Sunflowers say Summer

It's summer in the Northwest.  Sunflowers are about a foot high and growing many inches daily. 

 It won't be long until their bright yellow heads are following the sun.

Acyrlic on Canvas 30" x 24       $300          @copyright Glennda Field

This one would look really good hanging in your house. 
Contact me about this piece
Glenndafieldart@gmail.com


This was the painting a few months ago.  I liked some things about it but  knew it wasn't quite right.  So I hung it up and looked at it.  Each time I would pass it I'd ponder what it needed to bring it up to the imagine in my mind.  Yesterday was the day.  I knew exactly what it needed......hence the finished piece above.  

First phase, prior to the "re do" @copyright Glennda Field

 

Art for the Garden

I couldn't help it.  Had to paint it.  Found this door by the side of the road and imagined a beautiful piece of art for the Garden.  Today was the day.  A whole day free to create art.  

Now I must search the gardens for the  perfect place to view it.  

I found it.  The perfect spot.  See the last photo in this post to see where it's new home is.   

Below is my step by step process:

 I found a shady spot under a big fir tree and propped the door against the tree.

Step One-  Paint both side of the door.  I painted the back a dark blue green.  This color matches the storage cottage so there is some uniformity around the yard.  The front side was painted a deep turquoise.  I painted the door handles so that they would blend into the painting and not detract from the overall look of the painted door. 

 

 Step two - Started at the top right corner where the light source is coming from and moved across the sky with a turquoise deep. 

 Step three - I worked down the panel adding shades of green for the grasses and stems of the flowers.















 Step 4 - I painted the flower heads in with an undercoat of orange.

Step 5 - I began to add detail to the flowers.  Adding more color to the flower heads, creating more stems and grasses.














Step 6 - More detail added around the flower heads and shadowing under the flowers to pull the composition together.
















          


The finished piece.

I put several coats of outdoor varnish on it to help protect it from the elements.  

It is now nestled comfortably in the garden where I can see if from the deck and from the kitchen window.  

I've been working on my yard and garden for 35 years.  This might just be the last and finishing touch.......or until I create something else wonderful to add to our beautiful northwest expanse of green. 

Vallery Art Featured Artists Show 2015

Valley Art Gallery is a beautiful gallery in downtown Forest Grove that has been operating for over 50 years.  Today's artist reception was wonderful.  It was exciting to see 20 of my paintings all hung together.  The gallery did a great job!

Thank you to all that attended and a special thank you to those who purchased paintings.  I have a bitter sweet feeling when I see a customer take a painting home.  Half of me loves seeing the joy the painting brings to the patron and the other half of me hates to see the painting go to a new home.  When you spend hours creating a painting you become a bit attached to every brush stroke.  I must get over this or I'll end up with thousands of paintings. 

Winter Silhouette - Japanese Lace Leaf Maple

"Winter Silhouette" 30 x 40 Acrylic on Canvas   @copyright Glennda Field

The tiny Japanese Maple sapling at the entrance to my front yard has been growing and twisting for more than 30 years. Every day I have admired it's beauty and watched it grow. I decided to try and capture it's personality in this recent painting.

                               Sold

Update on this painting "Winter Silhouette". It sold yesterday, yah! The image is also going on a local shade, flowering and ornamental tree nursery 2015 catalog. The catalog will be distributed in the USA, Canada and Italy.  





 I've been studying this tree for years, clipped many, many branches in an attempt to give it the gracefulness and grandeur that it deserves. It is beautiful in every season of the year. In the winter after it rains is hold tiny drop of water on every single joint of every branch. It looks like a diamond tree. Hmmmmm.......I wonder if I can capture that on canvas. I'll have to give that one a try

I did it! I just entered the 10th International Art Competition

I just submitted a painting to the 10th International Art Competition at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah!  I've been wanted to do this for years.  It is only held every four years and I missed the deadline last year and was determined to not miss it this year.  It is January 28 and the deadline isn't until February 27, 2015.  I'm nearly a month early.  Yah!!!

The theme for the Competition is - Tell Me The Stories of Jesus.    Here is my painting:

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus                           @copyright Glennda Field

Natalie came to church the Sunday after she was baptized. She walked in with her family and as she passed by in her pure white dress I was drawn to the smile and peace that shone from her face. She sat in a wooden pew a few rows in front of me and pondered the scriptures that she laid in her lap. Although our chapel has no windows it seemed that the sun's rays were shinning directly on her.  

