Flashback to Plein Air

 "La Mota"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

$300

Click to buy

I only made it to one plein air paintout this year, but it was great, and a new one for me - located in Roseburg, Oregon, a smallish town about 60 miles south of Eugene.

 On the first day, we painted cityscapes, which I have a much easier time with than traditional landscapes, for several reasons.  After some trial and error, I settled on this corner scene - the strong shadows, the truck, the "stop-go" interplay of that red hand and the green cross.... all attracted me. 

Here's my value plan:

La Mota means marijuana in Spanish, and yes, this is a painting of a recreational pot store. We have these - lots and lots of them - in Oregon now. It was an interesting spot to hang out in front of for an afternoon - at times I felt like I was conducting the most un-surreptitious surveillance operation ever. But no paranoia required, folks! I'm just arting over here. 

 

 The three paintings I ended up submitting for judging. I don't participate in these events to win - in fact, I consider myself a rank amateur when it comes to plein air. But I enjoy it, I always learn a lot! 

 

...And here's a bonus for reading this far! I've got a major sale going on in my Etsy shop for the next few weeks. 50% off everything - including "La Mota." Use the code HOLIDAYHALFOFF. And thanks for following my work!

Cityscape!

"Starlight"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Available Here

Two weeks ago, I participated in Eugene's annual plein air paintout. I registered in the cityscape category, because, well, quite honestly....there are a ton of amazing landscape painters in this town, but not as many artists seem to be interested in cityscape. I'm finding more and more lately that "plein" old landscapes - grass, trees, water - just don't do it for me. I need some man-made stuff in the mix to spark my interest.

 

Here I am, mid-painting. You can even see my sweet silver car in the background!

Here's the scene. That blue against the sky was pretty enticing, but it was the satellite dishes that clinched it for me! 

 

 

 My work-in-progress:

 

 For me, the craziest part of any plein air contest: the car-trunk frame shop!

 And later that day, posing with my framed entry:

This story even has an unexpectedly happy ending - I won the cityscape category! There was so much good work this year....what an honor.

Plein Air in Corvallis

 "Corvallis Farm Stand"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$100

Click to buy

I had an amazing opportunity last week as part of the Giustina Gallery at Oregon State's new exhibit "Everyday Taste of Plein Air" to join some of my absolute art heroes for a paintout.

We set up around the farmer's market in downtown Corvallis. It was a beautiful day, and there were lots of people out. 

 After lunch, I painted a view of Big River, a favorite Corvallis restaurant.

"Big River"
9 x 12, oil on canvas

That evening was the opening reception for the exhibit. Here's my wall:

 

It was a long, fun day, and a fantastic show. If you're in the Corvallis area, don't miss it!

Plein Afterthoughts

"Purple Morning Shadows"

10 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

click to bid

This one snuck home with me from Hillsboro, a little warmup from around 7 in the morning, near downtown. The storefront is a barbershop, and the owner was kind enough to let me charge my phone inside while I painted outside!

Street Art

"Above Toledo"

12 x 9 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

Toledo, Oregon is a sunny little town about ten miles inland from Newport. It has a vibrant arts community, and I was lucky to be there during their annual art walk. After exploring the town, I decided to stay and paint a while. I didn't even need to search out a parking garage to get this view- it's a seriously hilly place! (and there aren't any, anyway - parking garages)

Plentiful Paintouts

"Cornucopia by the Tracks"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

I painted this on Sunday afternoon. It was a fun one, and a great way to warmup for the Plein Air Paintout that went down yesterday. That was a great event - I won third prize in the cityscape category with this painting, which I hope to tweak and post here after the exhibit comes down. Meanwhile, plein air season is not over yet! I'll be at the McKenzie Arts Festival this Saturday, competing in another paintout. My dear Patti is the judge - not that I expect any special treatment (*wink wink*). Come out and join us!

Iconic Eugene

 "View From Skinner Butte"

10 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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This view of Eugene is so iconic, it's the Facebook profile picture for the city itself! If you want to get the lay of the land around here, head to the top of Skinner Butte, and take it all in!

I've been exploring all kinds of high places to paint in - from parking garages to beach cliffs to hillsides. I love the challenge of simplifying a busy scene, capturing the feeling of all those buildings and trees with dashes of color.

Here's a work-in-progress:

Colorful Characters in Coburg

"Colorful Coburg"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$250

Available

After completing my painting of Green Island, I was ready for a slightly less bucolic subject. So I headed into the town of Coburg, only a few miles away. It's a very small town, known for antique shops, with a shady gazebo in its grassy central park - which I commandeered as my plein air painting studio for the afternoon. 

The green house on the left is a photography studio. The owner was spending the sweltering afternoon relaxing on his front porch, and soon headed over to see what I was up to - and to snap a picture, which he generously printed out for me. My only other company were some friendly geocachers, whose quarry ended up being directly under the floorboards I was standing on! I don't pretend to understand geocaching as a hobby, but I'm sure there are PLENTY of people who don't understand packing up half your studio and toting it 20 miles into the middle of nowhere to paint in the baking sun for the day, either!

Urban Plein Air

 

 "Party Downtown (sketch)"

14 x 11 inches, oil on canvas

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I titled this one "Party Downtown" because my mom told me to. Also because that's the name of the restaurant in the long yellow building at the lower right. It's a fun name for a restaurant and a fun name for a painting. Thanks, mom!

 

 Speaking of fun, I'm all suited up and ready to head out to the country for a day of non-urban plein air. You can follow along on Facebook, or Instagram if you like.

Above It All

"Oak Street Summer"

16 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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This was painted on the top floor of a parking garage. I scoped out this location years ago when I had a job watering plants in office buildings. Instead of a watering can, yesterday I had an easel to lug in and out of my car! What a welcome change. And speaking of cars, the best thing about painting in a parking garage is that you can park right next to your setup! What bliss.

Escape From the Beach

 "Luna Sea Fish House, Yachats, Oregon"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

$300

click to buy

After my Seal Rock Sunday debacle, I was ready to press the proverbial Reset button Monday morning. I loved my last cityscape outing, and Yachats is such a sweet little town. Painting there was just what I needed. That, and clam chowder for breakfast.

When I pulled into the parking lot of Luna Sea Fish House, I instantly saw a painting. Such great, vibrant colors on the shopfronts. Such lovely morning light.

 I managed to finish up and vacate their lot in advance of the lunch crowd, and while wandering around I saw this:

 "La de da." City motto? Love.

Just around the corner, I set up my easel on Ocean View Drive. I let a teeny bit of the Pacific sneak back into my painting, but kept it firmly in the background, enjoying the neon signs that flickered in the Underground Bar's windows.

"Ocean View Drive, Yachats, Oregon"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

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Then I headed back to the valley. 20 miles inland, it was already broiling hot, and only got more so as I approached home.