A Wonderful Art Day with Friends

I'm taking a break from the labyrinth project.  Today I went to the Franciscan Villa at Bridal Veil in the Columbia Gorge with my art group--the Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters.  My dear friend Kathy Allegri organizes these opportunities at the Villa at least once a year.  It is a private setting, not open to the public, and so it is special to go there.  It is the residence of Franciscan nuns who teach at a Montessori School in Portland.  There are both natural and cultivated gardens, and even a waterfall!  This is a small watercolor of some planted  urns in a formal garden at the back of the house. I liked the light and shadow pattern.  There are so many wonderful places to paint at the Villa that it is almost impossible to choose.  We hope to go back again when the Fall colors are out. I especially like this place because it was the inspiration for my "Stepping Stones" paintings, done four years ago.  Those paintings are, in fact, directly linked to the labyrinth paintings because they deal with the complexities of the paths of our lives.

PS:  Thanks to the followers of my "Labyrinth" series.  New postings will come soon.

Labyrinth III

When walking a labyrinth, a person travels a well-defined path that eventually winds up in the center and then returns to the entry following the same path.  I worked on this painting in more-or-less the same way, and incorporated various symbols and steps as I moved toward the center.  On the way back, I refined those symbols and steps, and reflected that we don't really get that chance in real life!!!  I think this labyrinth painting reflects the beauty of living...even when there are some "snakes" and "bugs" along the way...and I am very happy with the colors in this work.

Working in a series is very rewarding and leads to thoughts like those above.....and more.  I am continuing with labyrinth studies and will be posting more.  This one is 20" x 20".   I will be framing these in simple black wooden frames with no mats, using "Artspacers" to separate the art from the glass.   

Labyrinth II

I call this labyrinth "History of the Labyrinth" though, of course, it doesn't even touch the full history.  The pattern was drawn through instructions entitled "How to Draw a Simple Labyrinth."  The drawing was simple, but I added a lot of complexity along the paths (that's what life is) and also added a path around the labyrinth before the entrance.   In this piece, I used symbols that I have come to associate with the labyrinth, such as the "rose" at the center, which is similar to the Chartres center.  The Chartres labyrinth is probably the most famous one.  Also, the things that look like polliwogs are images similar to the first drawn labyrinths...they were found in Scotland.  The unpredictable path continues....there's a few rough spots in this one, as well as some easy, peaceful ones!  The painting is 20 inches wide by 22 inches tall.

Labyrinth I

I was inspired to create this painting when I walked a labyrinth for the first time about three months ago.  While I was walking I was reminded that the path of my life, or anyone's, has wide parts and narrow, easy passages and difficult ones, ones that take your breath away by their beauty and ones that cause you concern, etc.  I imagined a labyrinth design in which I could express that.   It contains big and small steps and symbols of some of my encounters and experiences along the way.  This one is called "Personal Journey"  It is 22" x 22"  While researching how to draw a labyrinth, I discovered some very intriguing labyrinth patterns.  Consequently, I want to paint more of these. This is the first painting of a series that will be at least five labyrinths.  A whole new direction for me!

End of NaSkeDraMo Days 29, 30, and 31

Day 29 I did a sketch of my big flower purse.  It was a lot of fun to do this one, and it harkens back to  my project of making a sketch of gifts I receive.  This purse was a gift I gave myself!

Day 30  Last Saturday (July 30) I went with some friends on the Mt. Hood Rail Road.  We had a 30-minute break and I did this sketch:

Day 31 was a lovely Sunday.  I took a little time Sunday afternoon to make a sketch of flowers in my Roseville Vase.....very old, very pretty.

It took a while to get time to post this because I have moved on  to a new project...a series of paintings based on labyrinth designs.  Stay tuned!



NaSkeDraMo Days 21-28

I have fallen way behind, so this will include a lot of sketches.  I have kept up with the Sketch a Day project and have done one a day....though I fell behind on posting them!

