Interview with The Earning Artist

Montana Prairie

6x6 Oil on Canvas

So excited about an interview I had recently with Monica from The Earning Artist. We talked about my experiences selling art and my Etsy shop Small Impressions. You can read the article here. 

I'm also excited about a series of paintings I created after a recent trip to Montana. I definitely recommend visiting Montana in September. It is gorgeous with beautiful weather and amazing scenery. Most of the trip was spent in the Bitterroot Valley just south of Missoula. If you go, take a bicycle, ride the Bitterroot trail, take your sketchbook and a camera. The experience has provided me with subjects that will last for months.

Travelling Artist

On the road almost all summer visiting wonderful places around the Northwest, I kept painting even though I neglected posting. Now that September is here, I will share some of my adventures and plan to be more consistent with my blog posts.

First of all, I've quit trying to travel with oil paints. At least for now. I decided I needed something with a quick setup and clean up.  Oil paints can be messy and challenging to transport. Instead, I take lots of photos for when I return home and can take my time and paint in my studio.  

In spite of the trouble with oils, I haven't quit painting on the road. Instead I've shifted to using gouache paints. They are a water media that dries quickly like watercolor paints. The setup and cleanup feels more efficient than oils. Unlike traditional watercolors, however, gouache is opaque. I can layer and apply in a manner more like oil paints and I like that they dry to a nice matte finish.

Sparks Lake, Central Oregon

8x8 Oil on Canvas

Manzanita Beach, Oregon

5x7 Gouache on Paper

Now that fall has returned, I plan to be more consistent with my blog posts. I'm pretty good with my instagram posts and I list items almost daily in my Etsy Shop.  You can see more of my gouache work and my oil paintings there.