 

Natalie was adopted at birth by a family that loves her and has taught her about Jesus Christ. Turning 8 years old she followed the example of Jesus by being baptized. "I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away, And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day. I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain. I want to be the best I can and live with God again." ( When I Am Baptized verse 2 page 103 Children's Songbook)  

 

On this day Natalie was as clean as earth right after rain. She glowed with the love of Jesus. She was a work of art. 

Got this note today. Made my day.

I’m sitting here looking at a wonderful piece of art.  I’m grateful to my family for their thoughtful gift that they knew I would love, and I am so appreciative of your gift and talent that you have developed and perfected.

Thank you so much.

Best Regards,

Paul

It is not so hard to part with a favorite painting when you know it is going to a good family.   Receiving a note of enjoyment once it is in their house is even better.   

It's Christmas time. My favorite time of the year

"Hoppy Christmas"
Sold

Sometimes I paint something just for the fun of painting.  "Hoppy Christmas" is one of those paintings.  It was early December and to help me get in the spirit of the Christmas season a little bit of silliness seemed like the direction I needed to go.   Since I rarely paint animals I challenged myself to make a soft, fuzzy, sweet, bunny as a Christmas gift.  





Add caption

I'm still searching for the perfect title for this piece.  I've asked friends for their title suggestions and here they are:

What's Inside, Magical Morning, Anticipation, Christmas Morning, Christmas Wonder, Christmas pajamas, Sneak Peek,  It's Finally Here, Santa's Joy, So Excited,  Is This One For Me?,  Joy, I Believe, The Gift of Christmas, Just a Peek,  and one cute friend suggested "Investigating the dead dog smell".   How is that for a title.  Leave it to Brian to come up with that one.



Austin, my four year old grandson (he was 2 in this painting), is the inspiration for this painting.  He is so pure, so tiny, so soft, so loving.    Everything is exciting, everything is possible, he has no idea that he brings so much joy into this world.  

That is the reason for Christmas.  Joy to the World!

Caswell Gallery "Gateway to the Gorge" art show Begins tomorrow

Corbett Hill Road 23 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas  $595
SOLD

Caswell Gardens Old Shed  Acrylic on Canvas $395
  SOLD

"November exhibit featuring members of the Watercolor Society of Oregon Wy' East Critique Group.  This fine group of plein Aire Painters will be showing a body of work depicting many locations around the gorge and Caswell gardens. " Caswell Gallery November 2014 1st Friday flyer

 Thank you Rip Caswell for purchasing 
Caswell Gardens Old Shed

                                                                                                          
Since I live in the heart of the gorge the beauty of these locations speak to me on a daily basis. 

Historic Columbia River Highway 18 x 24 Framed Watercolor $250

 Just taking a drive through the Columbia River Gorge is an experience in itself as you will be in awe of this spectacular geological wonder. The Columbia River is the second largest river in North America, starting in northern Idaho and southeastern British Columbia, and traveling over 1,200 miles to the ocean.  Through millenniums of geologic events, waterfalls have found their home in the Columbia River Gorge. A visit to the area is not complete without a visit to the breathtaking waterfalls. Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association

Multnomah Falls is  magnificent and memorable.  It falls 611 feet in an awe inspiring cascade of icy water. 

Multnomah Falls in Blue 18 x 24 Framed Watercolor $250

Multnomah Falls in Gold 18 x 24 Framed Watercolor $250

Multnomah Falls II 24 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas $595

Caswell Garden Shed in Summer 18 x 24 Framed Watercolor $250

A Day At The Beach

A Day At The Beach was painted in one day as a mock up of a large painting I am planning for the future.  I worked at getting the beach colors just right and the connection of the family members.  After finishing it I then put it up for a few days and look at it each time I walk by to see if there is anything that I want to change. This painting is smaller,  just 12" x12".   

A Day At The Beach                                                    @ copyright Glennda Field

Windfall Purlieu - Lavendar selected for Oregon Soceity of Artists Fall Juried Show

Windfall Purlieu is a beautiful farm just up the hill from the Sandy River.  It is on Woodard Road in Corbett, Oregon.  The owner,  Alison Knieriem, grows 5 different kinds of lavender and fields of sunflowers.  It is a beautiful farm.  I love driving past her fields on my way home and often stop to buy a bundle of lavender or a bouquet of sunflowers .  It was early evening when I glanced over at her lavender fields and what I saw inspired this painting-

Windfall Perlieu - Lavender
 Windfall means blessing
Purlieu means the area near or surrounding a place
@copyright Glennda Field