Grandchildren are so much fun!

© Pam Van Londen 2008 LoraLee Sliding1 8x8x1 in oil on gessoboard NFS © Pam Van Londen 2008 LoraLee Sliding1 8x8x1 in oil on gessoboard

I just adore my granddaughter. Here she is about to slide at the playground. She loves it of course.

I’ve touched up this painting today…added more whites and darks. It’s for sale but not cheap…she’s my little pumpkin, after all.

Tubing on the Santiam

© Pam Van Londen 2008 Maya and Jazzy Tubing 8x8x1 in oil on gessoboard SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2008 Maya and Jazzy Tubing 8x8x1 in oil on gessoboard

One of my daily painting goals is to paint more portraits of people being active. So if I continue working with water as I so love, then I must add humans.

These two girls are tubing in the Santiam River, one of our favorite places due to the colors, rock formations, and clear water.

Newspaper with Hope

© Pam Van Londen 2008 Newspaper with Hope 8x8x1 in acrylic on canvasboard SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2008 Newspaper with Hope 8x8x1 in acrylic on canvasboard

Week 3 of the Different Stokes project allowed us daily painters to work on a portrait. I added an extra level by modifying the color and bench to leave a message.

The owner of this work, a new customer from Seattle, purchased it for a special relative who worked on the Obama campaign.

My son would like a copy, so I’ll either make a giclee or paint it again!

Lali, who has a French blog full of other artists’ work, has added my work to her blog.

Backtrack to Jack ~ SOLD

© Pam Van Londen 2008 Jack 8x8x1 in oil on canvasboard SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2008 Jack 8x8x1 in oil on canvasboard

I’ve joined the Daily Painters who are creating a weekly Different Strokes painting for Karin Jurick’s new project.

So that I get all the “assignments” done, I backtracked and created “Jack” today.

Stay tuned for week 3 and see week 2, below.

Buck loves to tug

© Pam Van Londen 2008 Buck and Heather 8x8x1 in oil on clayboard SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2008 Buck and Heather 8x8x1 in oil on clayboard

The neighbor’s beautiful dog, Buck, loves to tug while the humans play frisbee golf.

Buck’s coat shines and he smiles a lot. He’s also good at guarding the beer when the humans are on a break.

I’m still testing the clayboard surface in this painting. It soaks up the paint and dries quickly; perhaps too quickly to blend nicely. A coat of varnish will help it as well.

Anticipating the magic of walking the beach ~ $25 Sale

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Lotus Grid Fairy with Light at Cannon Beach oil on clayboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2007 Lotus Grid Fairy with Light at Cannon Beach oil on clayboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas

Walking the beach in mild weather instills contemplation which becomes a healing exercise. I’ll be traveling back to Cannon Beach for more healing in just a week! Ahh…I’m breathing better already just thinking about it.

While I’m there I plan to paint more beach scenes, visit lots of galleries, eat great food, and ride horses on the beach.

First self portrait in 20 years ~ $25 SALE

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Self Portrait 2008 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $25 SALE © Pam Van Londen 2008 Self Portrait 2008 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas

My last major self portrait was painted on a 3-foot square canvas during my 3rd year in college. It was a Chuck Close kind of composition; in-your-face close-cropped of my head. I carried that canvas around all this time but painted a portrait of the kids over it 2 years ago.

Now that painting shows up in this new self portrait. The fluffy being with paws will make you laugh out loud! He’s so proud of himself that he shows up twice in the painting. Such an ego!

Harvest Music Festival celebrations ~ $25 SALE

© Pam Van Londen 2007 HMF Bekki and Denise 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $25 © Pam Van Londen 2008 HMF Bekki and Denise 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas

© Pam Van Londen 2007 HMF Denise on the Path 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2008 HMF Denise on the Path 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas

These two paintings have been painted long after the 3rd Annual Harvest Music Festival ended, but the memories of Fall sunshine, great wine, and abundant flowers are still inspiring me.

The event was made more fun with the help of friends who enjoyed sketching along with me.

Happy Father’s Day

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Martin and LoraLee Swinging 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas NFS © Pam Van Londen 2007 Martin and LoraLee Swinging 1 oil on gessoboard on 8 x 8 x 1 canvas

My beloved son and granddaughter were swinging one day and I captured their joy in pixels.

