Lake Sacajawea ~Longview,WA~ Water Lillies

Lake Sacajawea Water Lillies

Acrylic on canvas 8"X10"

Longview, Washington

Lake Sacajawea ~ Japanese Garden Reflection ~ Longview, Washington

Japanese Garden Reflections

Acrylic on canvas 12"X16"

Lake Sacajawea, Longview, Washington

Lake Sacajawea Yellow Irises

Lake Sacajawea Yellow Irises
Acrylic on canvas board 14"X18"
Marie's painting of irises this day can be found on her blog.

Mitch Baird Workshop - Sauvie Island Reflections

Marie and I attended a Mitch Baird art workshop last weekend.

Marie's painting is here.

"Sauvie Island Reflections"

12"X 16"

Acrylic on canvas

Kiteboarding on the Columbia River

Acrylic painting

16"X20"

"Kiteboarding on the Columbia River"

by Allan Wise

The Marine Park at the Port of Kalama

Springtime in the Northwest

Silas 16 Mos.

Bethjero!

The Boys at the park

Birthday girls

Birthday girl and her boy

Yellow Irises At Lake Sacajawea

Yellow Irises at Lake Sacajawea

Acrylic on canvas 16"X20"

Marie painted me doing this painting.

Still Life With Fruit and Bottles

Fruit and Bottles

by A.Wise

Acrylic 16"X20"

Columbia River Springtime

Columbia River Springtime

Acrylic 16"X20"

10 Greatest Artists Of All Time

Who were the greatest among all the painters? Names like DaVinci, Michaelangelo and Van Gogh are frequently on lists of the greatest. No doubt a list of the best is a subjective endeavor. I enjoy reading and learning about art and artists. Here are my top ten (all are European):

10 Greatest Artists Of All Time

No. Name Years Comments/Words
1 Vincent Van Gogh 1853-1890 Mystifying/Brushy/Colorful
2 Claude Monet 1840-1926 Light/Landscape/Visual
3 Rembrandt Van Rijn 1606-1669 Emotive/Skillful/Sketching
4 Michaelangelo Caravaggio 1570-1610 Exacting/Sensitivity/Harmony
5 Paul Cezanne 1839-1906 Colorist/Composition/Picture
6 Edouard Manet 1832-1883 Serious/Innovative/Bold
7 Jan Vermeer 1632-1675 Perfection/Clean/Masterful
8 Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841-1919 Beauty/Sensuality/Soft
9 Pablo Picasso 1881-1973 Expressive/Ecclectic/Craftsman
10 Peter Paul Rubens 1577-1640 Prolific/Movement/Dynamic

Columbia River Splash

Acrylic

16X18

on board

Inspired by Cezanne and Van Gogh

Impression & Expression

Been Hibernating....Time to blog

Reece Schutt Phillies Rookie 2009




Columbia River April 21, 2009
"Spring Cottonwoods"
Acrylic 9"X12"

Columbia River

Watercolor

April 2009

Wedding Anniversary

Snow for our 13th Anniversary

Christmas Card Sunflowers

Marie wanted to do a joint painting for our Christmas card this year. I chose a photo and the composition. Marie and I both drew the initial underpainting and chose the palette. We took turns painting. She would paint one day, and I painted the next, until we were finished. I didn't touch the sky, but we both painted all other areas. She had a good idea!

Compliments and Secondary Colors

Compliments Photo


Secondary Colors ~ Abstract Acrylic Paintings

Pics From Fall

More Sunflower Paintings

Sunflower Paintings

Sunflower Paintings

"October Sunflowers" ~ Oil Pastels

Four Sunflowers on the Deck

"Four Sunflowers on the Deck"

"October Tomatoes"

Oil Pastels on Black Paper

Two Sunflowers ~ by Allan Wise

"Two Sunflowers"

Oil Pastels on Black Paper

Sunflowers In A Vase ~ October 10, 2008

"Sunflowers in a Vase" Oil pastels on black paper

Kalama Main St. ~ Poker Pete's Pizza ~ by Allan Wise

"Kalama, Washington Main St. ~ Poker Pete's Pizza"

by Allan Wise

18"X24" acrylic on canvas

Georgia O'Keeffe Country ~ New Mexico ~ Lake Abiquiu and "El Pedernal"

Check out Marie's New Mexico paintings here.

