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!

In Which I have a Rockstar Moment

 "The Apple Barn"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

Framed, $700

Click to buy

I'm just going to say this at the outset: I'm really proud of this painting. We artists all know the feeling: a piece is working right from the beginning. I say, "It painted itself," "It fell off the brush," or "It was a rockstar moment," but I think the best description of this particular magic is that I felt in control the entire time I was painting it. And that doesn't happen all that often - maybe once every 20 paintings? 

As you can see, it was a heartbreakingly beautiful day - one of those fall afternoons that make you feel grateful to be alive.

I started with a 3-value sketch - oil paint in my sketchbook. This was extremely helpful, especially when it came to painting mid-value areas like the grass and distant hills. Green just doesn't feel all that light to my eye - in general, it's a mid-to-dark value color, and it's very saturated and beautiful in the sunlight. But, referring to my sketch, I told myself to keep it as light as those rooftops. 

 

Understanding that color has value - and how that works in our paintings - is a huge benefit of practicing in black and white. So, if it's been a while since you went back to basics, give it a try....you might have a "rockstar moment" yourself!

Plein Air for the Still Life Painter

 "In the Pear Orchard"

14 x 18 inches, oil on canvas

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After a morning of painting landscape, this still life painter was ready to get back to more familiar territory. So, I found some fruit to paint - plein air! it even had a tree attached.

I continued using my palette from the morning, now with some lovely leftover greys all mixed up.

 I parked my easel in back of a U-pick farmstand, in a shaded spot between three pear trees. No plein air umbrella needed - perfect!           

I began with those patches of bright sunlight hitting the pears - the very first stroke on the canvas (after my underpainting) was the bright spot on the central pear. Everything else got keyed below that, to really make it pop!

Fresh off the easel. This one was really fun!

Plein Air Washington County, Take 1!

 "Plum Hill Barn"

14 x 18 inches, oil on canvas

I just got back from a fabulous paintout! The Plein Air Washington County event happens every fall just outside of Portland, Oregon in an extremely scenic area chock full of rolling hills, gorgeous vineyards, and farms.  

With so much to choose from, it took me a while to settle down and pick a spot, but I finally did: a weathered white barn on the property of Plum Hill Vineyards.

  

I knew I wasn't going to need a lot of greens for this kind of landscape. Two reds, two yellows, two blues and a bonus purple. My kind of split-primary palette!

 And my secret weapon for all plein-air painting: Radiant Blue, by Gamblin. It makes gorgeous skies. The anonymous guy on the far right is Ultramarine blue, by the way.

I started with a notan sketch, in a mixed dark paint, just in my sketchbook. If you think you can't oil paint in your sketchbook, give it a try sometime! I can't say enough about how helpful these preliminary sketches are - so be forewarned: I will be saying more. Because there were two more days of painting after this one, which I'll save for future posts.

So now that I've covered the future, I'll bring up the past.  Here are my posts about the first and second time I did this paintout. And obviously, the third time's the charm: this painting was awarded an honorable mention by judge Eric Jacobsen - and I do indeed feel truly honored!

Paint Out! Last one of the Year...

 

 "Autumn Afternoon in the Vineyard"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Framed, $400

Over the weekend, I participated in Plein Air Washington County, and it was just a heartbreakingly gorgeous fall paintout.  The event was organized by Sequoia Gallery, where I also teach workshops (Portrait painting coming up, October 24-25!), and they did a fantastic job - making sure we were well supplied with fun places to paint. 

Here's a scene from a local nursery. There were tons of artists there - plus a news crew - on the morning I painted this. The perfect combination of exciting and peaceful!

"Blooming Junction Barn"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

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Posing for the paparazzi, with my painting-in-progress: 

 

 And here are both of my landscapes, ready for the opening reception:

 One reason I love this particular paintout - and returned to do it for the second year in a row - is the Quick Draw with costumed models. Two models, two hours, two fabulous period costumes! 

I'm pleased to report that this portrait went home with the lovely model's grandmother! 

Thanks, Sequoia Gallery, for a great weekend of painting. See you October 24-25th for another one!

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.

