I just returned yesterday afternoon from a week long painting excursion: the 12th Annual Pacific Northwest Plein Air Event: Painting in the Columbia Gorge at Maryhill Museum of Art. The painting event occurred August 22-25 at Maryhill Museum on the Columbia River. What an outstanding week full of adventure, awe, and appreciation for Mother Earth.
The week started on Monday with an orientation and welcome of the artists in Hood River, Oregon. After a short 30 minute briefing of the event basics, the artists were left to explore the area and to determine what subjects they would paint. Artists could enter up to 4 paintings for the juried show that occurred on Friday, August 26 at Maryhill Museum. I worked on four paintings and submitted two for exhibition.
I am honored to announce that my painting, "Columbia River, Mount Hood" painted from the vantage point looking west near Maryhill Stonehenge is now part of the permanent collection of Maryhill Museum of Art!
I will share more about the adventure of being in this awe-inspiring section of the state for a week. I will also be creating daily in an attempt to capture the area's stunning beauty. The week was deeply fulfilling on a personal level as well as a professional level. I am grateful to the friends who helped make this experience happen through your well wishes of support as well as to the friends that generously supported my travel campaign helping to underwrite my visit to Maryhill.
In the meantime, here are some photos that give a glimpse of what a plein air painting event is like!
Day Two, The Dalles
Day Three Griffin House
Artist Reception, August 26, 2016
Paintings that won awards. (My painting is in here!)
This is the second painting I entered. It is painted from the opposite vantage point, looking east on the Columbia River, from where I painted the view of Mount Hood. The State of Oregon is on the other side of the river. Peach orchards sit below along the river's edge. Oil on Canvas, 9.75x14." 2016.