In Transition ( Oil and Cold Wax )

The weather here in the Portland area has been just spectacular.  So because it has been rain free and mild I have had the opportunity to do some Plein Air painting with friends.  Painting outdoors has really never been something I have aspired to learn very well.  I find it hard to focus on just one small area of the landscape.  Right now the landscape is in transition.  The land is going dormant but with amazing colors before it settles down to it's winter mode.  I always take lots of photographs to review so that  I will be inspired through the rainy winter months.

  Looking at my photos I am always intrigued by flowers as they lose their blooms.  While I find flowers beautiful in their full bloom there is also something very beautiful in there final state of dormancy.

The fields are also going into dormancy and as I was working on some new cold wax pieces I realized how I had been affected by the autumn landscape and decided to do a series of work on the subject.  The process of working with the wax and oils creates beautiful abstract surfaces.This was my first start about the landscape in transition.  The abstract side is the field in transition and the flower side is also in transition going into it's last bit of life.

The pieces were done on 1 1/2 inch cradled boards, 12" x12"

 

FLOWER PAINTING (Marigold Oil Painting)

I recently went to the Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego Oregon; it's a community garden and my fellow artist friend Wendy Dehart and I try to get there at least once in the summer to do some Plein Air work. The gardens are beautiful, full of wonderful flowers and veggies everywhere. Well, as usual I was in a state as to what to paint. Since I don't get outdoors often enough to paint I usually can't decide what to paint. It's a real dilemma for me and when I saw this bunch of Marigolds I instinctively felt they where calling to me, so my confusion was put to rest as I always love to paint flowers.

But, I think looking back at my experiences with Plein Air painting I have come to the conclusion it's not what I enjoy painting, or if I am to paint outdoors I want to hone in on a small area and not try to paint the vast expanse of the landscape. Any one out there who has the same problem? I think another problem I have with landscape painting is there are so many artist who do it so well and I want to some some how put a different concept to my work.

Mitchell Albala who's landscape painting book "Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice", recently posted an interview with Wolf Kahn http://blog.mitchalbala.com/?p=2058,  whose landscapes are amazing because he has learned to paint the suggestion of the landscape without painting the detail. If the link doesn't work try newarttv.com .

I attended the "Blossom Art of the Flower" show in Naples Florida.  The show was held at the Naples Art Museum and while I didn't win a prize, I surely felt like a winner having my painting hanging in such a gorgeous museum.  We weren't really allowed to take pictures in the museum but I did manage to snap a couple although they all came out very yellow.  There were over 2300 paintings from 35 countries entered in the competition, but only 100 chosen by 9 jurors.  Stephen Doherty, one of the 9 judges and the past editor of the American Artist magazine and the current editor of the new reissued Plein Air magazine announced the prizes.  A lovely artist with an English sounding accent ( she did not attend) was called by phone to let her know she had won the grand prize of $25,000. .The judges were artists, directors of botanical gardens and art museum directors.  All the artist were given two beautiful catalogs with their painting shown along with the artists description of their work and a photo of the artist.
      

The museum put on a spectacular wine and appetizer spread prior to the show opening that evening and it was packed with people coming to see the show. After the show all the artists and their guests went to an Italian restaurant where we were served dinner this time put on by the Susan K Black Foundation and the Blossom Competition.  I really am happy that I was able to attend.  I would never have traveled from Oregon to Florida to see the show had not my Sister-in- law who lives in Bradenton Florida allowed me to stay with her and to also attend and drive me the 100 miles to see the show.  Although weather wise, I could have stayed in Oregon, Florida 's weather while there was not much better then at home.  Somewhat chilly, very little sun, very windy and some rain.

In my next post I will give some history of the museum and its' founder, along with the winning entry.