A Tricky Start to the Plein Air Season

 And we're off.  Plein air season has begun.  I say this as rain pounds against my window.  It's just a spring thundershower, but wimpy me is inside with the heat on.  Maybe I'll go outside to paint tomorrow...

I did get my paintings submitted to Plein Air: A Chronicle of Lake Oswego which is part of Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts  June 20-22, 2014.  They were due last Friday, and even with the grandkids here, I got the photos of the paintings shot and emailed.  At least I thought I did. Yesterday, I got a frantic phone call and email from the organizers, wondering where my work was.  What?  I sent it.  And they didin't have it.  I had no idea that there was a problem.  No messages on the computer that it didn't send...nothing.  The organizers graciously allowed me to resend the images.  I'm not kidding...it took 15 emails to get the images to them.  Six images.  I tried sending them all at once, splitting them into groups of three, sending them individually...and they finally all got there after 15 tries.  Some of the emails just vanished in transit, which I think is really weird.  I don't get it, but I'm happy that they arrived!

Here are the pesky images that they will be picking from...all painted on location in spring weather at Lusher Farm in Lake Oswego, and the Upper Easement next to Jantzen Island.

I Know A Place   12x24 plein air- oil paint   N Equall

Through The Trees   12x12 plein air pastel  N Equall

A Warm Welcome  12x16  plein air pastel  N Equall

The Way Things Used To Be  12x12 plein air pastel  N Equall

Lucky Clover  6x6 plein air pastel  N Equall

Along The Path  6x6 plein air pastel  N Equall

Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2013

All I Ever Wanted  6x6  plein air pastel  N Equall

This past month has been bananas!  Like the rest of my crazy life, everything happens at once, and September has been no exception.  I participated in three plein air competitions,  had 15 paintings in two group shows, and have been preparing for the Fall Home and Garden Show at the expo here in Portland, OR which will set up Oct 2.

May Days  6x6  plein air pastel  N Equall

At the end of August,  I went to the Columbia River gorge to participate in Northwest Plein Air 2013, a juried plein air event put on by the Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, OR.  A juried event is one where the artists submit an application with examples of their work and the organizers choose who they want to participate, in this case 35 artists.  This was my third year participating in this event.   I rented a great one room cabin in White Salmon, WA using www.airbnb.com.  It was just across the Columbia river from Hood River,and served as a peaceful home base during the five day paintout.  For this event, each artist could submit up to five paintings at the end of the five days of painting, all done in plein air, meaning they were all painted outdoors in the open air, and had to be painted within the past year.  

Fluorescence  11x14 plein air pastel

I was a bit nervous about the weather.  It had been stormy during the week before the event, and the hard rain actually woke me up the night before the event started.  I was pleasantly surprised on the first day when the alarm went off at 6 and the sky was bright pink with no clouds in sight.  It ended up being hot and sunny during the days of the paintout.  I brought two finished plein air paintings with me, one painted in May across the gully from the Tom McCall Nature area in Rowena, and one painted at Wild Rain Lavender Farm in Yamhill.  I painted and framed three new paintings during the paintout- two painted at The Gorge White House, and one painting of the view looking east down the gorge from the AniChe Winery in Underwood, WA.

Painting is normally a solitary endeavor, although I do attend a weekly open studio at Oregon Society of Artists, and oftentimes paint outdoors with another artist or two.  Attending plein air competitions is the complete opposite- lots of people painting similar subjects in the same real estate.  I love getting to know the other artists, but it can really mess with my mind to see other artists doing spectacular things when I either haven't started, don't have a clue as what I'm going to do, or don't like what is happening on my easel.

Inevitable  11x14  plein air pastel  

Then there is the problem of where to paint.  The gorge and surrounding areas are stunning, but deciding exactly where to paint can be a real problem.   The organizers had suggested painting locations every day, and they were all terrific.  I have to find some type of connection, inspiration or emotion with the landscape if I hope to come up with a painting that pleases me.  That little piece of the puzzle can be elusive. It's always such a relief when an idea for a painting  floats up to the surface like the answer on a Crazy 8 ball.

 I struggled a bit, but finally came up with three paintings that I wasn't embarrassed to let people see.   I spent my last day at a nice quiet park with a boat launch on the Washington side of the river where I touched up and framed my finished paintings.  I really wished I had found that park earlier in the weekend, because it had a beautiful brushy wetland area with the gorge as its backdrop.  Next year.  

The Sunny Side   12x12 plein air pastel

As Labor Day weekend came to a close, I turned my paintings and cabin keys in a day early, and drove back to Portland to spend an extra night at home to do laundry, regroup and repack the car before driving to Roseburg, OR to participate in Umpqua Plein Air 2013.  

The Plein Air Northwest show at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, OR will be up thru September 29.  

Fresh Off the Easel- new paintings

Fresh off the easel!

