Art in the Burbs- This Weekend!

Misunderstood   8x10 pastel

I am proud to be participating in this weekend's Art in the Burbs in Tigard Oregon.  This is a juried show, which means that all of the participating artists were chosen based on their work.  I've visited this show many times over the years, and was always impressed with the variety and quality of the work there.  This will be my first time participating in this show.

I will be bringing my newest goose painting "The King of Empire Lakes", along with some other bird paintings and landscapes. I will be bringing a bin of sale priced original paintings that have been hanging around for a while, and a few prints.   I have greeting cards available for the first time too!

The King of Empire Lakes    16x16 pastel plein air

Art in the Burbs is held at the Alberta Rider Elementary School in Tigard, and runs Friday evening through Sunday.  I hope you can make it!

What A Summer!

I've been busy these past few months!  Keeping the blog updated took a backseat to my crazy life.  Now that the pace has slightly slowed, I'm here to report on what has kept me occupied since July.

I participated in four plein air events, several juried shows, went on two trips to the Oregon coast, took a driving trip to Missoula Montana, and welcomed a beautiful new granddaughter into our family.  Every time I thought that things would slow down, something else would pop up.    

Wild Dreams    pastel  12x12  First Place- Yamhill Lavender Festival-  sold

In July, I participated in the Yamhill Lavender Festival Plein Air Art Show, and was awarded first place.    What a wonderful surprise! Every winter I look forward to the end of June and the two weeks preceding the festival when we create paintings at local participating lavender farms.  The festival and plein air show are the second weekend in July at Beulah Park in Yamhill, OR.  

In August I was accepted into the Pacific Northwest Plein Air event in Hood River, OR.  This is a juried competition, which means that artists submit an application packet along with images of past plein air paintings, and a jury picks who they want to participate.  This was my second year as a participant.  The paint out took place in the Columbia River Gorge for five days around Labor Day.  Each artist submitted up to five plein air paintings (they had to be painted outdoors, not in a studio).  I stayed near Parkdale during the paintout in a cute little room that I found on AirBnB.com  I had a total blast painting from dawn to dusk every day, and was thrilled to sell three paintings during the show at the Columbia Gallery in Hood River, Oregon.

Invigorated 11x14 pastel plein air    -sold

Taking the High Road 16x20 pastel plein air    -sold

A Fresh Start 12x12 pastel plein air    - sold

Aglow  11x14 pastel plein air

Wild Daydreams   11x14 pastel plein air

sketching in my paintings during Umpqua Plein Air

In September I went to Roseburg Oregon to participate in the Umpqua Plein Air competition.  This was a timed plein air event.  Artists checked in at 7:30 am and had until 2:30 to paint, frame and submit up to three paintings.  There was an hour and a half break, then the quick draw started in downtown Roseburg.  We had two hours to paint a cityscape.  It was a real challenge for me- a person who doesn't usually paint urban settings.  I need to do that more often. I earned an award of distinction for my painting "Along the Way".   I also participated in the Hillsboro Oregon Plein Air event where I submitted paintings in all three categories- landscape, cityscape, and figurative quick draw.  Both shows are up through October.  In Roseburg, the plein air show is at the Umpqua Valley Art Association and the Hillsboro plein air show is at the Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Center.

I was also in the Oregon Society of Artists  Fall Juried Show in September.  I entered two paintings.  My piece "On the Job" won second place.

On the Job  11x14 pastel 

Mystify  14x24  pastel

I Believe

A friend emailed a link of this video to me today, and I had to share it.

Bob Ross had it all figured out.

Painting really does bring a lot of good thoughts to my heart.  I'm going to go paint now.


Joy of Painting Video

Accepted: Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2012

I am excited to announce that I was accepted  again to be part of the Pacific NW Plein Air event in Hood River.  This is a plein air painting event, which means that all art in the competition has been painted outdoors rather than in a studio.  The paint out starts August 31, and all paintings must be submitted by September 4.  The opening reception is Friday September 7 at the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR. 


 This is a juried competition, which means that all the artists participating submitted an application and examples of their plein air work, and a panel of judges decided which artists would participate.  It is a huge honor to be chosen as part of this event, especially considering the high caliber of artists participating.

