Johnson Creek Watershed Art Show at Reed College coming soon!

Crystal Springs in Late Summer / pastel / 11x14

Here are paintings I produced for the upcoming Johnson Creek Watershed Art Show at Reed College's Vollum Lounge from September 7-October 12. They were painted at three locations: Leach Botanical Garden, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, and Gresham Main City Park. I can submit only three paintings--which ones do you like? Note: Nature, people and structures are all part of a watershed!

Reflections at Johnson Creek / pastel / 9x7

Sunlit Creek (Johnson Creek) / pastel / 7x9

Swag / pastel / 7x9

Half-Pipe and Ramps / pastel / 7x9

Secret Pond / pastel / 14x11

Oregon Lavender Festival

Two Paths / SOLD -  and -  Eucalyptus Tree / pastel / 8.5x6.5

The lavender industry is big in the Pacific Northwest with an annual Oregon Lavender Festival in Yamill the second weekend of July. Artists visit participating lavender farms for two weeks prior to the festival and paint their hearts out. Due to rain, the painting period was condensed this year but I managed to get my work in on time. Paintings that didn't sell at the festival went to different art galleries in the area and I learned today that "Two Paths" sold at the Currents Gallery in McMinnville. Yay! Won't know the fate of the other paintings until the end of the month. Those that are still available will then be listed for sale in my Daily Paintworks online gallery . The Lavender Festival holds a special place in my heart because in 2010 it was my first art show. A lot has happened in the past two years, and I'm thrilled about my growth as an artist and as a person. Hip hip hooray for me for taking action to make my dreams come true! None of this would have been possible without my involvement in Wings Seminars where I learned to believe in myself was shown ways to be the best me possible while creating the life of my choice.

Mountainside Lavender / pastel / 8.5x11.5

Peaceful Moment / pastel / 6.5x9

Walk Just Past the Lavender / pastel / 8.5x6.5

The Scent of Lavender / pastel / 8.5x11.5

Lavender Fields Forever / pastel / 10x20

"Doing Laps" now available through Daily Paintworks auction

"Doing Laps" / 9x6 / pastel

I've been a member of the Daily Paintworks online art gallery for almost a year. One of the services offered by Daily Paintworks is an online auction and today I will participate for the first time by listing my painting "Doing Laps." Click here to bid.  I'm curious to see how it works and welcome your feedback. The sidebar of this blog includes a rolling view of ten of the paintings included in my Daily Paintworks online gallery. I hope readers of this blog will periodically check out my online gallery because it includes more paintings than I post in my blog.

Summertime

View from the Deck (Mazatlan)/6x9/pastel

 Summer got off to a late start in Portland, but now it's here in full force with hot days and (thankfully/typically) cool nights. My studio faces north and is a pleasant hangout throughout the day. Am continuing to sort through a large inventory of paintings that were set aside for one reason or another. Many of these I've greeted like long-lost friends--and here they are to meet you! Today I'm featuring scenes from past trips to Mazatlan. While I'm working, my husband in the room next door doing his bit to help support me in my art business as he mats and frames new paintings for the upcoming Oregon Lavender Festival which is going on this weekend. As we work we're groovin' to our favorite Pandora stations. 

Pancho's from the Beach (Mazatlan)/6x4.5/pastel

Vendor with Green Bag (Mazatlan)/6x4/5/pastel

Waiting on the Beach (Mazatlan)/6x4.5/pastel

Tom's Catch (Mazatlan)/4.5x6/pastel

Flowers and vegetables and a winner: Penny Sorenson!

"Pink Tulips" / 9x12 / pastel

Congratulations to Penny Sorenson of Anchorage, Alaska, winner of the June Drawing for a Painting! She will receive a $70 credit toward purchase of my artwork. Thanks for playing, Penny! And remember, folks--you can't win if you don't play, and playing is soooo easy! All you have to do is sign up to follow this blog.

"Red and Yellow Tulips" / 9x12 / pastel

Today's featured paintings emerged from a recent studio clean-up. As I mentioned in a previous post, I like to paint but am not so fond of the steps that follow: photographing and cataloging the artwork; putting it into its protective cover; listing it in the Daily Paintworks gallery; etc. Fortunately, my darling husband helps me with all these tasks. But he can't get started until I "sign off" on the paintings and often it takes me a while to decide if they're really done or not. During my recent cleanup I ended up concluding that the tulips were great the way they were. I added a few more strokes to the artichokes and garlic and can now release them, too. Yay! Progress! Only a few dozen more to go through...

"Artichokes at the Market" / 9x11 / pastel

"Garlic at the Market" / 8x10 / pastel

Blue Skies Ahead!

Blue Sky / 7x17 /pastel

Yay! It stopped raining! Last evening there was the most beautiful sunset available from my front porch--much like the one in this painting.

Glass of Beer and a sale

"Glass of Beer" / 12x9 / pastel

I like to paint. Finish one painting, start another one. Keep repeating until there are so many paintings I have to sort through them and have a sale!

"Ball Jars" / SOLD

"Cows in the Shade" / 4x6 / pastel & sumi ink

"Light Through the Tree" / 8x6 / pastel & sumi ink

"After the Storm" / 4.5 x 6 / pastel

"Lavender Shadows" / pastel