Castle Rock Cape Blanco

Another plein air sunset painting from our recent trip along Highway 101.  This was painted atCape Blanco State Park near the Sixes River.  Evening mist was gathering, the sky was changing color rapidly, and Cape Blanco was casting a shadow across the marsh. I like the suggestion of a last bit of warmth on Castle Rock. 

Sunset Ferry on Dark Gray Green SOLD

Sometimes the Northwest weather is so colorless that everything seems made of charcoal.  And then a sliver of sun peeks through late in the day.  Just enough to light up the side of the north end ferry at the end of the ferry dock. 

Blue-Gold Smoke Ferry SOLD

Another Vashon-Fauntleroy ferry painting.  I like the sunlight and smoke on the ferry.  Painted from photos I took from the other ferry that travels the same route.

Clam Beach at Orick

Painted on scene at Orick, California.  The sun was setting and a mist was rising from Redwood Creek and all the colors were turning pinker and peachier.    It was about 6:00 and the sun would set in a hour, so I didn't have time to get picky in choosing a site to paint.  I just put my easel down at the first spot.  It was exciting to see the colors change as the sun was setting.  I thought I put a lot more colors into my painting because of it. 
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North End Ferry

The ferry dock on the north end of Vashon juts out against narrow strips of beach and high, tree-covered cliffs.  The high cliffs shadow the beach and dock, but the sun shines on the ferry.  A view painted from photographs I took from the sister ship that travels the same route.
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Smokey Ferry with Pale Blue Hills SOLD

Another painting of the Vashon-Fauntleroy-Southworth Ferry.  Afternoon sun makes the hills dissolve, and turns the white ferry to blue.  Painted from photographs I took while on the sister ferry that runs the same route. 

Pale Ferry on Gold SOLD

One of my favorite subjects - the Vashon-Fauntleroy Ferry in late afternoon light.  This was painted from a photo I snapped one evening while traveling in the other direction from the second ferry that follows the same route.
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Tramp Harbor

A view of Tramp Harbor at Low Tide.  This one will be in my show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts this month. 

Dappled Madronas in Bainbridge show

A detail of the painting "Dappled Madronas" that is in my September show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts  151 Winslow Way, Winslow, Washington.  Opening reception is Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.  The full painting, below,  is 36" x 48" oil on canvas.

Oregon Coast in show

A detail of  Oregon Coast that will be in my upcoming (7 days til it opens!) show in Winslow Washington in September.  The show is at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. 151 Winslow Way, Bainbridge Island WA.  Reception is September 5, 6-8 p.m.

Twilight Madronas SOLD

Eleven days until my show opens at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow, Washington on September 5!  This is one of the pieces from the show.  Twilight Madronas is a view from my property looking across Quartermaster Harbor, painted as the last bit of sunshine crosses the valley. 48" x 48".  Reception, Friday September 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., 151 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island, WA.  You're invited!

Sunset Trees and Snow

Another painting that will be in my show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts starting September 5.  I like the gradation in the trees from light at the bottom to dark at the top.  The touch of light on the snow seems to glow. 18" x 36"

Port Orford, Oregon Coast

A striking view spotted at Port Orford along the Oregon Coast.    This one will be at my upcoming show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow Washington, starting September 5th.  18" x 36"

Cape Blanco

A scene along the Oregon Coast.  Cape Blanco with a low cloud bank.  This will be in my upcoming show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow, Washington  starting September 5.  9" x 12"

Bend in the Yakima SOLD

A view of a bend in the Yakima River between Cle Elum and Thorpe, Washington.  The summer light was slightly hazy so the distant hills became bluish and soft even though the day was warm.  This one will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow Washington (next month!) 18" x 36"

Westport Marsh View South

A scene near Westport, WA - one of many inlets and sloughs on the south side of Gray's Harbor.  I like the many different shades of greens.  The colors are cool and soft, and show it was a hazy day near the ocean.  This will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in September. 

Sauvie Island Lane with Trees

A view from Sauvie Island near Portland Oregon.  The island is on the flood plain between the Willamette and Columbia and is accessible by a single bridge.  It's rural, but close to the city; it's a favorite spot for u-pick farms.  This one will be in a September show in Winslow Washington at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery. 