Investing In Gold  11x14 pastel  2011 PNWPA   sold

Last year was my first time participating in the event.  I made the mistake of driving back and forth rather than staying in Hood River for the paint out.  I'm not going to make that mistake again!  I like to paint during the late afternoon and evening, so that's what I'm going to do.  Morning light is lovely too, but I'm not really a morning person.  I'd like to have some plein air work done ahead of time in case the painting I produce during the paint out aren't up to my standards.  I'm going to have fun, stay relaxed, and just paint for the joy of it.  

Haven  8x10 pastel  2011 PNWPA   sold

I love the Columbia River Gorge, and I'm excited to have a reason to spend more time up there to paint!  Paul and I lived in Hood River in the mid-80's, and it's fun to drive around and marvel at how the town has changed from logging town to the thriving tourist destination it has become.  Hood River is unique in that it is perched between the hot dry east and the temperate western part of the state.  It's right in between Mt Adams to the north and Mt Hood to the south, the Columbia River runs along its northern border.  The views are magnificent, and the wind is legendary.   I can hardly wait to find more magic there!

How the Yamhill Lavender Festival Changed My Life

I started participating in the Lavender Festival Plein Air Art Show in 2008.  I had been plein air painting for several years,and no one but my painting buddies and family ever saw anything I did.  When I read a flyer for the festival plein air paint out and show, I knew it was something I wanted to do.  For a small fee I'd have access to about twenty five lavender farms for the two week period before the art show.  My friend Mary and I dared each other to enter at least one painting into the show.  I had never framed any of my paintings before.  

I furiously painted during the two weeks.  I think I visited about ten farms that first year, and had a terrible time framing the one painting that I entered into the show, but I did it.  It was scary and exciting to put my work out there.  My painting hung for the two day show, and then I brought it home. 

A Wild Debut 20x20 pastel
2008 Yamhill Lavender Festival entry

The following February I got a phone call that my painting from the lavender festival had been chosen for the poster and catalog promoting the festival for 2009.    I didn't even know that was a possibility.  I was so honored.  I had to provide an artist's statement and photo for the catalog, so I learned how to put one of those together.  It took me a whole afternoon of agonizing to put two paragraphs together.    That summer, I felt like a minor celebrity when a lavender farm owner recognized me from the catalog and insisted that she must introduce me to her employees and customers.  She thanked me profusely for coming to her farm to paint and kept my complimentary glass of lemonade full while I was there.  

In 2009, after the two day art show in Yamhill, the remaining unsold artwork was split up between several galleries in McMinnville and Newberg and displayed through August.  This was an amazing opportunity for artists like me who were completely inexperienced and had never dreamed of being in a gallery.  I received an honorable mention that year from the festival, plus sold several paintings at the festival and at the gallery.   I was painting because I loved it, but the recognition and sales made me even more determined to become a better painter, improve my skills, and make marketing my paintings a reality instead of a daydream.

In the years since, I've continued to look forward every year to the Lavender Festival.  I have a special feeling for Wild Rain farm in Yamhill, the site of my first year's painting, and make a point to go back there every year to paint.  I spent four glorious days painting there this year.   I don't know what it is, but there is something that just feels right when I'm there and it makes me so happy to be there and to paint there with Laura and her cats and dogs and lavender and the droning of the bees.  It's like being inside of a wonderful summer poem.

I am so honored to have won this year's first place award for my painting  Wild Dreams, which I painted at Wild Rain Farm as part of this year's festival.  I am especially proud because it was painted with love at a place I hold so dear.  

I was able to go back for one more visit on Monday of this week, and got two paintings in.  The lavender is scheduled to be harvested tomorrow, and the poppies will be tilled under.  I'm already looking forward to next summer.

Wild Dreams   12x12 pastel  sold

Accepted: Art in the Burbs!

I was very excited to receive an acceptance to Art in the Burbs 2012.  Yippee!

The sale takes place Friday October 19- Sunday October 21 2012 at Alberta Rider Elementary School in Tigard.

Click here to visit Art in the Burbs website

CARDS + CLAY + EXTERIOR ART + GLASS
HANGING ART + JEWELRY + TEXTILES + WOOD

Umpqua Valley Art Association

I just signed up for Umpqua Plein Air in Roseburg (Sept 5-7), and noticed a new page on the Umpqua Valley Arts Association website for the Artworks NW show, which will be up until July 6. UVAA is a class act with beautiful facilities, galleries, class space, and the nicest staff ever!  

