Mauve Teal Pumpkin

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Mauve Teal Pumpkin, Acrylic,  24x24

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$350 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Mauve Teal Pumpkin, four 12-inch panels totaling 24x24x1. Acrylic

Last weekend I had another wild hair about painting abstractly. This one uses just four colors, premixed to match a selection I made from the series of books called “Designer’s Guide to Color 5” by Chronicle Books.

These four square panels can hang in a larger square together or apart, or individually vertically or horizontally. Each is painted on the edge so no framing is needed.

Crow Nesting in mixed media

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow Nesting, mixed media acrylic,  24x18

Revised © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow Nesting, 24×18 mixed media acrylic

Since I had a whole day to play with paint, I created something unusual (for me anyway)…a mixed media piece of the current favorite subject (crows). I had left over ribbon and paper flowers from previous craft projects, so incorporated them into this acrylic painting.

Birds often find different fibers to add to their nests. This little crow found some gold ribbon, a doodad, and some transparent silky ribbon.

This painting has been revised. See the new version.

More Crows in the Grass

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 4, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 4, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 5, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 5, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 6, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 6, 8×8 oil on claybord

Here are three more crows to sit with to the other three (see previous post).

Each is painted in oil on an archival clay surface on masonite board with sgraffito outlining for the foreground.

Once again my camera is having trouble photographing anything that is predominately red like the last crow. Odd.

Crows in the Grass

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 2, oil on claybord,  8x8
Sold © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 2, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD  © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow in the Grass 3, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow in the Grass 3, 8×8 oil on claybord

This series of crows use the same transparent oil point technique I’ve been using all year, with a little sgraffito added.

The clay surface provides enough scratching surface to add thin whimsical lines to the bold and wide brush strokes.

Crows at the Beach

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crows on the Beach 12, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crows on the Beach 12, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow at the Beach 13, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow at the Beach 13, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow at the Beach 14, oil on 8x8-inch Claybord panel, unframed.

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow at the Beach 14, oil on 8×8-inch Claybord panel, unframed.

The most popular subject matter at the last exhibit was birds, and more specifically, crows.

Here are three new images of crows in flight. The invented color image has a style I’d like to work with for awhile.

See my work at Fall Festival Sept 25, 26

Woo Hoo! I sold 9 paintings!!!!

I’ll be selling my original 8×8 daily paintings at Corvallis Fall Festival on Sept 25 from 10:00am to 6:00pm and Sept 26 from 10:00am to 5:00pm at Central Park.

Stop by my booth (#168) to view my new work. Older work will be on sale.
See my work highlighted at the Fall Festival Blog.

Corvallis Fall Festival is Sept 25, 26, 2010

Kahneeta 6 with a butter knife

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 6, acrylic on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 6, 8×8 acrylic on claybord

When I forgot to bring brushes to KahNeeTa resort earlier this year, I painted with a butter knife. The effect was a fresh look, so I’ve painted another. This one is also a KahNeeTa scene.

I pulled out paint tubes of color that I often ignore. I call them my ugly colors… Phthalocyanine Blue, Indanthrene Blue, Quinacridone Gold, and Sap Green. They are not so ugly when grouped together.

Raven series

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Raven 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Raven 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

I’ve been painting crows this year but I want to study ravens, which are larger. This one is first in a series.

This painting is featured in an Etsy Treasury.

Crows at the Beach 11

© Pam Van Londen 2010, Crows on the Beach 11, oil on claybord, 8x8 SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crows on the Beach 11, 8×8 oil on claybord

Ah to while away the hours watching birds at the beach…that is a vacation.

And if you can’t be on vacation, paint the scene to allow you to go there when you must just rely on your imagination.

KahNeeTa 5

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 5, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 5, 8×8 oil on claybord

Just another of my favorite scenes…the orange earth with a wisp of white sand, a majestic cliff, and a deep blue sky.

This one hales from KahNeeTa Resort in the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.

