Love me some desert work

This past December, my husband and I thought we'd do something different and take our growing kids on a trip instead of stressing out on buying gifts that perhaps might not be appreciated. Experiences instead of things?  What a concept!  

Well gosh, since I'm there I might as well get some business done while I'm there.  My favorite place to paint is pretty much the California desert, so I took oodles of photos for future work, and while I'm there, I might as well pay my galleryt a visit and hand over a few pieces. So my easel was on fire because I had just given myself one of those self imposed deadlines.  So here is what came out of the deadline.  Check out Brian Marki Fine Art Gallery online to for a peek of what he has to offer. 

The Main Strip (10x24" oil on panel)

Desert Floor (10x24" oil on panel)

This one has yet to be delivered...

Defiant Heat Rising (36x48" Oil on gallery wrapped canvas)

When art touches lives, Boy's Night Out, 14x14

"Boy's Night Out" 14x14" Plein air Oil on panel

You never know when your art touches lives. Let me tell you a story that happened a few days ago that I must share.

As I was painting a nocturne with 3 other artists in downtown Hillsboro, several people were walking about after dining out on the town. As pedestrians gathered on the street corner, across from where I was painting, I quickly suggested one of the figures in the scene to bring much needed life to the painting. The pedestrians crossed and stopped to look at our work in progress. I asked the gentleman,  whom I began to sketch into my painting, if he would care to stand just a little longer for me to finish painting him standing on the corner. He was happy to do so, along with his young son, which made the painting come alive.

The following day, I emailed to thank him and he shared a sweet story of this scene.  He writes,

"Thanks for letting us watch you.  Also that's one of our favorite street corners because for years I used to go to Hillsboro Hobbies with my Dad and now it's my son's favorite place to go with me. We always park on that side of the street and would cross over to the hobby shop. When I was little, I remember jumping up and down with anticipation, waiting for the light to change.  Now my son does the exact same thing!  Also, the corner you were painting from is the spot where we watch the forth of July parade.  Thanks for letting me purchase it. It captured a lifetime of memories."

How could you not feel good about bringing such fond memories to life?  When I paint a piece, I sometimes forget to find the meaning behind my subject because I am out just for the process of painting, but then there are other more obvious times when an emotional connection can be made. Those are golden times! It's kind of like fishing for a needle in a haystack. but when your painting can connect emotionally with another, you have touched someone's life...including your own.

How has your work connected with others? Please share.

~ Brenda

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!