Plaza Blanca ~ The "White Place", New Mexico Geology

From Georgia O'Keeffe's studio in her home in the old pueblo of Abiquiu, New Mexico, she could see this "white place" which she painted. Three miles down a gravel road took her to this eerie geological feature. The vista here is very soft and light with its subtle warm colors.

El Padernal, a flat topped mountain in New Mexico.

Georgia O'Keeffe had her ashes scattered on top of this mountain when she died in the 80's.

New Mexican Cactus

This small cactus was at my feet as I sat with Marie and painted near the "White Place", which is across the Chama River from where Georgia O'Keeffe lived in Abiquiu, NM.

Santa Fe, New Mexico ~ Pink Adobe Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico ~ Pink Adobe building

New Mexico ~ Plein Air Painting with Marie

This painting of "The Pedernal" was made from Abiquiu Lake in New Mexico.

New Mexico vacation September 2008

"The Pedernal" This mountain was a frequent subject of Georgia O'Keeffe's. This is northwest New Mexico about 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe.

Indian Beach ~ Ecola State Park ~ Cannon Beach, Oregon

Marie and I had a fun time painting this afternoon at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Oregon

Lake Sacajawea Bridge ~ Longview, WA

Lake Sacajawea

Longview, Washington

Bridge to Japanese Garden

Acrylic Painting

Columbia River Salmon Fishing "Hogline"

Columbia River salmon fishing today.

The boat nearest to me in this "hogline" landed a fish while I painted this pleasant afternoon on the Lower Columbia River near Kalama, Washington.

Acrylic on canvas 18"X24"

Home View Looking South ~ Columbia River

"Home View" watercolor 14" X20"

Just right of the large cottonwood tree, and at the horizon line, our home's view sees the tallest buildings in downtown Portland, Oregon 40 miles away. We are at an elevation of about 700 feet. Washington is on the left of the Columbia River and Oregon is on the right. This view is spectacular but is visible only about half the days of the year. Northwest clouds and rain like to restrict our vista. The sky is often faded in the late summer here as painted, but can be cobalt or aquamarine too. Green is always the dominant color here. Most of the evergreens are douglas fir trees.

Columbia River at Martin's Bluff

Watercolor 12"X16"

Ship heading upriver towards Portland/Vancouver from Martin's Bluff area. St. Helens, Oregon is across the Columbia River here.

Hogline ~Salmon fishing on Columbia R. at Kalama

Acrylic on Canvas 16"X20"

"Hogline" Fishing on the Lower Columbia River at Kalama for salmon. September 2, 2008

Water Lilies

High on the water

Stepping stones for catching rays

Shading fish below

Beach at Port of Kalama ~ Lower Columbia River

The Port of Kalama Beach on the Lower Columbia River July 30,2008.

Hanging Baskets of Geraniums

Our neighbors in Kalama.....from our deck to theirs

Summer.....a time for geraniums

Lily Pads at Lake Sacajawea Longview,Washington

Lake Sacajawea Longview, Washington

You can find Marie's lily pads here.

Haystack Rock ~ Cannon Beach, Oregon

Marie and I went to Cannon Beach for the afternoon. It is fun to paint with her.






Haystack Rock has a nice visual appeal.

Longview Community Church 07/09/2008 by A.Wise

This is a plein air watercolor painting done yesterday and today of the Longview Community Church and waterlillies from Lion's Island on Lake Sacajawea. Lake Sacajawea has many old hardwood trees which make for interesting compositions. The waterlillies ring around the two mile long manmade lake. Lake Sacajawea is a beautiful pastoral setting. Monet would have gone nuts here painting the water lillies.