Teepee at KahNeeTa

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 4 Teepee, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 4 Teepee, 8×8 oil on claybord

I’m not sure that teepees were typical Central Oregon High Desert dwellings before Europeans arrived there a few hundred years ago, but they are a popular scene in the USA.

KahNeeTa has teepees to camp in; they are like yurts only shaped like a teepee. They provide a romantic scene even with all the cars and RVs parked nearby.

Learn more about the Warm Springs Reservation.

Sage and other grasses at KahNeeTa

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 3, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 3, 8×8 oil on claybord

Here is another of my favorite desert scenes which includes sage, grasses, rolling hills, and a big blue sky with puffy clouds. I brings back memories of my strenuous solo hike at KahNeeTa near Warm Springs in Central Oregon.

Valley Evening 4

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Valley Evening 4, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Valley Evening 4, 8×8 oil on claybord

I started this painting a month ago at a plein air class. I’ve added to it several times but fell like it is done now. It is a relaxer…view to ease your eyes.

Sage with a lonely rock

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 2, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 2, 8×8 oil on claybord

I love how the high desert grasses looks when everything is blooming, especially the sage.

This big rock sits by itself near the trail. I think it is a chunk of basalt.

Black Butte beyond the forest

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Black Butte 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Black Butte 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

This abstracted highway scene shows Black Butte beyond the forest trees. I was unable to stop and take a reference photo, so I’m working from memory. I think the trees are pine but I have stylized them quite a bit.

Blooming sage in Central Oregon

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Sage 1, oil on 8x8-inch archival Claybord panel. Unframed.

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2013, Sage 1.2, oil on 8×8-inch archival Claybord panel. Unframed.

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Sage 2, oil on 8x8-inch archival Claybord panel. Unframed.

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2013, Sage 2.2, oil on 8×8-inch archival Claybord panel. Unframed.

August brings blossoms to the Central Oregon high desert. Sage and other small flowers are lighting up the cinder floor. I see Oregon sunshine and some small white flowers that I am unable to identify.

These paintings were revised in 2013.

First of a series from KahNeeTa
near Warms Springs, Oregon

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  KahNeeTa 1, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, KahNeeTa 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

Our weekend trip to Central Oregon was an adventure. The terrain looks much like Arizona and New Mexico with red, gold, and white-painted hills.

This painting was done with a butter knife because I forgot my brushes! I have many more planned (with and without a knife), so stay tuned.

Columbia River Traditions

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Columbia Gorge Horsetail Falls, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Columbia Gorge Horsetail Falls, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Columbia Gorge Oneonta Logjam 2, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Columbia Gorge Oneonta Logjam 2, 8×8 oil on claybord

Our family tradition is to hike to a waterfall, ford the Oneonta slot canyon, and sit in the mud at Rooster Rock on the Columbia Gorge.

This year we hiked to Ponytail and Horsetail falls again, climbed over the logjam (the kids did, while I painted), and wade in the mighty river (the kids did, while I painted).

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Columbia Gorge Rooster Rock Flowers, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Columbia Gorge Rooster Rock Flowers, 8×8 oil on claybord

My granddaughter saw her first waterfalls, hiked in her new boots, and her favorite…got up to her waist in the river and muddied-up her toes.

This photo expresses her joy!

LoraLee embraces the river

Prince Edward Island for the Virtual Paintout

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Prince Edward Island 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Prince Edward Island 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

August’s focus for the Virtual Paintout is Prince Edward Island.

This scene is from Tryon Point Rd facing the Northumberland Strait.

Many families have boats in their yards.  I’m not sure if they are no longer being used or if they are just waiting for high tide.

Mary’s Peak 8 painted
en plein air

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Mary’s Peak 8, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Mary’s Peak 8, 8×8 oil on claybord

I enjoyed another evening of painting outdoors last night. We settled into some property south of Corvallis where we could view the sun setting over Mary’s Peak.

The wheat fields provided a gold texture against the misty blue backdrop of hills and mountains.

Join the group on Thursday for just $15. Contact Mark Allison.

Johnson Creek 7 by request

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Johnson Creek 7, acrylic,  18x24
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Johnson Creek 7, 18×24 acrylic

I’m hanging some work at the Albany Heartspring Wellness Center but they needed another piece for an exam room.

