No Permit Required
Sometimes the best views are in unexpected places
Is there a view that you long to paint but it seemingly is in a precarious place, out of reach or just plain dangerous? We artists all have seen them and long to paint those elusive views never to be caught on canvas or paper. This past week I went out with a painting friend Anton Pavenko to paint the Sellwood District of Portland. We love to paint urban stuff: grungy, grey with spots of color, busy and sometimes chaotic. Yeah, that's what I have been really turning more and more towards this past year. We set out to paint this particular neighborhood that is known for it's antique shops and pedestrian friendly traffic. As we searched out our first post, this spot seemed part illegal and perhaps a bit dangerous, but hey, why not? I rationalized that if we were asked to leave this dividing platform, then well, at least we tried... right? Well funny enough, a squad car did pass us by with no citations, so we checked out just fine. Here is one of two pieces that I created...
"Pause on Sellwood" 8 x 10" Oil
If you have photos of you painting in dangerous or unexpected places, I'd love to share them here next week on this blog. Please email your pictures to me through this blog and be sure to indicate your name and the location for credit. Thanks!
Labels: Anton Pavlenko, citiscapes, painting locations, precarious places, Sellwood, urban painting
posted by Brenda Boylan at
November 04, 2012
4 Comments:
you scored on this one. Congrats on staying the course!
That was an adventure! Your dedication deserves praise.
Well, one time I did call the police about someone in a busy center median. It was a person begging for money (there is more to it than that, and I am very much a live and let live person)...just the same, suffice it to say I called to check about the legality of the situation I saw. The police person I spoke to advised that it was not illegal to take up the median...not at allI was a little surprised to learn that...but there you are! Anyway, I am glad you were so bold, because you were rewarded with a splendid painting!
Thanks Loriann, it was a fun and a bit rebellious one to paint. Cheers!
Heya Casey, I'm thinking there may be a shot of you on a cliff or on a high wire painting your heart out? If so, bring it on!
Hi Celeste, we did get a few curious pedestrians join in on the fun, and unfortunately, no money was thrown our way for the side show. Oh, and thanks!
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