This is my ode to Spring in the Northwest. While we do have many beautiful blooms this time of year, the weather can be very unstable. Warm and sunny one minute and then a torrent of showers, maybe some hail and a thunderstorm or two. Then all of a sudden the sun bursts forth and everything is set aglow!

Oh Spring! Original watercolor by 
Sandra Yorke

Here is a link for an excellent article on the beauty and spirituality of original art work:

The Spirit Within Your Art

by Keith Bond

An original creation emanates something from within that is felt. Not by your fingers, but within you. Felt by your spirit. I don’t know how or why, but somehow, through the hands of labor and through the labor of love, you imbue within your artistic creation a portion of you. Not your physical self, but in a way part of your spirit self. [...] 

Read the rest of this article at:
http://faso.com/fineartviews/53394/the-spirit-within-your-art

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For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.faso.com/art-marketing-newsletter

I just finished this painting of a great horned owl. It was actually sitting about 40 feet away in a tree in our yard facing the window of our home office. This was later in the afternoon around 4pm. I have never seen one this close before! The yellow of its eyes was very striking. After completing the owl portion of the painting I decided to use tissue paper for the background. I was very pleased with the results!   SOLD

"The greatest cathedral of all is nature itself. It simultaneously humbles and pulls up giant emotions that cannot be fully expressed in mere words"- Rodney Cobb .

 Last summer we did a lot of hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and I have lots of photos of waterfalls. This one is of Bridal Veil Falls.  I am currently working on some wonderful watercolor paintings of these scenes and I will be posting them here for you all to see. In the meantime go out and enjoy some time in nature!

Harvest Moon

"Art has many avenues; love is carried through many vessels. Your oceans are your colors, your ship is your brush and your treasures are in your heart." - Moncy Barbour

One night last fall I saw this beautiful moon coming up amid the woods on our property. The moon was huge and glowing and the light it cast was beautifully amplified by misty clouds surrounding it. Here is the watercolor painting I did later of this scene. When I look at the painting I can still hear the tree frogs singing in the background and the occasional hoot of an owl. A beautiful scene indeed.  SOLD

Sunrise on Kauai

"The purpose of art is not a rarefied, intellectual distillate- it is life, intensified, brilliant life"
Alarin Arias-Misson

We stay on the east side of Kauai (in Kapaa) when we go, so we see a lot of beautiful sunrises. It's a great way to start the day, watching the sky (usually with a few early morning clouds) as the rays get brighter and the sun pokes up over the sea. Then it's time for a walk on the beach to "The Birdcage", an open air restaurant where the birds come inside and walk around the tables (my kids used to just love this!)

Waipouli Beach, Kauai

Here is a painting I did on location on Waipouli Beach on the island of Kauai. It's just a short walk from the Mokihana in Kapaa where we stay when were on the island. You won't find a lot of people here on this beach. It is a beautiful walk any time of day, though we usually found ourselves strolling this beach in the morning after watching the sunrise at the Moki. I just had to sit and paint it one day-glad I did this painting always bring back nice memories of warm sand, sun and blue skies! If you haven't visited our new website yet, go to TheNatureStudio.com We have added quite a variety of prints and cards with a tropical theme. And there's more to come!