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.

Sage and Gold

"Sage and Gold" 5x7 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

In late September, the cottonwoods and poplars are the first to dress their canopy in brilliant gold. It's as though they catch all the rays from the sun and hold it in every molecule of their being. They add brightness to any overcast day. But once the winds return—making their presence known with howls and gusts—these golden leaves struggle to hang on. Until finally, the last blast of coldness leaves them fluttering from their branches. And skirted about these lofty sentinels is a ruddy field of amber.

Russet Trio (SOLD)

67 "Russet Trio" 4x4 oil on board, copyright Laura Gable

​Sometimes the most successful pieces are the small studies. And this is quite small ... merely 4inches by 4inches. This one especially appeals to me, painted recently in oils. It was inspired by my cornucopia display of autumnal fruit. If fruit could talk, I wonder what conversations this sweet arrangement would be having.

SOLD!

Trio of grape themed paintings (SOLD)

A dear friend of mine thrilled me recently with a purchase of this triptych of grape themed paintings. The center painting is a re-painted revision of a larger painting I did titled Visionary. They make a lovely statement hung together in a grouping and measure 24 inches tall. She purchased it as a surprise gift for her husband for their 30+ year anniversary. Congratulations my friends.

Living in a prolific grape growing region of southeastern Washington, one is apt to paint a few images of grapes, close views of the foliage, and more distant representations of the rows of vineyards that cover these lovely hillsides. We are blessed with fairly mild growing conditions and long seasons. The amount of wineries and their artful tasting rooms has grown immensely since we've lived here these past 15 years.

Concord Cluster, Visionary Reprised, Golden Cluster ~ oil paintings on cradled masonite panels, ©Laura Gable

I always enjoy modifying a painting online, and was recently pleased with the way this one turned out. Perhaps the next time I approach a grape themed painting, I might just lean it towards the opposite of the "local" color and abstract it in that way. Sort of like what happens when you digitally alter the image by using the inverse command in Photoshop.

same as above, digitally altered in Photoshop.
Interesting that the blueish purple grapes turn golden and the golden grapes go blue.

Summer's Flower (sold)

"Summer's Flower" 8x8 oil on board (with an underpainting in acrylic), ©Laura Gable

If this painting has a similar feel to the last one, then you have a good eye. It was painted in acrylics (see previous post) and had such a dismal dull finish that I decided to brighten it up with a gloss varnish. But later decided that since the birch panel it was painted on was so porous, that the varnish would likely disappear into the surface and I'd be back where I started with a very dull lifeless painting.

So I gave it a coating of clear gesso and then went about to "touch up" the surface with oil paints to give it a bit more luminosity. After about an hour of this fiddling about, I discovered that very little of the original painting was left. Oh well, sometimes fiddling has good results. I'm much happier with this and it has a deeper color range than the previous piece. Edges ended being a bit more crisp than I'd intended but I'm calling it finished.

Hope you enjoy this depiction of my favorite summer flower.

This painting was just sold at auction at the dailypaintworks.com website. Here's the LINK!

Mandarin With Leaves

"Mandarin With Leaves" 5.75 x 5.75 art panel, oil painting, ©Laura Gable

This hearkens back to cooler weather again today. I guess it's because the weather here of late has been a bit autumn-like with it's rainy days and cloudy skies. I'm not complaining, as I love cooler moody days especially after we have a string of really hot ones in this almost Summer season.

"Nestled on a shelves and tucked into nooks, these mandarins add elegant pops of color throughout the studio. I love it that you can tell the holidays are approaching when these arrive at the stores with their lush green waxy leaves and stem type branches attached."

Enjoy this walk back in time to our pre-holiday days.

And another quote for the day:

"If you keep a green bough in your heart, the singing bird will come." 

-Chinese Proverb

A Friendly Nod

"A Friendly Nod" 12x12 oil on board, ©Laura Gable, $350 + s&h

The head dips low as I pass by -- it seems as though this friendly flower has something to say. Beyond just embracing it's cheerful beauty with the full yellow petals and wide open faces, I feel these flowers display a level of personality like the endearing faces of loved ones. Can't you just hear the sweet dialog beginning?

Like this painting? You can buy it online at the Daily Paintworks website:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/laura-gable/a-friendly-nod/148429

Pristine Vista (SOLD)

"Pristine Vista" 5x7 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

A look back in time to a lovely unspoiled vista in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. I have a hankering to return to these pure and pristine parts of the world that are so close to the natural state they've been in since the dawn of time. This was painted on board, from a photograph I took a few years back when we went to the parks in and around majestic Yellowstone.

Quote of the day:

If you keep a green bough in your heart,

the singing bird will come.

-Chinese Proverb

Late Bloom and Harvest (SOLD)

"Late Bloom and Harvest" 8x8 oil on board, ©Laura Gable

It certainly feels like the unofficial start of summer. June 1st always does that to me. So why am I posting pumpkins and late harvest roses? Well this is a painting on my shelf here that's in need of some love. SO... I thought I would share it so that "you" could send it some love. It's got some little issues all it's own, but then that's what makes it unique. 

What I do like about it ... is the way the periwinkle reflection on the cup shimmers, the reddish shadows cast on the punkin grab at my heart and attention, and the limey greens on the cup's brighter side have a luminous, playful feel to them. Don't we all feel better about ourselves if we focus on the positive aspects rather than what is "wrong" with us (and our work ;-). Afterall, we are only human and so fraught with shortcomings.

For today I also thought I'd share a lovely quote that so speaks to my heart. While cleaning out cupboards in my art room, I found this lovely quote I had scrawled on a torn piece of paper. I love revisiting it. Hope you enjoy.

"To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart ~ 

and to sing it to them when they have forgotten." 

-Thomas Chandler