Pushing the Limits with Water Color Mediums

Drawing and Painting with Water Soluble Mediums

On a warm Fall day 15 artists met with Judy Hoiness at a Cascade Fine Art Workshops/ Atelier 6000 workshop in Bend Oregon to explore using new tools and new techniques with water soluble mediums. With Judy, an award winning artist, we discovered the versatility of using watercolor paints, sticks, crayons, pencils, and graphite on basic watercolor paper, Yupo paper, Tyvek and textiles. 

Judy shows one of the many techniques
for embellishing a painting

Judy holds up a sheet of sample techniques.

Pat Clark, a Master Printer, Teacher
and founder of A6, pulls a print.

One of my very simple examples.

We experimented with the various mediums on all types of surfaces and created prints by hand and by press. during the 3 day workshop we we experimented with the various mediums on all type 
of surfaces and created prints by hand and by press. We watched Judy do numerous demonstrations and each artist benefitted by working with her one-on-one.

Marty Stewart and Sue Manley, the Art Workshop coordinator.

Vivian at her work station trying to be creative.

Charlene Kenny shows her creative designs.

To learn more about Judy Hoiness, our talented teacher, and see her mixed media artwork visit her website at www.judyhoiness.com.

Exploring New Art Techniques

 An Art Workshop - Print-Making with Water Soluble Paints

A group of 14 artists met at Atalier 6000 to paint and print with Bend Oregon artist Judy Hoiness for a 3 day intensive art workshop. 

Plein Air Painting in Oregon's High Desert

Where Two Rivers Join 

Oregon’s White River ends its long run from the glaciers of Jefferson Mountain to the Deschutes River in the canyons near the tiny village of Maupin. My painting buddy, Shelly, and I were driving south along the Deschutes river looking for a good painting subject when we saw an exciting scene before us. There, at a pull-off parking area with tables, we pulled in right next to the river bank. There across the river we saw the pale, whitish-green waters from the White River mingling with the blue and white rapids of the Deschutes. There after flowing miles and miles through tall, steep-sided canyons the White River becomes part of the Deschutes River.

This perfect plein air scene was everything we wanted - bright sun, fluffy clouds, two rivers, and a railroad bridge completed the perfect picture we immediately began to paint.



The first hour was ideal; we both got a good start, Shelly with oil paints and I with acrylics. The sun felt good but we put up umbrellas to shade our easels. As usual the light played hide and seek and light winds blew, but then, strong gusts came up, our umbrellas rocked and then took off toward the river bank pulling some of our gear along. Alas, the winds continued to blow - too soon it was time to go - an abrupt ending to our outting.







Always on the lookout for future painting scenes we headed downstream to Shearers Falls and watched the brave men fishing from rickety platforms built out over the rapids. We wanted to paint here too but instead we took the bridge across the river and followed a winding road up and up. 














      
We thought we might find the White River again in the valleys in the high hills above, and we did, only 4 miles in. We found much more than a winding river, we discovered a small State Park. It is a day-use park featuring the White River’s multiple high waterfalls cascading from an half-circle of steep cliffs. We could see a full view of the falls - it was wonderful to see but the steep canyon made walking inaccessible except along the protective metal fencing. 

Paint Out at Smith Rock

We're beginning the Summer Paint-outs with a warm up session

Vivian and Shelly took advantage of the gorgeous weather to set up easels at Smith Rock to paint the amazing rock formations. It's so good to get out again and paint again!! 

                                                                                                                                                                                 

          

We had a successful day and each came away with a keepers although they may need some additional touching up. The  big Smith Rock paint out day is coming up on Saturday - June 22.  I'll be there, demonstrating along with 3 other members of the High Desert Art League. Come by and watch the painters at work.

                                                                                                                                                  

It's June already!! But I've been Painting . . .

New Works - Horses and Sunflowers

I spent more time painting "Running Free" to make it the perfect painting.  Three horses running with the wind - manes flowing and tails like flags in the wind - the mood is Wild and Free! Hot colors for hot-blooded horses, we can almost feel their exuberance! 

"Running Free"  Oil on Canvas  22" X 28"

Another Hot Item - the new "Sunflowers and Chickadees", an Acrylic painting on canvas showing the riotous life in a sunflower plot.

"Sunflowers and Chickadees"   24" x 30"  Acrylic on Canvas

Art on the River - Show and Sale april 26 & 27

ART ON THE RIVER  

at Eagle Crest Resort near Redmond

Come and join Me at this great Art Event.

 I will be 1 of the 27 central Oregon Artists represented.

A Percentage of the artists' sales and ALL the money made from the Raffle 

will go to the Redmond Schools Art Program -

 a worthy cause indeed!    

                             Visit my website to see all my paintings:   www.vivianolsen.com

Birds and Others in Pen and Ink

Wildlife Illustrations              

"Wolves"   Pen and Ink Drawing with Wash

                                                                                     For many years I did fine drawings with pen and ink, and later created drawings of wildlife on copper plates and produced fine prints as hand-pulled etchings.

