Marathon Show Schedule!

Roll Call, 6x6" Pastel on sanded paper

I'll be in a new gallery this coming November for the holiday months. This will be a new venue for me at:

Caswell Gallery

201 W Columbia River Hwy

Troutdale, Oregon.

The show dates are listed in the "Upcoming Events" to the right.

I will have 11 pieces in this show that includes all the pieces posted below and then some, all miniature in nature. Most of them are 6x6" which makes for a nice gift for the holidays. If you are a serious bloggofile of "Dusty Fingers" then you may recognize some of these little pieces from past posts. The November reception is this coming Friday evening Nov 5th, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.

On December 1st, I will be participating in their exciting "Quick Draw" event to cap off the month (listed on the right) of December. I've got my holster on and target set for this highly fun event following an auction of the newly created art. After one hour, I will be quickly framing it for the auction, a sure heart pumping session and I can't wait! This is a ticketed event that includes past collectors and patrons of this gallery. If you are interested in coming out for this one, let me know and I can see that you get tickets.

Caswell gallery was at first the foundry of the bronze sculptor Rip Caswell. He has since moved his foundry and made the existing building his gallery space. It is a huge gallery, with plenty of space to showcase his incredible bronze work.

Hope you can make it!

Orange Mist, 6x6", Pastel on sanded paper

Autumn Song, 6x6", Pastel on sanded paper

Autumn Sedge, 6x6", Pastel on sanded paper

If that is not enough for you, then I'll also have two additional showings that you can run on out to this very week! Kinda crazy I know...but hey, when opportunity and preparedness meet, there is success. At least that's what my mentors tell me. Anyway, listed on the right again for Artisan Renovations Showroom and the Art Reach Gallery, (not listed) located in Downtown Portland. Crazy, a lot of partying yeah I know, but hey, it's the only occupation that is often celebrated!

Fall Forte' 10x8

Fall Forte' 10x8" Pastel on sanded paper

Making good use of my time gave me just one more opportunity to go out and plein air paint this week before the Portland rain chased me away. This was painted at Dawson Creek, a highly manicured pedestrian park that can be a bit too "perfect" to paint, but I did find these white barked trees very colorful and well placed. On my return back home, I discovered that I lost my cell phone, and I clearly remember having it as I was packing up my pastels. So I made a trip back to the park and thankfully found the dang thing sitting there, face up looking at me right where I was painting! Whew!

Now that the rain is here I'm back in my studio for a solid set of months, unless the clouds will part for some of that golden sunshine. It's only Portland, and yes, it rains here!

The Cruise In Crossroad, Farmington

The Cruise In Crossroad, 8x6" Pastel on sanded paper

I did get a chance to get out yesterday to paint in the great weather we have been enjoying here in the Northwest. I whipped up a few pieces, this being the stronger of the two in a matter of 2 hours. Painted at the crossroads of SW Farmington Rd and SW River Road in an area called Farmington. I really like painting these little blips of mankind because it's just so boringly mundane, it could even be in your neighborhood. I'm able to get out one more day, tomorrow, making that 3 times this week! I'm telling you, the weather out here has been unseasonably warm and sunny and I'm just lovin' it!

Why do I paint?

Cornelius Pass Red House, 10x8" Pastel on sanded paper

Why do I paint?

I was pondering this question as I was out alone driving about in my car today. Earlier this morning I was looking through a Plein Air magazine, (not sure who publishes it) and I was admiring all the many great current artists of our time. It seems that painting outdoors is getting more and more popular given the many pleasures it offers. So I ask you, why do you paint...and if so, is it outdoors?

I feel a great joy when I'm plein air painting. It comes from the challenge of making something out of nothing...drinking in the view and trying to capture the beauty before me on paper with a tray full of colorful pastels. What is even better than that, is painting with good friends. Even if there is nothing said, there is still the comradeship of others who enjoy the same thing. The smell of the air, the sounds of nature, the breeze, light, colors, shapes...I could go on. All in couple of hours I've made something to never be created again.

As fall tightens it's grip on the temps, I begin to feel saddened by my loss of painting out doors. It's a bummer that I'm a fair weather painter because being cold is not what I call fun. And pastels don't work so well in moist air. This week promises many clear, chilly days, but I can make only one of them due to my crazy schedule. I'll be out again, hopefully, but perhaps not until the new year has passed and the temps begin to rise.

So I ask you, why do you paint?

Bending Green, 8x6

Bending Green, 8x6" Pastel on sanded paper

Again, another Sauvie Island piece. This view was painted along with my previous post "Bridging the Day". All I did here was rotate my easel to the right and there before me was another scene. I tell you, Sauvie Island is a plein air painters dream! Just the way it should be, in my opinion with loads of color, sunny skies, cool and crisp mornings, and low fog. Are you sick of this place yet? Nope not me. Not yet.

Starting today, I will have work in the Local 14 show. All the the work will be from my fruit series of still lifes. Bright, bold and affordably priced. Here's the details:

2010 Local 14
Art Show & Sale

New mid-October weekend
October 14-17, 2010

World Forestry Center's Miller Hall
next to Portland Children's Museum & the Washington Park Zoo

Over 85 women artists are showing in our 43rd Annual
Show & Sale

Show Hours:
Gala Opening~Thursday, October 14 ~ 6 to 9pm

Friday, October 15 ~ 10am to 9pm
Come to the cookbook party 6-9pm Friday

Sat & Sun, October 16 & 17 ~ 10am to 5pm

$5 suggested entry fee donation, Fri, Sat, & Sun; benefits the Local 14 Scholarship Program.

"Cello Citrus" 6x6" Pastel on sanded paper

This one will be there with many other beautiful pieces of artwork from women artists in the Northwestern region. Hope to see you there!

Bridging the Day, 8x6

Bridging the Day, 8x6" Pastel on sanded paper  SOLD

Fall is here with a vengeance and am trying to get out and paint as much as I can before the Portland rain begins in force, but I also haven't posted much to show for it. This one was painted on Sauvie Island last week, in the Wildlife Refuge area days before they closed the gates for migrating birds. We saw sand cranes high above with gracefully flapping wings and a funny sounding bird call as they climb the skies. It's musical at best.

On another note, I have a new project that I've been wanting to do for some time and I am f i n a l l y tackling it! I'm teaching kids art! And after about the second class, I have found out that I really LOVE IT! I have also noticed that kids are not as critical of teachers as us adults can be. They just take it and make it! So, it is a bit time consuming to prepare for each lesson, which takes away from my time to paint and blog, but it has been rewarding.