Playing with Paint

Yesterday morning I played around with paint.  On an under painting of light blue, this prowling bear emerged.  I imaged him in a spring forest just after leaving his cave, looking for a meal.  The original 9x 12 inch painting was created in acrylics on a gallery canvas.  The original can be viewed or purchased here and greeting cards or fine art prints are available here. 

Little Oak Trees

It has been a while since I've painted small.  Although that is what I used to do all the time, I've kind of drifted away until these little creations.  Each little oak tree painting was created in oil paints on a 4x4 inch canvas.  They are for sale at my Etsy Shop and make a cute little collection.  Visit the shop here, or view them closeup here, here, or here. 

As the Crow Flies

My experiments continue!  As I mentioned in my last post, I've been playing with textures.  This painting was created on a stretched canvas.  What I liked about the canvas was that it had been painted on before--many times.  It was a canvas that I experimented on and then just painted over again and again.  Eventually layers of texture built up.  I added some tissue paper, some gel medium, several more layers of paint with a final couple of layers of glaze.   Finally, I painted the silhouette of the crow.  I really like how the color and textures work together.  The original mixed media painting was 11x14 inches.  Fine art prints on either canvas or paper are available for purchase here. 

Sunsplash Abstract

 Today's painting is a new direction for me.  I've always loved color, but I've never done much experimentation with abstract images.  This image was created on paper with acrylic paints and modeling paste.  It was fun to play with textures and colors.  The painting is not on an archival surface as are most of my works, but it has been preserved digitally and art prints up to size 36x48 inches are available.  Don't worry, if you don't want something that big, you can also purchase it as a greeting card. Check out the sizes and prices here where you can also view a larger image of this fun abstraction.

From Portland

Today's painting was inspired by recent travels from Washington State to Central Oregon.  As travelers move across the Columbia River into Oregon, Mount Hood begins to watch over all.  The original painting was created on an 8x10 inch canvas, but with the marvels of modern digital photography, fine art prints up to size 28x30 inches can be created.  To view the different sizes and surfaces on which this painting can be reproduced, visit this link.  You can view more oregon landscape paintings at Fine Art America.

Abstract Chicken Painting

This abstract chicken painting is the result of a recent journey in experimentation with acrylic paints.  I've always painted in oils and that has been my paint of choice, but it does have draw backs.  It takes a long time for the paint to dry.  If a painter fusses too much, the colors become muddy.  There are health issues associated with many of the chemicals used, but I've always been more comfortable with oils.  I guess because using oil paint was a very early and pleasant experience in my life.  However, as you may have noticed if you keep up with my blog, I've been doing a lot of work in acrylics.  Acrylics also have disadvantages, but for me the biggest one has always been that they dry too fast.  But, since I discovered the Stay-Wet palette, that issue has disappeared. With that obstacle out of the way, I've discovered some wonderful advantages that are starting to steal my heart.  If a painting doesn't turn out like I like, I just paint over it.  I can fuss and fuss and fuss, and if the colors get muddy, wait a few minutes, the paint is dry and I can start all over again.  So this chicken is the third painting I've done on the same canvas.  The first two were ugly disasters that I freely covered.  No wasted canvas, no regrets and a wonderful texture covers the canvas.  I love this abstract chicken. I've nurtured him, and now he is finished.  Both the original 11x14 inch painting and prints in several sizes on several surfaces are available for purchase.  Visit here for details and a larger image.

Not Alone

Although we sometimes feel alone, actually we are not. This tree, though seemly isolated and alone, is really surrounded by the beauty of nature, the sky, the ground, the textures of the earth. The painting was created on an 18x24 inch gallery canvas using acrylic paints. The sides are painted black and it can be hung with or without a frame.

The original painting is for sale or prints can be ordered here.

