Tidal Stream - Puget Sound Landscape painting

This is another Google Maps Street View Tour painting, Pacific Northwest edition. This little tidal canal was on the east side of the Olympic Peninsula. I've never been to the area before, so it was great to be able to "drive" around.

My posting may be a bit spotty, I have a painting that's a little bigger than I'm used to that I'm focusing on completing. I don't want to say what it is, but I'm REALLY excited about it! My small works will probably be 3-4 per week for a while. I'd rather paint fewer small ones than release ones I'm not satisfied with.

Clouds Over the Bay - Washington Coast Painting

Clouds Over the Bay - 6x6 

Oops! Meant to post this little one yesterday. This is the same bay in the photo yesterday, but a bit closer up. I liked the shot because the clouds really gave the sly a lot of depth. The Washington coast has a really amazing variety of clouds!

Grays Bay Grey Day - Coastal Washington Pacific Northwest Painting

Grays Bay Grey Day - Landscape - 6x6

While driving home from Ocean Park, WA, I snapped a couple photos from the four mile long Astoria Bridge spanning the Columbia River. This little painting is the result of one of them! I *think* Grays Bat is just between the foreground land mass and the distant coastal mountains, though if someone from the area has a better idea of the name/place I'd defer to them! It does make for a catchy title at least. =)

Valley Shadows

Valley Shadows

Valleys are tricky. I think my favorite part of this painting is where the low hanging clouds hide behind the closest hill, and the wisps of distant pines are gently poking out, while the cloud gently fades into the air. The reference for this one was again Chinook Pass, it's a beautiful drive even on Google Maps!

Clouds over Chinook Pass

Clouds Over Chinook Pass • Oil on Panel • 6x6

My husband described this painting as "a bit loose," which in his language means a little more abstract than is his preference. But to each their own! I was fascinated while taking my virtual trip over Chinook Pass by the interesting patterns made by the cloud shadows, only letting the sun occasionally peak through. I thought the shapes should take center stage, keeping the whole thing a bit more abstract than my usual work.

Chinook Pass View - Washington Landscape painting

Chinook Pass View • Landscape • 6x6

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Chinook Pass is one of the beautiful scenic areas that I have yet to visit. If my tour through Google Street View was any indication, though, I'll need to soon! It's simply a stunning area with looming views of Mount Rainier and those one of a kind, misty, clouds that make the Cascades unique.

Storm Over Wallula Gap - Columbia River Landscape Painting

"Storm over Wallula Gap" - Oil on Panel - Landscape

Basalt cliffs are always a problem for me. Which is a terrible, terrible problem to have when you live in an area that has basalt three miles thick! But I snapped the reference photo for this painting while watching a storm blow over Wallula Gap, and fell in love with the way the light hit the cheat grass and basalt covered hills! It was absolutely enchanting, and capturing the light in oil paints was exciting!

Darrington Mystique - North Cascades Painting

Darrington Mystique - 6x6

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This gorgeous view is one I snapped a photo of on our way from Seattle, through the North Cascades National Park, and out to eastern WA. The photo's colors definitely didn't do the blue o f the mountains any justice, so my memory had to help me with some of that! The clouds along our drive only gave the mountains an air of mystery, I wouldn't have had it any other way!

Tidal Pool Jigsaw - Ocean Landscape Painting

Tidal Pool Jigsaw - Landscape - 6x6 - Oil on Panel

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The most fascinating thing to me about the beach near Ocean Park, WA, is the dancing patterns of tidal pools. Always changing shape, reflecting back the different shades of sand and sky; they're simply mesmerizing!

Like the previous  painting, due to the wind while I painted this en plein air there is sand along the bottom. It's a feature, not a defect! The painting captured the essence of the beach, and took some actual beach along with it for good measure.

Ocean Park Sun - Plein Air Waves

Ocean Park Sun - 6x6 - Oil on Panel

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In order to understand the wonderful circumstances under which this was painted, you need to know that my family has visited Ocean Park, WA, annually for decades. Also, it is almost ALWAYS cold and rainy, as the WA coast is prone to be. Last weekend, however, the sun was shining and the temperature reached 90 degrees! It was absolutely amazing, and I have the sunburn to prove it. =)

Note: This was painted en plein air on the beach, and because of the wind there IS beach sand in it. I didn't want to risk messing up the paint trying to get it out.