When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

Oregon

Next Entries »

Fern Song

Tuesday, February 4th, 2020


 

Fern Song, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

Fern Song, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas

In Full Bloom, Feb. - March 2020, J. Mane Gallery
Honorable Mention, In Full Bloom online exhibition February 7 –  March 7, 2020, J. Mane Gallery

Pacific NW Sunset

Thursday, January 30th, 2020


 

Pacific NW Sunset, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 140 lb cold pressed
Pacific NW Sunset, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

I’ve never really been successful with soft pastels. They are ultra-fussy, ultra-messy, particularly once you start adding dark colors, which leaves you feeling ultra-discouraged at the end of the day.

I’m up for the challenge though, with the additional provocation to use black, which I never use, preferring usually to use purple or blue or other color combos instead. Using black is an offense that will be fun to defy, at least that’s the intention. Black will help the other colors sing with contrast, assuming I’m able to prevent too much accidental blending. Workable fixative is very helpful.

The 18 x 24 inch pad of 140 lb cold pressed no-name watercolor paper that I ordered online does not have the tooth or qualities I like as a painting surface, but is working nicely for soft pastels. There are 6 more pages left in the pad for this pastel series.

Blue Lupine

Sunday, November 17th, 2019

Blue Lupine, 24H x 36W inches acrylics on canvas
Blue Lupine, 24H x 36W inches acrylics on canvas, frame unnecessary.

Gale Creek

Wednesday, June 12th, 2019


 

Gale Creek, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas
Gale Creek, 12 x 12 inches acrylics on canvas, frame unnecessary. 2nd entry for the Square Foot Show, Bismark, ND August 6th-30th, 2019

Double Daisies

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019


 

Double Daisies, 12 x 12 acrylics on canvas
Double Daisies, 12 x 12 acrylics on canvas, frame unnecessary. Entry for the Square Foot show in Bismark, ND in August. There is still another month to paint more to choose 2 entries from.

Artavita Contest finalist

Saturday, June 1st, 2019


 

Winter Forest: Dogwood, 14H x 20W watercolors on cold pressed

Artavita Contest 32 Finalist CertificationThis piece was a finalist in the Artavita competition for the front and back covers of the International Contemporary Masters Volume 13, June 2019.

Winter Forest: Dogwood, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed, 21H x 26″ framed size. In the beautiful, organized chaos of a winter forest in Pacific Northwest, rain brings out the subtleties, in particular the red branches of wild Dogwood complimented by the surreal green colors of moss on every tree.

Fallow Field

Wednesday, May 16th, 2018


 

Fallow Field, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on paper
Fallow Field with Red Clover, Hillsboro OR countryside, 14H x 20W watercolors. Framed size approx. 20H x 26 inches.

Mossy Melody

Saturday, February 17th, 2018


 

Tualatin Hills Nature Park, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed
Mossy Melody, Tualatin Hills Nature Park, Beaverton Oregon, 14H x 20W inches watercolors on 140 lb cold pressed… documenting the generous chunks of glowing moss that characterize winter and early Spring here in Oregon. Even on overcast days the mossy edges of trunks and branches vibrate in a dark forest.
Framed size approx. 20H x 26W inches – white mat and white wood frame with crackle finish.
Showcased in J. Mane Gallery’s Seasons 2020 exhibition.

Stormy Oregon Coast

Friday, February 2nd, 2018


 
Stormy Oregon Coast 02, 6W x 4H inches watercolors

Stormy Oregon Coast 01, 6W x 4H inches watercolors

Stormy Oregon Coast 01, 6W x 4H inches watercolors — the first version painted on Jan 10th (bottom) was too stagnant, so I added some splash.

Oregon Beach Fantasy

Wednesday, January 24th, 2018


 
Oregon Beach Fantasy, 3W x 6H inches watercolors on 140 lb premium

Oregon Beach Fantasy, before spraying with paint through straw, 3W x 6H inches watercolors

Oregon Beach Fantasy, 3W x 6H inches watercolors on 140 lb premium

Left, first phase and above after puddles of water were allowed to soak in certain areas, then paint was blown with a straw. Paint was also removed in some areas. This created a much more dynamic painting.

Next Entries »