Love Bird series part 2

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

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Love Birds 2, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Love Birds 2, 8×8 oil on claybord

The technique is transparent oil on Ampersand Claybord panels. Each is framed in a black wood frame.

See the previous post for the other two in the series.

Love Birds Series part 1

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Love Birds 3, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Love Birds 3, 8×8 oil on claybord

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Love Birds 4, oil on claybord,  8x8

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$64 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Love Birds 4, 8×8 oil on claybord

I painted these four at the same time so that if you purchased all four, they work as a unit. They hang in one large square or side by side or vertically.

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 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.

Purchase this painting via PayPal's secure payment system
$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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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 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.

Rain in the Valley

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Elmira Rain 1, oil on clayboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Elmira Rain 1, 8×8 oil on clayboard

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Mary’s Peak 7, oil on clayboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Mary’s Peak 7, 8×8 oil on clayboard

Highway 99 in Oregon is my favorite. Every turn brings a new spectacular view of coastal and Cascade mountains, quaint valley farm scenes, and a light show of clouds.

While traveling back from a track meet in Elmira, a friend captured this rain storm.

Monthly Challenge Painting
Portland Rose Festival Float

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Portland Rose Festival Float, oil on clayboard,  8x8

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Portland Rose Festival Float, Oil on 8×8-inch archival Claybord panel, unframed.

Years ago I photographed some water floats waiting for a Portland Rose Festival race. I’m finally getting around to working on some paintings from the references.
This is a close up of a larger photo offered in the May 2010 Monthly Painting Challenge.
Join in and show us your ideas!

Campus Garden 2

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

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$50 © Pam Van Londen 2010, Campus Garden 2, oil on 8×8-inch archival Claybord panel. Unframed.

My favorite garden on the way to work is behind the Cafe Yumm.

The hedges are trimmed regularly so they are round and the aspens are lined up in a row. The concrete wall is pointed at an angle, so the whole scene is whimsical.

Each season brings new colors and lighting to enjoy on my quick jaunt.

Valley Morning Clouds

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Valley Morning 5 clouds, oil on clayboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Valley Morning 5 clouds, 8×8 oil on clayboard

Ah, it was a plein air day! Painting outside in perfect weather is invigorating and inspiring. It gives you a chance to look up at the sky and contemplate the clouds.

Artists often have their heads in the clouds; they are studying the shape and colors.

More crows on the beach

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow on the Beach 4, oil on clayboard,  8x8 SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow on the Beach 4, 8×8 oil on clayboard

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Crow on the Beach 5, oil on clayboard,  8x8 SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Crow on the Beach 5, 8×8 oil on clayboard

A popular series of recent paintings is of crows. Here are some images painted from video I took at another trip to Taft, Oregon, south of Lincoln City on the Oregon coast.

I’m trying the same technique as the canyon series where I start with an alizarin crimson underpainting and layer thinned pure hues on top, using as few brush strokes as possible.

Brick Wall
Monthly Painting Challenge

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Brick Wall 1, oil on clayboard,  8x8
© Pam Van Londen 2010, Brick Wall 1, 8×8 oil on clayboard

For April’s Monthly Painting Challenge, we are painting a fairly flat image; a brick wall with climbing ivy and electrical boxes and tubes.

This panel is the third attempt to render something interesting.
Painting every brick is tedious and sometimes renders a boring painting. So I’ve tried circular strokes rather than rectangular.

Monthly Painting Challenge
Creek Reflections

© Pam Van Londen 2010,  Johnson Creek 6 Winter Creek, oil on gessoboard,  8x8
SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2010, Johnson Creek 6 Reflections, 8×8 oil on gessoboard

This month’s Painting Challenge is Winter Creek, a complicated landscape with confusing branches and subtle colors; one I find the hardest to paint.

I am still working with a transparent oil technique, this time on gesso rather than Claybord, so I’ve left the crimson underpainting showing through and exaggerated the color where I could.

This location is my favorite in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland.

Molalla River Shore 3

© Pam Van Londen 2009,  Molla River Shore 3, oil on clayboard,  8x8x1

SOLD © Pam Van Londen 2009, Molalla River Shore 3, 8x8x1 on oil on clayboard

The transparent oil technique that I’ve been using the last couple of weeks took a new turn this morning with this painting on Gessobord (instead of my usual Claybord.

The topmost oilier layers push the bottommost layers to the side, creating thin dark edges. I like this style and will try it again next painting session.