Category Archives: artist lifestyle

Living in an Artsy Town

Kalama Totem Poles by Marie Wise

I don’t know anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest where you can look out over a breathtakingly beautiful river that also happens to be a major shipping channel, right from the center of town. People live where they live for lots of reasons: job, school, family, or simply because it’s where their parents and grandparents have always lived. Even so, there’s a complicated mixture of … Continue reading

Remembering Maui

Yellow Hibiscus

Have you ever wanted to go back to a time when you were younger, thinner, warmer, or maybe in a prettier place? That’s what being in Maui is like, especially the part about being younger. Warmth and light are things that make me feel younger, maybe because the weight of clothing subtracted, takes away the years. Our trip to Maui last November was a reward … Continue reading

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I’m a Meebo style artist

The Meebo stuff

In the spirit of the season, Meebo sent me Meebo stuff! Specifically, Sue Golden, who I’ve never met, but who works with my son, the new Meebo guy. Artist friends ask me why I do that blogging, Twitter, Facebook thing. I like to do it because it gives people a chance to see my art. I like my paintings. They often speak to me. So … Continue reading

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Painting in Maui

Yellow Hibiscus ~ Marie

Maui ~ the Garden Isle Our days were filled with tropical hues, the kiss of sunshine and warm winds. Scents of gardenia, ginger and tuberose filled the air and brilliant blue skies matched the Pacific far below. Waves crashed upon the beach and birds babbled with abandon at the tourists, as if to say, haha, we get to stay here and you don’t! It was … Continue reading

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A Salute to OccupyEverything Artists

A ray of sunshine in Western Washington!

Inspiration is often elusive, like November sunshine in Western Washington. “Catching up on news about OccupyEverything, combined with a week-long whirlwhind of training, task overload and travel, has left me bereft of artistic inspiration.” Yes, I have a job other than artist. I say that only because I know I’m not alone. My heart and soul belong at my easel, but my working career demands … Continue reading

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Just a Little Blackbird

lapPainting_blackbird

Long road trip, what to paint? Shall I read my Kindle instead, since I have about a dozen novels in progress? Painting won out, mainly because I’d just popped several new half pan Winsor & Newton watercolors into my travel set: Specifically: Winsor Red, Winsor Yellow and Winsor Orange, which means every color in my travel set is transparent or semi-transparent. No more mud for … Continue reading

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Art in the Pearl

artInThePearl_IMG_0550

Portland (Oregon) has an energized yet comfortable art scene. Art in the Pearl is the annual Labor Day arts festival in the northwest Portland Park blocks and we never miss it, rain or shine. I don’t recall there ever being any rain though, and this year’s weather was perfect; slight breeze and around 78 degrees. What fascinated me the most were Andrew Carson’s kinetic wind … Continue reading

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Art by the River at Camp Kalama

Marie Painting at Camp Kalama

“So there we were, a bunch of artists, not very much unlike that unruly group of Impressionists who back in the 1870′s set out to revolutionize the art world by breaking away from tradition and painting outside from life.” Here I sit after two glasses of White Zin contemplating the day, and art, and why I enjoy my friends and painting so much. Terri Van … Continue reading

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Plein Air Painting at Moulton Falls

2011_moultonFalls_WC

Ah Summer. The joy of doing something just for the joy of it. That’s what we decided to do on a Saturday afternoon in July. Chores aside and to-do list ignored, we packed up our painting stuff and set off for an adventure, whatever it might bring. Allan loves the Lewis River near Spring’s house so we drove up towards Lucia Falls where we’ve painted … Continue reading

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More lap painting, baseball and drawing wolves!

Sunflower from memory, 5 x 7, watercolor

Take me out to the Ball Game! Ah summer! Gloppy sunscreen, shaved ice and baseball moments. I’m trying to incorporate creative art expression into every part of my life. The Fourth of July is a busy holiday and it put my latest painting project–a copy of Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party–on hold. The fact I’d just finished a study of the painting left me … Continue reading

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A Birthday Gift: Natalie

Allan's Birthday Gift: an acrylic titled: 'Two Apples and a Cactus'

My family must be lucky, they always get art on their birthday! Hopefully someday that dusty painting or faded watercolor they stashed in their closet will be worth something. In my family there are those who know and love art, and those who realize it exists, but don’t care much about it. They’re busy with other things, and I understand that. My intuition will always … Continue reading

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Tuscan Art Therapy at the Bread & Ink Cafe

Cottage by Celeste Bergin

Rx for a Stressfull Week – Soothing Visuals at the Bread & Ink Cafe. Whenever I get so stressed out that nothing seems manageable, the best therapy is focusing on the soothing visuals of color-infused paintings. I’m not a member of the Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters group because of my work, but I get notices and announcements about their paintouts and shows. The … Continue reading

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Artsy genes run in the family

Watercolor by Betty

I always thought my artsyness came from my mother, eccentric and artistic as she was. Known by many as the ‘crazy lady who painted,’ I hope to be known the same way someday, without the ‘crazy’ part! But recently I discovered my artisticness comes not only from my mother, but from my father as well. A visit to California for my aunt’s 80th birthday, and … Continue reading

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One Thing My Dad Did

Rushing

“At nine years old, my father presented me with a small set of Rembrandt pastels. We had no money at the time, so I don’t know how he afforded it. But I set about copying Jean Honore Fragonard’s painting of A Young Girl Reading. My father framed that little drawing and it hung in our living room for many years. It was at that moment … Continue reading

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