The Moods of Steigerwald

Fall's Approaching

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Last saturday i took another trip to the Steigerwald Lake Refuge, knowing and anticipating the first rains of the season were coming. One of my goals this Fall and Winter is to go experience the elements while painting en plein air in an effort to have those elements show up in my work. Its easy to go paint when its nice out, but what about the rain and snow? Not such a pleasant thought, but i am really looking forward to seeing how that truth, that raw weathering, impacts my paintings. I am sure that some will be touched up in the studio, but some will stay as they are and that is exciting to me.

The two paintings i did while there were a challenge; a challenge to adjust from summers high-key colors to rainy grays. I did get rained on a couple times which was a bit troublesome, but i am determined to capture the moods and attitude of these subjects, which is focused directly on Steigerwald. "Fall's Approaching" did get reworked in the studio, i just didn't feel it was strong enough, but "Path to Rain" remained true to the spirit of plein air painting and i resisted the temptation to fiddle with it.

Path to Rain

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Towards the end of my paint time, i met a group of 20 or so nature lovers. Wilson Cady, Environmental Education chair, Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards, was leading an annual Fall tour for The Friends of the Gorge. I really enjoyed meeting this group and we share similar passions; A passion for natural beauty and inspiring others. My hope is that my art will inspire others to experience the very places i visit while painting, inspire others to get passionate about art, whether that be appreciating it or creating it.

Being a plein air painter is interesting, for i have met some great people. Two weeks ago, while at Steigerwald, i met a couple from Wisconsin and we had a nice visit. It was great to chat with someone that is vacationing here to take in the beauty of the Pacific NW.

http://refugestewards.org/

http://www.gorgefriends.org/

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