Info on Umpqua Valley Arts Association, click HERE

For info on the plein air event, click HERE

Hallie Brown Ford Gallery

May 11- July 6, 2012

ArtWorks NW The ArtWorks NW Juried Art Show features 43 works in all media (except photography) from artists across the northwestern states. The show, juried by sculptor Michael Cooper, was formerly known as "Hundred Valleys" and is UVAA's yearly no-theme juried art show and competition. The show will open with a reception, open to the public, on May 11, from 5-7pm. Click here for some images from the show. Don't forget: the People's Choice Award will be announced at the end of the show, so don't forget to vote!

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Winners

	1st Place: $1,000 Brown Jacket, Azalea Rees
	2nd Place: $500 Over the Top!, Judy Waller
	3rd Place: $300 Second Chances, Nathalie Equall
	J. Lynn Peterson Award: $200 Autumn Splash, Karen Ilari

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Artists in the show

Peter Alsen, Round Temple Jar, Raku pottery, Idleyld Park, OR
Peter Alsen, Footed Temple Jar, Raku pottery, Idleyld Park, OR
Peter Alsen, Vessel with Extruded Handles, Raku pottery, Idleyld Park, OR
Azalea Rees, Brown Jacket, Oil on canvas, Port Townsend, WA
Mudra Bergan, Crazy Larry's Barn, Oil, Dillard, OR
Susan Comerford, Lemolo Lake Storm Cloud, Oil, Roseburg, OR
Susan Comerford, Road Around the Pond, Oil, Roseburg, OR
Shannon Connolly, Butterfly III, Acrylic on wood, Roseburg, OR
Matt O. Cosby, Streaming Fresh, Mixed media, Beaverton, OR
Renee Couture, Work is What I Do, Mixed media, Glide, OR
Madalyn Dixon, Hidden Bistro, Acrylic, Canyonville, OR
Madalyn Dixon, Viritidas, Acrylic, Canyonville, OR
Margaret Dunbar, Seasons Color, Acrylic, Grants Pass, OR
Nathalie Equall, Second Chances, Pastel, Portland, OR
Jasen Hansen, Persistence, Acrylic, La Grande, OR
Karen Ilari, Autumn Splash, Acrylic on canvas, Sutherlin, OR
Raino Isto, Mercurial, Cone 6 porcelain, Myrtle Creek, OR
Daniel Larson, Goblin No. 15, Acrylic, Pocetello, ID
Karen Lawson, Egyptian Queen, Acrylic on canvas, Roseburg, OR
Kyall McGee, Presiding Over Mazatlan, Oil, Roseburg, OR
Sine Morse, Coral Swim, Hand cut paper w/scissors, acrylics, Portland, OR
Greg Price, Caryatid, Stoneware ceramic, Roseburg, OR
Alpha Rich Eventide Watercolor Roseburg OR
Nancy Watterson Scharf, Getting by in Modern Times, Acrylic, Oakland, OR
Tom Scherner, Fall Color on the Owyhee, Acrylic, Roseburg, OR
Tom Scherner, North Umpqua Morning, Acrylic, Roseburg, OR
Fred Smith, Les Demoiselles De Roseburg (D'Apres Picasso), Oil on canvas, Roseburg, OR
John Tansey, Welcome to 1700, Oil, Myrtle Creek, OR
John Tansey, The Windjammer Pamir Entering Cape Horn, Oil, Myrtle Creek, OR
Veronica Thomas, Hide & Seek, Oil on canvas, Medford, OR
Kathe Todd-Hooker, So Between Two, Tapestry weaving, Albany, OR
Joren Traveller, Sky Watcher, Bronze, Bend, OR
Lory Cogan Utz, Autumn Harvest - Squash, Watercolor, Roseburg, OR
Judy Waller, Nuphar Lutea, Watercolor, Roseburg, OR
Judy Waller, Last Rose of Summer, Watercolor, Roseburg, OR
Judy Waller, Over the Top! Watercolor, Roseburg, OR
Cheryl Wikstrom, Textural Series in Pastels, Oil on canvas, Roseburg, OR
Jane Wood, High Summer, Oil, Elkton, OR
Terry Woodall, Quosatana Quarry, Myrtle wood, North Bend, OR
Terry Woodall, Salmon Full Circle, Myrtle wood, North Bend, OR
Richard H. Worthey, Serenity, Wood vessel, Roseburg, OR
Paul Zegers, Lazy Day on the Umpqua, Oil on canvas, Roseburg, OR
Paul Zegers, Sauvie Island Sunbreak, Oil on canvas, Roseburg, OR

Stellar Steller

The little Steller's Jays are so darned cute...and loud.  I'm always amazed at how bright their feathers are, especially on their foreheads.  They also have little whiskers that poke out on the sides of their beaks (so do the crows).  This little guy is going in to the frame today.  It's amazing how much I can get done when I have a deadline!

