River Garden Studio

a few days in Portland

 

The weekend before last, my daughter and I spent

a long weekend in Portland, Oregon.  These are

some of my favorite photo's from the trip.  

The top half were taken by Amanda, and the bottom

half by me.

 

I had two paintings accepted to be in the show

at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts

called Come to YOur Senses.

 

 

This gorgeous building was a beautiful sight

to behold.

 

Circular stairways, marble floors and rich red

wood work.

This is Amanda.

 

 

And my two paintings...

 

 

 

And the glass dome over the center of the building.

 

 

For me this was one of our best times together that we have ever had.

 

 

I love the streets, the storefronts, and the view from our hotel room:

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections in buildings caught my eyes.

 

And the very creative displays at Anthropologie,

downtown Portland...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so proud and lucky to have such a sweetie

to take trips with! 

Sometimes we all need a shield...

This painting, "Shield Me,"  was inspired by the land and the mountains of the

north west where i live.

To me the circular, rust colored shape symbolizes a shield,

and the heavy wire the ever-protecting strength that holds the

shield in place. 

Sometimes we all need a shield.

"The Promise"

Deep in our memory there is a place that holds a promise.

Of hope, of sunny skies and lush meadow grass,

Of the truth that only the earth knows. 

"The Promise" symbolizes that truth.

This painting with it's seemingly simple design

and made with layer after layer of colored wax

alternating with clear beeswax is an invitation to bask i

n the sunshine.

As I explore new techniques

and ways to work with encaustic wax,  I grow as an

artist and my visions become

my art.

"Lost and Found," 

This is an encaustic painting of a landscape in the

springtime.  I remember as a young girl how much

I loved grassy fields.  

I grew up in the city, and a drive to the countryside

was one of my very favorite things.  I used to

make who ever was driving stop the car so

I could go sit in the long grass,

or lie down to look at the sky.

The  flower is one that I had pressed in a book and found recently.   

So, even though a moment may be gone,

in a small flower there is still a part of

the memory that lives on.