My current interests about birds and other animals continues from working in previous years as an assistant to a research biologist in the back country in 3 different Western states. I observed, captured, and tagged ducks and cranes in their marsh habitats. I also raised several cranes for research

During those years I also did paintings and detailed illustrations of wildlife for the Research Center at the Univ. of Idaho, and for publications by the Fish and Wildlife Department in South Dakota.

"Dancing Cranes"

Some recent examples of my illustrations are these new sketches of Sandhill Cranes that I did for the book "TARSI - The Sandhill Crane" written by Liz Thach recently published and sold by Amazon. 

"Tarsi Baby"  graphite sketches

   

What's Up with MY Art these days??

RESOLUTION

I'm through taking my sabbatical with painting. I need to wallow in paint and accomplish amazing things. And I will, I'm just rebooting my brain to get back on track. Soon, Yes, soon. 

Like those who yearly make new pledges to lose weight or quit doing something,  I too have joined the crowd with firm resolve to do something - experiment more, become a loose woman with paint, and have fun with  my addiction - painting, creating! 
We'll see.          VCO

"Kestrel and Music" - a recent commissioned watercolor painting
which turned out to be very creative and made my brain work harder for a change.  

New Works

"TWO BURROS"  MIXED MEDIA

TRYING NEW TECHNIQUES

Every so often I like to break away from painting with oils and experiment with new 

ways of painting - mainly to loosen up. This time I started with Chinese brush painting   

techniques and did several fast ink practice sketches on Chinese rice paper.

I liked what I was doing but wanted to use a more substantial ground so I chose a pastel paper  and taped it to a board. I placed the board slightly vertically on a table easel. I had done pencil sketches of the burros so, using them as references,  I began drawing freehand with ink and a Chinese brush, loosely placing in lines and dark washes. 

After I had a good black and white drawing I changed from ink to watercolor. From that point on I continued painting with a loaded brush, allowing the paint to drip down. 

"BABY RAVENS"  MIXED MEDIA

No pastel was added to the "Two Amigos"

I loved the loose effect I was going for so I painted the "Baby Ravens" next. Using the Chinese brush painting techniques again I sketched in the forms of the birds with ink, then diluted it to fill in gray values. After brushing in some darks I added watercolor washes, still using Chinese brushes and using flowing paint. Finally, I finished the painting with touches of pastel and a hint of blue metallic watercolor which is sold as a powdered pigment. 

I'm energized by this new method and will continue using it to create energetic  and fun paintings.

See my other blog posts at:     highdesertartleague.blogspot.com

What comes first - Emotion or Creativity?

Vivian asks,

 “Does the ACT of painting STIR up deep emotional feelings, or is it necessary to have the emotions FIRST

 to even be ABLE to create?”

Vivian Olsen with some of her bird paintings!

        As an artist Vivian draws inspiration for paintings from her imagination and from distant memories of animals and places she has loved. Animals give her a sense of peace and calm and represent her conception of what is most perfect and good, so in her paintings she depicts her subjects as peaceful and beautiful creatures. The themes of her paintings are peace, joy, simplicity, and beauty. 

'Quail Family Hideaway'   Oil

Color plays a major role in her paintings because of the emotional feelings and reactions colors can impart.  She loves to use golds, oranges, and reds along with the earth colors of nature to create strong contrasts.  She designs her compositions with curves which provide the viewer with an easy visual movement through her painting and furthers a sense of tranquility.

She says,  “I love the act of painting because it minimizes stress as I move into what I call my “art zone”.

WALK on the "WILD & TAME" SIDE

First Friday for March is coming up in Bend's Downtown, a time when many new art shows have their Opening Receptions. Be sure to enjoy the evening's Art offerings by visiting Alleda Real Estate on Minnesota Ave. Vivian Olsen and Joren Traveller each have many new art pieces, paintings, as well as Joren's sculptures, in their 2 month long exhibit called "WILD AND TAME".

          

"WILD AND TAME" - A New Wildlife Exhibit

"Sandhill Cranes" Oil  by Vivian Olsen

"Big Horn Sheep" by Joren Traveller

      Two Artists, Vivian Olsen and Joren Traveller, both members of the High Desert Art League have each created a series of paintings using a single thought or idea, and by keeping some elements consistent while varying others. This unique exhibit, called “Wiild and Tame”, will be displayed for 2 months at Alleda Real Estate at 25 Minnesota Ave. in Bend, Oregon.


Observing the wildlife around her has always been a passion for Vivian Olsen.  Her detailed animal paintings capture the animal’s lively personality and its individual behavior. Vivian Says, “In my “Reflections” series I have created 3 oil paintings with water birds as my subjects. Each is designed using similar colors, style, and mood, all which contribute to the serene mood I wanted to capture of tranquil waters and a glowing warmth. 






Joren is an avid naturalist and enjoys traveling throughout the West gathering ideas for her paintings and sculptures. She works in paint and pastel to create wildlife she’s observed. Joren says, “I resumed my interest in art after retiring and began sculpting. I really enjoy the hands on feel of working in clay and get great satisfaction out of creating a unique character and personality in my pieces. Inspired by the Pronghorn antelope  I decided to paint a series called  “Horns of the Wild West."  

Websites:  www.vivianolsen.com ;                     www.JorenTraveller.com