I’ve transferred the joy to oil on gessoboard.

Let’s pray he gets to see her for Father’s day. We all miss her so much!

The Berry Pickers ~ Oregon Garden

© Pam Van Londen 2007 The Berry Pickers acrylic on gallery-edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $400 © Pam Van Londen 2008 The Berry Pickers acrylic on gallery-edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas

Last summer, my daughter and two friends wandered through the Oregon Garden outside Silverton, Oregon.

I was there to paint and they were there to find adventures. They happened upon a blackberry patch and enjoyed a great snack.

I do love to paint grass in its many shades of green, yellow, and other earthy colors.

Cannon Beach Between Storms

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Cannon Beach Between Storms acrylic on gallery-edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $500 © Pam Van Londen 2007 Cannon Beach Between Storms acrylic on gallery-edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas

During spring break, I had the good fortune of visiting Cannon Beach, Oregon to meet some new friends, eat great food, and gallery hop. It snowed, hailed, and blustered much of the break, but on the last day, we were able to walk the long beach without inclement weather; in fact it was beautiful!

I snapped a few shots with my phone (which cost me $16 to download!) since I had forgotten my camera. I combined a few shots of the women we visited with Haystack Rock and painted this landscape/portrait.

The Story Teller (Beth Johnson)

© Pam Van Londen 2007 The Story Teller (Beth Johnson) acrylic on gallery edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $500 © Pam Van Londen 2007 The Story Teller (Beth Johnson) acrylic on gallery edged canvas on 24 x 18 x 1.5 canvas

My new painting friend, Beth Johnson, creates many portraits in oils. The portraits often use a split canvas with current and past perceptions on either side. I decided to try her composition idea while painting a portrait of her.

The right hand side of the canvas was painted with her as the live model and the left side was painted from a photo reference.

The painting is hanging in the OSU Memorial Union concourse until the end of February.

Art in Agriculture due this week

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Ella Comtempla la Lluvia que Viene oil on gallery-edged canvas on 18 x 36 x 1.5 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $800 © Pam Van Londen 2007 Ella Comtempla la Lluvia que Viene oil on 18 x 36 x 1.5 gallery-edged canvas

After many years of longing to paint something for the Art in Ag contest, I finally have work ready. Two months ago I developed the concept and composition and this week I started and finished an 18×36 canvas in oil. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.I titled this work “Ella Comtempla la Lluvia que Viene” which translates from “She contemplates the coming rain”.

This woman is the farmer (no, not the guy behind her; he’s her hired hand) and must decide if the raspberries are ready for picking. Will they wait another day? How many hands must she hire to get the job done before the rain ruins them?

I often wonder why books refer to farmers as men and the wives as the farmers’ wives. How many women own farms nowadays? In many cultures, women are in charge of the land and crops. This women has come to America from Mexico to own her own farm. She is successful!

Love on canvas

© Pam Van Londen 2007 The Sleeping Family 18x24x1.5 acrylic on canvasThis sleeping family captured my heart when I saw them one late afternoon. I took many photos and have been working on this painting for several months. The first layer looked pretty good; a bit minimalistic, which we all liked. But I knew there wasn’t enough paint on the canvas, so I took another crack at adding detail and depth. One more pass on the father’s face and it’ll be done, I think.

Harvest Music Festival a great place to paint ~ $20 Sale

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Harvest Music Festival Gumbo, Glass, and Flowers arylic on canvasboard on 8 x 10 x 1 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $20 © Pam Van Londen 2007 Harvest Music Festival Gumbo, Glass, and Flowers arylic on canvasboard on 8 x 10 x 1 canvas

A sprinkling of painters were present at this year’s Harvest Music Festival at Greengable Gardens in Philomath, Oregon.

Two friends of mine sketched with pencil and watercolor while I sketched with acrylics. We found a shady spot on the patio where Gumbo was playing guitar and flute.

The tables at this fancy affair were set with fantastic flower arrangements. The sunflower, corn, black-eyed susan, and berry arrangement is represented in my sketch.

Harvest Music Festival 2007

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Harvest Music Under the Bridge acrylic on round canvas on 16 x 16 x 1 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $370 © Pam Van Londen 2007 Harvest Music Under the Bridge acrylic on round canvas on 16 x 16 x 1 canvas

For 3 years, I have provided art for the Harvest Music Festival which takes place in early September.

