Going with the Flow

We hiked to the top of Black Butte this year!

We did a family trek south to Oregon last week.  Our first stop found us in Portland where we checked out the Pearl District.  The musicians in the group went to Pro Guitar Shop http://proguitarshop.com/ to buy pedals while I went to Utrecht Art Supplies http://www.utrechtart.com/ and Blick Art http://www.dickblick.com/, dividing my purchases between local and big box.

With our new finds, we went to the mountains where we love to spend a week at Black Butte Ranch, http://www.blackbutteranch.com/ for some 'R and R' which turned out to be 'A and R' - 'Activity and Relaxation'.  

My intentions were to paint plein air daily.  I had the canvas, paint, easel.  I did paint - though more experimentally and abstract.  Basically under paintings on which I played!  I played on the small canvas and I played outside - hiking, biking, golf, tennis, pools and sun.  Needless to say, I went with the flow and quickly accepted that these precious moments with my family far outweighed the time needed for focused painting.  I shot a lot of photos though and I'm certain I absorbed more creative paths to follow in my studio at a later time.... like, tomorrow!

Tangerine Dream

JUST A MINUTE

11 x 14

Here on the Pacific west coast, shoreline abounds on both rivers and ocean, carrying flotsam and jetsam as well as reflections and currents.  I've been exploring this movement in some recent small pieces like this one, Just A Minute.  I adore the brushwork in the foreground and the color juxtaposition between the light grey blue-greens and the tangerine oranges.  

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