Sights of my summer 2008

Ahle Beach at Port of Kalama on Columbia River

Columbia River ~ Ahle Beach at Kalama, Washington looking downriver 7/1/2008

Port of Kalama fishing on Columbia River

Fishermen bank fish for salmon and steelhead on the beach at the Marina Park at the Port of Kalama in Kalama, Washington. People engage in boating, picnicking, swimming, walking, playing tennis and horseshoes, and sunning themselves in the area. Kalama Export at the top of this painting is where ships dock to load grain to go to the orient.

Kalama High School

Kalama High School sits on a hill in our small town. It has interesting architecture. There is no eye level view, so the external character goes largely unnoticed. Students get a great view looking out from their classroom windows. They see the marina at the Port of Kalama, the lower Columbia River and the hills of northwest Oregon.

CharLee Bethje's Dance Performance

With proud Grandpa Wise
CharLee and her group did a great job in their jazz performance of Hot, Hot, Hot! in the Little Mermaid themed part of the dance show. This young lady can dance.

CharLee and Rem at home in Kennewick

The Bethje family has moved to Kennewick, Washington. CharLee and Rem get the opportunity to make new friends this summer.

Silas Swinging

Silas likes to swing in a Portland, Oregon park.

He misses his Dad who is fishing in Alaska.

Water lilies at Lake Sacajawea by Allan Wise

Marie and I did water lily paintings today at Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington. They are interesting forms. Monet is famous for his, but I like Marie's better.

Yellow Irises at Lake Sacajawea ~ Longview, WA

The yellow irises are in full bloom at Lake Sacajawea. Marie painted the irises up close. I chose this quiet little finger of the lake to paint. My dad used to carry me on his shoulders at this location over 50 years ago. Yellow was his favorite color. The lake and I are reflective.

Port of Kalama ~ Columbia River ~ Oregon Hills

Marie and I painted the Columbia River and the Oregon Hills from the Port of Kalama. The composition for this painting is very plain, but I never tire of viewing the Lower Columbia. Her painting is here.

Port of Kalama "Lupines in May"

16"x20" acrylic on canvas

Lupines in May

The Lower Columbia River is a scenic place. The Oregon hills near the town of Goble is in the distance. The far hills are mostly Douglas fir trees. The scotch broom are hard on my eyes and sinuses, but are beautiful and provide a great color contrast to the lupines.

This painting is from near the Marine Park at the Port of Kalama. The north end of Sandy Island is middle ground left. Cottonwood trees grow on the island.

130 years ago trains were ferried through this river scene from Kalama to St. Helens. Today large ships travel the Columbia here several times a day.

Lupines on the Columbia River at Kalama

I did this plein air acrylic painting yesterday. The weather was cool. This is on a trail at the Port of Kalama along the Columbia River. Lupines, scotchbroom, and daisies are all in bloom. I've been anxious to get out and paint the colorful lupines. The river has been high because of all of the snowmelt in the mountains. Sandy Island is to the left and Oregon hills are above the island.

Silas takes care of Grandpa

Grandkids in the Spring

Remington catching









Every girl's dream....CharLee got a horse for her 9th birthday.

Reece batting

Fishing on the Columbia River in Kalama

Marine Park ~ Port of Kalama ~ Columbia River

Plein Air watercolor from mile marker 49 in the shipping channel of the Columbia River. This afternoon was our first hot day of the year. This setting is at the Port of Kalama in Kalama, Washington. The river is high and cold. This is part of the Marine Park at the Port of Kalama.

Lake Sacajawea ~ Longview, Washington ~ May 9th

Plein Air watercolor painting of Lake Sacajawea Longview, WA. The yellow irises that line the lake's shore are starting to bloom. Many people were out walking on this beautiful morning.

