66 Wooded Path

66 "Wooded Path" 8x8 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable 

A wooded pathway that meanders around clustered trees and out to a clearing, makes one think of solitude and cool air. This little painting portrays the scene in a very impressionistic way. I am enjoying this movement towards a more painterly impression of these scenes (from yesterday's painting to today's).

I had a joyful afternoon sharing time with my artistic mentor, teacher and friend. She is closing her gift shop and studio and retiring after many years of diligent and attentive work. It's a bit nostalgic and melancholy to see this chapter closing, as I will miss our impromptu get togethers. Yet at the same time, I am excited to see what this new upcoming chapter of her life will hold--a very hopeful time. So with this autumnal season comes change in many forms.

65 River Willows

65 "River Willows" 6x3 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

The oranges of the river weeds are so lively against the hue of the water. I wanted it to look like a bright and crisp day. We are blessed with our many rivers and trails here in the mid-Columbia region of southeastern Washington.

64 Two Apples (SOLD)

64 "Two Apples" 3x3" oil on board, copyright Laura Gable (SOLD)

A tiny effort for a busy day. Art Walk was tonight and so the day involves cleaning, organizing and making a pathway through the studio to welcome in the visitors. What a lovely fall evening, of crisp air and light spirits. This little miniature was based on a still life I set up on the palette table. Alas, I got paint on the sweet little honey crisps, so I can't eat them. They are so tasty this time of year.

63 Grazing (oil sketch)

63 "Grazing" (oil sketch) 8x8 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

The set of the body of these 2 grazing horses, near the Lowden Lavender farms, was quickly sketched here in oil. Though I've used very little paint, I like the feel of this little piece.

Click for info on the 100 in 100 challenge.

62 Late Bloom and Harvest (SOLD)

62 "Late Bloom and Harvest" 8x8 oil on panel, copyright Laura Gable

Dismayed today...

and that's ok,
the colors have a mind of their own--

leaning towards extreme, and a bit dark.

Autumn's sun is moving quickly today,

and my brush is moving slowly.

C'est la vie -- an attempt, though feeble,

is still making for a better day

than one spent counting beans

or counting cattle's legs and dividing by 4*...

and so it is what it is.

*reference to my old accounting jobs, and a friend's comment when I applied to do the books for a livestock company
(it didn't come about ... though I was an accountant, it seems, in another life).

61 Hearkening Autumn

61 "Hearkening Autumn" 8x8 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

With the turn of the calendar comes cooler weather, trees turning color, and pumpkins for sale in the grocery. I couldn't resist getting this sweet little pumpkin for a new still life. Am enjoying the contrast between the blue surface and the orange of the pumpkin. One of my favorite color contrasts.

60 Back Lit Trees (SOLD)

60 "Back Lit Trees" 8x8 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

In his book "Landscape Painting", Mitchell Albala suggests that we paint landscapes from life, rather than from photographs. He likes to take black and white photos of outdoors and then re-imagine the colors. I've been working a bit with this concept, and yesterday's painting was done entirely from a black and white photo.

This painting came from a photo of a local sunset with it's misty tones, which I modified by bringing in more color, and lightening the back row of trees. The foreground trees were borrowed from another. I like the overall feel of this little painting--with all it's layered paint, reminiscent of van Gogh. Did you hear about the paintings where he was squeezing color right onto the canvas, during his frenzied period. Art restorers have taken tiny pins into his deep mountains of paint and discovered that they are still wet deep inside. Amazing.

Happy 60th painting. I think I'm getting on a roll here ... though I do feel like I have no life outside of painting. ;-)

59 Bygone Era

59 "Bygone Era" 8x8 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

This little vignette was based on an old photo I picked up at the Roxy Antique Store. She has the neatest treasures tucked into her shop. It's quite a community there with Ann Steiger and her many vendors. Last week there was a box full of old photographs from a family, long passed. I found this little black and white and really enjoyed the composition. It was a treat to experiment and make my own color choices. I've been in a nostalgic mood and this was just the perfect painting for this perfect day.

 I have no idea if this is a common color of old cars back in this bygone era. I'm not that up on old cars, so if anyone can help me identify the make of car I would appreciate it. Perhaps it is an old Buick??

58 Autumn's Foliage (SOLD)

Today's painting uses the warm Autumn palette, and a rich greenish blue for the water. Today, I studied the amazing art of Joaquin Sorolla, a Spanish painter born in the 1800's and died in 1923. A master colorist, he painted rich shadows, luminous skin tones, and was masterful in his treatment of water. I am in awe. Check out his amazing body of work. http://www.joaquin-sorolla-y-bastida.org/
You could say this painting was influenced somewhat, by his exquisite work.



58 "Autumn's Foliage" 6x6 oil on panel, copyright Laura Gable

57 painted chair and "Vision"

Painted Chair, Laura Gable

The Painted Chair auction event is a fundraiser which includes many of the downtown merchants. The auction will take place during the Women's Expo on Oct 14 & 15th. I'm really loving this sweet little chair that I painted today, with its turquoise and aqua peacock seat and metallic taupe back and spindles. It looks great in my studio. Kinda don't want to part with it. ;-)



Painted Chair, close up view of seat, Laura Gable

I was able to double up a painting on one day so I can still count this day towards my goal of 100 paintings in 100 days. It's gone through a few revisions, and has a softer element than what I'd previously posted. An old painting that didn't quite work out, made the perfect under painting for this little painting... with parts of the original peeking through.


57 "Vision" 8x10 oil on canvas, copyright Laura Gable

56 Parisian Kitty

56 "Parisian Kitty" watercolor on paper, copyright Laura Gable

Fran-swah, the Parisian feline, models the new Fall collection "Bad Doggie" by acclaimed designer Puzz N. Boohtz.

(Having a little fun today with my watercolor class at the local Cancer Center.)

55 View Off Gibbon Road

55 "View Off Gibbon Road" 12x12 oil on panel, copyright Laura Gable

I had an opportunity to paint outside today. Most of the haze from the Wenatchee and Ellensburg wildfires had settled down, and so there was some blue sky to be seen. Though the very back hillsides of Rattlesnake Mountain were barely visible. It made for a moody afternoon. I feel my composition is getting stronger. I am finding the value of doing more extensive planning before the brush hits the canvas.

54 Pristine Vista

#54 "Pristine Vista" 5x7 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

Today I visited the most beautiful place in the United States. Well, at least I went there for a few hours by way of a mental painting excursion.
A few years ago in late September, we visited the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park -- a gorgeous time of year to visit. Down the path from us and tucked further back in the reeds was a moose feasting in the marshes. We could see it from the path but kept our distance. It was amazing to be so close to the wilds of nature, though some people get aggressively close.

I love the play of the oranges against the soft blues of this pristine sky and water. The majestic peaks just lift the spirit. Can't you just feel the brisk air on your face as you stand in awe looking at this fabulous sight.

52 Green Vessels and Figs

DS Watkins brought me the most beautiful clay bowl full of these lovely figs. It pairs nicely with my green tea pot. So I made a little vignette still life. (The figs were tasty, but when I went in today to the studio, they were covered in a fuzzy mold. Oops. I'm glad I'd blocked in their colors yesterday ... bye bye figs). I redid the background, and just reposted it...so if you saw it before, you might notice the difference.


52 "Green Vessels and Figs" 12x12 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable