas

I've posted videos of the progress on this painting and "Force of Nature" on Youtube. Here are the links: Last Impressions Force of Nature

I've been feeling good as the number of "times watched" goes up on these, so when I came across this quote, I had to laugh:

"Most people are semi-content to be loved by their mates, pets, family, or whatever. Artists want to be loved by everyone, everywhere, for the rest of time. Sheesh." (Jerry Saltz)

So true. So please watch my videos. :-) Thank you!

A View of the Gorge

2011-02-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

30x48
oil on canvas

Well, here it is-- matter over mind! The truth is that every time I worked on this painting, I felt I couldn't paint-- I've never had a painting fight me so hard! Nevertheless, I prevailed and am satisfied. I'm now working on a somewhat smaller one (18x24) that is being very kind to me...

(This painting has been done for a week or so, but I've had trouble getting it photographed. It's so large that I get some glare no matter what I do. I may take it to a professional to get a better image.)

Inspiration is for Amateurs

2011-02-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to find that I'd forgotten how to paint. My mind was as blank as the canvas. It happens every now and then, and it's always disconcerting. I've spoken to very experienced artists that this happens to, and they say the same thing-- it's always a little freaky. It's like forgetting how to ride a bike or tie your shoelace: you look at the brush and think, "What do I DO with this?!"

To punish my mind for its betrayal, I'm starting on the largest painting I've ever done-- a 30x48 inch canvas. I've already made some massive and dark paint marks on it... we'll see who wins, me or my mind!

A New Day - SOLD

2011-02-02T13:00:00.001-08:00

10x10
oil on canvas

I love how the morning sun first warms the sky, then the water, and then starts reflecting back on the shadow sides of the hills.

Lurking

2011-02-02T12:49:00.001-08:00

10x10
oil on canvas

A lovely but slightly sinister little spot at Rooster Rock State Park. Even in the middle of a humid July afternoon, it was just a little bit spooky... and kind of fun scaring myself!

Available for purchase at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR, during the month of February.

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Good Morning, Sleepyhead

2011-02-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

10x10
oil on canvas

A sunrise painting looking east down the Gorge. My husband, John, helps to title most of my paintings, and he said this one looked like the hills were waking up. I loved it! I left the title a bit ambiguous so the viewer can decide who is the sleepyhead-- the hills, Beacon Rock, or you!

Available for purchase through Columbia Art Gallery during the month of February.

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Slow Dancing - SOLD

2010-12-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

10x10
oil on canvas

I finally got another studio painting in-- I chose for my subject one of my favorite views of the Gorge.

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Mount Hood

2010-12-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

24x36
oil on canvas

This is my first studio landscape in over 5 months. It's been tough to get going again, and since I was uninspired, I decided to go big, both subject and canvas. Nothing like a huge blank canvas to make you just start. I feel good about it and am eager to start the next one!

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Two More Small Paintings

2010-11-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Today was the last workshop session. No more security blanket of a set time, no more comfort of a room full of other artists painting away... waaa!

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Two Small Paintings

2010-11-10T09:55:00.001-08:00

I really, really meant to paint in my studio last week, but it just didn't happen. Life is pretty chaotic right now, so it was a relief to wake up Tuesday morning knowing that there were three hours set aside for painting! The bottom painting is NOT a pumpkin, although it looks like it. It is actually an heirloom "pineapple" tomato that my friend Blayney brought to the workshop. The top was painted from a plate and spoon provided by the instructor, Cathleen Rehfeld. I've never painted reflective metal before, so it was both a challenge and a lot of fun, and I think more successful than my pumpkiny-pineapple-tomato! :-)

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Four Small Paintings

2010-11-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's been almost four months since my beautiful daughter-in-law, Rosario, was killed in a car crash which nearly took the life of my son, Westun, as well. I give God all the praise for saving my son's life; he is nearing 100% recovery. I still have a lot of daily sadness, though, and it's been hard to get back to painting. I decided to take a workshop class from artist Cathleen Rehfeld (see her blog Cathleen Rehfeld's Painting A Day) to give myself a kick-start. It was really, really nice to paint with other artists and to hear Cathleen's thoughts on her daily paintings. Here are my four little paintings from the first session. Hopefully, this will kick-start my blog, too! Thank you all for your support.

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New Artists Show-- Portland Art Museum

2010-06-15T11:48:00.001-07:00

20x24
oil on canvas

I'm proud to be one of the new artists recently juried into the Rental Sales Gallery at the Portland Art Museum. The painting above, "Passing Judgement," will be one of five of my paintings included in the show. The opening reception is being held at the gallery, 1237 SW 10th & Jefferson, from 5-8pm, Friday, June 18th. Everyone is welcome!

Funky Solution #2

2010-06-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

The primary difference in my painting since the number of children in my household doubled is going from an alla prima (painting all at once, or wet-into-wet) method to a layering method. This has not been by choice: it simply is a result of being unable to continue focusing on expressing myself on canvas while the baby is expressing himself through the monitor. This creates a problem in that I often don't get the canvas completely covered in the first attack. A dried or even tacky canvas, often means re-mixing colors to match what's already on the canvas(since the paint on the palette has usually dried, also), which is hard to do. If I get a color on there that is nowhere to be found in the rest of the piece, it stands out like the proverbial sore thumb. So....

Funky Solution #2: Baby wipes. Yes! If the paint is still even slightly tacky (pretty likely, with oils), take a baby wipe and gently pull the paint over the adjoining bare canvas. As long as the areas are fairly small, there is no noticeable damage to the previous brushstrokes, and the bare areas are no longer glaring at you.

~~Baby wipes are a universal solution (a fact well-known by mothers everywhere)~~

Funky Solution #1

2010-06-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Ever since the birth of my second child (now 9 months), I have had to adjust how I paint, when I paint, what I paint with, etc. I've always been naturally scatter-brained, with a tendency to fly by the seat of my pants, but the advent of Evan has caused an intensification of these characteristics. In consequence, necessity being the mother of invention, I've discovered some interesting solutions to problems arising from the afore-mentioned brain drain, and have decided to share them. Here's the first:

Funky Solution #1: When you've packed up kids and husband (to watch the kids, sweet man), along with plein air gear (easel, paints, solvent, canvas, paper towels, etc), and driven a fair distance from home (1/2 hour or so) in order to catch the evening light from a certain location, only to get there, get set up, paints laid out, reach for a brush.... and realize you forgot the brushes! they're still lying right by the washing sink where you left them... don't panic-- reach for a paper towel instead. Wrap the paper towel around your finger, dip in the pigment, and paint! For small areas, roll towel into a screw and dab. So...

~~A paper towel will substitute for a brush~~

If you look back through my posts, you will find the painting I did under these circumstances...

Evening Tide

2010-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

9x12
oil on canvas

I adore the hills of the eastern Gorge. It's a challenge to portray their immensity in a painting, since there aren't pine trees, etc., to give them scale. The day was overcast, with just enough sun coming through to turn the hillsides pink, and with the shaded foreground, it gives an idea of their grandeur.

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Ancient Development

2010-05-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

24x48
oil on canvas

Looking east towards The Dalles, from the Washington side of the river. This is one of my favorite views, and it was challenging and fulfilling to portray it on a larger scale than usual.

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Sweeping Along

2010-05-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

11x14
oil on canvas

This was an overcast day along the Deschutes River. This has in it all the things I love to paint: clouds, trees, water, rocks, receding hills... the river was sweeping along, the hills were sweeping along, the clouds were sweeping along... and I got swept along with it all.

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Whispering Secrets

2010-05-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

24x48
oil on canvas

This is one of the largest paintings I've done, so far, at 2'x4'. Framed, it's got quite an impact. I thoroughly enjoyed the process, using my biggest brushes and mixing huge piles of paint! A big thanks to my sister-in-law, Judy, for watching the children while I was in the studio.

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Keeping Pace

2010-05-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

8x10
oil on panel

From a beautiful fall day on the Klickitat River. So many beautiful places, so little time...

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Shadow Rhythm

2010-05-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

9x12
oil on canvas

It's a good thing we all have different tastes, or we'd all want the same thing! My husband, who is my favorite critic, doesn't care for this painting, and yet I really like it. I like reds and oranges, which may explain it... and he is red/green color blind, which may explain it, too! He is drawn to composition and value, but the variations in similar-valued reds and oranges don't stand out to him. He can see blues pretty well; too bad the leaves don't turn blue in the fall!

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Sweet Like Honey

2010-04-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

8x10
oil on canvas panel

Giving paintings a title is one of the hardest things an artist does, at least I find it to be so. In fact, I confess I get some help-- from my husband. We usually bounce ideas off each other until something fits. In this case, the first thing John said when he saw this painting was that it looked like a good fishing hole, what he calls a "honey hole;" thus, the title, "Sweet Like Honey."

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I Love A Curve

2010-04-02T13:12:00.001-07:00

8x10
oil on canvas panel

Eastern Columbia Gorge in autumn... what could be better? I love the Hood River Valley, where I live, with all the evergreens, but the fall foliage a little farther east is pretty hard to beat.

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Whimsy paintings

2010-03-02T14:06:00.001-08:00

Waiting For Change

Pig In A Blanket

Pork 'n' Beans

Pick Me, Pick Me!

Sun Flower

Sky Scraper

The top three are 6x6; the bottom three are 11x14. It was fun!

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Whimsy, Columbia Art Gallery, March 2010

2010-03-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

The Columbia Art Gallery's March show is title "Whimsy," in which I have six paintings. The theme definitely stretched me both inspirationally and artistically, but I'm pleased with the results. I also feel the whole experience will improve and inform my future non-humorous work. I'm grateful to have been invited to be part of the show. If you're in Hood River during the month of March, stop by the gallery and take a look. I also will be posting my six paintings soon. In the meantime, here's a link to the gallery's website for more information: whimsy.

Solemnity

2010-02-27T12:41:00.001-08:00

9x12
oil on canvas

My mother came over and watched the children so I could get some solid painting time in, and this is one of the results. It was lovely to lose myself in the paint.

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Nocturnal Whispers

2010-02-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

8x16
oil on canvas panel

I've been working on some whimsical landscapes for a show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR, and although this isn't one of them, it almost could be. I used a photo reference, but most of it was conceptual.

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Ascent

2010-02-25T18:19:00.000-08:00

9x12
oil on panel

I just about gave up on this painting. I had a vision of a wide-open sky, but it just didn't work. I ended up adding the clouds, and then it all seemed to come together.

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Country Dance

2010-02-25T18:12:00.001-08:00

11x14
oil on canvas

I've had cause to be thankful for the photo-gathering trips made the autumn before last, since I did not have an opportunity to go on any this last fall (newborn infants are rather time-consuming!).

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Chasing Sunshine

2010-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

20x24
oil on canvas

It was difficult to get a good photograph of this painting, since it's fairly large and my ceiling is fairly low-- t00 much light washes it out and not enough makes it a bit dull. I tried to adjust it in photo-correction software, but I'm not very good at that! So here it is, a bit on the dark side, but fairly true to color.

I love clouds, and I have an ambition to paint more "sky" scenes. We'll see... I have more ambitions than I have time...

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Curvature

2010-01-31T15:46:00.001-08:00

8x16
oil on canvas board

Final painting for the Red show. This is a new take on a photograph I've painted from before. I like the juxtaposition of the red hips against the abstract background. Choosing which part of the rose bush to focus on and which hips to include in the painting was a large part of the fun with this one.

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Red Tulips

2010-01-31T15:33:00.000-08:00

6x12
oil on canvas board

Another for the Red show at Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon. I enjoyed pushing the contrasts in this one. I'm looking forward to seeing other artists' interpretations of the red theme.

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Burning Bush

2010-01-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

8x10
oil on canvas board

One of three paintings that will be in the Red show at the Columbia Art Gallery during February. It's been a real challenge to find time to paint since my 5-month-old son has been getting mobile, but the red theme has been a helpful inspiration. I'm thinking of child-gating part of my studio so he can play in there while I paint.

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Tactical Manuevers

2009-12-02T17:51:00.001-08:00

20x24

oil on canvas

I used a photograph and a previous plein air painting as references for this studio painting. It is the largest I've painted, so far, and I really enjoyed doing it.

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Shoulder Season

2009-12-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

11x14

oil on panel

I love the hills of the eastern gorge. This is looking south, along the line of the Deschutes River.

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Eye Of The Beholder

2009-11-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

9x12

oil on canvas

Beauty is everywhere in the Columbia Gorge; there's no need to go looking for inspiration. The best thing to do is settle on a location, set up, and paint what's in front of you. (I do confess, though, to particular affinity for cliffs... as any reader of this blog knows!)

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Forever Frontage

2009-11-19T13:37:00.001-08:00

9x12

oil on panel

Every time I look out over these hills, I feel an emotional tug of westward yearning. I imagine a similar feeling was felt by early explorers and settlers of our nation.

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Portrait - Doug

2009-11-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

12x16

oil on canvas

I painted most of this while holding my 3-month-old son in a front carrier. It's not as developed as some of my other portraits, but I think it has a fresher quality to it-- I didn't have time to mess it up!

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Autumnal Intersection

2009-11-18T14:21:00.000-08:00

5x7

oil on panel

This was done on a day in which my daughter was in preschool, my son was at my sister-in-law's house, and I had time carved out to go paint. And it's snowing. Yucky, wet, drizzly snow. So I turned my car around, popped the back window, crawled into back, set up my easel and painted. This mist was moving in as I painted, and the hillsides and cliffs were about as visible as I've represented them. Interestingly, there were lots of dogs and their owners out, meandering the paths, in spite of the weather.

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Meadow Dance

2009-11-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

8x10

oil on panel

This was painted at the Conboy Refuge near Goldendale, Washington. I was intrigued by the tree line-up.

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Sovereign

2009-11-11T23:41:00.001-08:00

11x14

oil on panel

I dearly love painting cliffs, and these particular ones keep inviting me to paint them, so I do! This was done late September.

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To The Point

2009-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

8x16

oil on canvas board

I've painted at this location several times, but mostly have focused on the nearer, Washington side, cliffs. This is looking eastward, down the Oregon side of the gorge.

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Peaceful, Easy Feeling

2009-11-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

6x6

oil on panel

I am endlessly inspired by the Columbia River gorge. In all its moods, it is lovely.

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Outflanked

2009-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

6x12 oil on canvas board

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Soft Spoken - SOLD and Soft Spoken II

2009-11-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

8x10

oil on canvas board

6x8

oil on canvas board

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Northwest Forty

2009-11-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

6x8

oil on canvas

Early September. In the evening, the shadowed hills contrast beautifully with shorn fields.

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First Impression

2009-11-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

5x7

oil on panel

This was painted with a paper towel. No joke! My son was just under a month old, and my husband volunteered to come along one overcast evening, and take care of him and our daughter while I painted. We packed up (anyone with kids knows what it takes to plan an outing with little ones), drove through the woods and over the river, and found this lovely view. My husband got set up in the back of the car with the children, while I set up my easel in preparation for painting. Then I realized I'd forgotten my brushes. I was dismayed, as was my husband. I jokingly said maybe I could finger-paint, to which he responded why not, it would be better than nothing. I plunged in and it quickly morphed into paper towel-painting, and this is the result.

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Horsethief Revue - SOLD

2009-11-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

8x16

oil on canvas board

More cliffs... can't get enough! This piece sold at the 2009 NW Plein Air Show, held at Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon.

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On The Vine

2009-11-03T09:44:00.001-08:00

5x7

oil on panel

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Encore - SOLD

2009-11-01T19:15:00.001-08:00

9x12

oil on canvas

One of my favorite scenes to paint. I love the close-up cliffs against the river and the distant hills. This was part of the 2009 NW Plein Air Show at Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon.

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Edge Of The Wild

2009-11-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

6x12

oil on canvas board

This ended up being more of a study, since the light was disappearing fast. I'd like to get back over to this area again, sometime, to do a more developed piece.

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Natural Design

2009-11-01T18:49:00.001-08:00

5x7

oil on panel

My son was born August 10, and I painted this August 20. It was the first time I'd gone out painting after his birth, and the scene was chosen based on where I could park and stand next to the car to paint. He was an excellent assistant-- he slept right through!

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Faceoff

2009-10-28T19:15:00.001-07:00

5x7

oil on panel

More cliffs...

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Two-faced - SOLD

2009-10-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

5x7

oil on canvas board

This was my first August painting, and was a part of the 2009 NW Plein Air Show at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR, in September. A friend first challenged to paint these cliffs as a quick study, and I have since painted them several times, which you will see in upcoming posts. I haven't tired of them and I hope you won't, either.

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Chicken Charlie's

2009-10-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

9x12

oil on canvas board

This island is difficult to catch in the right light-- I had to go later in the morning than usual to get some contrasting shadows. I only painted the east end of the island. I have no idea why it is called "Chicken Charlie's." One of the mysteries, along with Plog Hill and Button Bridge, that I have yet to plumb.

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Evening Soliloquy

2009-10-28T16:04:00.001-07:00

6x8

oil on canvas board

Looking west along the Columbia River. I'm fascinated by the cut-out shapes the hills make when the sun is setting.

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Flower Farm

2009-10-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

5x7

oil on canvas board

Painted at a local winery/berry & flower farm. I photographed the painting after it had been varnished, so it's a little fuzzy (as was "Tranquility").

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Tranquility

2009-10-28T15:30:00.001-07:00

5x7
oil on canvas

Looking east from the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge. I never, never get tired of looking at the beautiful area in which I live. It can make for dangerous driving...

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Lavender Profusion

2009-10-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

8x10
oil on canvas board

A view of Mt. Hood from a local lavender farm. I really liked the dark shadow line of the trees, hemming in the blanket of lavender.

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Beneath The Hood

2009-10-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

8x10
oil on panel

An early morning impression of springtime in the Hood River Valley.

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Serenity - SOLD

2009-10-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

5x7

oil on canvas

This was painted at the same location as "Water Way," just looking the other direction.

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Water Way

2009-10-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

8x10

oil on panel

Another June one. I remember being attracted to the tree crevices lying in shadow. It was a beautiful morning.

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Selah - SOLD

2009-10-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

8x16

oil on canvas board

A June painting. We always seem to be driving east at this time of day, and I'm always looking in my rear-view mirror (or turning my head, which is not terribly safe...) to see the beautiful view behind me. I finally made it happen to get out at sunset and paint looking west. The title comes from the "amen" feeling this view gives me.

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Distance

2009-10-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

8x10
oil on panel

Another June painting. The day was so windy we had to weight out easels with bags of rocks. It's the price you pay...

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Mt. Hood Classic

2009-10-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

8x10

oil on panel

The beautiful view of Mt. Hood from a Husum winery. It would be hard to run out of inspiration in the Columbia Gorge.

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Mayer Cliffs

2009-10-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

9x12

oil on canvas board

This is from June 2009. I am finally getting back to my blog, now that my son is 2 months old, so I will be catching up!

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Glacier Highway

2009-07-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

8x10

oil on panel

This was done at about 7am one very windy, cold morning, from the back of my car. I sat on the tailgate, with the hatch popped open, and painted as fast as I could!

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Soft Shoulder

2009-07-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

6x12

oil on canvas board

A view of the Washington side of the Gorge.

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Jewel Tones

2009-07-10T12:28:00.001-07:00

5x7

oil on canvas board

The sun was breaking through the mist and hitting the front of this cabin. I liked the contrast of the sharp edges on the cabin in relation to the mountain behind which was still shrouded in cloud cover.

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Garden Sunshine

2009-07-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

6x8

oil on canvas board

Unfortunately, this isn't from MY garden, but another painting done at the local garden center, bless them.

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The Beckoning

2009-07-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

11x14

oil on canvas

Another plein air painting in the Columbia River Gorge.

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Five Pots & A Plant

2009-07-02T11:27:00.001-07:00

8x10

oil on canvas board

I had a really pleasant experience painting this group of pots at a local garden center. I sat on a bench in the shade, eating my lunch as I painted. I managed to keep my brush out of my mouth...

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The Other Side II

2009-07-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

11x14

oil on canvas

I continue to be challenged by this particular scene, looking across to the Washington side of the Gorge. One of these days I'll nail it!

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No Boundaries - SOLD

2009-06-25T09:49:00.001-07:00

11x14

oil on canvas

I usually do plein air paintings in the early morning, but this day had been unable to accomplish much of anything (three-year-olds need a lot of attention). My husband graciously agreed to keep our daughter with him that evening so I could go out and paint. I drove around for a bit and settled on this view. The residents pay for it by tolerating the strong winds (first time I've ever had my easel actually start to tip on level ground), but I imagine they find it worth it!

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Farmlet - SOLD

2009-06-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

6x12

oil on canvas board

Newly-mown fields gave this setting such a perfect, bucolic appearance.

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Shades of the Gorge

2009-06-24T20:44:00.001-07:00

10x8

oil on canvas board

Another cloudy, early morning, this time looking west. I never tire of looking at the receding hills, whether in the Columbia Gorge or up the Hood River Valley.

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Morning Kiss

2009-06-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

8x10

oil on canvas board

As I was finishing "Mountain Mist," below, the sky was starting to clear to the east, so I turned and painted that view, as well.

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