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