Ellensburg, Chelan, Winthrop Roadtrip

I love crossing over the pass into central Washington. It’s rugged, rolling, open, sun-drenched, plateaued, and utterly epic. Miles and miles of grand views of apple orchards, vineyards, canyons, and geologic curiosities. The Columbia River has carved its way through the land, leaving plateaus and striated rock similar to what we see in the Southwest. The heft of this giant river is reassuring in this time of climate change, when so much feels impermanent, changeable, random.

Last week we did a quick road trip with the dogs to Winthrop and back, taking the southern route with a detour across the Columbia for more source photos. Here are a few pics from the trip.

Lake Chelan is always a stunner.

Gorgeous sunset views of the Columbia.

With Diablo and Ilah at Sun Mountain Lodge.

Back to the Wolves

I’m finally making time for new wolf paintings and exploring new ground with wolves in ceramics.

Painting the Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast is home to some of the dreamiest landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. It has a changeable, mystical quality that captures the imagination, and is an interesting landscape to paint. Here are a first few I’ve done this week.

Oregon Coast, 15 x 30” oil on canvas

Flaxen Coast, 12 x 12” oil on canvas

Ecola Shore, 12 x 12” oil on canvas

Learning the Wheel

Last winter was the perfect time to start learning the wheel. It started out as a way to supplement my younger son’s creative pursuits and as something we could do together. It’s become something more substantial, a deeply interesting and satisfying journey into clay, and the building of throwing, trimming, carving, glazing, and sculpting skills. For me, it’s been absorbing to work with three-dimensional space in such a pliable medium without the need for gloves. I love the feel of the clay and of creating shapes that speak to me. It’s something I want to continue and build upon in my art practice.

Here are a few pics.

This Land exhibition at Smith & Vallee Gallery

Smith & Vallee Gallery, housed in a charmingly renovated schoolhouse in Edison, WA, exhibits work by artists in the Skagit Valley and beyond. I was happy to show several paintings in their recent landscape invitation, along with artists Andy Eccleshall, Patty Haller, Lisa McShane, Nicki Lang, Kat Houseman, Lolly Shera, Kris Ekstrand, and Peregrine O’Gormley.

Here are a few pics from the opening.

Transcending Boundaries at Yuan Ru Art Center

Yuan Ru Art Center, the Bellevue, Washington arm of Yuan Ru Gallery in Taipei, Taiwan, recently held a two-part inaugural exhibition. Several of my paintings were included in the show, along with works by Jill Kyong, Carole Landisman, Kevin Hallagan, and Julie Hsieh.

The Gallery at Sun Mountain Lodge

The Methow Valley is one of my favorite places to visit. At the northeastern portion of the Cascade loop, it’s about a 4 1/2 hour drive from Seattle, but so worth the trip. The mountain and lake views are gorgeous, and there are endless trails to hike or cross-country ski. The towns of Mazama, Winthrop, and Twisp have character, culture, and good food.

Sun Mountain Lodge, set high up in Winthrop, overlooks Patterson Lake and has the most breathtaking blue mountain and golden hill views I’ve come across. The lodge is well-designed, and elegant, yet still humble, like the Methow Valley. There is a large room dedicated to showing artwork by Methow resident artists. Occasionally, they exhibit other Washington state artists like me — those who love the valley and visit regularly.

Two of my newest paintings of the North Cascades will be hanging in the art gallery this fall and I’m planning new paintings of the Methow region.

Golden Larch to Lake, 36 x 36”

Diablo Lake Overlook, 36 x 36”

Diablo Lake

Diablo Lake, situated at the Western entrance to North Cascades National Park is a visual stunner — its silvery, light turquoise water and alpine setting is magical to behold. The lake is actually a reservoir and part of the dam system constructed in 1930 to harness hydroelectric power for the Seattle area. I enjoy visiting the lake in different seasons, and have painted it several times, with more paintings planned.

Diablo Lake Vista, 36 x 36”
Available through Gray Sky Gallery

Diablo Lake Overlook, 36 x 36”
Available through The Gallery at Sun Mountain Lodge

Diablo Lake in February, 36 x 36”
Sold

Endless Summer at SAM Gallery

I made a trip up to the Seattle Art Museum this weekend, and was delighted to see the work in the summer show at SAM Gallery so beautifully hung and lit. There really is an art to hanging a show. Thank you SAM Gallery and kudos to all participating artists, including Joe Max Emminger and Elizabeth Gahan. It is a pleasure to exhibit with you.

Endless Summer is live at SAM Gallery through July and August, 2022. You can also stop in for Saturday Art Stroll on Saturday, July 9 and Saturday, August 6 from 3-5 pm.

Julie Devine, Golden Dusk Highway, 2022, oil on canvas, 48 x 48”

Julie Devine, White Pass, 2021, oil on canvas, 48 x 48”

Hunter Museum of American Art: Spectrum Live Art Auction 2021

I was excited to learn that my painting Enchantment was chosen for the annual Spectrum Live Art Auction by the Hunter Museum of American Art (HMAA) in Chattanooga, Tennessee through Gallery Mack. Sale of the painting raised a significant contribution for the museum. Thanks for the opportunity to contribute, Gallery Mack and HMAA!

