Anna, at Studio 30

Another Friday session up at Kat's Studio 30 on Dec. 27. This is surely the last painting of the year, and a lovely way to end it, painting with friends. (Speaking of which.... reports of our sessions can oftentimes be found on the Alla Prima FB group noted over there on the sidebar of my "Favorites".)  I think with a bit of anatomical hand-fixing, and perhaps some more dashes on the flowers, I can call it done. But that will have to wait until next year, along with most of my other unfinished paintings of the year. Almost time to uncork the champagne!

So, to top off the year... a few final comments....

2011 was my record-setting year, with this blog, having made 68 posts. But that was the year I went to Spain, and approximately 28 entries were non-painting (travelogue) posts... which means I did about 40 paintings that year. So I am totally patting myself on the back right now because all of my posts this year record paintings done--or at least started!--in 2013. So.... 67 paintings in 2013... that's more than one per week. I am kind of surprised... and more than pleased.

As I look back on the year in paint, I can see I'm making progress and that is gratifying. I can also recollect a lot of fun and laughter--and no small quantities of wine!--enjoyed with fellow painters here in Portland. I am proud to call as friends some rockin' great painters here in the Pacific NW, and I'm looking forward to even more expansion by all of us in the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all, and to all a good night!

"Anna", 16" x 20 oil painting commenced 12/27/13.

Madame N

Studio 30 session with Brenda's daughter, Nicky, modeling as "Madame X".  12" x 16"  linen panel. Work in Progress.

Painted  12/20/13

Rob and Domenic

Rob is Janie's son. This is him and his best friend on their first day of school. Rob is in his 20s now. This was painted over the Thanksgiving holiday, down in Oakland. During my holiday, I also saw the Zorn and Hockney exhibits. (This post is slightly out of sequence, chronologically. Whoops.)

Painted 11/25/13

Dien commission

Graduation commemoration. 16" x 20" stretched canvas. Delivered in white frame.

Final 12/18/13

Sicily

Studio 30 session.  Model:  Cirque de Soleil, Sicily.  Jade green tights; lavender voile tutu/skirt. 16" x 20" stretched canvas.  Work in progress.

Painted 12/13/13

Haley

Seated, frontal, sassy lip. Grey tone underpainting only at EOS. Painted in Janet's basement. 9"x 12" linen panel.  Work in progress. 

Painted 12/8/13

Flapper

Flapper woman, portrait with feather headdress; red underpainting.  Painted at Studio 30.  9"x 12" linen panel.  Work in progress.

Painted 11/15/13

Anna - at Janet's

For the chronological record:
Anna. Painted in Janet's basement. Hat with red flower.  9" x 12" linen panel.  Image at EOS; painting unfinished.

Painted 11/3/13

Hollywood Theater

Just to keep work chronological, this is a space-saver post of the work-in-progress of Hollywood Theater (after night #2). It is plein air, as the sun goes down.

Note to self: dang~!! I should have left it like this. It became a sacrificial lamb in a workshop, and Aimee showed me something about color on it, so I will not continue with it, myself. It's a demo.

Moonlight on Green Hills

This is done from a photo, taken down in Eugene out in back of Hanno's house. I'd gone down there for the "Create Eugene!" paintout, and really appreciated the opportunity to visit with my friend and see all the renovation that's going on there. While sitting on the back deck, we were treated to a full moon casting its magic over the landscape. Sooo beautiful. I don't think I did it justice, but I sure tried!

On MDF, 13" x 5.75" -  Oct. 15, 2013

Columbia River Boat House

Stupendously glorious weather compelled me out the door. A Facebook friend had posted a photo of a beautiful spot along the Columbia river, so I headed out that way. There are long stretches along Marine Drive with no place to pull over and park, but I finally found a spot overlooking this boat house, with the river and hills and Mt. Hood in the distance. I really tried to keep this simple, and focus on values, especially on the planes of the boat house. This was way too ambitious for a teeny little Thumbox panel. But it was such an enjoyable day, this little painting is kind of endearing to me anyway.

6"x8" panel - Oct. 6, 2013

Jen

Another session in Janet's basement--and another painting that's not done! I'm stalled out while contemplating my color palette; this is sort of all over the place right now, and needs unifying. Hmmm....

