Lavender Festival and Umpqua Plein Air 2011

Even though it's cold and rainy out, summer should eventually arrive.  I hope.  With thoughts of balmy summer afternoons in mind, I've been busy signing up for summer painting activities.

The Yamhill Lavender Festival Plein Air Paint Out and Art Show kicks off June 24, with two crazy weeks of plein air madness.  Artists have two weeks to visit and paint at more than two dozen lavender farms in western Oregon.  At the end of that two week period, the paintings are framed (or wired) and delivered to Beulah Park in beautiful Yamhill (30 minutes west of Beaverton) and displayed during the Yamhill Lavender Festival.  Judging and reception are Friday July 8, and the festival is Saturday and Sunday July 9 and 10.  All work is for sale with 15% commission.  It's a fun event to participate in as an artist, and a fun festival to attend.  Music, food, beer, lavender...need I say more?  It's not too late to sign up to participate...http://www.oregonlavenderdestinations.com/artists.php  Registration is $25 before June 1, $35 after June 1.

I've also signed up for:

Umpqua Plein Air 2011 - Location, Location, Location

July 14 and July 15

Open to all artists and enthusiasts everywhere!  No matter where you are from, this is for you!
Juried by Artist Mitch Baird - Cash awards,1st place $500, 2nd place $200 3rd place $100 and up to 40 awards of distinction.

Registration deadline is June 8, 2011.

You can register online at http://uvarts.com/call-to-artists

May Day on the Island

I was up early this morning to drive out to Sauvie Island.  I wasn't disappointed.
Deuce (my chocolate lab) and I met up with Brenda at about 8:30 at Steelman Lake.  The sky has been intensely blue the last few days, and coupled with the completely lush spring foliage, well, it was almost too much to take in.

I felt like I was on a movie set.  The lake is bordered by a gorgeous grassy field that grows all the way to the waterline.  The trees are wearing most of their leaves, and the field grass is thigh high and beginning to bloom.  When Deuce ran through the field he made the pollen puff up off the grass, leaving little trails of "smoke".  

 A kingfisher hung around for a while making quite a racket.  He seemed to like the attention as he flew back and forth over the lake, very close to where we were painting, calling loudly to anyone who would listen.  There were quite a few cows at the other end of the field when we first got there, but I saw them walking single file over the dike, so I thought they had left the area.  At one point they started bawling really loud and sounding like they were getting pretty close to where we were.  Deuce would have enjoyed a bovine encounter, but it was not to be.

It was so nice to be able to set up my painting stuff in the grass.  It was easy to set up my big umbrella into the soft ground, and Deuce made a nice nest in the shade.  We were joined late morning by six or seven more painters, and I heard there were three other painters working down the road.

The weather forecast is looking good, so I'm planning on getting out again tomorrow to soak up more of this perfect weather.  And paint!

Coming up- Yamhill Lavender Festival and Plein Air Art Show

From the 2010 Yamhill Lavender Festival, painted at Lavender Vally Farm in Hood River, OR (sold)

I have participated in the Yamhill Lavender Festival Paint-Out as an artist for the past four years, and this year I have volunteered to work on getting sponsors and donations for the prize portion of the art show.  I am happy to be helping out because I love the event so much and would love to give back some of what I have gotten out of it.  This event is absolute painting heaven.

The way it works is artists register before June 1(for discounted registration fees) to paint outdoors in the lavender fields between June 24 and July 8.  At the end of that two week period there is an art show in conjunction with the Yamhill Lavender Festival.  The art show and festival are held in Yamhill, which is about a half hour drive west of Beaverton (south of Forest Grove).  Being a plein air show, all art is fresh off the easel, having been painted in the outdoors during the previous two weeks.    

If you're interested in participating, click on  this link 

For more information on the Oregon Lavender Festival  click here

There are a wide variety of lavender farms that participate, and registered artists have access to them during the two weeks prior to the art show.  An information packet will be mailed to registered participants before the event begins.  Monies raised by the Yamhill Lavender Festival benefit local children's art programs.

Whew!

Elevated   24x24  sold

The last four days have been a whirlwind of art activities.  The Buckman Art Show was fun, and I'm really glad I participated.  I sold three paintings!  I got to meet a lot of nice people, chat with some of the other artists, and file away some ideas for merchandising at future shows.  I still feel pretty awkward during events like this, but it did get better the longer I was there.  It's so much easier to talk about other people's artwork rather than my own!  I really enjoyed seeing so many nice families enjoying the art, and I was very impressed with how well behaved the children were.  I will definitely apply again next year!

Cosmos  11x14  sold

The Oregon Society of Artists spring show opened today, and I attended the reception.  I had two paintings juried into the show.  The show is really good.  There are some very talented painters exhibiting.  The show will be up until
April 8.


Now I get to take a breather, reorganize my studio space, and get back to painting.  I have a lot of ideas for new paintings, and I can hardly wait to get in there and try some new things.

Buckman Art Show and Sell this Friday night and Saturday

I've been working like a maniac the last few weeks getting ready for this coming weekend's Buckman Art Show and Sell. This is their 21st annual show, and they really know how to put on a fun event. I've gone to the show the past few years, and was thrilled to be accepted this year. It opens Friday March 11 5pm to 9pm with live music, food, and a silent art auction. I have donated a painting (Pink Poppies, 8x10,above) for the auction. Admission Friday night is $5.

Buckman Arts Focus Elementary School is located at 320 SE 16th Ave (and Stark) in Portland, OR.

OSA show entries

It's such a joy to see the sun and signs of spring. It's been a long winter for me- I had achilles tendon surgery in January and I was in a cast for six weeks. No weight bearing. I figured I'd just paint my days away, but things didn't really work out that way. Now that I am in the walking boot and able to walk without crutches I'm back in the studio. It's not full days yet, but I'm working on it.

I'm submitting two paintings today to the Oregon Society of Artists spring juried show. The painting above is titled Respite, and is 12x36 pastel on sanded paper. The second painting (below) is titled Ripple, and is 20x20, also on sanded paper.

The show opens this Sunday afternoon with a free reception, refreshments and ribbons hung at 2:30. The show and will be up for the next month.

2010 Ribbon Winners

2010 was the year I put my anxiety aside and entered more local art shows. I was thrilled to win some ribbons, and encouraged to continue showing. My goal for 2011 is to make painting a priority. And stop procrastinating so much!

Down By Harrisburg 23 x 31 pastel 1st place, Oregon Society of Artists Fall juried show 2010

One Last Look Before I Go 12x36 pastel

People's Choice, Oregon Society of Artists Fall juried show 2010

From the Abbey 23x31 pastel Second Place, Silverton Plein Air Festival 2010

End of August 15x19 pastel Second Place pastels, Night of the Arts 2010

Refuge 12x36 pastel

Fourth Place pastels, North Clackamas Art Show

Quiet Evening 11x14 oil

Honorable Mention, Yamhill Lavender Festival 2010

No more procrastinating!

With minimal fanfare, I present my blog!

This little piece is oil on canvas, 6"x6". The title is "Aristophanies, the Uncommon Raven". This was donated to the 2010 Wild Arts Festival, and was sold at the event. Aristophanies is a raven that is cared for by the Audubon Society of Portland. He is used for educational purposes, and has quite the personality.