Crossing over to the other side...an introspection on life

Crossing over...

"Bridge to Somewhere" oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, 6x6" $550.

... to the other side

Throughout the Fall months in the Northern Hemisphere, a noticeable change in the weather, color, and pace of life is evident. It takes me back to when I was in college. I recall my music history instructor had us study the late 60's album "Bookends" by Simon and Garfunkle.  It is a compilation of songs written about the seasons of life.  

Right now I am feeling as if Fall offers more than seasonal changes.  Lately, I have been practicing introspection as I move and look forward...and back at my life.  Spring:  do you see it in children?  They are blossoming beings, growing and learning day by day.  Summer:  a more relaxed, confident, and productive pace of life.   As we enter into Fall, a keen observation of the colors, temps, and a realization that winter is just around the corner...and over the bridge!  Whoa, the chill of Winter!

Where did the time go?  Fall truly gives us a keen introspective on time. Time is here. It is now, and it should be spent with intention.  How about you?  Do you contemplate the seasons? Do you know where you are in life?   Do tell!

Morning Birches 10x8

 

Morning Birches 10x8" o/l  

Overlooked, average, and often undiscovered spaces close to home can be the most inspiring places to paint.  Once you slow down and really look around you, you will find all sorts of unsung beauty.  Here is a spot just around the corner from my house that I drive past nearly every day.  It was a chilly Fall morning with the sun rising just behind the rooftops, and there it was...this stand of small birches highlighted by a glowing, rainbow-like mist. I gotta STOP! And so I made a swift U-turn back to my house, picked up my painting gear and returned a few minutes later to paint it.  Now every time I drive past this unnoticed spot of beauty, I will always remember what I saw and what was painted. Art does that. It takes us somewhere else, calms us, and settles our busy lives down.  Take in a moment and look around you while running your next errand. What do you see? 

This piece is headed to the New Visions show at The Mission Gallery in St. George, UT. March 21-22, 2019

Cattails, 14x14

"Cattails" 14x14" Oil on canvas panel (plein air)

Brrrrr. It's winter alright. Here in Oregon we are being treated to the coldest temps in a long time. Makes me wish for the heat of summer, but I think I'd even settle for mild temps of Fall. I painted this scene last October at the edge of a swampy wetland on the property of a horse stable. I went there to paint horses, but came home with a cattail painting.  Subtle greys, inspired with a hint of warm and cool colors.

Autumn's Wake (process) 30x40"

"Autumn's Wake" 30x40" Oil

So much painting has been going on in my studio, but not much time to post about it all as I'm prepping for two shows in a matter of days. This one piece in particular I felt was worth sharing as I took care to take process pictures along the way. It was inspired by a plein air piece I painted last October on a beautiful day on Sauvie Island, OR. (my favorite place to paint). The geese were everywhere and the colors were soft and dreamy.

Starting out with an underpainting of transparent earth red, I work the values into the underpainting.

I tend to work the farthest distance areas first so that they are

layered behind all the subsequent brushstrokes. The sky takes shape.

Working in the trees and some of the foreground grasses.

I can't wait to work the water in this piece. One of my favorite parts is the 

reflections and relationships water has with the sky and shore.

All done!  This piece will be unveiled at Caswell Gallery in Troutdale on Friday, February 7th.

Summer Lake, 14x11

"Summer Lake" 14x11, Oil

The summer greens in Oregon have folded into shades of orange, soft rust, and bright yellow.  Fall is present in the Northwest, but so is the rain.  That means it's time to put away the sandals and strap on those boots. Here is the last piece I painted just before the rainy season began and it was a very blustery day.  The wind swept my roll of paper towels and ran with it, creating a trail that wove it's way into the lake below, causing me to pack up my easel prematurely.  This location is a pedestrian park in development called Summer Lake.  I discovered it late this past summer and have found it to be a great painting spot for those days when I have a small window of time.

Oh yes, a news flash! 

A few days ago, I received an invitation by Steve Doherty of Plein Air Magazine to be one of the participating artists in the field at the Plein Air Convention held in Monterey, CA.  I'm thrilled and truly humbled to be given this opportunity to share my joy of painting with a larger audience. Last year's Convention was incredible and I will never forget the feeling of being surrounded by so much talent, inspiration and new friends. If you attend the convention in April of 2013, please be sure to stop by and say "Hi" because I'd love to meet my blogging friends. Thank you to Steve Doherty!

Pastel Punch! Workshop Registration is open.

I am now taking registrations for my February 2013 workshop. Attendance will be limited to 10 artists for close, individual attention. I don't offer this workshop very often, but when I do, I make sure we have fun. Make your artistic goals a reality with a workshop packed full of information and experimentation.  Perhaps it's time you consider a workshop for a Christmas or Hannukah gift.

Pastel Punch! Workshop
Sequoia Gallery
Hillsboro, OR
February 8-10, 2013
9:00-4:00 pm daily
$300
http://brendaboylan.com/workshops

When Blues Turn to Reds, 12x9

When Blues Turn to Reds, 12x9" Pastel on sanded paper

Us Portlanders have had the luck of the sun these past two days of fall that makes any plein air artist begin to itch. Out and about, the fields in North Plains, Oregon have a few blueberry fields that have turned to vivid reds and burgundies. In the early hours of the morning, this reddish shrubbery is kissed right on top with the first rays of light, giving it a wonderful glow and making the sky pinkish in color. When I stopped to figure out my "scene" and set up, I discovered I forgot my tripod and had to drive all the way back home and retrieve the darned thing! There seems to be a bit of forgetfulness happening lately. So, here is a 'late'morning piece, in all it's fall glory. (note above: the wires from the tele pole don't show well in the photo.)

Here's a shot of the road leading up to the fields. This may have to be a studio piece come this winter.

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!

Sometimes Quiet, 6x9

"Sometimes Quiet" 6x9" Pastel on sanded paper

Gosh, I'm finally sitting down to post this piece! I've been out and about running so many errands for my family; kids need costumes sewn, picking up family at the airport, flute lessons, soccer practice and teaching Art Lit...etc. When is there time to paint? Well, last week I did get out to Sauvie's Island again with my painting buddy Gretha. It was really quite beautiful out there, with the mist and cool colors. Finished this one quickly, a 20 min session, after working on a prior one that wasn't so successful. ouch!

I have been revisiting the idea and am getting itchy to paint more of the farm series again. I was down at the farm this past weekend and the autumn makes me feel so sad when I see the trees dropping all their leaves. It's quite barren and there is definitely a lack of color all around. There were some wild turkeys nibbling bugs in the fields... a very Thanksgiving feeling!

Autumn Song, 6x6

"Autumn Song, study", 6x6" Pastel on sanded paper

Seems like it's been awhile since I last posted anything new! Since the beginning of the year, I have been pulled in several directions and I'm wanting to do so much....how does one keep up with it all? And there is so much to do with my family, keeping up with all that my kids have going on that I nearly forgot to paint/post any new work! And to top it off, I've been terribly distracted by FaceBook! Augh! Excuses!

Anyway, I'm back! And I'm painting!

Here is one from the demo series that I've since completed this week. It has a nice combination of colors that I'm thinking will make my list of fav's: purple and rusty reds...yummy! It is definitely autumn in this watery scene with the foggy atmosphere hanging over the waterway. Very soft, distant tree-lined horizon gives it a dreamy mood.