These are not being posted in order, for reasons I will explain shortly.  The "Shooooz" above were the sketch for Day 27.

Day 21:

I did a pretty complicated sketch of a small sculpture of "Blind Justice" that is on Louisa's mantel in her home in Washington DC.  It's about 12"tall.  I have not been able to get a good jpeg image of my sketch, but am posting what I have.

Now is a good time to say why I didn't want to go chronological on this posting.  I think this sketch will not show up well on the Facebook thumbnails, and I have learned that most of my friends and followers use the Facebook as a trigger to have a look at the blog.  I am thinking that if I have something that can't be seen very well, no-one will take a closer look!  The "shoooz" are more dramatic in thumbnails!  Tell me if that is silly.  All in all, my "Justice" rendition is a good drawing, but not necessarily something that "shows well."

Day 22:

July 22 was, for me, a moment of personal history as it was the maximum temperature I have ever experienced.  It was so hot.  It was 120 degrees when you take the temperature and the humidity into account--called the "heat index."  My grandaughter Sophia had indicated an interest a few days earlier in making a sketch of the soccer coach's cooler.  I was impressed then that she had picked up on the importance of shapes because the shapes are what make the cooler "cool."  I made a sketch of the cooler that day and it was a total failure. When it was so hot that we had to stay inside on July 22, I had the idea of making a new sketch from a previously failed sketch and my memories.  I wanted something "cool."  Above is the result.  I found the exercise helped me simplify a lot.

July 23:

Well, this was a big day for me because I returned to Portland.   My friends Celeste and Carrie joined me at the Horse Brass Pub in Portland.  We made quite a a few sketches, but this is the one I posted for "NaDraSkeMo."  It's a table and chair at the pub. 

Day 24:



The first thing I saw when I came home was the beautiful begonias on my front porch in a big pot...so they were the logical sketching choice.  I ended up with a watercolor effect, and I like it a lot. 

Day 25:

I had sold some cards at the Trail's End Art Association Gallery in Gearhart and they have an annual show coming up, so I took the opportunity to drive over, pick up my money, and put a painting in the show.  One of my favorite places on the way to Gearhart (and back) is Camp 18.  I stopped on the way back, ordered a Marionberry cobbler a la mode and requested a table with an interesting lamp. I got all that, and more!!!   I was travelling solo and intended to make a sketch...and I did.  I'm thinking:  You need to ask for what you want...and enjoy it!

Day 26:

 On Tuesdays, we (Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters) have breakfast at O'Connor's in Multnomah Village near my home and then some of us (usually Carrie and Celeste) come to my house to do some simple sketches.  Carrie had sketched the my storyteller bear before, but I had a strong urge to do it myself.  It was fun.  We made many sketches, but this is the one I chose to post for the Sketch a day project. It's a bear with a story-teller and children hanging on to hear the stories.  The bear is happy to support the activity.

Day 27:  It's the shoes....they're seen at the top of this post!

Day 28:

I have an amazing clematis vine in bloom.  This is just a brief glimpse into the glory.  They are really spectacular, and this is only a small part of the show.  I hadn't used gouache for awhile and used it for this.  It was a little difficult, but I want to get back into that...at least sometimes. 



NaSkeDraMo Days 18, 19 and 20

Day 18:  "Toy Bug Needs Repair--Toy Flatbed to the Rescue"

Day 19  Toy Woodie and surfboard  "Wouldn't it be nice?"  Wooden it be nice?  Haha

Day 20  Fire Chief on the Way!   I feel like I should have drawn in the hill he's headed up!  He has a rumble seat, and on the tool box at the back it says KEEP BACK!!!

I think that does it for toys....Don't know what I will sketch tomorrow and Friday.  Saturday I will be joining up with Celeste and Carrie at the Horse Brass Pub....we might get in a sketch or two there.  I will keep the project up until the end of July.