Linen panel, 9"x12" - Sept. 29, 2013

Ashland Play Time

After my big birthday bash, Jane and I went down to Ashland to see a couple of plays. (The Tenth Muse was superb, by the way! As was Street Car Named Desire.)  One morning I got downtown early enough to have a bit of my own kind of play... painting this urban landscape. I got the better part of it done on the spot, standing in front of the coffee cart at the main intersection, facing this building. So there was quite an audience behind me, enjoying their cuppa and watching my progress.  Back in Portland, I continued with it, and I think it is complete now.

12"x 16" on MDF - Sept. 18, 2013

In the White House Gardens

No, not that White House! The one down the gorge, in Hood River. This was part of the Hood River paintout, but I did not sign up to enter the competition--just rode the coat tails of Za, who set up this session out in the glorious fields on a super warm day. We took numerous breaks in the shade of the Arbor Vitae and tried not to expire. I didn't get very far with mine--the canvas was way too big for plein air (for me, anyway). Live and learn. I plan to resume this during the winter months.  I think... perhaps I should wait 'til next summer and go back to the same spot to complete it?

On canvas 20"x24" - Sept. 2, 2013

Mynicka

I haven't done a basement session in quite a long while, so it was good to get back to Janet's for a "candlelight", I always enjoy them so much. And always seem to produce something worth continuing with, when I work there.  I think this is done now--just need to take a better photograph.

Linen panel, 9"x12", August, 2013

The Spire that Inspired

I was headed home from downtown when I spotted this glorious juxtaposition of old against new. I had my new "Thumbox" in the trunk, and an hour to spare, so I pulled over and fed the meter 1 hr. 15 min., set up a camping chair and dashed this out. Not a bad initiation for the new box!

SW 12th Ave. (6"x8") - Aug. 2013

Plein Air Day in the Park

A perfect day in Laurelhurst with Jen modeling again, thanks to instigator Za. Big ol' shade trees and lovely painter friends (about eight of us or so)... what could be better? As usual, I got maybe half way to where I wanted to go with this, and will resume in the studio, soon as able.

Update:  I've spent more time on it--this is an updated version--but it's still not finished.  August 2013

Back to the Blue Heron Herbary....

Well I did go back... intending to paint the pond again, but the panoramic is just so beautiful that I pointed myself toward the chicken's house and view beyond, instead. Again--and as always--a few tweaks are needed. (Um, like the bottom third of the painting!) I'm liking the basic palette that Scott provided in the workshop--a "split primary". This is on a little 8"x10" Ampersand gessoboard.

View of the pond... from my studio!

I wanted to paint the Blue Heron pond again, and thought I'd have a go at it in the studio instead of plein air. I think that, with a few tweaks, I can work it out. I like my previous abstracted version--that was done in about 30 minutes at the end of the workshop. Right now, I'm not sure which I like better. Maybe the third time's the charm... if I go back and paint it there.

Workshop #2 with Scott Gellatly

My first effort in the morning (top) was a hot mess... I bit off more than I could chew, everything was so beautiful at the Blue Heron Herbary where Scott's workshop was held. I couldn't decide where to focus, so I put everything but the kitchen sink in that first painting! (In spite of his admonishment that "you get one thing"!!) Next two paintings were progressively simpler, and hence more successful. I was pretty well spent by painting #4, but I can see potential in that one. I think I'll paint it again, freshly, and on a larger panel. I thought I'd work further on this one, but now that I look at it--the following day--I think I'll leave it as is, just for the record of learning experience.

There's no place like home (she said, clicking her heels together)....

A fabulous day today, right here in my own back yard. Several artist friends each brought a few paintings and had a crit session (thank you Za!) in the morning. Off to a yummy Thai lunch, and then back here for an afternoon of painting from a model out in the glorious, perfectly temperate sunshine. A good time was had by all. I did not get too far with my painting, but it sure was fun and, with a bit more time, I think I will feel better about my effort.

Worked on this one quite a lot today (bottom image). Not done yet, but yes--better!  8/6/13

"Jen in the Shade", painted 7/27/13

Schminke Mussini, resin-based oils

This tiny panel was done after a downtown lunch-time visit with a new artist friend. I had gotten a small set of Mussini resin-based oil paints and created a travel kit, and wanted to test drive it. The kit will remain in my car, at the ready for a quick fix if my day doesn't have much painting time in it. This came about (the tiny painting kit) because of something I'd read about Fechin's basic palette colors, which included a Mussini color that is no longer made, as far as I can tell. Oh well... I like the little set anyway! Have paints, will travel... maybe even by Max!
"Max Lunch", painted 7/23/13

Plein Air Model, Betsy

A rare treat--and challenge!--today. Christopher arranged for an extraordinary model, Betsy, to sit for us outdoors in the dappled changing light. Loved it--now I want to do more. The top one is the lengthier pose, which was truncated at the long break. That's as far as I had gotten--roughly two hours in--having spent way too much time on the drawing/underpainting. That's OK, I've got pics and can finish it. It's about 11" x 14", on toned mdf.

