Willamette River in Autumn, Pastels

I haven't picked up pastels in awhile but they are so much easier to deal with when trying to capture something outdoors. Every year the autumn leaves start changing and all I want to do is sit around and paint and draw. This dream is rarely realized because every fall I still work full time and am usually taking classes part time. This morning was a rare treat with a dry autumn day, a homemade pumpkin latte in a to-go cup and my sheltie hanging out next to me while I attempted to get the artistic fires burning again. The blue flame is the hottest, I think I did okay for my first piece since summer. It was cold, and the crows were barking at us the whole time, which made it that much more of a beautiful autumn day.

Steel Bridge and Cherry Blossoms

I can hardly believe it, but I finished a painting. What's funny about the evolution of this painting is something that always seems to happen - I begin with something light, airy and pretty and end with something of a darker persuasion. It almost feels like a fall painting, although the subject is so clearly spring with those cherry blossoms. The Steel Bridge in spring, with it's heavy iron girders and timeless boxcar train running through:

Steel Bridge and Cherry Blossoms, 2013, oils on canvas, Fiona D. 

I've been thinking about Edward Hopper recently, and how all of his paintings contain such loneliness. I believe I heard him say in an interview once that he was a bit puzzled by the loneliness that came out in each painting. Then I see something like this and wonder what we 're all hiding from ourselves that only art can tease to the surface: http://www.edwardhopper.net/newyork-movie.jsp

It feels good to finally see what's been ebbing. I'm a happy person, but constantly in silent awe of the depth and complexity of the world around me. I don't find it overwhelming me with sadness anymore. I've finally learned to just let it flow through me and I'm finding that the contrast of the darkness makes my life that much richer.

While I stood on the waterfront getting the sketches that were the skeleton of this painting, I was passed and slightly surrounded by homeless people. When I looked to the left, there was a homeless encampment, like a modern-day hooverville, just under the Burnside bridge. When I looked down into the water, I could see floating hypodermic needles, empty beer bottles and other trash. So, I just looked ahead, at the dripping cherry blossoms and the peaceful river running under the bridge. Perhaps that explains the brooding feeling.

In any case, with this painting finally complete, I can finally breath a sigh of relief and take in a breath of inspiration as I look towards my next project...

Sketches of Portland Bridges

I've been dicking around with sketching the Portland bridges. I'm starting to understand the fascination of other artists in town. The first one is the Hawthorne, on 8"x11":

Unable to get the detail I needed to really "wow" it, I brought a bigger sketchpad the next time. The Burnside, open for a cargo ship:

More to come!

OHSU stairs sketch

I just unearthed this sketch and figured I ought to share it... at the top of the giant staircase by the Nursing School at OHSU:

Korkage wineshop musician sketches

I've recently started frequenting this wine shop in Hillsdale called Korkage. This place is great - they have live music three nights a week with no cover and serve fantastic glasses of wine. Their taste is really impeccable, the music is always really lovely to listen to. For me, it's become a perfect place to sit, drink some wine and sketch my favorite type of subjects. Musicians are the perfect drawing models because they are there to be looked at, they stay relatively still and don't ever seem to mind that you're drawing them. The first sketch was of a duo called The Big North Duo:

I was told by the owner that people were talking about this sketch, which, admittedly, is not my favorite. Nevertheless, this week, I went there and saw Jeff Putterman on his seven string classical guitar. That was a treat and the sketch I was able to complete was more pleasing to me:

You should see that one up on the wall at Korkage with a reasonable price tag on it in the next couple weeks. I've already found a friend willing to make a handmade frame to put it in. I'm a lucky gal to find so much support for my art.

Fuck Yeah Party Art Show

A couple of friends of mine have started a promotion company called PopCycle Events and they just hosted their first event last Friday. I would say it was a great success. Six artists, including me, were asked to show. There were three bands that played, a DJ and a full bar. Outside there was a candy bus, selling every candy you could possibly imagine.