May Days   6x6  plein air pastel  

Out to Pasture   2.5x3   plein air pastel

Untamed  12x12  plein air pastel  

Crow Family Portraits VI    12x12  pastel     N Equall

not yet titled    16x20  plein air pastel   N Equall

not yet titled   6x6   plein air pastel

not yet titled   18x24   plein air pastel  

The Mighty Bushtit   24x24   pastel

Paintings From Indian Ford Show in Sisters Oregon

Indian Ford Meadow III  12x36 pastel  N Equall

There are a few places in Oregon that really strike a special note for me.  A couple weeks ago I was able to revisit one and found another to add to my list.

I had to drive a couple of paintings over to Sisters for a show(Paintings of Indian Ford) that opened on September 24 (thru Oct 9 at Sisters Art Works).   I could have shipped them, but it was a good excuse to get some more painting time and the weather was gorgeous.

I drove up to Three Mile Lake on Thursday evening, and was there for the sunset. I took photos and a little sketching, but I got there too late to set up my painting stuff.

Friday morning I drove a couple miles east of town and found some beautiful views of fields and the mountains.  Lots of material for future paintings.  I also checked out Camp Polk Meadow, which is just around the bend from Indian Ford Meadow, the site of the paintout in July.  It was beautiful there, and after wandering around taking pictures for a couple of hours I set up to paint at the north end of the preserve under the pines just outside the split rail fence.  I stayed all day, did two paintings, and met a really cool local quilter/photographer/pet portraitist, Mary D Smith.  She straightened me out on what the big flock of birds that swooped almost into my face and landed in the tree right behind and above me was(pinion jays).   I was thrilled when she came to the reception, and brought me a gorgeous digital painting that she had done of my lab Deuce.

Indian Ford Meadow II  11x14 pastel  N Equall

I really feel so blessed.  I can do what I love in beautiful places, and I keep meeting the most wonderful and interesting people along the way.

Plein Air Wonderland!

Beginnings  11x14  pastel  plein air  painted at The Gorge White House  Hood River, OR

What an amazing summer this has been!  I just finished up the Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2011 in the Columbia River Gorge, put on by the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River.  This was a juried event, which means artists applied before the event with an application and samples of their work, and in this case forty artists were selected to participate.  I was thrilled to be selected!  The rules were pretty straightforward- up to five paintings could be submitted, and they had to have been painted in the previous two years.  And they were to be plein air paintings, meaning they were painted in the open air, not in the studio.

Above the Orchards  11x14  pastel  plein air 

I didn't have five paintings to submit.  I had one, and it didn't thrill me.  This event has an associated five days of paintouts.  In previous years, a majority of the paintings sold at the show were created during the paintouts, so I didn't freak out too much about not having completed paintings going in.  OK, I was a bit stressed that I didn't have a backup plan in case my paintout work wasn't up to snuff, but I didn't have a lot of choice in the matter.

Investing in Gold  pastel  plein air  11x14

Before the paintouts started on August 25, I made sure I had all the supplies I would need for framing, the actual frames, and my sand paper mounted onto boards.  I decided to try to frame without mats where possible to make the framing easier, which was a good choice for me.  I ended up with one painting that needed a mat, but I had extras already cut and ready to go.  I cleaned the car out, had dog supplies, extra shoes, and had the housework done and groceries stocked up.  

Haven  8x10  pastel  plein air

My one regret is that I didn't make arrangements to stay in Hood River during the paintout.  I drove back and forth from SW Portland.  The drive is beautiful, but it was difficult seeing that beautiful light in the early mornings and evenings and being stuck driving instead of painting.  There are two hostels in the area that I considered trying out, but they don't allow dogs.  I consider Deuce to be an essential art of my plein air equipment- he keeps an eye out while I'm submerged in painting.  He also insists on occasional breaks and helps me explore an area before settling down to paint.  He rarely complains and is very good company.

I was out painting four out of the five days, and went to three of the painting locations.  I absolutely adored one the the locations on a plateau above the town of Mosier, five miles east of Hood River, and spent two very full days painting there.  Three of the paintings I submitted were painted there- Haven, Looking Back and Investing in Gold.  The other two (Beginnings and Above the Orchard) were painted at The Gorge White House, up hwy 35 south of Hood River.  

The show starts this Friday September 2, 2011 at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River with a preview party from 4-6pm and the opening reception from 6pm to 8pm.  The public is invited.  The gallery show will continue thru September 25.

Looking Back  10x20 pastel  plein air

Umpqua Plein Air- Blue Ribbon!

Tricks of Light  14x18 pastel  First Place

My trip to Roseburg last week for the Umpqua Plein Air event was fantastic.  I had a wonderful time and was shocked and surprised to win first place for my painting "Tricks of Light".

I drove my own car to Roseburg with my dear friend and fellow painter Rosemarie Caffarelli following along in her car.  We would normally carpool but we had each signed up for different painting locations during the event.  It worked out well since we both had our cars packed to the rafters with painting stuff.  I had made reservations at the Rose City Motel in Roseburg based on recommendations on www.tripadvisor.com- $50/night for a room with two beds.  When we unlocked our room's door and walked in, we were very surprised to see a suitcase and shoes on the floor...oops, occupied.  We went back to the office and after a few minutes of head scratching the manager decided to move a frequent customer into another room so we could have his room with two beds.  We had to leave for an hour while they cleaned the room, but it all worked out fine.  We drove out to the next day's painting locations to check them out.

