Day 21, Project 125 Stoller Winery Willamette Valley Oregon plein air painting BECKY JOY

© 2013 Becky Joy      Stoller Winery Vineyards     oil on panel     6 inches x 6 inches 

Hi everyone and Happy Fourth tomorrow!

This morning I met up with four artist friends at Stoller Winery in Dundee (the heart of wine country in Oregon) to paint at these vineyards. I was first to arrive, then came Brenda Boylan, a fabulous pastel artist who is making a name for herself and Michael Orwick, who is a funny guy and wonderful painter of atmosphere and sunsets. Later Romona Youngquist and Don Bishop. All of them I have painted with before in various places. The four of them will soon be having a show together at Elements Gallery in Newburg.

We laughed, talked, gave art therapy and of course, were served some wine. And, oh yes, we painted too. I started the day with my little painting. I was starting get too caught up in it with all those lines, taking too much time. Then, toward the end, I finally grabbed a larger brush and went for it with a few larger strokes.

Below are some photos of the day. The first is a cute one of Brenda on the hillside painting. Next, Don and Mike talking art, maybe.

               

Then there is the photo of Romona and us girls laughing under the tree about a typo using spell check on the phone. That can get you into trouble.

                    

Before the laughing scene I painted my second painting of an oak tree.

© 2013 Becky Joy   Willamette Valley Oak Tree   oil on linen panel   10 inches x 8 inches

Now, a little lesson in pronunciation here. For those that have never been to Oregon or Willamette Valley. They are pronounced Or-ee-gone and Will-aa (like bat) met. Now put it all together, Willamette Valley, Oregon. That's right, you got it right now! That's something all Oregonians talk about, everyone else pronounces it wrong!

Well, tomorrow is Fourth of July, have fun.

Becky Joy

Workshops

Girl in Yellow Dress - by Li Mahalik

Oil on Panel, 9x12

About two weeks ago I took a five-day plein air workshop with Kim English, a brilliant painter from Colorado. The workshop was grueling as the models were instructed to change post every 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. So we painted, wiped off or changed supports quickly, trying to compose, block-in, mixed the right colors and values as best and as fast as we could. Most people got to do a lot in each painting but I could only often come up with just the figures, like the one above, which Kim was very fond of, nevertheless.  It's the most valuable lesson I've learned so far and I've got nothing but admiration and respect for Kim.

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"In Gloria's Garden" by Li Mahalik

Oil on Gessoed Masonite, 6"x6"

In Gloria's Garden

I'm a chair

In my proper place

Birds and bees and flowers

Greet me

Everyday

I've been sat on, rained on

And stepped on

I'm properly called an antique

Don't worry and no offense

Call me anything

I'm easy

©Li Mahalik

My friend Sven and I went to Gloria's house to paint last Thursday. In her courtyard,I painted the chair and the flower pots and Gloria painted a daisy and a pot, but Sven ended up painted me while I was painting. Although the setting was very pretty, I had to simplify the background to not fight with the chair. I like the structure of this painting and it had been a good experience.

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Thank you for viewing!