Never thought I'd say it, but...

I knew the summer months were going to be a fast-paced rush into the Fall, and they sure were, and boy am I glad it's slowin' down!  I can't believe I would ever say "I'm looking forward to the Fall", being a summer-time sun-loving kind of spirit, but the Fall comes with studio painting time and perhaps more of a routine. What has happened in the past 3 months? A LOT! So I think I'll keep this post pretty short albeit image heavy. So here goes....

June 7-Sept 7th, Oregon Historical Museum's "Clink, a Taste of Oregon Wine" show and exhibit. The show just ended but it was a great exhibit with wine tastings and stories of the history of Oregon's production of grapes and it's wine industry.

"Sentinel's Domaine"  24x24" Pastel  $2,200

June 25-July 10th, Yamhill Lavender Plein Air Festival:  Lovely lavender inspired great summer outings with palette and paint.

"Lavender Lodge" 12x12" Oil
Honorable Mention, Yamhill Lavender Plien Air

July 20-27th, Door County Plein Air Invitational: Beautiful scenery and weather, great artists, bowling, and a live auction. I am hoping for a repeat next year!

"Hardy's Garage" 11x14" Oil  Sold

"Farmer's Field" 11x14" Oil  Sold

"Morning Birches" 8x10" Pastel  Sold

"Clark Park Dock" 10x8" Pastel  Sold

On the easel "To His Koy Mistress"  16x12" Pastel

August 7-9th, Portland Art Museum Plein Air Invitational-Paris in the Parks: Two solid days of painting finished up with 1 solid day of showing. Met some interesting people in all levels of society within the parks.

No citations...yet

"Street Notes" 14x11" Oil

"Walking Amongst Towers" 14x11" (cropped)

"Sunrise on the Hawthorne" 11x14" Oil

August 17th, Arts Council of Lake Oswego Garden Party Paint out: What a treat to paint to live music with people who are involved in the fine art industry. I like how the champagne glasses twinkle.

"Garden Party" 8x10" Oil  (cropped)  Sold

August 24th, Villa Catalana Paint Out:  A painting day with 20 other plein air artists on a Spanish style estate, all decked out with a lotus pond and winery.

"Contemplation Pond" 16x12" Oil

Then about a month ago, I got notice that "The Blue Line" received the President's Award at the Pastel Society of America's 42nd Annual.  So I went to NYC last weekend with my husband to take in some sights and to receive the award. What an honor. Then while I was writing this post, I got news that this piece was selected to hang in the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio. After it returns home, it will have traveled a total of 6,630 miles. Pretty ironic for a painting of a street car.

"The Blue Line" 24x24" Pastel  $2,600

Pictured here with PSA President Jimmy Wright

Then the good news keeps on getting better! Just a few days ago I got notice that his piece below, "Stopping Point" was awarded "Best Pastel" in the Bold Brush August show. Artist's Happy Dance!  It will be hanging in the Beaverton Art's Mix, or "BAM!" this coming Sept 30-Oct 12th.

"Stopping Point" 20x16" Pastel  

So with all this activity one could clearly understand why my blog postings have nearly stopped. I still hope to establish a better pace of posting now that the Fall begets a regular schedule. My routine has already started to settle down just a bit as I prepare for a weekly Pastel Class Series hosted by the Oregon Society of Artists.  These classes will be a reflection of my intensive workshops, but at a much slower pace so the students can take their time with each concept. So there you have it. My crazy, fast paced summer is finally coming to an end.

Well, that's all for now.

~B

Oregon Public Broadcasting & The Oregon Plein Air Invitational 2102

Here is John Kin's OPB slide show and audio take on the Oregon PA Invitational from this past weekend. I don't know how I get into these situations, but I am always happy to share my painting enthusiasm.  Enjoy!

~B

Painters Take To the Streets in ‘Plein Air Paint Out’

John Kin | August 10, 2012

OPB | Aug. 10, 2012 midnight | Updated: Aug. 20, 2012 12:17 p.m.

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Arts & Life: Portland Art Museum’s Plein Air Paint Out

Artists Thomas Kitts, Sandy Roumagoux and Brenda Boylan on the art of painting outdoors.

If you happened to be wandering through Portland's Park Blocks last Saturday, you may have noticed an unusual concentration of painters scattered amongst the trees and benches.

This wasn't your usual weekend workshop or painting club. These were some of the Northwest's best landscape artists, participating in thePortland Art Museum's first Plein Air Paint Out, a celebration of the art of painting outdoors.

The artists arrived early Saturday morning and worked throughout the day to capture the scene — and the ever-changing light, colors and shadows — on canvas. Visitors and passersby were encouraged to watch and interact with the painters as they worked. The event culminated on Sunday with an exhibit of the finished works which were also available for purchase.

Go See It

California Impressions exhibit at the Portland Art Museum

• Through September 9, 2012
• 1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland

Outdoor painting events and contests have become common around the country and other parts of Oregon in recent years, but this was the first event of its kind in Portland. The event was conceived as a companion to two of the Museum's exhibitions,California Impressionism and 5 Monet /100 Days, both of which showcase the tradition of plein air painting.  