When signing up for the event, we had to pick between winery, farm or urban locations.  That was all we knew- no details.  I picked farm, and Rose picked winery.  My farm was gorgeous.  It was owned by a retired veterinarian, and had lots of out buildings, rolling golden hills with oak trees, and some lowland along the Umpqua river that was planted with food crops.  They had a very nice farm store with a bakery out by the highway, with the home and barns about 1/3 mile south of the store, down a gravel road.

The event was great.  All the details were spelled out ahead of time.  All artists had to have their blank canvas/paper time stamped before painting.  Start time was 8 am and you had to stop painting by 4 pm.  All work then had to be stamped out of the location, and they shot photos of each painting with the artist.  You then had until 5 pm to deliver your framed and ready to hang (D rings and wire) work to the art center in Roseburg.  If you finished early you had one hour to get your work to the center.  You could submit up to three paintings.

I had three frames with me, two of which had glass for pastels.  I wandered around the farmhouse area for a good hour and a half taking photos, and trying to decide what I wanted to paint.  I'm a slow starter, and really have to feel like I know what I'm going to do before I jump in to the painting process.  I did a few thumbnail sketches, and kept going back to an area to the north of some golden hills with interesting tree groves curving over the slopes and a farmhouse.  For some reason, I decided to start with a 12x12 piece of Wallis paper mounted on a board.  I realized about 30 minutes in that I didn't have glass for that size, so I would have to stick with oil on it.  I love to underpaint with oil paint on Wallis, so the start of the painting was the same whether I stuck with oil or made it a pastel painting.  I rarely paint with oil while painting en plein air, but decided to go ahead and go for it.

Four hours later (after 1 pm) I was still pushing oil paint around on that first painting, and it wasn't pretty.  The morning clouds had burned off, and everything looked different from when I started.  I knew that the painting I was working on was a stinker, and that I needed to get my act together.  I decided to put the oil away and get my pastel box out.  I had been painting out of the back of my car in a little parking area by the house, and had several potential scenes available just by turning my head.  I moved my easel about twenty feet so I'd be in the shade of a shed, changed the playlist on my ipod to a dance mix, and got out two prepared boards with Wallis paper that would fit into the two pastel frames(an 8x10 with no mat and 14x18 with a white mat).  I quickly pencil sketched in each painting, and used the leftover oil paint to underpaint both paintings.  It was nice and warm in the sun so the thinned oil paint dried in just a few minutes.

Once I got to the point where I could use the pastels, things went very quickly.  It was after 2:30, so I knew I didn't have a lot of time to mess around.  I figured I'd just have fun since I had wasted most of the day on a painting that wasn't good.  I was in love with those golden grass hills with their scattered oak trees, and I'd been watching the breezes move across them all day, making patterns in the grass.  I did an 8x10 of a couple oak trees with those overlapping golden hills.  The larger paintings was of the farm fields looking towards the river and a little break in the trees where I could see the distant blue and purple hills peeking through.  There were a lot of different types of food crops growing there, so there was a lot of variety of color and texture in the field.  I didn't have time to get much detail, but tried to keep things cool in the distance, warm in the foreground, and keep that split in the trees.  I really was just trying to get the pastel on as fast as possible.  And have enough time to get both paintings into their frames within the time allotted.

I was the last person to check out of the farm, and second to the last to check in to the art center at 4:40.  The organizers had a nice catered dinner for the 70+ participants and a band out on the lawn of the art center.  It started at 5, so I had a few minutes to clean up.  The band was great, the dinner was nice, and we were happy to be able to get back to the motel before 9.

The next day was the reception at 5, so while the judge (Mitch Baird) doing his thing and the show was being hung all the artists had the option of watching painting demos in oil, pastel and watercolor at River Bend Park, a few miles out of town.  We stayed all afternoon and painted since we had checked out of our motel that morning.  After a quick stop at the Fred Meyers restroom to change into clean clothes, we went to the reception.  

There were 71 registered artists, and almost 200 paintings submitted from the one day paintout.  Out of those paintings, 40 were chosen to hang in the main gallery.  I was thrilled to have both of my pastel paintings chosen for the gallery.  Rose had a beautiful painting from the winery in the gallery too.  It was funny, but they hung us side by side.  My other painting was hung on a glass dividing wall, right as you walked into the gallery.  There were a lot of really nice paintings, and it was amazing that they had all been painted the previous day.   I had no idea that I had won anything, and I was really happy to have made it into the gallery.  It was such a fun couple of days, and I had met so many nice people,and the weather had been perfect, and the motel was awesome...  The winning part was great, but even without that part it was a really fun time.

Old Friends  8x10 pastel

I'm very grateful to the organizers and all the volunteers who made the event such a joy to participate in.  Everything was great, and my only suggestion would be next year to extend or change the hours to be able to paint in the evening when the light is more interesting.