Category Archives: plein air

A Saturday for Painting

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Saturdays in August deserve a painting–at least here in the Pacific Northwest. Although I call myself a city girl–never having felt truly at home living out in the country–I do think nature is something everyone should get to experience–often. This is the second Allan/Marie painting, in that we both worked on it. Plein air painting is really hard, in spite of what artists might tell … Continue reading

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Sketching in Paris, and at Home

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J’aime Paris! Our trip to Paris was everything I could have imagined, and more. We saw ART. We saw more ART. And then we saw even more ART. In between we steeped ourselves in thousands of years of history–something that doesn’t exist in our brand-spanking new country–relatively speaking. The immensity of French Catholic traditions embraced every step I took, from the votive candles gently flickering … Continue reading

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Lupines

Lupines at the Port of Kalama by Marie

Allan loves the lupines and we both love walking at the Port of Kalama. The trails stretch for more than a mile right alongside the Columbia River, and today was the most beautiful day we’ve had this year. I admire urban sketchers and plein air painters; wishing I could be spontaneous enough to draw and paint outside like many of the artists I admire. Alas, … Continue reading

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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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Making a Painting Together

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“Painting together is all about trust. Trust that the other person will make what you’ve done better, not mess it up.” View from Ecola State Park by Allan Marie 12 x 16, oil on canvas done en plein air at Ecola State Park on December 17, 2011 I’ve heard of a few partner painters: mother and daughter, even a husband and wife. Allan and I … 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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Just a Little Blackbird

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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 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

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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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