One More From the Coast

 "Yaquina Bay Boats"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

 $350

Click to buy

I saved the best for last, location-wise, on this trip to the coast. I love the fishing boats in Newport harbor, but the best light (and fewest tourists) are in the early morning. Which I've had to discover by trial and error. Lots of walking around thinking about painting and not doing it. Picking a perfect painting spot seems to be more a matter of serendipity than science. Why can't someone just come along and tell me exactly where to stand?

When I showed up to paint these boats, serendipity was on my side. I parked my car, wandered directly out onto the boardwalk, and saw my painting in front of me. Sometimes you find yourself in the right place at the right time.

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)

The Ocean Rocks, Yes It Does

 "Ocean Rocks"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas
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On my second day at the coast, I returned to Yaquina Head - site of this lovely lighthouse - to capture a scene I'd scoped out on my previous painting trip.

If you stand next to the lighthouse and look to your left, you see this:

 ...And if you stand there long enough without a jacket on, you get VERY COLD, like I am in this picture!

On A Beach. Ona Beach.

  "The Bridge to Ona Beach"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$250

click to buy

After the excellent time I had painting the coast back in July, I was determined to return before the end of summer. And I did, last week!

 

I started out at Ona Beach, a lovely spot just south of Newport, where Beaver Creek meets the sea. Colorful kayakers crossed through my painting several times during the morning, and a group of boisterous kids built a campfire nearby, sending smoke signals across my view. Also there were clouds. Moving clouds. But how could I complain? I was in one of my favorite places on earth, doing the thing I love to do more than anything else. It was bliss - and a great way to warm up for plenty more coastal action.

McKenzie Art Festival Paintout

 "Leaburg Dam"

16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas

 Sold

Well. This paintout was a blast. And it was three weeks ago. Bad blogger! Since then, I have been to the coast to paint (much more on that tomorrow), and to the Bay Area for a wedding. Also plenty of other stuff that I can't even remember right now because I'm busy planning my next adventure: the Hillsboro Plein Air Plus paintout, which is this weekend in Portland!

But back to three weeks ago...The McKenzie Art Festival paintout is a nice event, in conjunction with a sweet little arts festival with live music and a display of vintage RV's. I arrived early to get my canvases stamped, and headed out to find a good spot, finally settling on the Leaburg dam. A picturesque spot - but more importantly, a spot with parking, porta-potties, and SHADE!

 

 The day got sizzling hot, and I had to shed several layers before dropping my painting off to be juried. Here is my piece, below my friend (and figure-painting companion) Farley's entry:

With only seven artists in the contest, I still felt honored to take third place. Here I am in the winner's circle, with friends Farley (1st place), Patti (juror), and Brent Burkett (2nd).

I'm the one in red, in case you're new to the blog. :)

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:

A Plein-Air First

 

"Valley Sunset"

14 x 11 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

My first sunset painting! I never did try it out at the coast - it was just too blinding, looking into the sun going down over the ocean. This valley view had the sun at my back. I love the golden light on the pines.

For locals wondering where I found this scene, it was on Mt. Baldy. Not a mountain, but a nice view nonetheless. Here's a picture of me enjoying my post-painting glow.

No Rain

 

 "The Flower Stand"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$250

Click to buy

My second painting from the flower farm. The sky was pretty crazy, with some ominous-looking clouds moving through. It never rained, though - not that we couldn't use it. Yes, this is Oregon, and YES, it rains a lot, but not from July through September. By August, the ground is always fried to a crisp! It kind of works for me - I can use my repertoire of flesh tones on the brown patches.

 

At the Flower Farm

 

 "Sparhawk Flower Farm"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

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Sparhawk flower farm, at the base of Mt. Pisgah, is a spot I've been wanting to revisit since last summer, when I painted this view of it from above. It's a lovely place, run by artist-friendly folks who were happy to host me for the morning. U-pickers strolled around me, gathering beautiful bouquets to take home. Creativity was in the air!

Coming up in just four short days is the plein air event of the summer, here in Eugene. The second annual Create!Eugene paintout is this Wednesday, August 20th, and no, I still haven't decided where I'm going to paint that day. I've entered both the landscape and cityscape categories, though, so my options are wide open!