Railyard visit with my photography friends

I met up with some photography friends on a overcast day last week. We spent some time looking over the these rail cars parked in place near the Lampson buildings. Many had been rusted by nature, and sported layers of writing from kids with cans of spray paint. Some were pretty elaborate. I took shots of a few and played with them in photoshop. It was a fun way to express creativity in a different manner today.

Other blog

Check out my other blog where I have been posting my daily painting's for the month of January 2016. I'm up to 6 little studies so far. 
http://ldgablepainter.faso.com/blog

The website there is a work in progress. I've been gradually migrating my other site over to this FASO site where it is a monthly fee rather than a lump fee at the beginning. Much more manageable for me at the moment. And I like the cleanness and simplicity of the new site. Not flashy and as colorful, but perhaps it suits my style better at the moment. Once I pull the plug on the other site it will be fully functional and the name will switch back over to lauragable.com. Not exactly sure what is keeping me from pulling the plug, but it is something I really need to get done here rather quickly.

Furrowed Fields

"Furrowed Fields" 8x8 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

This was painted on location looking down the Webber Canyon on a hazy winter day before the fields filled in with lush green. On a clear day you can see both Mt Adams, and Mt Ranier.

We've had haze this summer from the wildfires. With the exception of the lack of green, the scene is quite similar.

Rattlesnake Mountain at Golden Hour (sold)

"Rattlesnake Mountain at Golden Hour" 8x8 oil on board, © Laura Gable, SOLD

As the Autumn day was fading towards evening these lovely peach tones appeared on the horizon and flooded the land with it's luminescence. I was privy to be there painting this scene, and added the golden tones before they faded away. The air was brisk with a slight chill - perfect and lovely Autumn weather. A fabulous afternoon spent painting with a dear friend, was a welcome reprieve from a taxing day.

Pleased to have sold this painting while it was on display at the Anelare Winery in Benton City. A beautiful place to sip wine and enjoy artwork. Visit when you can.

Clouds Overhead (sold)

"Clouds Overhead" 8x8 oil on board, ©Laura Gable SOLD

I've been doing quite a bit of plein air painting this year. I set out around late December in 2014 resolving to complete at least 2-3 paintings a week. I didn't go so far as to require one per day, because I know what that does to me and my creative psyche. So during the cooler, less colorful months, it was interesting to see what colors I could see in these sueded hillsides and the surrounding toned trees and brush. This was painted from an overlook near the Columbia River where the Yakima River merges into this expansive waterway. The largest mountains in our area are treeless. An odd claim to fame, but even Wikipedia acknowledges that fact regarding this Rattlesnake Mountain.

Rattlesnake Mountain (Native American name Lalíik meaning "land above the water") is a 3,527 ft (1,060 m) windswept treeless sub-alpine ridge overlooking the Hanford nuclear site. Parts of the western slope are privately owned ranchland, while the eastern slope is under the federal protection of the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve, a unit of the Hanford Reach National Monument, managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Rattlesnake Mountain is often described as the tallest treeless mountain in the world, but this claim appears to be without foundation.^[2] The highest winds recorded on Rattlesnake were around 150 mph (241 kilometers per hour).[3]

Just yesterday winds up on Rattlesnake were clocked over 100 mph. Glad I wasn't up there with an easel. ;-)

Sage Bouquets

"Sage Bouquets" 5x7 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Living in eastern Washington, we are surrounded by rolling hills complete with clumps of sagebrush. The tones of the hillsides swing towards lavenders and gold at times. This little bouquet was begging to be painted.

After the Rains (sold)

"After the Rains"
12"x12" oil on board, ©Laura Gable
SOLD

Welcome back to my blog. This is a painting I recently did in the studio. Most times my camera is with me, and I was thrilled to capture this lovely scene off Wheat Road in Kennewick, after the storms blew through in the springtime. Our horizons are mostly soft rolling hills of sage, rabbit brush and cheat grass. I love the way the clouds and their energetic movement seem to contrast with the rolling landscape. And of course, who doesn't love the orange and blue contrast. I'm pleased that this painting is heading to nearby Yakima for exhibit in the 59th Central Washington Artists' Exhibition at the Larson Gallery. It will be on display there for a month.

I painted this on an Ampersand Aquaboard (intended for watercolor). When I prepped the board with a thin wash of oil paint mixed with medium, it made for a lovely surface for oil paint--with enough tooth to catch the paint and yet still allow blending. Hope you enjoy this painting.