Stellar Steller   16x16 pastel 

Time Lapse- Painting "Goosed"

I tried my hand at time-lapsed videos when I painted "Goosed", a 5x7 pastel.  I was talking on the speaker phone and chewing gum while filming this...yikes!  Lesson learned!

Goosed   5x7 pastel  N Equall

You can't see my reference material.  I have a laptop to the left of my easel with my photos on it.  I only use my own reference materials- photos that I have taken myself as well as sketches done on location.  My pastels are in a Heilman pastel box set on top of a mechanics cart (to the right of the easel).  I paint primarily on Wallis paper, which is an artist's sand paper.  With this painting, I sketched it in first with a pencil, and put the background color in before applying pastel to the bird.

A note about the timer...I had set the timer for 20 minutes to lay out the painting and sketch in the landmarks.  The time lapse starts when there was ten minutes left.  After the timer went off, I stopped using it.  I spent just over an hour total on this painting.  That doesn't include anything other than actually applying pastel.

I've been using the timer/clock while I'm painting both in the studio and outdoors. My perception of time gets all screwed up while I'm painting.

A Few New Paintings

Puffed Up  8x10 pastel

On a cold, foggy April morning, I came across this little red winged blackbird, sitting on a sign post on the side of a country road out by Hillsboro.  It wasn't bothered by me and the camera, and seemed content to hang out while I clicked away.

A. Crow  8x10 pastel

A. Crow is one of my neighborhood crows.  This crow loves tasty morsels, but is very skittish.  One day I put a couple pieces of dinner roll on the deck for the birds.  The crow watched and waited as a Steller's Jay took a piece into a nearby tree. Rather than fly down for her own piece, she went after the Jay and stole its piece.   About an hour later my husband said that as he was driving home he saw a crow fly over the road with a large piece of roll in it's beak.

Misunderstood  8x10 pastel

Another goose.  I was at my neighborhood park, and there was only one goose left.  I don't know what happened to the rest of them.  The goose spends a lot of time hissing at anybody who comes close to it.  I understood why when I saw a nice looking family walk by the goose, and they allowed their leashed dog to lunge at the goose.  They laughed that it was funny when the "mean goose" had to run for it's life to get away from their dog's snapping jaws.

My First Solo Show! First Thursday in June

I'm very excited to announce my first solo show at the Elizabeth Lofts Gallery in the Pearl District of Portland, Oregon.  Thursday, June 7 2012 .  6pm-9pm.  Live music, wine, art...fun!

The opening reception is open to the public.  If you haven't visited the Pearl during First Thursday, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

Now, back to work for me.  I've got a show to get ready for!  See you on the 7th!

Artworks NW 2012- Third Place!

My husband Paul, Deuce and I went down to Roseburg this weekend to attend the Artworks NW reception at the Umpqua Valley Art Association (UVAA).  My painting "Second  Chances" was selected to appear in the show.   The judge (Michael Cooper) picked 43 out of the 254 submissions to be in the show, then first, second and third places.  I was very thrilled to receive third place, which included a cash prize.  Here is a link to the UVAA website and photos of the artwork in the show...http://uvarts.com/galleries/hallie-brown-ford-gallery/

I'm so glad I got to be there for the reception.  The show was really good, and the judge's work was jaw dropping.  There were a LOT of people there for the reception. The building is gorgeous, the gallery is gorgeous, and I was again struck by what a gem that Roseburg has in the UVAA.  I was totally impressed last summer at their plein air event, and found this event to be equally impressive.  I'm very excited that UVAA will be putting on another plein air competition this September.

The reception was Friday evening, so we had all day Saturday to explore the area.  The weather was perfect, and we drove out east of town, following the Umpqua River up to the forest.  Such fun!  We took the scenic route home today, going through Glide and Lorane, then stopping in Coburg for a bbq with my sister and her family before driving back here to Portland.  I am so happy and tired!

Second Chances  16x16 pastel  N Equall

Playing Catch-up

Poppyland 24x24 pastel

I've been busy.  Buckman School Show and Sell was last weekend.  It went pretty well.  My house was a disaster after cutting mats and framing in the dining room all of last week.  The cat likes to play with the trimmings from the mats, so there were strips of mat board everywhere.  My husband Paul was a real superstar- he helped me set up at the show, unload and put everything away after the show, and we both worked all day Sunday with housework and yardwork.  Now that the house is more under control I'm hoping to get myself back into the studio.  Wednesday is almost over...maybe tomorrow?

