Looks like ole' winter is on it's way, folks! Time to try something new. This time, I'd thought I would try doing rocks using a Painting Knife in Watercolor. Works great! On dry paper, I just mix different colors(Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ocre, Ultramarine, some Alizarin Crimson), don't overmix, and just "slather it on". While it's still damp, a bit of spray of water doesn't hurt either. I think I will also try putting Evergreens, etc on top of the rocky cliffs too. The combination might prove to be quite novel! I've sent these paintings to Plein-Aire Painters of Oregon for their fall competition. By the way, my Artist friend, please feel free to send me an email about your progress...I'd love to hear from you!

I just spent three days painting with the PAPO group in the Depoe Bay area...It proved to be a wonderful time getting to know each other, Beautiful weather, and fantastic scenery! Hands down, it was the highlight of my summer. I have never done that much painting in such a short time(Glad I brought enough supplies!). The second day, the group met at the Yaquina Lighthouse in Newport. Guess what was waiting for us? Kelp Flies! All over the place! Hans brought some bug spray, which he freely shared, but with them crawling on your face, eyes, ears, etc., it was sheer torture! I thought it gave a new dimension to "Plein-Aire"! By the way, if you happen to be painting around the Depoe Bay area, please visit Fogarty Creek and Rocky Cove..they are spectacular areas!

Hi Folks! Well, today we decided to take an aventurous four hour trip going over the Mcoullough Bridge, Astoria, up the Columbia River to Cathlamet, back over the Columbia by Ferry to Westport, Oregon, and back to Astoria. While in Gray's Harbor, we decided to take the short drive out to the Covered Bridge and do a Plein-Aire Painting of it. Boy, was that fun! I guess that this Bridge has been painted by many Artists, as it makes a great subject. You will find the Painting I did in "Originals"...Hope you like it!

I just discovered a new place! Just south of Cannon Beach there is a place that juts out into the Sea called "Silver Point". Low Tide, and early morning reveals a wonderful vista of Sea Stacks coming from the Sand. We truly live in a beautiful place here on the Oregon Coast. Here, I've used the early morning Glow of Alarizian and Orange as a backdrop to the Ocres and Burnt Umber on the large Rock that many varieties of Sea Birds use for a Rookery.I do hope all my Artist Friends are having a wonderful time Painting this July Fourth time!

I've never been down to Indian Beach(through Ecola Park, Cannon Beach). What a beautiful drive! It's a narrow paved, winding road through a cool green forest that ends at a beautiful quarter mile long beach surrounded by huge cliffs. This is(I found out today) a favorite surfing spot too! I chose the south facing part of the beach to paint. After flooding in the warm-tinged overcast sky, I struggled to select just SOME of the surf drenched rocks. All in all, it was a very enjoyable time...although I keep wishing for some painting friends to join me.

It was a Super day last sunday! I am setting up my tent in front of my Gallery on 12th Street (Gallery 12) on the Sunday Markets held there every Sunday all summer. I certainly would enjoy visiting with you there. If you are in the area, please stop by and say Hi! I painted this one using my Plein-Aire setup last Sunday. See you there!!

We had a wonderful time at our paint-out outside at Cascade Head north of Lincoln City.Although we experienced sprinkles at times(cold too!), I got to be with my all time "Paintin' Buddies" Rod and Charles from Charleston Oregon. The skies were spectacular and the views of the Salmon River were too! There were so many shades of GREEN that it was a real challenge...Hookers, Sap,Ultra Green, Cobalt Green; not to mention Burnt Sienna, Ocres, and Reds were used. My Artist friend, Charles made a UTUBE video and you can view it at "Charles 2830, Rod, Joe & Charles" The second day we went south of town and Painted those three protruding Rocks in the Beach at Sitka. All in all, it was a great time...wish you were there!

The weather was beautiful yesterday! I decided to pack up my Easel and head down to the Beach and enjoy the day.There's a path at the end of Franklin Street where I usually walk our Springer that has a Pristeen Beach that was calling my name. I even tried my hand at sitting on a folding chair while painting, and, although a bit constrictive, worked out better than expected...at least my legs didn't tend to go to sleep as they usually do after a couple of hours of standing. Cobalt and Curelean for the sky, Burnt Umber grayed a bit with Ultra, and Ocre and Hookers for the Grass. After a half hour's painting with the major washes, the sun burnt off the fog and streched my paper back to flat...perfect!

Well folks, I couldn't wait to pack up my gear and head outside...weather was GREAT! I went over to Astoria and scouted the West Boatyard for a suitable subject and ran across this gem. Its a huge(about 65'!) conversion from a Sailboat to Commercial Troller. Black bottom Paint, no less! Connie packed my sacklunch and I had a wonderful time. Early fog burned off around 10am, and no wind! I tried to follow the rule of "plain Sky, detailed Subject". The trick was to make the sky just dark enough(Currelean and Alizaran) to hold the white shapes but not too dark to compete with the shadows.Background was really complicated, so I just included the red "utility craft" for color, eliminating all other Cranes, Boats, etc. I find that this process is often more difficult than doing the actual Painting at times.

Hi Folks...While traveling down the Oregon Coast, we took several photo's of the lovely Dairy Barns along the way.While most of my Paintings depict Seascape scenes, I felt that I just HAD to Paint this Old Dairy Barn! Hope you like it. I used mostly Blue-Blue-greens with opposite reds.