Signs of Americana (sold)

"Signs of Americana" 8x8 oil on board, ©Laura Gable, SOLD

My family owned this motel on the edge of town where I grew up in Nebraska. We enjoyed the common scent of fresh soap, and crisp linens. My siblings and I were the maids - each with a different chore from bed making, dusting, vacuuming and bathroom cleaning. My Dad would often leave coins under the beds and in the drawers to see how well we checked things. While the 6 small dark wood lined rooms were often occupied by travelers along the Lincoln Highway, some truck drivers and many harvesters came during wheat season. Many of our renters were frequent visitors, and friendships were formed. We would fill up during the summers, especially the end of July when people would stop on their way to the "Grand Daddy of them All" Cheyenne Frontier Days 100 miles away. The whole town would fill up and room rates would double. Not fancy, but always clean. It was our home and many memories and funny stories were born here.

This sweet painting went to a new home today. A brand new home, in fact. which is almost completed and custom built by the owners. It will be decorated mid-century modern. I'm sure this painting will be a great addition to this lovely new home.

Picking Lavender

A recent outing to the nearby lavender fields garnered a fairly good plein air painting and a stress free, enjoyable day spent painting with a dear friend. While there I observed the many visitors floating through the fields, their legs and feet obscured by these fluffy topped plants. Some with parasols, some in floppy hats, most in light floaty clothing perfect for a very warm day. All were carrying the flat woven baskets provided to pick their own fragrant bundles to take home. The scene has an air of romance to it, intensified by the Parisian music playing in the nearby barn which we caught strains of from time to time. This small group of 3 caught my eye, especially the little boy so exuberant in his black felt fedora. As my niece would say, he was quite "fedorable" ;-) I enjoyed painting this the next day while in the coolness of my studio.

If interested, you may purchase this painting here: https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/laura-gable/picking-lavender/245237

"Picking Lavender" 8x8 oil on card, ©Laura Gable

Duffy's Pond

My plein air friends and I painted this lovely pond scene near Clover island off the Columbia River just to the north of my studio a few years back. I enjoyed the darkness of the shadowy area compared to the brightness of the autumn tree. This has a sketchy quality that I enjoy. Not every leaf or reed is identified. I am offering a summarization of the objects, and a syncopation of color and form. The eye fills in the rest.

"Duffy's Pond" 9x12 oil on canvas board, ©Laura Gable

Coming Home (sold)

"Coming Home" 20x24 oil painting on canvas, ©Laura Gable

I painted this a few years back when I was doing a nesting series. During that time, I had discovered a sweet, private new studio, where I was starting to feather the floors and walls with things that meant a great deal to me -- ephemera, rugs, easels, art and supplies. A lovely heart centered place where I still create. The painting, though it has some apparent inaccuracies, captures a certain feeling deep within the brush strokes. For me it hits a note in the heart -- something not always easy to logically recreate in other paintings.

Don't we often go to places in this world that somehow resonate on a deeper level with us. As though we've been there before--a sense of deja' vu? Our heart strings are stirred by something immeasurable… like the sound of bird call combined with the color of the sky and rustle of the nearby grasses. That kernel of something sweet and light, that just hearkens back to happy times spent with loved ones, family and friends.

One time I gazed with tears in my eyes, at an artist's pastel rendition of soft golden wheat fields under a deep blue sky. Another time I stood in awe at Cezanne's series of small "bathers" paintings, and I was overcome. These feelings can be mysterious, noting the sublime aspect of art.

I'm pleased to send this piece off to a wonderful new home, owned by the new local hospital. My heart is happy.

On another note, I heard recently that my college art teacher, Mr. Dillon, has passed. The last time I saw him, he was hanging art in the lobby of the office building where I worked as an auditor in Lincoln, NE. I know, a far diversion from the current path I am on. He encouraged me to continue with art, but I followed those more practical pathways. Does "practicality" really translate to "fear"? Reluctantly, I wish I had reconnected with this favorite teacher of mine once I had returned to art--wondering if he would remember me? Alas, a bit late now. Ah but my heart does recall his kindness, clarity of teaching, and unflagging support. A very special person, indeed.

Distant View

"Distant View" 8.5" x 2.5" oil on panel, ©Laura Gable

Abstraction of land with hills alive with deep red tones, a distant mountain peeks out from behind.

(This is the painting featured in my masthead on this blog.)

Mischievous

"Mischievous" 6x6 oil painting on board, ©Laura Gable (not for sale)

In honor of Father's Day a few days ago, I thought I would repost this painting I did of my Dad a few years ago. He is now 84 years young, and very active and healthy. He and my mom are quite the world travelers, and recently came back from a trip to Paris and the wine region of France last year. Astonishingly, they went to the little cafe that Van Gogh painted -- luminous golds and yellows in the outdoor cafe, against the deep blues of the night sky. It is in Arles and quite the tourist destination. Ah, a dream of mine to go there.

This study was based on a photo of my Dad. He had a mischievous look on his face, as a small kitten had curled up and fallen asleep in the crook of his arm. I've been hankering to do another companion piece of my mom, so will see if I have some good source material to do that soon. 