The venue itself was a little tricky to find, down an alley and upstairs in the middle of an old grain silo. However, the inside of it had been tricked out with tiny wood paneling, installation art and a half pipe, which is where the bands played. Check it out:

I was one of the first artists you saw as you walked in:

Although, the artist that I think really took the cake was this guy Zach, who wasn't really part of the show. He shares the space with a few other folks on a regular basis. I was super impressed with what he did:

I wish I had more pictures of the event as it happened, but I was too busy socializing with the likes of these guys:

Thanks again to the two mythical sisters that made it all happen:

The Back of the Flower Stand on Graduation Day

This painting originated from a sketch. There was a graduation ceremony next to the farmer's market and this Asian family was working hard to keep up with demands. The workers breathed a sigh of relief when they were able to go to the back of the stand and arrange the bouquets. This painting was done in oils and it's 10"x13" on stretched canvas.

Guitar Player on the Steps

Turning sketches into paintings. Guitar Player on the Steps is 8"x10" in oils.

Portland Sketches, Mostly Musicians

Keeping up my weekly routine of sketching at the markets in Portland on the weekend. I sprained my ankle so I had a painful time getting around, which meant I couldn't spend as much time as I would've liked. In any case a captured a few decent ones.

First up is the didgeridoo (?) player, who I have not done justice to:

 Kids and adults alike are endlessly fascinated by this man. His sounds make sketching easy to fall into.

I then traveled over to the main stage, where a pretty good singer-songwriter was crooning. I caught her on her last song, so the sketch didn't go very far:

The last one I did was the best and unexpected. I was just waiting for the bus for 20 minutes and happened upon a decent sketch of a Portland street:

Summer is still here! Soak it up!

More Sketches of Portlanders

These busy summer markets in Portland are a free education in life drawing. I can't think of a better place to capture real, beautiful scenes.

There was a graduation ceremony at PSU, so the flower stand was especially busy and full of flowers:

At the Saturday Market, there was a band that called themselves The Homeless People, who were playing their way back to Oakland, CA. They were really enjoyable to listen to. This little brunette that's not in the picture was playing the washboard and singing with some serious soul:

Apparently, there is a big chess tournament in Portland this weekend, which is where this gentleman was on his way to. For $100 you could play a woman who is one of the greatest female chess players, Susan Polgar. She was ranked the number one chess player in the world at the age of 15. 

Paintings to come.

Sketches of Portlanders in the Summer

I spent the day yesterday trolling around the city, searching for scenes to sketch. There was no lack of subjects - the public spaces were filled with people playing games, playing music and enjoying the beautiful weather. I started my journey at the Velo Cafe stand at the PSU Farmer's Market, where they drip the coffee to order:

Coffee in hand, I then searched for musicians, which are easy to find at the farmer's markets. I sketched this jazz band for a while:

Then took it down a notch to sketch this acoustic guitar player, named Wesley. The floating figure on the right is the adorable dog he had with him that I gave up trying to fit into the sketch:

 Then I headed down to Pioneer Sqaure, where I found people playing chess on a tall podium. The guy who seemed to keep winning was Chery, a former football player from England and competitive chess player:

There are some truly fascinating people in this world. Till next time...

Sustainability: "Leaves in a Pot"

I'm taking this class on Sustainability, which is a great class but happens to fall on the same days as the art classes I want to take.

Well, I finally got to spend my limited homework time painting anyway. "Leaves in a Pot" is painted on piece of wood off a broken cabinet. It's about 18"x18" and done in oils. The idea is mimicking nature's process of refertilizing the soil. When we copy nature, things usually work out for the best.

This was a quick painting done from life.

Paintings up at The Black Cat Cafe

I've got some art up at The Black Cat Cafe on Alberta for the month of September. It's a cute spot, with lots of coffeehouse intellectuals solving world problems.

Painting on the Porch

I've been painting on my porch lately. The first one was Tomato-Basil and now I have this one. I suppose it would be called "Sunset wall". I painted it on a piece of wood that came from an old cabinet that we were throwing away. I think the size is 10"x15" and it's done in oils.

Scenes from Portland, OR

All oils 36"x 36" on raised, stretched canvas.