This image is based on a smaller daily painting done earlier this year. We’ll see how it looks on their deep orange wall.

Willamette River Paintout

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Willamette River 10, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Willamette River 10, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Willamette River 11, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Willamette River 11, 8×8 oil on claybord

It was class outdoors again last evening. We painted at the Crystal Lake Boat Landing in Corvallis. Due to the heat of the day, many folks were boating, rafting, mud-soaking, and biking. The atmosphere was jubilant.

My favorite scene was the harmonica player conoeing with two dogs. He floated down river then appeared again later; he must have done the whole trip again! The lighting and the music seemed to transport me back 200 years and I expected Tom Sawyer to come strolling by.

Crow at the Beach 10

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow at the Beach 10, oil on 8x8-inch archival Claybord panel; unframed.

Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system
$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow at the Beach 10, oil on 8×8-inch archival Claybord panel; unframed.

Crow has something to say, either, “Hey, painter, move along; this is my log,” or “there is a scrap of food here and it is mine!”

I’m continuing with the same technique I’ve been using for months now…transparent oil paint over an underpainting of alizarin crimson, with obvious and very loose brush strokes, on archival Ampersand Claybord panels.

I like how the paint soaks in and semi-dries enough to paint over it immediately. It has a tacky surface unlike oil on gesso, which seems to sit on the surface and get pushed around instead of allow new layers…I just don’t have the patience to wait for it to dry before adding new layers.

Crow at the Beach 9

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow at the Beach 9, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow at the Beach 9, 8×8 oil on claybord

Nine of the 14 paintings of crows I’ve done this year have new homes. I must be on a roll.

Most crows do not live a year. But some live to year 14.

Learn more about them from Cornell Ornithologist Kevin McGowen from Ithaca, NY.

Shatin Pass Road in Hong Kong

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Shatin Pass Road 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Shatin Pass Road 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

It is that time again to paint from Google’s Street View for the Virtual Paintout. This one is from Hong Kong’s Shatin Pass Road. It is an old narrow street winding around a hill which overlooks the city.

The day Google’s cameras captured the road, only a few pedestrians were walking it. I would think such a pleasant place so near the city would be crowded with walkers.

Avery Park Trees

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Avery Park Trees 1, oil on gessobord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Avery Park Trees 1, 8×8 oil on gessobord

While lazing around Avery Park awhile ago, I studied the patterns of trees in the main field. Trees which bend and grow diagonally often create interesting compositions. Color is irrelevant; make it whatever supports the composition.

Sheep Grazing

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Sheep Grazing 1, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Sheep Grazing 1, 8×8 oil on claybord

After another evening of peaceful painting out of doors, I have this panel to show. Painting sheep so small was not as easy as I expected, so I’ll be practicing more.

Oregonians are so lucky to have such beautiful country so close at hand. Just a minute’s drive and we are out into the fresh air and rural settings.

Valley View 1:
Barb and Chad’s view

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Valley View 1: Barb and Chad’s view, oil on claybord,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Valley View 1: Barb and Chad’s view, 8×8 oil on claybord

This painting was painted plein air last week but I spent a few days looking at it and making touchups to brighten the colors.

The use of large, obvious brush strokes is something I do in many paintings, though you don’t see them in my blog very often.

Only about half seem to turn out right the first time, so I massage them for months and perhaps get a few more that work.

Valley View 2 plein air paintout

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Valley View 2: Barb and Chad’s view, oil on gessoboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Valley View 2: Barb and Chad’s view, 8×8 oil on gessoboard

My plein air class had a great session at Barb and Chad’s home up on a hill outside Adair Village last week.

The garden was immense and all was blooming. The views on all sides were spectacular!

The pets were fun, too.

Crow at the Beach

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crows at the Beach 8, oil on clayboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crows at the Beach 8, 8×8 oil on clayboard

This crow symbolizes my desire to take flight and vacation somewhere.

I won’t have much opportunity to get away from my routine life until August.

I shall live vicariously through all your vacations until then.