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That could be the title of this little painting of my dog, Rico...he was certainly trotting along when I snapped this shot. He will appear in a show with the other dogs (see prior posts) in Sisers, Oregon, later this year.

In the interim, Vicki and I picked up our paintings from the show in Hood River...this was a completely wonderful experience. Working with everyone at the Columbia Center for the Arts, (especially Sally) was wonderful, and the show was really well received. As we traveled the 2 or so hours up to Hood River we stopped for lots of photos...and then in the valley, more. So you can expect to see many more in this series as it progresses. Both Vicki and I agree that this is such a worthwhile project--we have barely scratched the surface of portraying the people and land of rural Oregon west of the Cascade Mountains. Our next joint show is in August at Tumalo Gallery...so I hope to see a lot of people there...

Another little gem--love these vintage trailers! I will be showing this at the Clearwater Gallery Miniature Show (Sisters, Oregon) later this year.

We were camping last year on the Snake River and were treated to the most beautiful light at dusk. There are times when you just know it is a painting. I made a brief sketch, and took lots of photos and this is one of the resulting landscapes.

When the paint dries I will bring it into the Gallery--Tumalo Art Co. in Bend.

Who would paint an adobe building blue? Well obviously the same person who ran these little places out of business. Wonder if it was the color? Now that I have several of these will bring them into Tumalo Art Co.

I was taking a break from landscape painting...and focusing on a show/benefit where the show will be all about dogs. My own two offer quite a bit of material. This is Stella doing one of the things she likes best (after eating and napping)...she is definitely a Frisbee dog! So of course the title is "Happy Dog." (Now back to landscapes!)

OK...I am a bit exhausted with the serious painting I have been doing for several months...so I am escaping into the dog paintings (for a future benefit show)...and the trailers, because they make me laugh. But tomorrow, it is back to the work that is so challenging--landscapes that are neither photo realistic,nor tarted up with "come buy me" colors...but rather those works that really capture the awe I have when outside here on the dry side of the mountains.

A friend (artist and supporter of the arts, locally) has asked me to do a series of dog paintings for a show/benefit...while I said I was out of the dog painting business...well, it is for a good cause. And darn it, I had fun doing this one and the other one (not finished...will blog it later). I will not be posting it in my available paintings, as I really want to have a focused site...but really had a great time painting this. It is from a photo of a friend's dog...and appropriately it is called, "Are you gonna throw that ball..." How many times have our dogs "said that?"

This little trailer...we recently drove by the Salton Sea...is so desolate..so I named the painting Alone At Last

I have loved the work of Edgar Payne for years...so much in fact that I intend to drive to Sacramento for a visit to a show of his work at the Crocker Museum...that will be a three day trip...one down, one for the museum and one back...whew...but when I love someone's work I really do. This painting of Broken Top in the Oregon cascades is an "hommage" to his work.

Getting back from the show at Hood River, I diligently went up to the studio and produces (expletive deleted!). I find after a big push it is very hard to just start up again. My fellow artist and I refer to this as Show Postpartum. But today I seem to have hit my stride again. I am really working on some twilight paintings from sketches I made last year when camping. The evenings were so glorious..but lasted only a few minutes so I have photo reference and quick sketches. Catching that momentary light is a challenge...This is a work in progress and will be posted when complete.

I am currently painting a large piece for a future show...but I took some time away from this painting to get to my "guilty pleasure"--painting the old motels. Somehow this just transports me. I love these little relics and hope I do them some sort of weird honor in my paintings.

Vicki Shuck and I opened at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River last Saturday. It was a lovely opening. People actually came to view the art! (Now that sounds cynical, but many openings seem more oriented towards snacks and food than art...this was not.) I hope anyone in the area drops by the month of April to see this show.

We are off to expand this adventure...more to come!

Last fall we decided to take the Cascade Loop. There is something poignant about the end of summer and the beginning of fall. These three little boats would not be used again for a year and everyone was preparing for winter. Well, now it is April and snowing, so I thought I needed to return to that scene and imagine the still warm day, with just a hint of the cold to come. Again this year, summer will come and I must remember to enjoy every day of it!

While I have worked on the other paintings I took a break and went back to a plein air I had started a couple of years ago...with a bit of fresh paint (after some mild sanding!!!) I got the work I had been looking for.

Darn, I love old trailers. Hope someone else at the Clearwater Gallery Mini Show likes it too.