Oregon
Are You Curious? Einstein Would Be Proud
I've had several role models in my life. Two stand out above the rest - my mom and my Aunt Fern. My mom was a huge proponent of education and my aunt was all about lifelong learning. I always felt their support and encouragement.
They shaped me into who I am. And guess what? I'm still following their lead. I've been taking an online watercolor class this week taught by Nancy McCarthy, an artist I greatly admire. I didn't make any art that WOW'd me or anyone else but the lessons I've learned will help me in my future art making.
Take away? Look for shapes. The ink and bamboo brush work above looks simple and you're right, it is simple. But to a line freak like me it was challenging. It took me three tries to get to this degree of simplicity without falling back on line work (see below). Nothing wrong with line work but the exercise was to make shapes using only light, medium and dark values. Lesson learned!
Mary
I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. — Albert Einstein
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Clouds Always Steal My Heart and The Show
I painted for the first time at Pilot Butte today. It's "our" butte that is right in town. From the summit the entire city of Bend is visible as well as several major Cascade peaks. It is one of only four cities in the country that has a volcano within their city border. For the curious the other three are Portland, Oregon; Jackson, Mississippi and Honolulu, Hawaii. That's what I said, Mississippi has a volcano?!
I made a couple thumbnail sketches prior to painting and it became obvious that the clouds were going to steal the show. I wanted them to float, to interact with the butte and mesmerize the viewer as they did me.
I will definitely paint at Pilot Butte again.
Stay safe everyone.
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A Slice of Paradise
This painting, A Slice of Paradise, is part of my Nature Series. It will be around for the summer.
I found this location only because the location where I was going to paint was closed due to bridge construction. I was determined to paint so I hopped in my car and headed down a dirt road not more than two minutes away - Voila! This scene came into view.
Looking at the beauty before me, listening to the wind in the trees and watching an Acorn Woodpecker climb up and down and all around a Ponderosa pine, I knew this was the spot.
I spent three hours out here. I made a couple of quick sketches, determined where I wanted to set my easel and got to work, or should I say play.
"A Slice of Paradise", 10" x 8", oil on canvas panel.
I hope you and your loved ones are well.
Mary
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Rocky Path
It's nice to be a beginner at something. I put plein air painting into this category. It's fun but challenging to decide what to paint, narrow it down to something achievable, create a design, sketch in a drawing, put the values in, and lastly add color.
When I headed out to Tumalo State Park, I found the perfect place to paint. I setup the easel and palette and quickly realized I didn't have my palette knife with me. I also remembered that I forgot to go buy more solvent-free medium. It was a bit clunky feeling but I quickly adapted to mixing paint with a brush. I think it's why this painting is so cohesive in it's color scheme. A little bit of paint was always on the brush from the previous mix. It's not my preferred method, but it is a method and lots of people work this way.
I titled the painting "Rocky Path" because of the subject matter, but it could have just as easily been about the process. "Rocky Path", 12" x 6", oil on canvas panel. Beauty provided by Mother Nature.
Do you have a slice of Mother Nature to enjoy near you? I hope so. There's nothing like it for our mental health during this challenging time.
Peace and well-being to all of you.
Mary
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My Outdoor World Studio
How are you? I hope you and your loved ones are well during this incredibly difficult time.
Since moving my studio home January 1, I'm taking this sheltering-in-place time to learn a new skill. I have watched every video I can get my hands on (You Tube and Streamline Art Videos) to learn how to paint outdoors aka en plein air. I will say right off the bat how incredibly challenging it is and how much new respect I have for those that paint en plein air. I've been at it for a couple months now and each time I go out I gain a bit more confidence, but have a ways to go. The good news is that it's always nice spending time with Mother Nature.
Would love to hear how you're spending this sheltering-in-place time.
Wishing you well, Mary
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Fur and Feather Show
I am honored to be part of the Fur and Feather Show created by Kathy Deggendorfer at her gallery, Sisters Art Works Gallery. It is a wonderful show that benefits Furry Friends.
Here I am with Kathy Deggendorfer
My wolf paintings
Me and my wolves
Salem Art Fair Weekend
We started our weekend in Corvallis last Thursday, and then headed up to Salem for the Art Show. We were in Corvallis long enough to visit a few of my favorite people and places, namely the Corvallis Art Center, Allann Brothers Coffee, Paige at Pegasus Gallery and The Book Bin. Sam took me to Nearly Normal's Gonzo Cuisine and it was awesome! Thank you, sweetie. Check out the shot of my booth at the Salem Art Festival. It was in the beautiful Bush Pasture Park. A lovely setting for an art show. I had great neighbors and met lots of new people. This was a good show for me because of all the new contacts and because I sold several paintings. Here's what sold:
Miracle
The Jay
Tight Rope
Yellow Eye
Book Bin kitty
Nearly Normal's Gonzo Cuisine
Paige at Pegasus Gallery
My favorite bookstore in Corvallis.
My booth in the festival.