I have been into bird portraits lately, and have had a blast painting some of the local characters. The geese are from some photos I took in Stevenson Washington last summer, as well as photos from the little lake in my neighborhood.  I love to paint plein air, but those birds are way too active for me to paint without some photo assistance.

If you want to see the other bird portraits, click on the What's New tab on the right side of the screen (by the top of the page).  I've got a few other pages of paintings and photos up there too.

OutdoorPainter.com | Marketing at Plein Air Events | Home of Plein Air Magazine

When I hear the word "marketing" my eyes start to glaze over, even though I know it's something I NEED to be doing more of.  Painting isn't just about the application of pigment.  This article had some great ideas that I'll be putting into action at my upcoming plein air events.

OutdoorPainter.com | Marketing at Plein Air Events | Home of Plein Air Magazine

Nearly Spring on Sauvie Island

I love to paint outdoors, but I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to braving weather conditions that are less than optimal.  Needless to say, I don't spend a whole lot of time painting outdoors during our long wet winters here in Oregon.   I've been out a handful of times so far this year, and the best day so far was last week when Deuce and I packed up the car and drove out to Sauvie Island.  I met up with my friend Gretha, and we spent a couple hours painting near the beach area on Reeder Road.

Bald eagle nest- Sauvie Island

These early spring days are wonderful for bird watching, and there were several people tromping around with very large cameras.  The trees haven't leafed out yet, so it was easy to see the eagle nests and heron rookeries.

Heron rookery 

Heron rookery- closer view

There were a few herons standing on their nests, but dozens stood together in the dry stalks of the corn field near the rookery.  Apparently they were hunting for mice.

My favorite birds to watch were the Sandhill Cranes.  The air was filled with the sound of them cooing as small groups flew in to join the larger groups browsing in the grassy fields.  As the sun set, a group of several dozen foraged next to the main road, so I was able to see them up close.   They stage on the island until early April, then they continue migrating north to the arctic.

I really felt energized being out in the sun all afternoon, and the time flew by.  Gretha had a really nice painting going.  I didn't do much in the painting department, but Deuce and I had fun walking around and exploring, and I took lots of pictures.  It was great!

Now a week later, we're back into a winter storm pattern, so it will be a while before we get another sunny, almost spring day.  I'm not complaining (much).  My fingers are crossed that we get a few more sunny days sprinkled throughout the coming months, and a summer that is a real summer.  We'll see...

Oregon Society of Artists Spring Juried Show

Second Chances  16x16  pastel

Second Chances won second place at this month's Oregon Society of Artists Spring Juried Show.  The show will be up for the rest of March at the OSA Gallery located at 2185 SW Park  Portland, OR.  Gallery hours are 1-4 Tues-Sunday.

I've been thinking about how I name my paintings...perhaps I should consider names like First Choice or First Try?

Spring Home and Garden Show at the Expo!

Two Does   24x24 pastel  N Equall

I have a booth with my painting buddy Rose this weekend at the Spring Home and Garden Show at the Expo Center, off I-5 by Delta Park.  I'm one of the artists painting and displaying some of my paintings in the artisan gallery.  We're all set up in building C, by the Ikea Dream Box House.  There are eleven artists from Oregon Society of Artists, and we're all painting during the show, which started Wednesday the 22nd and continues thru this Sunday.  It's a huge show, with three buildings full of vendors.  It's very impressive! Building C is amazing, as it has display gardens, the Ikea house,and orchid growers (swoon!) with the most amazing blooming orchids at Trader Joe prices.  There is a Max station right outside the expo if you're so inclined.  Hours are 11-8 Friday, 10-8 Saturday and 11-5 Sunday.  Wear your walking shoes, and bring a rolling cart if you plan on buying plants or art or whatever.

I brought a regular studio easel to the show, along with a new tall directors chair, and my mechanic's rolling cart to hold my pastel box.  It's working out great.  I haven't used the chair much, but it's really nice to have one that puts me at eye level when I do sit for a few minutes.  It just seems weird to sit and paint, so I stand when I'm actually putting pastel to the paper.

There is a $2 admission discount coupon available at this link...http://www.otshows.com/phs/

I hope to see you there!

Second Chances  16x16 pastel