7up Bottling Co.Sign ~ Portland, Oregon 5/08/2008

This morning I painted the old 7up Bottling Co. building in SE Portland, OR. It is on Sandy Blvd. I think the building is vacant.

This building has a charming art deco design and has been around a long time. It has a great old sign. The 7up bubble logo faces three directions and the old bottle at the top reminds me of the kind of bottle you'd find in a 1950's gas station; and that you'd slide out of a chest cooler dispenser, (after the 15cent deposit).

Multnomah Falls Oregon ~ by Allan Wise

May 2, 2008 ~Today I did two plein air paintings of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Many people stopped and visited as I worked. This composition is a beautiful natural setting. I enjoy the days Marie and I paint together, but today she worked.

R.A.Long High School ~ Longview, Washington

Plein Air painting May 1,2008 of R.A. Long High School in Longview, Washington. It was a cool but pleasant morning. I worked from Lake Sacajawea to complete this watercolor.


CharLee and Remington had their game rained out, but I still got their picture. They play Little League for Minister and Glaeser Surveying.


Reece is on first base after getting a hit off of Trevor. He plays Little League for the Red Sox/Steelies


Silas is thinking about growing teeth.

Tulip Bulb Farm ~ Woodland, Washington

The Woodland Tulip Festival at Holland American Bulb Farm is a beautiful springtime sight.

Marie and I did plein air paintings this morning. It was a bright morning. The colors are amazing, but my watercolors don't do them justice!

Woodland, Washington April 26,2008

Flowers Still Life

Three Sunflowers ~ by Allan Wise

Three Sunflowers, 30"x40". This is the largest painting I have done. It is acrylic on canvas.

The light seems to radiate from the tallest sunflower. Marie planted sunflowers last year and I've been wanting to paint some since autumn. We kept three spent sunflowers over the winter, and these are the inspiration for this work. I really liked the faded colors on the dead flowers, but I livened them up a lot in this work. Marie and I both enjoy Van Gogh's works with sunflowers. I'm sure we'll do more sunflowers.

The ground is mostly big brush strokes, the leaves/stalks mostly medium strokes, the sunflowers are mostly palette knife, and the blues and white skies are blended.

Kalama Burger Bar ~ by Allan Wise

Kalama Burger Bar was a gem out of the 1950's. This was a nice stop on US 99 in Kalama, Washington before Interstate 5 was created. The Burger Bar sign has been moved, and the Burger joint has moved and is now an inside eatery also.

This is my first try in painting with a knife. It was fun!

TULIPS ~ & COLD APRIL

Kalama, Washington "High School Hill" Elm Street

Kalama, Washington is a small town of about 2000 inhabitants. This painting looks east and focuses on Elm Street which is the town's major east/west road. Kalama High School sits at the top of the hill. Behind it and to the right is the football stadium. To the left of the school is the Catholic Church. In the left foreground there is the Methodist Church, and behind it the Kalama Community Building. Rivertown Antiques is in the foreground right. All of these places have sunset views of the Columbia River. This is the old part of Kalama that was originally settled in the 1870's. It has a charming small town feel and is a nice place to live.

St.Joseph's Catholic Church in Kalama, Washington

St. Joseph's Catholic Church is a picturesque spot in our community of Kalama, Washington. I like the rock formation on the lower right as it adds a permanence to the scene.

Watercolor 12" x 16" April 16, 2008 by Allan Wise



My three month old grandson Silas is being fed by Grandpa Nick Biederman from Chicago. He and I shared baby duties as Silas' Mom and Dad had other business. It's hard to train old grandpas, but Silas gives it a good try!

Horsethief Butte ~ Columbia River Gorge 4/13/2008

Marie and I did plein air paintings at Horsethief Butte in the Columbia River Gorge today. Spring is here today, but supposedly will be gone tomorrow. It was a nice day to paint, and Horsethief Butte provides many great vistas.








Marie and I sat in folding chairs while we did our paintings. Mine was watercolor and hers was guoache. Here is her work ,
and her blog!