Lavender Bliss (sold)

"Lavender Bliss" 8x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

SOLD

The lovely lavender farms keep coming up in my journeys through photos and through these daily studies. There are several located in our dry region of southeast Washington, some even offering plein air opportunities. This one in particular is located outside Walla Walla just east of here off a dirt road named Frog Hollow in Louden, WA. The Blue Ridge Lavender Farms offer beautiful views of the back pastures and blue mountains seen occasionally from higher points of the yard. Out front, this little drying shed was compelling - tucked in next to the tall poplar offering a bit of shade to nearby horses at pasture.

Paper Birch Bouquets (sold)

"Paper Birch Bouquets" 12x12 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Our snowfall was quite lovely this past week, starting on a very frigid evening. But all together we had a little over 6-8 inches over 3 days, a rarity in this eastern dry shrub-steppe region of Washington state. My attempts to paint out of doors yielded a small study, which I evolved further in the studio. I'd like to say this was painted fully on site, but much studying of the scene was done at later times using my super powers of observation. Well anyway, it was a lovely scene on a overcast day of these soft shadows and paper birch trees clumped together like bouquets.

Family Time

This is a series of portraits I did in 2012 of a very handsome local family, which I realize I had not posted back then. The small paintings were 6x6 in size and the larger was 9x12. The portraits were all done based on photography - I had only met 2 of the people (and the dog ;-). The client provided a plethora of photos yet not all were of the best quality, nor were they all of the specific pose we were after. It is really difficult to create a face from elements in different photos -- especially if you've not met the person. I wouldn't advise it. In fact, if I was to do this over again, I would request a sitting with each person and factor the sittings into the price of the portrait. 

I do enjoy the finished quality of the paintings with the juicy loose brush strokes. I had just come back from a workshop by Dreama Tolle Perry and studied her bright use of color and transparent paints. Her influence is very evident in these paintings. 

He had a lively personality from the photos "Lassez-Fair" 6x6 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

The youngest son, 6x6 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

The son who was in the military, 6x6 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

The daughter, 6x6 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

"Piercing" The same daughter (in a different pose), 6x6 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

The fun loving and very driven parents, and a sweet old labrador (SAM?), 9x12 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Cloud Scape

"Cloud Scape" 8x10 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

Painting clouds can be challenging as there are no hard edges. This is an attempt doing so from a photo of a distant horizon and the earth curving away above. I'm not sure I've captured the curving away of the sky, as this was very vast. I do like the feel of it though, and the bits of orange that crept in on the left side of the lower sky.

Today's awareness: I have this wanting to create scenes from memory, yet I find I do much better if I have something to reference in front of me while I paint. Seems like a simple awareness, but it is powerful none-the-less.

Golden Canopy at Zintel Canyon

"Golden Canopy at Zintel Canyon" 11x14 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

An autumn day's sojourn into the thickets and pathways of Kennewick's Zintel Canyon, had me stop awhile before this majestic tree. Painting in the Fall is so enjoyable, with it's mixture of wetness and heat, and the various odors marking evidence of the underbrush's nubile composting process. The occasional rustling and clatters from large golden leaves falling behind me, keeps my awareness sharp as I stand intently painting off the path.

Though painted in the fall, I did do some touch up today to unify things and work out the shadows on the troublesome dirt of the pathway. Today's goal was to work with golds and yellows in a lyrical fashion. Also while working, an awareness came to me about the necessity the artist has to design the scene on canvas -- to alter nature if necessary to make a more pleasing story in paint. This I believe will be a life-long pursuit.

Sage Land (sold)

This day's goal was to wallow in the oil paints and use a limited palette-- using only the paints I have here at home. Well it worked for awhile until I realized that the last dregs of white were not nearly enough. Landscapes need a lot of white!! I do love the blues I was using here -- cobalt teal and another softer King's blue from Rembrandt that my niece recommended. Anyway this one is based on our land here in the shrub-steppe region of eastern Washington. Oh and it was painted from a photograph taken earlier in the first wisps of the Autumn season. I like the composition and may consider it for a larger painting later.

"Sage Land" 5x7 oil on canvas, ©Laura Gable

Icy River Sketch

Iced River--Columbia River @ the Richland Y.
I loved the melodious movement of the young branches.

The day sunny and the temps warmer than usual, though still not warm enough for this fair-weather artist to paint on an icy Columbia River shoreline near the Richland Y. I always sketch before painting anyway - gives me a better opportunity to work out composition. As you can see by the boxes inside the sketch, the image kept growing and went from vertical to horizontal format. It's a great view of Rattlesnake Mountain, all lavender and shadowed, peeking above the horizon line while the low water in the foreground was still frozen over. The breeze off the icy surface chilled my fingers in fingerless gloves, and I knew my easel would likely rock about so I'm saving painting for another day. 

My day's goal was to "be in the landscape" and so for about 30 minutes, I was. I did paint in the studio afterwards for a bit too. Will post that painting at a later date.