I did promise some more sky paintings awhile ago so here's a new one I recently finished called "Storm in the Gorge". I did the sky first, using mainly wet into wet watercolor. I also did the water at the same time and the underpainting for the foreground. I added the hills while the sky was still damp, keeping the hills further away lighter and bluer (cool colors should be used for distant objects) and the closer objects warmer and darker). After the sky was dry I went back in and added some clouds. This painting will be on display at VOCA, 906 Harney St. Vancouver, WA for First Friday (Nov. 1) reception for the Clark County Open Studios Tour. For more information visit ccopenstudios.org

 

A few months ago I wrote a post about an artists retreat in beautiful Union, Washington. Here is a painting I did of a sunset I viewed from St. Andrews House, the retreat center where we stayed. We had this gorgeous view looking out over Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Watercolor is the perfect medium for skies and water since it flows on the paper and the colors can mix so easily, producing those wonderful effects that we water colorists just love. I can't wait to go again next year!

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!

Here are two new paintings that are featured in my show at Avalon Art Gallery during September and October. Both of these paintings were done on Yupo synthetic paper and I still really love painting on Yupo! Of course I still do paintings on Arches cold-pressed also, which is one of the best all around water color papers out there. Thanks to all of you who attended the opening and all the great comments and support I received. I love being an artist and would paint even if my paintings never sold, but it still feels wonderful to know that others are moved by my paintings. So thanks again!

Lumahai Beach

Here is another watercolor of a beautiful beach on Kauai (you will never run out of scenes to paint on this island!) The water in Hawaii is always such a beautiful shade of turquoise and blue (unlike our gray Northwest beaches). I am really missing Kauai even more since we have been having such a cool, rainy spell here for sooo long! Bring on the sunshine!

11 x 14 watercolor on Arches paper

Na Pali Coast from Kalalua Trail

I am currently working on a series of paintings from scenes around the island of Kauai which has become like a second home to me and my family. This one is of a scene I saw as we were hiking the Kalalua Trail on the north side of the island. This view of the Na Pali coastline is spectacular! It is a pretty strenuous hike and alas we did not hike the entire 8 miles to the waterfall (my knees gave out long before that!).

White Bird

Here is a picture of my latest watercolor painting. The scene was one I just made up, but it could easily be any wetland area ( I go to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge a lot so I have these scenes in my mind). It is mainly wet in wet watercolor in the background and drier paint in the foreground. The original version had a lighter foreground on the left and when I darkened it it gave the whole painting the moodiness I was looking for. It won 2nd place in a local art show and also sold there! SOLD

It's just a short (2 hours?) drive to the coast from here and Cannon Beach in Oregon is one of our favorite places. Since I have been learning the art of "plein air" painting, I couldn't resist doing a painting right there on the beach. I love the freshness and the way it captures a warm sunny day at the beach! I'm really enjoying this plein air painting!

SOLD

more plein air paintings

I went back to the Columbia River gorge with my artist friends to paint Wakheena Falls. The falls itself is very long (240 feet) and beautiful. I chose to focus on the pool of water and rocks at the bottom of the falls for this painting. To add to the fun, I painted it on Yupo paper!

plein air paintings

I went on a painting trip with a group of artists to Bridal Veil Falls in the Columbia Gorge yesterday. The scenery was beautiful and our group of artists created such gorgeous paintings and/or sketches of the area. I did two quick, small paintings there and just loved painting outdoors on site! It is so different from working with photos, I so enjoyed it! We didn't make it to the falls so I want to go back and paint that too! SOLD

Wetlands

After reviewing some sketches of wetlands I sketched while hiking in the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge last fall, I put together this watercolor painting. The fall colors were gorgeous but I didn't want them to overpower the calm, peaceful feeling of the water and reflections. The painting was done mainly using wet-in-wet watercolor technique with some dry brush done later when this had dried.

Wetlands

Boy I've been so busy I haven't posted for awhile!! There is so much going on in summer! But I'm back to more painting again and here's one I just did of a scene of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge near where I live. Painting water or wetlands with watercolor is so perfect. I have many pictures taken of this area so plan to do lots of paintings! Wetlands, 9x19 watercolor SOLD

Garden Delights

After visiting the Buchart Gardens in Vancouver B.C. one summer I came back with several photos highlighting the gorgeous scenery. This painting is loosely based on one of those scenes (I find it's better to work from memory sometimes and not try to copy a photo). This is a watercolor on Arches 140lb. paper.

Garden Delights, 15x22 watercolor

Quiet Waters

This painting is of the Applegate River in southern Oregon near the town of Ashland. Ashland is one of my favorite places to visit. There are lots of unique shops and galleries, a beautiful park right downtown, the Shakespeare festival in the summer and lots of beautiful scenery everywhere.

Quiet waters, 16x20 watercolor

SOLD

A Healing Place

This painting is a combination of acrylic and watercolor. I was going for a loose, abstract look and just began by laying down colors and letting them merge and blend as they chose. As I worked on the painting, the image took shape and reminded me of a wooded area near a pond where I always went as a teenager when I had the blues and needed a place to go to reflect and heal.

A Healing Place , 16x22 watercolor/acrylic, unframed

The Columbian Gorge is a beautiful, scenic area just east of Vancouver, Washington. It is beautiful any time of year and any time of day, but especially beautiful toward the end of a glorious day-just before and during a glorious sunset.

Colors of the Columbian Gorge, 16x29 watercolor (unframed)

SOLD