The second one is a small (8"x10") quickie, done with no underpainting. I may tweak a few things, but will probably leave it basically as is. It's on a plain white Ampersand gessoboard.

Update 7/16/13 - I did work on the first painting, and have uploaded a fresh image showing progress.

Texting in Kyoto

Yeaaa! So proud of myself. I got the giant Torin rolling table (made for car mechanics!) assembled today for use as a palette table, and so was able to begin painting in the "big studio" again. And, as if that weren't accomplishment enough, I got underway with a new painting... one that will continue in the "Texting in...." series, which is scheduled to go up at the NECC in December this year. I've decided to paint them all at 16"x20", but have not received the shipment of canvases yet. So this one is on a 2-in. depth 16x20 I had on hand. Uh-huh... this'll work. Exciting!

P.S. Credit where credit's due: This is from a photo that my world-traveling niece took; she has given me permission to use her pics, all of which are superb. It's so fun to "arm-chair travel" with her.

Beautiful Anne Amie Winery

A fantabulous day yesterday! We drove out to the Lavender Festival, and then decided to paint at a winery instead of another lavender field. I recalled the beautiful views from Anne Amie, and we managed to find it. Oh boy! I so love this place--the owners were gracious in letting me set up under one of their giant patio umbrellas where I painted happily for a few hours. (Note to self:  add plein air umbrella to the wish list.) After breaking down the easels, we headed back to the Festival to see that a handful of painter friends had won ribbons--Kat, Kristina and Joanne among them. On to the reception at Mel's Frame Shop in downtown PDX... and then home.  Whew!  A 12-hour day, and worth every minute of it!
Painting done 7/12/13

Smelling the lavender

The Lavender Festival is next weekend, and painters galore are out capturing the fragrance on canvas before the big art show. (I have not entered it, yet; probably won't.) Val was happy to go out into the fields with me, even tho' she's not a painter, she's quite a good model, and is incorporated into painting #1, which I started on Saturday. The long drive to HIllsboro is worth it, it's such a lovely, peaceful location, and lots of shade under which to set up and enjoy the day. The owners of Jackson School Lavender are wonderful people, to open up their property to us--thank you to both of you kind souls!

So I wanted to go back out Sunday and continue the painting, and didn't have to twist Joanne's arm to much to get her to go! I worked on the Saturday painting for a while, and then felt it was getting too labored, and started painting #2. That one was done in about 40 min., and is much more successful. Simplicity of composition is key, methinks. By painting #3, I was working very hastily--I was tired and result shows it. The "guerilla card" paper is not as nice a surface as the Ampersand panels, so I was fighting that too. Oh well... A+ for effort, I say!

Gellatly Plein Air Workshop at Cooper Mountain Nature Park

It was even hotter today, I'm shocked I got through the day.  But OH! was it worth it. I learned a lot about color during the day.  Scott is able to give a whole new dimension to the color wheel, which I was able to grasp in a way that I am hopeful I might be able to apply in future plein air efforts. We were all spared from passing out by the Nature Center's overhang, which provided shade all day, and a slight breeze in the afternoon. A lot of beautiful work was done by all. What a terrific instructor, and group, and an inspiring day.

Annual HPSO Garden Tour - paintout

Three locations on the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Garden Tour were open to us this year, and six of our hardy (pun intended) band of plein air painters braved the heatwave to paint in several gardens. I was in the Tuttle Garden, and after being totally bowled over by the grounds--what?, one and a half acres I think!, fully planted with every blooming thing you can imagine--I got to work in the semi-shade of a plum tree and painted Richard, who was watering the cabbages when I first arrived. (The figure is painted from the photograph on my phone taken in the morning, before he vanished for the day.)  Basically, I got it blocked in when Thomas Kitts wandered over and--wowzah!--gave me some pointers.  Thank you Thomas!

