Latest painting from the PatternArt easel. This square format painting was produced in anticipation of a possible mural. Nancy and I go camping on this beautiful river every summer among the big trees and hanging moss. This will be the first year camping without Olive, our trusty canine companion, she loved swimming in the cold clean water.

Sketching is important for determining composition, values, and can prevent problems with the finished painting. It’s also important as a regular practise with observation, the study of light and shadow, texture and form within nature. I was particularly drawn to this image because of the composition; the diagonal slash between the sunlit and shadowed forest along with the central winding turquoise river. The angled eagle in flight adds perspective and compositional tension to the painting.

The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour is gearing up for the 2023 season. We are already in the last week of our first group show at Chuckanut Bay Gallery, check it out if you get a chance, its really a good showcase of our local talent. Other group exhibitions this summer will be at Jansen Art Center, Dakota Art, Allied Arts and the Whatcom Museum. The Morgan Block Artist community will have four studios open to the public during this year’s event which will take place October 7,8 and 14,15.