Winslow Church View

A scene from Bainbridge Island.  The Congregational Church in Winslow, Washington in backlight.  I like how the value of the white church and the background hill blend together.  6" x 8" This one will be in a September show at the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery in Winslow.

Daisies - Just Opening

Daisies again - these are just opening and the petals still bend upwards.  I like the glass jar and the way it disappears against the tabletop. 

Square Jar and Daisies

All the daisies are in bloom in the garden, so I must rush to paint them while they last.  I like this the lost and found edges in this bottle.

Pale Rosebud on Harmonious Grays

Painted several weeks ago when the pale pink roses were still blooming.  I left the background a high key and very neutral gray so that the pale pinks and pale greens are all very harmonious.  I enjoy the splotches of runny paint in the background. 
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Westport Marsh

One of the tidal areas in South Bay in Grays Harbor near Westport, Washington.  The bush is either Scotch broom, or yellow gorse.  The day was softly gray and hazy-the light softens the distance and makes the colors harmonious.  I like the transition of greens from yellow green in the foreground  to dull gray green in the background.

From the Cliff

A view from the Oregon coast at Ecola State Park.  The cliffs are constantly being eroded by the action of the waves and these trees are clinging to bits of soil that may soon slide into the sea.  I liked the steep perspective.  16" x 10" oil on panel.  This one will be in a show I'm having in September at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery, Winslow, Washington. 

Ellisport with Clouds

A view across Tramp Harbor towards Ellisport and KVI beach.  A sunny day with interesting clouds.  Painted from photos I took on location. 

Dark Cherries on Gray

Cherry season is here!  One of my favorite subjects.  The composition is simple with uneven divisions of lights and dark.   I've also kept the colors harmonious; neutral grays with just enough red to make the gray interesting.  And I placed the cherries in an asymmetrical pattern, with just a suggestion of reflections underneath.  I hope cherry season lasts a while,  these are fun!

Rosebud on Dark Gray

Somehow the roses have come and gone already this year, and I managed only two little paintings of the pale pink roses that are my favorite to paint.  The divisions of space in this painting are very simple: a huge area of medium value (the gray) a small amount of dark value (the shadows)  and a small amount of pale pink flowers, pale green leaves, and white highlights for the light value.  The unequal divisions of light, medium, and dark value make the composition more interesting and give the painting dominance. I do like the curving green on the right side of the painting.  It's actually all one leaf and the individual "leaves" are leaflets.

Beach and Dunes

A view back up the sandy beach towards the trees and grasses that hold the dunes.  A perfect sunny day with a few clouds and a breeze.  Painted from photos I took on location.  This one will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in September. 

Whidbey Island Alleyway

A view from the town of Langley on Whidbey Island.  I liked the interesting narrow alley and the shadows.  The road runs straight, there are no  turns, so the one point perspective forces your eye down the road.  I put in a band of pale pink and a little dot of red as a payoff for the trip.  This one will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow Washington in September.

Burton Marina

More sailboats - this time on dry land.  A scene from the marina in Burton on Vashon Island, where there's a lift to haul boats in and out.   This will be at my show in September at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow, Washington.  12" x 12" oil on panel

Blue Harbor and Sailboats

A view of sailboats at anchor on a sunny day in Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island.  The dark green hills are reflected in the water and sunlight bounces off the white decks.  I like the overall light and the saturated colors.  (Every now and then it's fund to use the colors undiluted.)  Painted from photos I took on location.   This painting will be in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Winslow Washington in September 2014.  Click here to send me your post office mailing address if you'd like me to add you to my postcard mailing list for the show.  (The mailing list will be used for show postcards only)

Vashon Farmhouse SOLD

Painted from a photograph I took of a farmhouse on Vashon.  In the photograph there was only a green lawn and the dark wall of house and trees with a straight horizon between the two.  To transform the photograph into a painting I broke up the straight horizon by dropping some of the trees on the right into the middle ground.  Then I added a foreground- just a suggestion of grass and brush and shadow.  The foreground shadow adds depth to the composition and turns the flat lawn into a pathway into the painting.
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