Trees at Ft. Casey

Near Coupeville, on Whidbey Island, in the State of Washington is a beautiful bluff with a scenic lighthouse...and some windswept trees...

Captured late in the day at Ebey's Bluff, this pastel is 10" by 13", framed in an classic gold frame.

Chocolate Flowers?

Whidbey Sketchers is a group of artists who enjoy sketching together on location at various venues on South Whidbey Island. On a sunny summer day we visited a delightful nursery called the Chocolate Flower Farm on the outskirts of Langley. After getting home and reviewing my pencil sketches, I could not resist recreating the whole enticing scene in color. Done in pastels, this painting is 15 x 12, called 'A Blue Watering Can' ; it is available at the Whidbey Art Gallery in Langley, Washington

Lupines and Poppies and Vetch, Oh my!

Once again nature has her way and what a way it is! This scene is somewhat fanciful, but was drawn from observing the California poppies, the blue vetch and wild lupine growing together by a roadside with mountains in the distance, near Greenbank in central Whidbey Island. This pastel 'Meadow Lupines' is 16 x 12.

Values

On crisp cold days the sun never rises high in the sky and every degree of warmth must be treasured. This stark beauty can be as much a pleasure as any rampant green summer. It is all about valuing the best of each season. This pastel painting "Winter Sunset" is 16 x 12.

Blues

The natural beauty of the calm waters and low coastal hills of western Washington never ceases to thrill. This scene is from a trip in spring of 2010 to Ocean Shores; it is 17 x 12. This new pastel is appropriately named 'Coastal Blues".

Tenacity

This old Whidbey Island apple tree had been blown over, but was alive and still bearing delicious fruit this sunny summer day. This 6 x 9 inch pastel was painted en plein air in Langley in July. It is available at the Whidbey Art Gallery in Langley, Washington.

Storm's a comin'

More than any inanimate thing in nature, clouds communicate. They tell of lightness and joy, of passing time, of change, of threat, drama, power, and simply of beauty. I revel in the beauty and variety of the clouds in the Northwest, and never tire of painting them as in this scene near Coupeville on Whidbey Island. This is a pastel 16 x 12.

Being There

I wish I had been there, but a friend's photo was the inspiration; I wanted to capture the stillness of the crisp cold days of autumn in the mountains and do feel I accomplished that in this 12 x 9 pastel. Now I can go there whenever I choose...

Dreamin'

It was once a dream, had pride of ownership and was someone's home. 'Bygone Dreams'; the real Oak Harbor house on Whidbey Island has peeling paint, boards on some windows and is surrounded by modern buildings. I just had to rescue it, if only in paint. This pastel painting is 9 x 12.

The Gentlest Rain

There are light rains in the Pacific Northwest that are only a step from fog. They hug the earth and nourish the living green blanket that makes our area so lovely. The gentle winter beauty inspired this rendering of a photo I took in my own driveway. (You may recognize this pastel as similar to the miniature acrylic I posted on February 14.) It is 10 x 16", professionally matted to bring out it's softness and subtlety and framed in compatible colors to 16 x 20". It is available through the Whidbey Art Gallery, Langley, Washinton.

Yin/Yang

What a delight to know that the creation of shadow depends on light and the depth of the shadow informs the brilliance of the light. It is at once a toy and the most vital essence to a representational painter. "There falls no shadow where there shines no sun" wrote the French author Hilaire Belloc.
One cannot be expressed without the other; it is true yin/yang.
A clear bright afternoon inpired "Whidbey Shadows", done in pastel; it is 12 x 8" matted and framed in light walnut to 16 x 12". Available at the Whidbey Art Gallery in Langley, Washington.

Reflected Gold

Rich dark evergreens are the perfect foil for the glowing golds and yellows of deciduous trees. Having everything doubled in the serene mirror of the pond makes you feel the quietness and peace. This is painted from a photo taken by friend and artist Karen, but it could be in any forest opening in our beautiful northwest. "Reflections in Gold" is a 10 x 13" pastel matted and framed to 14 x 18", and it is SOLD.

Sideways

Taking the same subject and seeing it/doing it differently, a little sideways detour, teaches me more about the subject and the process. You may recall the similar picture on my post of February 12.
This one is done in pastel, slightly edited and larger. I feel it captures the sense of the place and is a pleasure to look at. "Gage's Whidbey Island Barn" is 12 x 9 matted and framed to 16 x 12" and available at the Whidbey Art Gallery, Langley, Washington.

Easy Livin'

Visiting an old farm, the childhood home of my friend Michelle Vaughan, I spotted this charming setting on a cool spring day. I imagined summer and lemonade and of course could not resist. What more is there to say...
This pastel painting is 9 x 12" matted and framed to 12 x 16". The peace and serenity inspired the name: 'Whidbey Island Idyll'.  Availble at the Whidbey Art Gallery in Langley, Washington

Looking East

Living in the Pacific Northwest with its wealth of blues and greens, makes it sometimes exciting to paint other scapes. If you have been following this blog, you know how I love the varied colors of our beautiful world. The complementary color scheme (blue and yellow) and the amazing clarity and color that nature provides drew me to this picture.
'Flowering Desert' was painted in pastel, with some liberties, from a photo taken in eastern Washington by friend and artist Deon Matzen. It is 12 x 9 matted and framed to 16 x 12.

Trees at Fort Casey

This pastel painting, 'Trees at Fort Casey' reflects not only the late afternoon sun, but the feeling I enjoyed standing in this lovely place.  I had come to see the lighthouse, but found the beauty of these trees the real star.   9" x 12".