Living in Oregon City, Willamette Falls is a big deal. Many people don’t know Willamette Falls in the second largest waterfall in North America by volume (beaten only by Niagra Falls). To the first peoples, it was also a big deal, featuring prominently in the legend Coyote builds Willamette fails and the Magic Fish Trap (my favorite local legend).

On my normal walks through Canemah Bluff, you can see Willamette Falls with the Arch Bridge down river (north); however, there are trees in the way. I took some photos, digitally removed the trees, then I sketched this drawing, amazed to find that the Arch Bridge wasn’t straight across the river, but actually lowered to the Oregon City side.

“Willamette Falls, downriver” – 2013
approximately 20″x16″ on 140lb Arches
$50

This summer, I went with artist friend Sandra Pearce to paint on the Oregon City bridge, looking south toward the falls. Since this photo was taken, I adjusted a few areas and tweaked the darks, and I’m proud enough of the final result that I recently entered this painting for the Urban/Rural Landscapes show at Oregon Society of Artists.

“Willamette Falls, upriver” – 2014
approximately 20″x16″ on 140lb Arches
$100

“Willamette Falls, downriver” is out of the frame and simply matted; I can offer it at a 20$ discount of $40. “Willamette Falls, upriver” is currently framed and at the Oregon Society of Artists. You can purchase it there for $100, or wait until it comes back to me in early January, where I will honor a 10% discount of $90 in frame or a 20% discount unframed for $40. I hope one, or both of these appeals to you!

“Whim by Whim” – 2014
approximately 21″x14″ transparent watercolor and acrylic on 140lb Arches
$100

After completing “Ripples” I was inspired to try a little more and did an acrylic underlayer with burlap. Then I used some novelty paper to create some pours. From that point, this piece emerged… whim by whim.

This piece is currently matted and framed; in the frame, I can offer it at 10% discount ($90). If you would like it out of the frame (the mat was custom cut), I will offer it at $40 (a 20% discount.)

My teacher, Anji Grainger, took a class from Lynda Hoffman-Snodgrass and then came back to class and encouraged everyone to practice this new skill set. I really enjoyed this piece and plan to do more abstracts in the future.

“Ripples” – 2013
approximately 13″x20″
$100

This piece is currently matted and framed; in the frame, I can offer it at 10% discount ($90). If you would like it out of the frame (the mat was custom cut), I will offer it at $40 (a 20% discount.)

“Thunderbird” – 2013
approximately 22″x15″ on 140lb Arches
$100

In the summer, turkey vultures glide along the cliffs beyond my house, endlessly riding the thermals in search of food. While not the prettiest of birds up close, I’ve always like these “garbagemen.” While California Condors are often considered the inspiration for the “Thunderbird”, when turkey vultures twist against the sun, their primary features glow white. One day I saw one near a broken tree and was inspired to craft this painting.

This painting is currently matted and framed. I will offer this at 10% off in the frame (or $90); without the frame, I would normally sell this at $50, and I will offer a 20% discount… effectively making this $40.

It is a dramatic and unique piece that would fit in well with a southwest theme.

This daily online studio sale is harder than it looks; I forgot to put up yesterday’s painting, so today, you get two!

“Green Wing Macaw” – 2011
approximately 12″x16″ on 140lb Arches
$50

This Green Wing Macaw was actually a part of a class project. I really liked how it turned out; each time I see it I’m reminded how much small color changes can make a difference.

“Flamingo” was done at approximately the same time and was inspired by a trip to the San Diego zoo. When viewing real flamingos, I was amazed how little “pink” really had to do with their color.

“Flamingo” – 2011
approximately 12″x16″ on 140lb Arches
$50

Each of this is unframed, but matted to fit a standard 16″x20″ frame. I will offer them at a 20% discount at $40 each.

“Gabouge Iris” – 2011
approximately 11″x14″ on 140lb Arches
$50

Irises are my favorite flower. In addition to this site (and two other painting sites) I manage the websites for local Japanese iris hybridizer Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm and the Greater Portland Iris Society. In my yard I have over 50 varieties of iris, and know more about them than I really should. Maybe if I knew a little less I’d do a better job keeping my beds weeded…

While I love to go out and paint en plein air at various iris farms around the area, this piece was created in my studio while I was experimenting with a new color (“Gambouge”), thus the title.

Like the other paintings so far in this online studio sale, this piece is matted, but not framed. It will fit into a standard 12″x16″ frame (easy to find) and always gets compliments when people see it at my shows. I’ll offering it at a 20% discount, so that would make it $40. It would make a great gift for the iris lover in YOUR life. Contact me if you are interested in adding it to your home.

In 2003, before I started painting (at least this time around) my family took a trip over the Steens Mountains.

My goal for this trip had one item–to see mustangs. And we were very lucky. We actually saw two different herds. We saw a band (from a distance) of the Kiger mustangs and then later we ran across a band of the South Steens herd (sometimes called the Hollywood pack because of how often they are photographed.)

We saw the Kiger herd briefly when we were driving up to Kiger Gorge lookout. It was early in the morning and we were the first cars on the road. The horses had come down for some early grazing, but the minute we entered the area, they were up and over the top of the next hill.

As you can see, the experience was brief and somewhat disappointing.

But later in the day we came across the South Steens herd, finding some shade under a tree.

When we stopped, I jumped out of the car and walked across the field to get a better shot. When I got closer, two of the horses separated from the herd and spent some time warning me off. I wasn’t interested in disturbing the herd, so I left when it was clear the herd wasn’t going to settle down again.

When I picked up the paintbrush in 2008, it wasn’t long before I tried my hand at a horse, and the memory of this trip is what I tried to capture. [image removed]

This painting always gets comments when I have it in my booth, and is one of my first attempts at capturing a memory and a subject at the same time. Like yesterday’s offering, I am offering it at 20% off ($40). It comes with a mat, but no frame; the mat will fit into a standard 12″x16″ frame that should be easy to find. Contact me if you are interested.