This year’s work is based on photos taken at the 2006 event. This wonderful garden party—with great food and drink–brings in many Oregon musicians to benefit the OSU/Corvallis Symphony and Old Mill School for Children and Families.

This musician is playing on the shore of the Alsea River at Greengable Farm as guests watch from the bridge.

Portrait of a new mother

Pam Van Londen and Martin Van Londen in 1986.This new portrait is of me and my first born when he was about a month or two old. I have hundreds of photos to work from, so can begin to practice portrait painting in earnest now, in preparation for the series about my Mother.

This portrait took about 3 hours and could use just a bit more touch up here and there. I used canvas board and will need to find a suitable frame.

First grandchild in safe hands

© Pam Van Londen 2007 In Safe Hands 11x14 acrylic on canvasboardMy first grandchild was born this month and seems so pretty and peaceful, I just had to paint her portrait.

She’s pictured here in her daddy’s safe hands.

I painted alla prima; without drawing first, though I did use a photograph as reference. It was taken on her second day at the hospital.

Dreaming of warm weather

Pam Van Londen painting the bay at Navarre Beach, FL in 2006.Last year at this time, I was celebrating the holidays in Texas. We left for the Gulf Coast after a month of rain and ended up at Navarre Beach, FL. Because of the mild weather, I had many opportunities to paint. Here I am painting the bay in acrylic on canvas board. Wish I were right back there!

I love rivers

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Enjoying Calpooia River 20x30 acrylic on canvas
© Pam Van Londen 2007 Enjoying Calapooia River 20x30 acrylic on canvas

Twenty-five years ago I painted a portrait in an art class using the impressionist technique. The painting never looked very interesting or worth hanging on the wall. I’ve carried the canvas with me to every dwelling since then and now it’s gone!

It has transformed into one of my favorite paintings yet…a scene with two friends and my daughter enjoying the Calapooia River outside Brownsville, Oregon.

If you’d rather have one of your own family and friends, I’m available to paint one for you. Send a photo and I’ll reply with an estimate.

Portrait of my children

This painting placed 2nd in the Professional Portrait lot of the Open Class section of the Benton Country Fair in August.

© Pam Van Londen 2006 work in progress: My Children. 3' by 3', acrylic on canvas.About 3 years ago, I started a portrait of my two children and the dog. I painted over a Chuck Close-like portrait of myself which I finished 25 years ago when in undergratuate art school. (Who would want a larger than life sized picture of theirself hanging in their home? Not me.)

For this long wait, the painting had the kids blocked in pretty well, and the dog looked almost finished. However, the kids had no eyes. Anyone who happened upon the painting was unpleasantly surprised to see kids with no eyes.

After hauling the painting around in the RV for a year and moving it to various locations in our apartment, I finally decided today was the day to add some eyes. It’s a good start and will work again when I have the kids available to sit for half an hour to help me get the eyes, noses, and mouths refined.

Lost Creek, Oregon ~ $40 SALE

© Pam Van Londen 2007 Lost Creek Beach 1 acrylic on canvas on 14 x 11 x 1.5 canvas Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system $40 SALE © Pam Van Londen 2007 Lost Creek Beach 1 acrylic on canvas on 14 x 11 x 1.5 canvas

One of my first opportunities to paint at the beach in a long time came up when a friend of my daughter’s came along to keep her company.

I started this painting of Lost Creek. Someone had burried a post so it sat like a flagpole in the sand. Perhaps it was to hang their kite on.

I’ve improved the painting since my initial sitting and am happy with the contrast, which shows the vitality of the location.

Does the “flagpole” needs a kite?

Road to Discovery ~ contest submission

© Pam Van Londen 2003, Road to Discovery 16x20 acrylic on canvasIn 2003, I entered a contest to provide art for the da Vinci Days poster. Though this piece did not receive the honor, I enjoyed working on each portrait . The large area of sky was left to add the theme title, Road to Discovery, which would be done electronically.

During the festival, this painting sat on an easel in the foyer of La Sells Stewart Center at Oregon State University. Other contest entrants were to display their work as well, but chose not to (what an opportunity for me!).