Moving Day

This blog has been a great learning experience. Now that my website includes a blog option, I'm going to continue all further blogs there. Please go to paulaensignart.com. You'll find the blog listed in the menu across the top.
And, even better all my current information and latest paintings are right there too.

Pacific Northwest Plein Air

Painting outside is always a challenge. There’s either too much sun, or no sun at all; it’s too cold, too hot, too windy, too buggy - perfect conditions are hard to come by. So we learn to persevere and create despite the weather. And sometimes, quite honestly, it's the experience of painting under trying circumstances that is the success of the day. I recently participated in Pacific Northwest Plein Air, a paint out and exhibit organized by the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon. There is an amazing variety of beautiful scenery in this part of the country. Each day we painted at a different location with varied landscape options.

The temperature was in the 90’s every day. For my Puget Sound thermometer – that’s hot. I was constantly seeking shade. One day we painted alongside the Columbia River at Stevenson, Washington. There were lovely views of the rocks and trees at the water’s edge as well as more distant views of the river and the mountains beyond. The challenge this day was that it was alternately brilliant light and sharp contrasts when the sun was out, or grayed tones and medium values when the sun would slip behind dark clouds. Not just fluffy white clouds but big black clouds that threatened rain. It was like a strobe light flashing on and off every ten minutes as the sun wove in and out of these dark clouds. None of my paintings came out that day.

Here are a few samples of paintings I did with more consistent light. The show at Columbia Center for the Arts will be up until September 25. It is a fabulous exhibit with some of the finest painters in the Northwest displaying their talents.

Anacortes Art Fair

The first weekend in August is the Anacortes Art Fair. To coincide with a show of Fidalgo Island paintings at Insights Gallery, Plein Air Washington was invited to paint at the Fair. This was a fun opportunity to display work and explain to the public what it is we do. There were about ten of us painting along one block of Commercial Street. I began by painting an old bicycle from the 50’s that The Bike Spot displayed on the sidewalk. Other artists painted the old buildings along the street, interesting items in store windows, and even the fair itself with booths, people and colorful banners. I like the bike because it reminded of me of the first bikes my brothers and I had back in the day. Mine ended up being a faded red, just like this one.

Saturday morning I decided to paint an old building around the corner. Weathered red boards going in different directions, broken windows and sealed doors made an interesting design. As I painted, fair-goers strolled by. A woman asked if she could take my picture. While my family knows full well how much I dislike being in photos, somehow when a stranger takes my picture, it doesn’t seem as bad. Perhaps it’s because I never have to see it. Plus, they’re usually taking a picture of my back, or my painting - not me. I generally ignore my photographers and continue painting. After a few moments I turned around and was surprised to see not just one, but a line of at least six people all holding up cameras and phones pointed at me! I should have taken a picture of them! I could only laugh and keep painting.

The San Juan Preservation Trust

I was in the San Juan’s to paint for a show that Plein Air Washington creates to support the San Juan Preservation Trust. Our group has enjoyed doing this for several years. It's a wonderful cause to save and protect the beautiful San Juan Islands. We are granted the privilege of access to private trust lands to paint. One parcel on Lopez is a special favorite of mine. A simple road through the forest ends at the base of hill in small patch of grass. Leaving the car there I load up my gear and make my way down a narrow track that winds further down the hill through dried grasses and flowers to the sea. There I find a slim path hugging the shoreline. The hills above are windswept and trees are sculpted by the steady winds that come straight up the length of Puget Sound. Below, jagged rocks cut sharp angles into the water. There are views in every direction. It’s simply spectacular and I have it all to myself. Following the path to the east a short distance I find my subject.

I was excited about this painting while doing it. The quick photo I took with my old camera before putting it in the show isn’t the best. It's currently exhibited at Crow Valley Pottery. If it doesn't sell after a while, I'll get it back and take a better picture to post. In the mean time I took a lot of pictures and hope to make this a studio subject.

Lopez Island

I recently returned from a painting trip to Lopez Island. Lopez is very near the top of my list of favorite places. One of the San Juan Islands, it is a forty minute ferry ride from the mainland. I find it to be a quiet, pastoral island with a gentle soul. Residents wave as you drive by or walk past which makes for a warm, fuzzy feeling just being there. There’s a tranquility to the landscape that soothes my soul.

Generally I find it enjoyable to paint where people are vacationing because I like listening to happy conversations. One day I painted at a church in the center of the island. There were great views of the farmlands to the North. A family was bicycling around the island and settled nearby for a picnic lunch. Their happy chatter was pleasant company. It was obvious they were enjoying their time together. When people are having a good time their laughter and joy add to the beauty of the scene.

My New Umbrella

For many years I’ve attached an old beach umbrella to my easel when I needed to shade my work on bright summer days. Last year this wimpy blue and white umbrella finally gave out. So this Spring, before heading over to eastern Washington, where the sun actually shines, I decided to purchase a real artist’s umbrella. My new umbrella is sturdy with multiple locations on the clamp to attach the handle which bends in almost any direction. It’s vented to enable the wind to blow through and neutrally colored to create shade without influencing color perception.
I inaugurated it the very first morning at Dry Falls when I chose a subject that had me standing in full sun. The umbrella went up easily and I was delighted with the large area of shade it created. Part way through the painting I decided to walk over and chat a bit with a friend who was painting nearby. Sturdy, vented umbrellas are truly wonderful, but not infallible. A sudden crash interrupted our conversation. A gust had caught it, picked everything up and dumped the entire set up on the ground. The painting was lying face down in the gravel with mineral spirits and paint from the palette splashed on top of it. My brand new umbrella was crumpled on the ground, twisted and stained with paint. Carefully I picked it all up, straightened out the umbrella as best I could and started over with the painting.
It’s a tribute to the sturdy construction of the umbrella that it recovered so well. I had occasion to use it again a few days ago. Being at the Oregon Coast for only a few days, I had to paint in the rain if I was going to accomplish anything. During one particularly wet afternoon, I pulled out my used umbrella and attached it to the easel sideways to shield my palette and painting. This completely protected my work from the rain driving in from the ocean to my left. I wasn’t sure if the umbrella was made of water repellant fabric but happily discovered that it is. I painted for nearly an hour and a half in the rain. I was soaked but my painting and palette stayed dry. I think this umbrella and I have a future together.

Serendipity

I love being spontaneous. An unexpected twist of events found me on the road to Cannon Beach, Oregon recently. A friend was sharing a place to stay and I was delighted to drop everything and head south. The scenery along that section of the Oregon Coast is spectacular. Despite rain and mist, I was able to set up my easel and complete several paintings. Plus, I came home with many photos and ideas for new work.
Initially I thought I would stay clear of the famous Haystack Rock. But once in front of it, I found it both imposing and alluring. Doing a painting of one large rock on a gray day can be challenging: How do you make it interesting? How do you move the eye around the composition? Where should the center of interest be? By exploiting the colors and putting in a few details at the base, I think my painting works pretty well.
We were blessed with minus tides two of the days. The tide flats contributed to an interesting painting of the rocks just south of Haystack. The sun was playing peek-a-boo enough to reveal wonderful colors in the rocks, sand and water. One more favorite place has been added to my list. I hope I can return soon.