Getting buzzed in the morning

This morning I had a surprise photo op. I heard an airplane flying very low outside, grabbed my camera and went out to see what was going on. There was a cropduster spraying a grass seed field nearby and his flightpath brought him fairly close.
Below are a few photos that I took. (Click an image for a larger view)

Albany Artists Exhibit

Friday is the last of two drop-off dates for our Albany Artists Exhibit at the Giustina Gallery at Oregon State University. The exhibit is being sponsored by the APES (Albany Painting Enthusiasts) and the Albany Arts Commission. The exhibit will open at the LaSells Stewart Center on Saturday, May 1 and run through May 31 with a reception on May 7, 6:30-8:30.

My digital painting below, featured in the February 18 post, is one of three pieces I will be exhibiting.

Mt. Hood

We topped off a 300 mile Sunday drive up the Willamette Valley, then through the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River, and around Mt. Hood, by going up the mountain as far as the Timberline Lodge. New snow was glistening on the slopes higher up. If you look closely (click the image to enlarge) you will see some dark specks on the lower left ridge which are hikers (maybe climbers?). They lend a sense of scale to the scene.

Rocks and Water

Here are a couple of images from the recent trip down south to Brookings. There are more of each type at my Image Odysseys Blog. (Click on the images below for larger views).

WSO Convention

The Best Western, where the WSO convention was held, can be seen across the harbor at Brookings. Stephen Quiller was the juror for the exhibition, gave some excellent critiques, and made a demo painting on the last day of the conference. A special technique he used in the painting involved laying in a thin glaze of color with acrylics to tone the paper, then using watercolors through the remainder of the process. The acrylic wash does not seal the surface or form a resist as I might have expected. And the overlain watercolor layers can be removed down to the acrylic paint without removing the previously dried acrylic wash.

A week-long workshop being taught by Stephen Quiller for 30 WSO members should be wrapping up shortly today.

WSO Convention in Brookings

Watercolor Society of Oregon members from Brookings and the townspeople were very good hosts for the WSO Convention held there this past weekend. There was plenty to see and do, good food to eat, and scenic views/subjects galore. Harris Beach State Park, just a mile north of town, is certainly one of my favorite locations on the coast.
Many thanks to those who put together such a fine convention, Horst, Lorelei and all of the others involved.

Now I am looking forward to the Fall 2010 Convention in Salem. It is being held at the Phoenix Grand Hotel and Salem Conference Center October 1-3. The juror and workshop instructor will be Karen Vernon (www.karenvernon.com).

Albany Artists Juried Show

Poster by Lynn Powers - Painting by Heather Kier
(See a larger view of the poster by clicking the image)