It's April ~ Play Ball

Reece's First Game




Interested Party

Little Silas Will Have His Turn To Play Ball Too

Three Monkeys ~ Grandchildren

CharLee

Reece




Remington

Lake Sacajawea Fountain ~ April 2,2008

A beautiful spring day at Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington

St. Joseph's Catholic Church ~ Kalama, Washigton

This is a watercolor painting of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kalama, Washington. It sits at the top of a hill next to Kalama High School in our town of 2000 inhabitants.

Interstate Bridge @ Vancouver/Portland

My Grandson, Reece Schutt (age 8), and I spent the afternoon together. I painted the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver. He painted the Columbia River and sand.

Wind Turbine ~ Oregon High Prarie and Mt. Hood

Oregon High Prarie

To see Marie's Wind Paintings please go here!

New Kalama Neighbor

Lake Sacajawea ~ Longview Washington

Pool reflection in the Japanese Garden at Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington.

Lake Sacajawea Bridge to Japanese Garden

This walking bridge at Lake Sacajawea in Longview, Washington goes to the Japanese Garden.

Kalama Washington Snow ~ Yes, it is March 29th!

It's hard to believe, but it snowed last night. March is definitely out like a lion!

Blue Sunshine

Columbia Theater ~ Longview, Washington

This is a painting of Longview's Columbia Theater.

Throw in an abstract work!

The "ART KITTY" March 2008

When my wife, Marie, brought this bedraggled creature home many years ago, I let out a big sigh. She found it on a dark and stormy winter day at the local port. Marie is not nurturing by nature, but she is a champion of the underdog. The little girl inside her wanted to save this wild eyed, calico-like scaredy cat. She spent months under our bed. At least she was quiet. Marie’s daughter, Mary, gave her the unofficial name of Abby. This name didn’t stick.

Physically she seemed challenged. She was skinny and round faced. She had a poor excuse for a tail. It wasn’t formed right, and it had a crook. Her thin coat was uneven. Her name was often Funny Face or Hey You, Kitty. Funny face was at the bottom of a feline pecking order that started with Misty and went through Snow Kitty and Oreo.

When she finally ventured out to our world of teenage boys and her nemesis, Misty, she kept her eyes darting for danger. Soon it was just Hey You and Misty. You’d never find them in the same room. After eight months she finally made her way outside. Any commotion would find her under the deck. Marie gave me the job of flashlight duty to find her in the dark recesses. She was pathetic.

Our boys, Rigel and Sam, flew the coop to college. Hey You finally relaxed enough to find the living room. Mary, Marie and I were not that threatening to her. Mary’s job was to feed the cats and take care of their litter box. Misty was Mary’s favorite, but she came to like “Youey” too. Misty loved to scrap with the three young grandchildren that came to visit, but Hey You ducked for cover.

Hey You became an affectionate kitty after Mary went away to college. We moved into a rental house while our home was being built. Funny Face was now at the top of the pecking order at home as Marie would get annoyed at Misty’s bossiness. Funny spent a good deal of time gallivanting around the neighborhood in fields of tall green grass. She thrived on her encounters with other cats.

Marie reeled her in by making her the “Art Kitty”. It became her duty to sit with Marie while she painted her oil paintings. They became very close during Marie’s sacred creative time.

When we moved into our new home, “Youey” became the upstairs kitty. Misty was relegated to the basement. Marie’s new Art Studio had a permanent fixture, the “Art Kitty”. She enjoyed her time as the designated “Art Kitty” by night, and my companion by day after I retired. She loved her world as deck lounger as she accompanied me doing crosswords and reading, and coffee.

Marie loved her “Baby”. Art Kitty was treated royally as she helped Marie with her masterpieces. Last autumn, Misty and the “Art Kitty” started a downward spiral. They seemed to be in a race toward death. Misty was getting dementia and Baby was getting weaker. Baby’s kidneys were failing and the vet told us she wouldn’t be with us much longer. Misty was plain crazy. In November, Baby finally gave her last breath. Marie is still sad for her.