Enchantment, 48 x 48, oil on canvas

Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel

One of my large landscapes was acquired by the Fairmont Olympic Hotel as part of the hotel’s recent remodel. The new interiors are beautiful, and my piece is located in the lobby, near the spa and elevator.

Highway 12

White Pass, oil on canvas, 48 x 48”

Detail of White Pass

Late summer found me enjoying the outdoors as much as possible, and exploring more of this beautiful state. I took a couple of trips south to the Nisqually Valley, and on one, headed East on Highway 12, crossing over the Cascades not far from Mount Rainier. I took many photos along the highway, and am painting a collection. Here are are a couple I really like, with a detailed view of one to show some of the texture and knifework.

Dusk in the Cascades, oil on canvas, 48 x 36”

North Cascades Exhibition

I’m finally taking some time to document my North Cascades exhibition, which ran from April through May this year at Gallery Mack. It was so beautifully hung and well attended, despite the ongoing pandemic. We wore our masks and socialized as best we could. Thank you to all who came out to see it, those who attended virtually, and to those of you who collected a piece. Also, a big thanks to Gallery Mack for a beautiful exhibition! Here are a few pics…

North Cascades

I’ve always found the outdoors to be a place of solace and inspiration, and this has been especially true during the pandemic. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with two mountain ranges, the Olympics and the Cascades. For the past few months, I’ve been painting landscapes of the North Cascade range. Many of these works will be on exhibition at Gallery Mack, Seattle, through April and May.

Blue Stehekin, 2020, oil on canvas, 24 x 48”

Mystic View, 2020, oil on canvas, 24 x 48”

Spine and Path, 2020, oil on canvas, 24 x 48”

Canopy Works

Summer and fall have been full of tree canopy paintings - from semi-abstract to very expressive and abstract. Tree branches and leaves moving in the wind against the sky - always a favorite I return to. Here are a few I’d like to show you.

Parrot Talk, 2019
Oil on canvas, 48 x 36”
Private Collection

Small study, 2019
Oil on paper
Sold

Forest Bathing, 2019
Oil on canvas, 36 x 48”
Sold

Small study, 2019
Oil on paper
Available

Aqua Sky, 2019
Oil on canvas, 36 x 48”
Available

Small study, 2019
Oil on paper
Available

Plein Air - Ella Bailey Park

For the last few weeks, I’ve been heading outdoors to paint the Seattle skyline from Ella Bailey Park, located in the Magnolia district of Seattle. Ella Bailey is a small park with a powerful view of the city and its ports. If you are interested in purchasing one of these, contact me about availability.

 

April High Noon View from Ella Bailey Park, Seattle, 2019
Oil on canvas board, 12 x 24”
Available -> Inquire

May Afternoon View from Ella Bailey Park, Seattle, 2019
Oil on canvas board, 12 x 24”
Available -> Inquire

May Evening View from Ella Bailey Park, Seattle, 2019
Oil on canvas board, 12 x 24”
Sold

April Overcast View from Ella Bailey Park, Seattle, Part 1, Seattle"
Oil on canvas board, 12 x 12”
Available -> Inquire

April Overcast View from Ella Bailey Park, Seattle, Part 2, 2019
Oil on canvas board, 12 x 12”
Available -> Inquire

Pear Tree Paintings

In August, I painted a couple of pear tree canopies, based on the trees in our backyard. I like the romantic feel of these and the spare, pastel palette. Both have found homes, but I plan to paint a few more.

The Pear Tree, 2018
Oil on canvas, 48 x 36
Sold

Wind and the Pear Tree, 2018
Oil on canvas, 48 x 36”
Sold

Wildfires

Since August, I've been painting wildfires. I think of 2017 as the year the West burned. These paintings are a response to the fierce beauty and power of fires as they move across the landscape. Politically and culturally speaking, 2017 unfurled with the same intensity, tearing through customs and institutions with destructive, unpredictable force. 

Rise, 2017
Oil on canvas, 20 x 30"

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Wildfire, 2017
Oil on canvas, 30 x 30"

Rocky Forms

So what have I been painting recently? I've been drawn to big, rocky forms reflecting beautiful light. Here are a few examples of new work...

Sample of a work in progress...

Conception Peaks, 2017
Oil on canvas, 20 x 40"

Working on Crevasse, 2017

Crevasse, 2017
Oil on canvas, 40 x 30"

Yellow Poplar - Gage "Golden Ticket" selection

I like to support Gage Academy of Art whenever I can. I learned so much from their classes, workshops, and instructors. This year, I'm honored to share that Yellow Poplar, my donation to the  2017 Gage Annual Art Auction, was selected by the Golden Ticket Winner! 

Yellow Poplar, 2016
Oil on canvas, 30 x 30"