6 x 12 original oil painting of two Puget Sound ferries at the north end ferry dock on Vashon Island. Late afternoon sun peeks under clouds and lights the sides of the ferries but leaves the hills dark in shadow. On my Etsy Store   

On the Pickleforks

The pickleforks are the two narrow walkways above the loading ramps of the Washington ferries.  Passengers can stroll and sun and catch a lot of breeze, and look for whales and sea lions and pirates.  Painted from photos I took myself, though I admit I was inspired by the work of Alex Colville. This painting will be in my show at the Vashon Center for the Arts, Summer Arts Fest.  Oil on panel 10" x 20."  My show will be up July 31 through August 12, and the opening is August 2, 6-9 p.m.  You're invited. 

Sailboats in Quartermaster

A Sunny day painting of the view from Burton to West Seattle.  Sailboats anchor in Quartermaster Harbor; fluffy clouds dot the turquoise sky, and the dark green trees of portage bring drama to the scene.  24" x 24" oil on panel.  This painting will be in my show at the Summer Art Fest at the Vashon Center for the Arts 19600 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070.  The show opens Friday August 2; the reception is 6 to 9.  I hope to see you there. 

Blake Island Sunset

A view of sunset across Puget Sound.   Blake Island is silhouetted in the foreground and the Olympic Mountains are hidden by low clouds.  Painted from photos I took while traveling on the Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry.  On my ETSY store

Sunset Through Madronas SOLD

The view from my yard.  Looking from Maury Island across Quartermaster Harbor to the south end of Vashon Island.  This 16" x 16" painting will be at the Hardware Store Restaurant in Vashon at the VIVA Membership show.  Opening tomorrow,  Friday June 1, 17601 Vashon Hwy SW.  Public invited. 

Cove Motel SOLD

The old Cove Motel - the Mosquito Fleet stopped here.  This painting will be at Vashon Island Visual Artists Spring Art Tour at Dockton Pottery (opposite the former Dockton Store) 25913 99th Ave SW.  This weedend May 5 & 6 and next weekend May 12 & 13th from 10 to 5.  Visit Dockton, see art!

Sunset Over Talequah

A plein air painting from several years ago.  This one is the view looking from Maury Island across Quartermaster Harbor to the tip of Tahlequah and beyond to the hills of Tacoma.  The sun was setting and I was painting very quickly to get all the colors as the sun moved not only from top to bottom but also from left to right.  I had to hold my hand up to squint near the sun without actually looking directly at it.   This was probably painted in November because the sun sets far to the right in the summer time.  8" x 10" oil on panel.  This one will be in the 2017 Spring Art Tour - I'll be at stop # 23 in Dockton -First two weekends in May.

Pt Robinson Llighthouse SOLD

One of the small paintings I did for the Artist Studio Tour.  The important thing about painting small is to simplify the composition.  Too much detail is very busy in a small size.  I moved the fuel shed, the fence and the large metal light tower a little to the left until they left the picture altogether, and I took out the chain link enclosure on the back of the building.  It still looks like the Pt Robinson lighthouse-just simplified.

Coming up this weekend.  I'll be showing paintings of sailboats, paintings of ferries, Vashon scenes and still lifes. 

Holiday Art Studio Tour

The Holiday Art Tour is seven weeks away and I just got a copy of the brochure cover from the tour manager.  And that's a detail from one of my paintings on the cover, so I'm showing it off and letting everyone know well in advance that I'm showing paintings in December at Quartermaster Cottage in Burton along with Jan Wall and Donna Botten.  Put it on your calendar.  The painting of the red ferry will be at the show - along with other paintings of ferries, island scenes, still lifes, and more.

Sailing around Quartermaster, SOLD

Sailboats in Quartermaster.  Enough of a breeze to unfurl the sails and take advantage of the wind.  A nice day for a sail.  I like the light and shadow on the sail.   This one is at my show at PSCCU Credit Union here on Vashon through October.

Sailboat with Red Transom

A sailboat with a red transom plying the water between Vashon and Tacoma.  There's enough breeze to fill the sails and put some waves on the water.  A great day for a sail.  This one on display at  PSCCU credit union here on Vashon - through October.  Reception is October 7.  6" x 12" oil on panel.

Blue and Greem Summer Madronas

The view from my yard: from the top of the hill, across the valley, down to the water, and up the hill on the other side of Quartermaster Harbor.  The madronas grow with a twist to the trunks and lean out over the hillside to catch the sunlight that reflects from the water.  A larger painting, 36" x 48", on display during September & October at PSCCU credit union here on Vashon. 

Red and Gray Winter Sunset Madronas

This painting is going in a show of my work that I'm putting up today at PSCCU Credit Union in Vashon (Location: 9928 SW Bank Rd, Vashon, WA 98070)  A few years ago we had a snowfall in the yard and I happened to take a photo of the sun as it set just over Tahlequah.  The colors of the earth and the trees were all dark charcoal from the wetness of the snow with just a bit of red where the sun glowed through the trees.  You can't see the snow, but it influences the colors and the mood.

Night Ferry Southworth - View from Colvos Passage - Vashon Fauntleroy Ferry

The Southworth ferry dock is seen from the west side of Vashon.  This is a view looking north along Colvos Passage.  In the summer the sun sets far to the north; the sky glows above Bainbridge Island.  The lights of the ferry and the ferry dock are bright in the twilight.  Painted from photographs I took on location.  This painting will be showing at Dockton Pottery this weekend,  stop #19 on the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour.  The tour is the last two weekends in June, from 10 to 5 on the 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th.

Night Ferry on the Vashon Run SOLD

Another version of a night ferry painting  (the other was Night Ferry near the dock).  One of the double-decker boats on the run between Vashon Fauntleroy and Southworth.  This is a twilight moment when the sun has set, but there is still light in the sky and the water is still lighter than the distant shore.  I like the multiple sources of light and the reflections in the water broken by ripples.  This one will be in the Vashon Island Artist Studio Tour at Plum Lodge Painters,  14210 SW Reddings Beach Rd, Vashon WA 98070, during the first two weekends of December.  You're invited.  

Lighthouse from the Beach

The Point Robinson Lighthouse on Vashon as seen from the beach at low tide.  Strong light from a hazy day casts a shadow on the roof of the lighthouse, leaving just small patches of bright sunlight on the roof and on the driftwood.  This one will be at Plum Lodge Painters in the Vashon Island Studio Tour the first two weekends of December. 

Purple Sunset Ferry SOLD

I've been doing lots of ferry paintings lately and I get bored with painting them all blue sky and green hills, so I I go out of my way to find different colors.  What can I say? it's purple and gold.  This one is in my Etsy store: http://gretchenhancock.etsy.com

Pale Ferry Hazy Sun

A ferry on the Vashon Fauntleroy Southworth run.  Haze and late afternoon sun reduce the contrast in this view and make a substantial ferry seem soft and ephemeral. 

Sun and Smoke Ferry Vashon

The Ferry Tillikum leaves the north end Vashon ferry dock.  Sunlight streams through smoke as the boat slowly pulls away from the dock.  Painted from photos I took from another ferry on the same run.  I just put this painting in the Heron's Nest Gallery on Vashon.