More of the Breitenbush River!

My husband and I once again went to the Breitenbush River, but this time we camped along it for three whole days! Just like last time, he fished and I painted … plus my parents, their yellow lab, and one of my brothers and his girlfriend joined us for a day or two.

Here are the paintings I created last weekend along the Breitenbush; this river is very clear, thus the "water color" is the "color" of the rocks which line the river bed: browns, tans, reds, and greens. I like where my "voice" of plein air paintings is heading. What do you think of these? They are available on my Etsy Shop!

"Breitenbush Aspens"

8" x 10"

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"Breitenbush V"

8" x 10"

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"Breitenbush VI"

8" x 10"

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"Breitenbush VII"

8" x 10"

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Plus, I did a little painting of Lucky, my parent's yellow lab. He was so proud of the stick/log he pulled out of the river!

"Breitenbush Lab"

5" x 7"

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"Speckled Straggler"

"Speckled Straggler" 

8" x 10" 

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"Barn by the Pond I & II"

I recently bought a painting easel from the earnings a couple of sold paintings and greeting cards have brought to my art account. I had a lovely little tabletop easel given to be last Christmas by some family, but as everything has a purpose, sadly this one does not suit painting outdoors. 

I went down to the barn by the pond which sits between the Sandy River and Troutdale, OR off a little side road; the land the barn occupies is owned by Rip Caswell, and he told me that many people have photographed the barn, but I am the first to paint it. (Note: It's always to have permission to paint on privately owned land!) It's so quiet with a little meadow of wildflowers and the pond has cattails which all kinds of birds call home. Plus it's minutes from my little apartment. I did these two paintings a week apart on separate occasions. The lighting was definitely different, plus I was beginning to develop my "voice" for my plein air paintings. My studio paintings (the ones I create with the visual help of mu computer) are very vibrant, while my plein air paintings have their own vibe going. I plan on heading down there more this summer!

"Barn by the Pond I"

11" x 14"

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"Barn by the Pond II"

8" x 10"

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Christmas in July - Etsy Shop Sale!

Christmas in July Giveaway - 2013

Alrighty, it's time for the 2nd Annual Christmas in July Giveaway!

So, if you're on Facebook and haven't "liked" or become a "fan" of my Artist Facebook Page, then head on over there (even if you already "liked" it you can still participate).

When you're at my Artist Facebook Page, "like" it, look at my timeline and find the above image, share it, and you will be entered in my "Christmas in July Giveaway" for one free* 8" x 10" custom watercolor painting. And "custom watercolor painting" means that it is a subject of your choice!**

Further rules:

You must publicly share the image from my Artist Facebook Page on your own Facebook timeline.

This means you can't send it to people in a private message or email or newsletter forwarding, etc. All shares must be public on Facebook from friends/fans of the Artist Facebook Page.

If you're interested in this giveaway, you must share this image from my Artist Facebook Page between now and the end of this month (July 31st) to have a valid entry. Again, I must be able to see this share, and sharing and then deleting the share will be an invalid entry.

The winner will be randomly chosen and announced in early/mid-August.

The painting will be created in time for the upcoming holiday season, so it can be a fantastic Christmas present or one for yourself. 

*Winner is responsible for any applicable shipping costs and taxes. Winner must also provide suitable reference photos in a timely manner.

**Subject of choice that will reasonably fit within a 8" x 10" painting, meaning don't choose a number of subjects that won't clutter the space.

Good luck to everyone who participates!

"St. Paul Pickup Man I"

"St. Paul Pickup Man I" 

5" x 7" 

What would the rodeo be with out these brave men and horses? Chasing, dodging, roping, dragging … all the wild bulls and broncs, saving the daring cowboys who ride them. I will be painting more of these rope wielding cowboys who put themselves in danger for the safety of others.

"Sunbasking Broncs"

"Sunbasking Broncs" 

8" x 10" 

SOLD

Another painting using a photo I took at the St. Paul Rodeo. This one is of some bronco just chillin' in the sun in the pens behind the arena.

"End of the Line"

"End of the Line" 

11" x 14" 

On Independence Day I went to the St. Paul Rodeo. That was my first time and I'll go back next year (my plan is to have an art booth this time!). I took almost 900 photos with my little Canon point and shoot camera, and about 20 are probably paintings worthy. 

This paintings is of one of the pickup men "bringing" a bucking bull back to the chute. These horses are really tough and brave for racing after a big horned bull and then dragging the beast which is almost the same size as them. I decided to be more loose with my background so that all the attention can be on the rider, horse, and bull. What do you think of it?

Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day at the St. Paul Rodeo. 

"Wichita"

"Wichita" 

5" x 7" 

SOLD (Thank You!)

Wichita is another horse from the Philmont herd I worked with in the summer of 2010. He's a sweet little horse and I rode him the second week of topping off. We were going great, walk, trot, lope, all in line with the 30 other wranglers in the large arena. And then it happened, Wichita tripped. Now, when horses trip, they catch themselves because they don't want to fall. But I guess we were going too fast around the corner and a dirt clod just happened to be in the wrong place. I remember his head disappearing and then I'm being thrown over his right shoulder. THUD. And I roll. I look up and see hooves, flaying legs, and blue sky. I roll more. I feel my heart thumping in my chest and I'm short of breath. I look around and see Wichita scrambling up; good he's ok. But I'm in pain - shoulder, arm, back. The bosses "escort" me to behind a solid wooden round pen to see if I'm seriously injured while the ambulance (modified SUV) is on its way. I went to the Philmont hospital, get checked out, and given pain killers. Nothing broken, but I sleep in a recliner for the next three or so nights because it's too painful to lay down all the way. Bruised, sore, but not broken. I have no hard feelings to Wichita. He was a willing little pinto pony who didn't do it on purpose (unlike some of the other new horses who were down right crazy - that's another story).

"The Grulla and his Girl"

"The Grulla and his Girl" 

11" x 14" 

SOLD

It has gone from a rainy Oregon to sweltering heat; all within a week. This is the time of the year I wish I was out in the county - wide open fields and shady forests. So, here is a recent painting I did featuring the landscape of Philmont and a wrangler riding a Philmont horse, Sizzler. Part of what I love about painting is that I can use two reference photos to complete a watercolor. The original photo of the cowgirl on the grulla was taken at Cattle Headquarters inside one of the corrals and the background photo was taken on the trail up to the Stockades. So I just put the two together to make a nice little painting! If you're familiar with Philmont, you can see the Tooth of Time between the cowgirl and Sizzler's left ear.

What do you think of that sky? Does it smell like rain?