Go By Train-PDX train tower

Another symbol of Portland, Oregon is this train tower where the Amtrak pulls into the City of Roses. In this Oregon series, I was using only watercolor, but somehow I forgot about that this time and this turned out to be in gouache. Another fun painting to add to my Oregon landscape series. 

Newborn costumes

A friend from middle school (1985!) requested Harry Potter and Stitch outfits for her grandson due in March. I was lucky to find these patterns on Ravelry to crochet, and made them with 100% cotton. Newborn stuff is always fun to make!

Great Blue Heron in Oregon

This past summer, we took a drive west from our home towards the Oregon Coast. We took the scenic route, and passed by some wetlands. In those wetlands was a Great Blue Heron standing in the water looking for its next meal (I assume), and that gave me the idea for this painting in gouache on canvas board. I'm very pleased with this one and it is now hanging in my living room to remind me of the beautiful birds we have here in Oregon.

Ganesha in watercolor

I've really been into painting Asian icons, and this one was a lot of fun. Ganesha is a well known Hindu deity that represents the god of beginnings. I don't know much about the Hindu religion, but I'm drawn to images of Ganesha. This is a watercolor done on 100% cotton paper, framed and gifted to my dad for this holiday.

Bird series-American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is a North American finch where the males are primarily yellow (as pictured below) and females aren't so brightly colored. One interesting fact from All About Birds is these are among the most vegetarian birds, and eats insects only on occasion. Painted on 100% cotton paper with watercolor.

Maneki-neko-The lucky cat of Japan

My oldest daughter recently adopted an all white cat (she named him Jerry). She is the biggest cat lover I know, so for the holidays this year I painted her the Maneki-neko which is known to bring good luck. I made this one with the black and white outline using gouache and acrylic flourescent paints on cardstock. Looking forward to seeing her face when she opens it this Christmas!

Memories Journal #22

Finally, I have a new memory to log in my Memories Journal. I'm still glowing from my vacation to Hawai'i last month, and the rainbows, turquoise waters, soft sand and iconic Diamond Head still bring me smiles. This island captures every color of the rainbow, which is why all the watercolors are sprawled out on display. Cannot wait to go back!

St Johns Bridge, Portland Oregon

Recently, a friend and I were spending a sunny afternoon in the St Johns area of North Portland browsing the shops. In one shop were painted pictures of the iconic St Johns Bridge, and she noted how she would love a painting of done by me. I've painted this bridge before in watercolor, so I thought it would be fun to add some electric color to it (by electric I mean flourescent paint). Normally I do a pre-sketch of these types of paintings, and I'm quite pleased with this rough draft done in watercolor pencil.

This took me awhile to find that right perspective, and I ended up using Google Earth to do this. The finished painting is done in gouache mixed with flourescent acrylic paint using the black and white outline method. I was very proud to gift this to my friend!

 

Americana series-9 mini snapshots of the USA

Working at an art supply distributor has its perks. I was able to score these 4 x 4 mini canvases as a discontinued deal for next to nothing, and I turned them into something! America is a diverse landscape that I have great appreciation for. I doubt just these nine paintings capture all of them, but here are my viewpoints of the landscapes of America. Notice I did not do a big city as these represent escapes to the beautiful American countryside. All of these painted with acrylics.

Starting from top left:

• The covered bridge can be found many places, especially in rural America.
• This is obviously O'ahu, but it is definitely an escape!
• The southwestern desert has amazing saguaro cactus.
• Lighthouses also can be found in many areas of America, including the Great Lakes.
• Route 66 is the all American road.
• The high desert regions of Native Americans is very sacred.
• The mountains and lakes of the western USA hold a special place in my heart.
• The Great Plains is our bread basket, usually not a destination but just as important to America.
• The beach, which also can be the ocean, lakes or rivers that Americans escape to for recreation.
  

Coquille River Lighthouse

Most of the watercolor paintings I do are from a photo that someone else took. I don't get the opportunity to paint en plein air (outdoors) very much. On our recent Southern Oregon coast trip, I found this lighthouse to really grab my attention. It appears abandoned, and isn't shaped like one you would typically find as it's quite small. Sometimes you can tour the Oregon lighthouses, but this one we could not the day we visited. Below is the photo I took of it.

A friend of mine uploaded the photo to print and increased the size for me to use as a template for my painting. This was helpful in analyzing the details. I still have some growing to do with watercolor, but the finished result is now framed 11 x 11 in my dining room.

Hawai'i-a long overdue honeymoon

This month, my husband and I had the opportunity to take a vacation alone to Hawai'i. We never had a real honeymoon when we married in 2004, so finally 14 years later we were able to make it happen. This year has been active with hurricanes, so I was concerned we would not be able to go. Luckily, we timed it just right and missed Hurricane Olivia. The late summer air was incredibly sweet, flowers and rainbows are everywhere! We ate a ton of pineapple, drank the best coffee, and came back sun kissed and happy. I will be back!

Hiking Diamond Head, it was very hot and crowded but worth it!

Waimea Falls, this garden was paradise but full of moquitoes!

