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.

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

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.

Water Lilies

High on the water

Stepping stones for catching rays

Shading fish below

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.

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).