Fire and Ice

There is a story behind this 24x30 inch abstract.  It starts this way:  Last week I took a much needed vacation to Central Oregon, one of my all time favorite places to visit.  I had planned to do many things:  paint outdoors, hike, take lots of reference photos, bicycle, and relax.  First day there, I enjoyed a delightful mountain bike ride through the desert scrub of the Central Oregon landscape.  There is a lot of dust, scrubby pine trees, and rocks.  It was glorious until I hit a rock that threw me off the bike.  I landed on my knee and that was the end of the ride.  I limped back about a mile to the end of the trail.  With a fractured tibia, the rest of my plans went on the shelf.  Today I am back home.  I wanted to paint something large that would help relieve my frustrations at the slow pace I now keep and the loss of a well-deserved vacation.  The result is this painting which I call Fire and Ice.  It is metaphoric on many levels as you might imagine.  Prints are available here.

Portrait of a City Dweller

Everyone who lives in a large city is familiar with these squatters.  City pigeons strut all over the streets and hang precariously on wires, keeping an eye out for the crumb droppings of those careless humans.  This fellow was created on a 6x6 inch canvas panel.  He was fun to paint and I am pleased to share that he has joined some of my other paintings of birds and animals that are for sale at my Etsy Shop.  Click here to purchase or view him in the shop.

River Color

The paint is still wet on this 16x20 inch oil painting.  It was inspired by the hiking trails available in the Pacific Northwest.  Washington and Oregon have amazing trails that parallel some of the beautiful rivers in these states.  There is always an adventure when an afternoon of trail hiking offers the opportunity.  Both the original painting and prints are available for purchase by visiting my web site. Please stop by and take a look.

Nisqually Reflection

This abstract landscape painting was created on an 16x20 inch canvas using oil paints. It was inspired by a visit to the Nisqually Wildlife Preserve in Thurston County of Washington State. It is a delightful preserve on the Delta of the Nisqually River, a river that flows from the Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier. It was an early morning in the still of fall when the image first crossed my path. The water was very still, hardly a ripple and the beautiful gold of the autumn trees sparkled in the morning light. The chirping of birds filled the air and the air was crisp. It is a lovely memory and it was a great experience recreating the experience in my studio.  The original painting and art prints are available purchase at this link.  You can see more gold landscape paintings at Fine Art America.

Hiking in April

For the past three years, I have visited Central Oregon in April. I'm anxious for my upcoming trip in a few weeks.  While we are there, we hike, ride bicycles, and enjoy a change of scenery.  It doesn't rain as much in Central Oregon as it does on the West Coast of Washington State, so it is always a relief to find a little sunshine.  This painting was inspired by a hike on the River Trail in the Dechutes National Forest.  I've painted it many times and always enjoy revisiting the image.  This time I experimented by using a monochromatic underpainting to get the values and then adding color after the values were in place.  The merging of my underpainting with the additional colors captured perfectly the coolness of an April hike.  The painting was created in oil paint and is 9x12 inches on a gallery-wrapped canvas.  It is for sale and can be purchased from my Etsy shop by visiting this link.  Some of my other landscape paintings that are for sale can be viewed here, here, and here.  Hope you will stop by for a visit.

Meadow Pines

A Central Oregon meadow and a cluster of pine trees was the inspiration for this 8x10 inch oil painting. The original painting is for sale at my Etsy Shop.  Visiting this link will allow you to view it in the shop or make a purchase.  Some of my other original tree paintings are also still available; just click here.

Nisqually Delta

If you've ever been to the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge in Thurston County, Washington State, then you will recognize one of the remaining barns from the Brown Family Farm.  It is a classic barn in a beautiful rural landscape.  It is a blessing that this area is shared with public and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Nisqually Delta.  I am inspired to paint every time I visit.  This oil painting is 8x10 inches and was based on a photo taken last spring.  I loved the contrast of the sunlit barn and the tree shadow.  The painting is for sale at my Etsy Shop.  Click this link to view it in the shop or make a purchase. 

Sky Birch

This is a painting I created quite a while ago.  Recently I added it to my collection of images available in print form from Fine Art America.  Visit here to see sizes and surfaces available for purchase. I've been adding some of paintings that have already sold so folks can still own a copy of the image.