Portland Art Museum Director Brian Ferriso says the museum hoped the Paint Out would provide a modern complement to the exhibits and help engage the public and local artists in the celebration of the art form. "We felt it was important to continue that tradition and see what's happening in the contemporary world," says Ferriso. "It's really exciting for me to see the public engage with these artists and for the artists to be able to show their craft."

Oregon Invitational 2012 recap

The Portland Art Museum's Oregon Invitational was so much fun, but a HOT weekend no doubt! 35+ artists painted in 90 degree weather, but the heat didn't matter because of all the artist fellowship. I arrived early to scout out spots to paint and found this parking lot with wonderful color and compositional patterns.  I quickly laid in the darks and lights first so I wouldn't have to chase them as the shadows really moooove fast.  This shot is taken with side-lighting to show the texture of the painting.

"Pay Here" 8x10" Oil ©Brenda Boylan

Even better in a frame!

My second piece of the day, looking north on SW Park. By this time, the crowd was thickening and conversations were plenty.  Many were very curious why there were so many artists painting in the park and so it gave all of us a reason to discuss the Portland Art Museum's current show of the California Impressionists.  Thanks to all the many friends who stopped by to visit with me and to see work being created alla prima. Interestingly, while I was painting this one,  I was being interviewed by OPB for the event and had noticed that I was able to talk and paint without missing a beat. A huge feat for most no doubt. My secret? Juggling. For the past month I have been working with my son in a therapy program for those who struggle with ADHD that was designed to strengthen the left-right brain connection.  We practice "juggling while talking and walking" with two bean bags by counting out numbers and alphabet forward and backwards.  Believe me, it is very difficult. I train with him daily and I think it's rubbing off.

"SW Park" 10x8" Oil ©Brenda Boylan

My final piece of the day and by now it's baking hot. Notice how lose this one is compared to the other two?  Perhaps I should paint tired more often, eh?

"Parked" 6x6  Oil ©Brenda Boylan

Then the next morning, I got all my pieces framed and bundled them up and went back out and painted some more. Before I set up, I ran into fellow artists Mike Rangner and Eric Jacobsen, who are known to share a chuckle.

Some "baffoonery" with friends Mike Rangner and Eric Jacobsen

Goofing off with the guys, I was dared to pose with a stinker stogie. HA!

My little study for a last minute entry.  I think I put about an hour in this one and perhaps it could use some more work, but it was a fun one to paint. I was able to frame it just in time to hang in the show.

"Alla Prima Roses" 8x6" Oil ©Brenda Boylan

Hanging in the baking sun with artists Anton Pavlenko and Micheal Orwick.

Twins Scott Gellatly and Thomas Jefferson Kitts.

The Portland Art Museum's courtyard of plein air.

After all was said and done, I think it was a very successful event and show. Many onlookers commented that they have never seen anything like it before and truely enjoyed seeing the art in the making. I think there is a true hunger here in Portland to see this type of event and do hope that the PAM considers the event annually.

Revisiting "Break with Color" 16x12

Break with Color 16x12 Pastel ©Brenda Boylan

Here is a piece I did back in 2009 at Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon Coast.  I think I may have posted this back in '09, but thought it was worth the re-post.  It's been a super busy summer with the kids at home and to be clearly honest, I haven't had any time to paint, and so there is nothing new from the easel. I think I'm going crazy from not painting! Especially since the weather has been supremely beautiful here in Oregon. Although not soon enough, I do have a couple of fun painting events I look forward to that have kept me focused.  The Oregon Invitational (see side bar---->) hosted next week by the Portland Art Museum on August 4~5th in the Park Blocks of downtown Portland.  And then there is the annual Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2012 event coming the end of August.  This event is always a favorite of mine because of all my neighboring artists usually join in the fun. Even if they are not juried, they are still welcome to paint together en plein air.  This year I am staying in an apartment complex with 7+ other artists.  Now that sounds like a vacation at best!  If you live in the Portland area or are interested in plein air painting the Hood River area, let me encourage you to join along and make it a holiday. Painting locations should be posted on their website here.

Californian Impressionists Visit the PAM

"Boats Returning Home" by William Frederick Ritschel

Last week I took a visit to the Portland Art Museum to see the current show that is on loan from the Irvine Museum's fine collection of Californian Impressionists.  Visiting the Museum is always like a breath of fresh air for an artist. This show teases the eyes, in a pleasant way of course!  I'm sharing my favorites from the exhibit and unfortunately I didn't record the titles and artist's names.  So if you know, then please share your comment.  The piece above gave me and my accompaniment much to discuss.  We had been warned a few times from the guard that we were just "too close" to the work for Museum comfort.  Awe, I just want to drink them in!

"Inner Harbor" by Paul Starrett Sample 

"Flowers Under the Oaks" by Granville Redmond 

"Verdugo Canyon" by Hanson Duvall Puthuff 

Monet

To help celebrate the PAM's summer special exhibition of the California Impressionists, I will be participating along with fifty selected artists in the Oregon Invitational Plein Air Event. On Saturday, August 4th, the Museum will turn it's front yard ~ the South Park Blocks ~ into one long outdoor studio. On Sunday the 5th, the artists will return to the Museum's courtyard to exhibit and sell selected works.  If you are in the area, stop by and see the exhibit firsthand in the Museum and then drop by and say hello to some current day plein air artists!