Family Outing

Buckley took us on an outing today to Viento State Park. I hauled his chair and my painting gear to this sheltered beach. Buckley and I are getting the gear thing down to one trip, it is a heavy trip, but a single trek. Most doggies would not be very impressed with having a chair, but a Cavalier King Charle Spaniel is a special little dog and used to comfort. He enjoys his chair and gets lots of love and attention from all kinds of people. When I forget the chair, he is not happy and will lay down on the hard cold ground and give me stink eye. I have learned my lesson.

My Windsurfer joined us today. Buckley found this to be a little confusing. First, my Windsurfer goes down the path and then suddenly appears on the water. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (at least this one) are not fond of water. Buckley went out into the water until if reached the top of his toe nails, about a 1/2 inch or less and decided that was far enough. My Windsurfer had to wade onto shore to give Buckley the required attention that a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel expects.

A grand day!

Summer Solstice

Buckley and I walked down to this location on the first day of summer.

Sunlit Lane

This is a little plein air study that I completed the other day on a painting trip with the Tuesday plein air group. The painting site included a panoramic view of Mt. Hood along with layers of blue violet mountains surounding the main event. I became enchanted with this little lane and turned my back and painted the thing that drew me instead of "the big view".

The lighting of "the bit view" seemed flat as compared to the splendor of facing into the light and finding this sun filled lane with flowers blooming and birds singing.

The View

Deschutes Crossing (reworked)

The Muse Lives in the Kitchen

Spring Air

The Deschutes Crossing

Mosier Plateau

Poppies

A couple of months ago we decided to paint and rearrange our home so that I could work in one of our spare bedrooms. Previously I had been working in our main living or great room. Since moving to the new "studio" I discovered that my muse did not move with me. She resides in the great room where the windows and lighting are wonderful. I am now back where the muse lives and have a very nicely painted and arranged, but empty spare bedroom.

Yakama June Art Fest - and it just goes to show you.....

Yesterday (June 12, 2010) was the annual June Art Fest in Yakima Washington. In preparing for the show many pieces of advice came my way. One major theme in the advice category amongst artists and gallery managers goes something like this; "with this economy people are not buying art" and also; "only small paintings will sell because of this economy".

Now I am going to tell you that none of the above is true. Yesterday I only sold my larger paintings and also a fair number of paintings. I was starting to get worried that I would not have enough paintings left over for a little show I have coming up in July. What a wonderful day. People that love art are still looking and buying. The enthusiasm for art was all around and fed my enthusiasm and muse for this painting life.

I was reading from one of my favorite art books this morning and read the following with great interest.

"Once a painter has discovered the kind of painting that people want most from him (or her) there are two courses possible. One is that of the hack, who begins to specialize in the kind of thing he (or she) knows will sell. A person who does this is betraying both the people who believe in him and his own talent. The course of the artist is to continue to search for subject matter that interests him, and for forms of expression which will give his painting new effectiveness."

by Kenneth Harris in "how to make a living as a PAINTER"

Ole'

Two Today en plein air

Mosier Plateau - 1st view

Upper Mosier Plateau

Buckley (a little under the weather)

Two Very Different Ideas

Morning Walk with Buckley

People with dogs will understand the importance of "the walk". Dogs need to go for walks and they also seem to need grass. Buckley's favorite walk is along the Little Klickitat River. Buckley's idea of a walk is really more of a sniff and stroll.

Today I tried to let him direct the walk and I learned a few things. For example, there are more interesting things to sniff close to water as opposed to the path further away. Young grass is better than grass that has matured. I learned that even though you have already been along this particular part of the trail on the way out, going back is as rich in things to sniff. It was a delightful stroll as seen through a dogs eyes…….or rather his nose.

Sniff, Sniff

Eating Grass