Being a total weather wimp--especially when it comes to heat--I had to take my tomato-shade-of-red face home to the A/C.  (Note to self: DRINK MORE WATER on these paintouts.) So I hope to take those pointers into the studio and bring this to a level of completion which might warrant being called a "painting". Right now, it's pretty much just an idea of a painting.

Lovely Lithia Park

Where did the text go that was here, initially?  I will have to rewrite it--when I have time. Dang!  What happened?  For now.... this was painted from a photograph taken at Lithia Park in Ashland, and I was using only Payne's grey and a new Gamblin color called Nickel Titinate Yellow (or something like that).  And white, of course.  My "take-home" here is that black, or any version thereof, should not be used in plein air!  BAH!  Oh well, I like the figures.

Painting done 6/25/13

Yaquina (plein air)

Another lovely stay at the Sylvia Beach Hotel.  Mmmmm... I'm smelling the sea air now, recalling the beautiful view from my window, the sunsets, and the tranquility of this beach visit.  I couldn't decide what to paint--everywhere I looked, nothing but beauty!  So I went up to the coffee shop to ponder over a latte, and there saw a newspaper article about the Yaquina bridge--it being in the worst state of disrepair of any bridge in the country--and that it would likely be torn down and rebuilt.  That does it!  Off I dashed to paint my subject on this perfect sunny day.
Painting done 6/16/13

Hipbone long pose

Jeff at Hipbone conducts a "long pose" session every month, which means we have three 3-hour sessions to paint the same figure in the same position, and stand in the same place to do so.  The first week I did a few horrible sketches.  The second week I did a very small "study" but then never moved on to the big painting.  So week three, I did the whole painting (above) in one session.  I can definitely see the value of the long pose--it was much easier to paint the pose with speed and fluidity.  I would not have been able to do this painting during the first session.
Painting done 6/18/13

Retro Girl

I was invited to paint at Hilarie's new studio space today. Drat--I need to post more frequently, instead of batches like this.  I can't remember this model's name.  I'll call her Retro Girl!  I'm mulling over what kind of background to give this painting, and how to render the draped chair she's sitting in.  This is a work-in-progress.
Painting done 6/12/13

Za Vue Workshop

These three are from the outstanding Za Vue workshop. We are so fortunate to have such a talented and generous painter in our little PDX community. Za used her Memorial Day holiday to share her gifts with us for two days... she is an awesome painter and an inspiring teacher.
Paintings done 5/25-26/13

Pt. Robinson Lighthouse, Vashon, WA

What a fabulous trip to the Seattle area! Fechin at the Frye. European Masters at SAM. And a stellar ferry trip over to Vashon Island, which I'm not familiar with so I just drove randomly and ended up on the Maury Island side, and walked the rest of the way to find this.... the cutest little lighthouse that ya ever did see! So I got the easel rig out of the trunk and set up for a lovely afternoon of painting. I'm much happier with this effort than any other (all three!!!!) of my plein air efforts. Maybe partially because I found a panel that has a really wonderful surface (Ampersand) so the paint went down on it well. But more because it was such a glorious, beautiful, sunny, enchanting day... perhaps that shows through a little.

Rooster Rock paintout

This was a fun day trip, down the gorge with Stephanie, Vicki and Tim. The painting I came home with lacked contrast, so I've spent some time back in the studio with it. Still having a hard time with the shadows in the foreground... they should look contiguous, not like a bunch of sloppy blotches. Not that there's anything wrong with sloppy blotches, but they aren't creating the look I'm after, of the shadow from the tree behind my easel that's falling on the foreground. There are small light shapes on the ground where the light shows through the leaves. I hate to spend more time on this though, 'cus it's really not doing it for me. As my mom used to say, "we'll see."  That always meant "no"! (i.e., I don't think I'll get back to this one.)

Clare

This is Clare, another work in progress from a Friday at Kat's, and one I will definitely resume as soon as able. This is a dreadful photo, so that doesn't help to show that she is such a charming carrot top! This will serve as chronological place saver for the time being.

A Still Life... for the record...

Work in progress, which probably won't go further. Still lifes aren't really my thing, but I used it to test out the "Guerrilla Painter Cartón Board" which I saw mentioned somewhere and ordered a pack of it. Not crazy about it--it might work better if I gesso it. Paint sinks in really quickly, so I had to keep mixing more and more and more. It really absorbs the oil in the paint, so that the surface looks more like pastel. One for the "experiments" pile.