Our final day in Waikiki, one of the happiest days too. Notice my new Tahitian Pearl purchased in Honolulu!

My husband enjoying a Mai Tai, and it was good to see him smile.

Hanauma Bay where we snorkled. Beautiful place, but I learned I am not a fan of snorkeling!

Waikiki Beach, very pleasant to swim in compared to the frigid waters of the Oregon coast.

I smiled so much this first day of coming to Honolulu!

Nuuanu Pali Lookout overlooks the windward coast of O'ahu. Bring a jacket, it's very windy up here.

My absolute most favorite place on Earth-Kailua Beach Park. Turquoise surrounds you.

Buddha in gouache

I have a few Buddha statues in my home, and painted one of those in gouache and flourescent acrylic paint. This is a small 5 x 5 on canvas board. Enhanced with the black and white outline method.

Simple eyelet shawl

My oldest daughter turns 22 this month, and this year I made her a gift. She's a big fan of black and dark teal, so I knitted her a shawl with those colors. I am hoping she will keep this one for life as it can go with everything. The pattern I used was Eyelet Lace Shawlette however I used a much finer yarn so you can't see the eyelets so good. I used Malabrigo Sock Yarn for the main part of the shawl and for the edging I chose Madeline Tosh Unicorn Tails. Overall, I am pleased with the results.

Red Crested Cardinal in watercolor

For my watercolor bird journal, the Red Crested Cardinal is native to countries in South America, and was introduced in O'ahu in 1928. Interestingly enough, they are not related to the Cardinal desite their similar appearance. I find these birds just beautiful. Painted in watercolor on paper.

Cannon Beach, Oregon in watercolor

If you are an Oregonian that resides in the Portland area, you are probably quite familiar with Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. This is a painting in my Oregon landscape series that I am very pleased with. I used few watercolors in this and I believe that helps this stand out. I've outlined it in fine liner, and really impressed that I go the reflection pretty good! This is now framed hanging in my living room.

Bolivia Bug

I believe South America in general is very under-rated. I've never traveled there, but so many places in this continent fascinate me. Bolivia is a country that most don't pay enough attention to. It is landlocked, but has so many places that are interesting. Ametrine is mined there-a natural occurence of Amethyst and Citrine! Salt flats, and Lake Titicaca (what a fun word)! La Paz is a city in Bolivia, and has it's own interesting facts (dead llama fetuses offered in the city, and a town square clock that runs backwards??). This small canvas board photo is a modified replica of a lonely street in La Paz with a VW beetle parked. I added my touch of South American colors to it in gouache. I hope to visit some beautiful places in South America someday.

Memories Journal #21

During my Iceland trip, I took the opportunity to drive my daughter to Snæfellsness peninsula. This narrow strip of land is just northwest of Reykjavik. We left at about 7am to make the all day road trip to see places very few get to see. We continuously stopped to take in the remote and serene landscape. It was like being in another time and dimension I recall. On the northern side of the peninsula is Kirkjufell mountain, one of the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It has a dramatic shape, and was incredible to see up close. I had planned a long stop here with lunch, pictures, and just to be in the moment at such a beautiful place. I even brought my skechbook, but even that seemed like time wasted in just being in the presence of this mountain. I took many photos that day-March 29, 2017-another unforgettable day in fulfilling a dream come true.

Assateague National Seashore National Park

I've never been to this national seashore, but it's on my list to someday visit. I imagine a 4th of July long weekend walking these beaches, witnessing wild ponies, admiring the lighthouses, eating seafood. This is Tom's Cove and is replicated from the National Park website. This is a bookmark size painting laminated, and is my 'window' view from where I sit to work so that I may remember that life isn't all work. Painted in watercolor.

A trip to the Oregon and California border at the beach

This month I graduated from college with my bachelor's degree. I decided not to walk during my graduation because I had attended online 100% of my entire education. Instead, I wanted to take a camping trip to celebrate. My choice was to the California Redwoods initially, but settled on Harris Beach State Park at the southern Oregon border with California right at the beach. On the way down, we stopped at the Oregon Vortex. This place was definitely strange and I highly recommend it. Below is a photo of my daughter and I inside the House of Mystery.

I reserved a yurt (9 months in advance!) for us to sleep in. I figured having this over a tent would be a lot more fun, and I'm glad we did.

Harris Beach State Park is right on the beach, so we were able to hike down easily to enjoy the ocean. The issue I do have with Oregon State Parks is it's not really camping. You are essentially sleeping in a big parking lot that has a lot of trees and a lot of people. These campsites fill up very fast, which is why I had to reserve this yurt exactly 9 months in advance-the soonest a reservation was made available.

We also stopped at the Trees of Mystery, a roadside attraction that allows visitors to walk along a trail of giant trees, and ride the Sky Trail. My daughter and I rode this and it was worth the wait.

Of course we had to drive through Jedidiah National Forest to see the Redwoods with a stop at Smith River.

When it came time to go home, we took the scenic 101 up the coast. One of our stops was at the Oregon Dunes and Coquille Lighthouse. 

Although not far from home, it was one of the best vacations I have taken with my family. This area of the west coast is one of the most beautiful.