PREPARING FOR HAWAII

No, that's not my laundry.  It's canvas, oil-primed and drying in the sun on a clothesline.  Getting ready for HAWAII!.

FOOTBRIDGE

Footbridge
12 x 9
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On the way up to Mirror Lake, near Mt. Hood, there's a footbridge over a little creek.  It reminds me of hiking days when our kids were small.  Their dad would run ahead and hide under the bridge.  When we got there, he'd say, in a troll voice, "Who's that walking over my bridge?"  Kids would scramble, there'd be a chase, all great fun.  This little footbridge, of course, harbors no trolls.  Just a magical light dancing across the clear creek water.

FALLS AND SUNGLOW

Falls and Sunglow
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March 2012,

This waterfall is one of the closest to the road in Silver Falls State Park.  That's not the only reason I chose to hike there with my watercolors, but it's a beautiful falls, and a short, pleasant walk.  Years later, I paint this oil painting based on my plein-air sketch.  I can still remember sitting in the cool shade to the right of the creek.  A great place to escape the summer heat.  Can't you just imagine swimming in the pool below the falls?

LIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER

Light Across the River
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April 2012,

A larger version of a sketch posted earlier.  This, in square format, looks quite a bit different.  I loved the very orange light of this late afternoon.

RIVERBEND AGLOW

Riverbend Aglow
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April 2012,

A bend along the Clackamas River, reversed just because.  I'm always amazed at how much light there is on water.  Do you know that if you put on a sun hat and stood in a river on a sunny day your face could get sunburned?  I suppose fisherpersons know that.  As a painter, I mainly suffer eye fatigue.  (Not that I very often stand in the middle of rivers to paint.)  This painting is a studio piece, thus no sunburn.  Just a lovely memory.

CHOLLA

Cholla
24 X 18

June 2011,

We have come to Joshua Tree National Park to see the variety the California desert has to offer.  This Cholla garden looks so soft with the sun lighting the thorns.  But Rick has stories of Cholla leaping off the bush to stick him, and he never exaggerates.

WHAT TO PACK FOR PLEIN AIR PAINTING

This is like saying, "What to pack for hiking in Nepal or Nebraska."  The answer is always, it depends.  The things you pack are always a compromise between completeness and compactness.  Pack what you need for the circumstances, and leave everything else at home.

Here is what I suggest that my students bring for plein air painting, not too far from the car, in Portland, Oregon:

-A SUN HAT, clothing  for the weather, sun shirt, sunscreen, insect repellent (which can sometimes be left in the car.)  Weather conditions may include heat, cold, light rain or wind, and may change throughout the day.  Pack the clothing you need to be comfortable.  Give careful thought to your SHOES.  You will be standing a lot, and standing pretty still.  Your feet need to be warm (or cool) and comfortable.  GLASSES if you wear them.  You will not want to wear sunglasses, as they will alter the apparent colors of your paint.
-DRINKING WATER, SACK LUNCH OR SNACK.
-YOUR PAINTING ESSENTIALS, packed in the smallest, lightest package you can figure out.  A rolling box works well.  A backpack covers terrain more flexibly, but will carry less.
-A PLEIN AIR EASEL, light easel, tabletop easel, or plastic garbage bag to lay your painting on.
-It's also nice to have a chair, umbrella, and camera, but these are optional.
A complete oil supply list, including colors, which you may want to pare down a bit for plein air.

WINTER SUNRISE

Deep in the tunnel of Oregon winter, there are some mornings when the sun rises late (as I do).  And on rare occasions, it isn't raining, and the sky is full of color.  Here are a few of those sunrises from the winter of 2011, finally photographed for your enjoyment.  Tiny paintings; don't put your nose too close to the screen.

Winter Sunrise I
8 x 6

Winter Sunrise II
8 x 6

Winter Sunrise III
8 x 6

Winter Sunrise IV
8 x 6

DESCHUTES SUMMER SUNDANCE

Deschutes Summer Sundance
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I am invited to a party in Crosswater, near Sunriver.  As I cross the water, the sun is getting low, and a golden glow streams across the meadow.  I park by the bridge and get out my camera.  I am going to be late to the party.

RIVERBEND (palette)

Riverbend Palette
8 x 6

A color study for a larger painting.  This is the Clackamas river.  I flipped the photo, because too many of the riverbends in the series of paintings went the same way.  I kind of like the way this balanced out.