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