Miraculously, 16 year old Misty is now the “Art Kitty”. Marie had a change of heart, and Misty is now the top and only dog, upstairs and downstairs. We miss our little Funny Face a lot, crooked tail and all.

Figure Studies

watercolor study

Marie and I go to Portland for drawing studio

March 27,2008

Bud vase
Analagous painting
A good place to put junk

Two Ceramic Pots

Two thrown pots.

Columbia River Tugboat at Kalama ~ 3/24/2008

I painted this from a bench in Marine Park at the Port of Kalama. This tugboat headed upriver hauling a barge. A few sprinkles fell on me. The hills in Oregon are interesting and the cottonwood trees across the river are showing a first color.

Red peppers ~ Allan Wise March 23,2008

I like red peppers!

Lake Sacajawea ~ Longview, Washington March 22

Lake Sacajawea Longview, Washington

Marie and I painted these pictures today. My watercolor is of a structure in the Japanese Garden on an island in the lake.


Marie's oil painting is painted from the structure I painted. To find out more about her work visit her website.

Happy Good Friday.....Is It Spring yet?

My daffodils are in bloom, but it seems so cold to be Spring yet!
Marie and I enjoy the blue glass in our windows. It's like having a blue sunshine.

Longview ~ Kalama ~ Watercolors

Ayle Point on the Columbia River is a peaceful place near Kalama, Washington. The Longview Theater was constructed in an Art Deco style over 80 years ago. The Longview Public Library's Cupola is interesting architechture.

A Squinting by Allan Wise

Eyelashes prismed against the sun
Filtering light through a squint
Casting my eyes like the crack of a gun
Without the weaselest hint

To six gulls painting black on sky's blue
And silver stroking cloud white
Climbing the heavens threads of a screw
The course of a stringless kite

Allan Wise ~ Three Watercolors 03/15/2008

Three Planters ~ March 14,2008

If you love beautiful art, check out this site!

Kalama View of Columbia River

Japanese Garden ~ Lake Sacajawea ~ Longview Washington



This is the view from my home in Kalama, Washington overlooking the Columbia River.

Newest Grandson, Silas

This is my newest grandchild, Silas Roman Wise. He's almost two months old.

Lake Sacajawea - Longview, Washington

March 8, 2008 - Allan Wise

Marie and I did plein air paintings at the south end of Lake Sacajawea. This lake provides many opportunities for painting subjects. Marie did an oil painting of some fresh iris stalks. This is an acrylic painting 11"x 14". I painted from a bench at the very south end of this manmade lake. Lake Sacajawea is very scenic, and has many beautiful old trees. The lake is over two miles in length and is a favorite local walking and picnic place.

New Orleans Plein Air Watercolors

Saxaphone Player on New Orleans Riverfront

On the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Riverboat in background

St. Louis Cathedral
Andrew Jackson Park
New Orleans

These Plein Air Watercolors done on vacation in new Orleans

Sunflowers: After Vincent Van Gogh

Still-life with Four Sunflowers by Vincent VanGogh. This is my attempt to copy a master.

I love his work!

Columbia River at Kalama

This is a watercolor painting from our home in Kalama, WA. The Columbia River view is spectacular.

Longview Community Church / Lake Sacajawea

This is the last vase from my class.
March 3,2008

Marie & I did plein air paintings at Lake Sacajawea. My work is acrylic.

Pottery - February 2008

These are a few of the pieces I threw in the beginning wheel class at Georgie's in Portland. I used the class to get some Grandpa time for my new grandson, Silas.

You can find pictures of Silas on Marie's Flickr site.

North Island at Lake Sacajawea

North End of Lake Sacajawea

This is a plein air painting I did with my wife Marie in Feb. 2008. Marie's painting can be found on her blog or her website.

My painting is watercolor. Hers is an oil.