Georgia and Vincent

I was visiting my sister in Central Oregon a few weeks ago and got out to sketch some scenery and her Iris patch.  I had a brain storm while deciding my setup - ran over to the bunk house - brought out a bison skull and designed a painting theme; Van Gogh meets O'Keeffe.  You can see bison photos here.

Return to the River

It's raining. Must be Saturday. That was the first thing I saw on my face book written by Maddie from Seattle.  Hey, its the same down here...... but yesterday was fine, hot ,and sunny!  I wanted to go back to River Place and sit in front of the marina. Before I got that far up the path, I saw a nice shady spot close to the bank.  I quietly sat and painted across from Omsi  recording these two watercraft bobbing in the river..  I met both boat owners as they rowed ashore for quick supply runs - the boat on the left was called 'Night Owl' and on he right, 'Electra.'

Black and White Mask Studies

Sometimes you feel like using color, sometimes not. I used a 'General's Sketch and Wash' pencil; #588. These masks lent themselves as the perfect subject matter for a sketch and then washed over with a wet brush to blend. (Or not blend)

Water Lilies

 

My Plan today was to go back to River Place and paint these lilies growing near some condos on the south end.  I guess big gray heavy clouds are going to keep coming in so I need to find my big golf umbrella if this is going to happen. Cross your fingers I don't get caught in a downpour!

Glass Box Vases

One unexpected nice spring morning Carolyn and I took advantage of vases of flowers left on the deck at O'connors in Multnomah Village. This one didn't make it onto 'Behind the Scenes blog' due to my forgetful habits. I gotta work on that. It's been a while now, a few weeks since I painted these and I remember there were yellow daisies but I don't remember what the white or pink flowers were - must have been carnations.  I do remember trying to focus on shapes and repetition rather than each blossom.  I liked trying to allude to different floral  textures and glass  is always a good challenge!

Pencil Sketch

Pencil on Paper, 12 x 9 inches

Blogger Don't Fail Me!

You May have noticed a lot of blogs did not have new posts for a couple days.  If you aren't a 'Blogger' then you wouldn't know the site was to close for an hour for maintenance.  It was a bit longer than that but everything seems ok now, only lost a couple comments in the process so onward and upward.  This is the final painting from the other day at Crystal Springs Gardens.  I bet next week the rhodies will have come out in full force after the last couple warm days.  Last night I attended a roof  party on top of the Eco Trust building and it was perfectly delightful. I think we are finally taking the right steps toward the warm seasons.  I'm off to the frame shop this morning to find something nice to put around this.  Have a good weekend.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

 

Four of us showed up bright and early to paint water, reflections, and Rhodies at Crystal Springs in East Moreland.  It was a great day. As it warmed up, we saw several more members of the Portland Plein Air group come by to sketch and take photos

 

Spotted these shade loving blooms across the way, can't get enough of that spring pink!

My first little on location painting starts out with light values while I get all the elements in position. You'll have to come back tomorrow to see the final. the camera battery is charging!  As an aside, as we were packing up we spotted a big  camera crew setting up for some mysterious extravagant event. Found out later it was Vanna White doing background shots for 'Wheel of Fortune'.  I hope they got pictures of all the birds too!

Primroses

  Small watercolor yesterday afternoon of primroses, one of my favorite spring annuals.  When the weather warms and if you keep them in the shade of taller plants they will continue to bloom.  I used to tuck them in between the tomato plants.