Archives

Siletz Bay October Morning

Oct17
“Siletz Bay, October Morning” 9.5″ x 12.5″, Schmincke soft pastels on Sennelier 170lb pastel card, 2026

This piece was inspired by the changing landscape of Siletz Bay on an October morning of plein air painting on the fourth floor balcony of my hotel room. I delight at the sight of faint clouds of pastel dust floating away on the breeze. It was moody and misty as the day began. The lighting shifted quickly towards sunshine, sparkling off the surface of the water. I did my best to keep up.

The pastel card is wonderful as a pastel surface, but the coarser grit (compared to Ampersand Pastelbord) really tears through the pastels themselves.

Nightlight

Oct5
“Nightlight” 9.5″ x 12.5″, Sennelier soft pastels on Sennelier 170lb pastel card, 2026

This one was inspired by nights camping in the forests of Oregon, surrounded by silent sentinels and quiet nocturnal creatures. Safe and snug at camp, just the string of colored lights to dispel the darkness.

This was painted on Sennelier pastel card, which is new for me (I like it, and my very first piece was done on a sample of it, but I couldn’t find a local source at the time). The pastels are Schmincke, from Germany. Quite nice to work with.

What The Last Witness Saw

Sep22
“What The Last Witness Saw” soft pastel on Pastelmat, 2026, 7″ x 9.5″

Inspired by the unknowns of the future we’re creating right now. Will there come a terrible dark night, silent, on some lost shore, unseen, forgotten?

This piece is painted primarily with Henri Roche pastels. (Applying white over black and maintaining the density and clarity of each requires very pure rich hues.)

This piece is not for sale.

July

Sep22
“July” soft pastel on Pastelmat, 7″ x 9.5″, 2026

Inspired by the dread and destruction of western wildfires during dry summer months. This piece is painted using Blue Earth, Sennelier, and Henr Roche pastels, on Claire Fontaine Pastelmat.

Siltez Bay Low Tide

Sep22
“Siletz Bay Low Tide” soft pastel on Pastelmat, 7″ x 9.5″, 2026

I took a couple days on the coast to paint. I am fascinated by the tide coming and going from Siletz Bay. The most challenging detail is tearing myself away from the view long enough to paint at all.

This piece was done using Blue Earth and Sennelier soft pastels, on Claire Fontaine Pastelmat.

Oaks in the Mist

Aug13
“Oaks in the Mist” pastel on Pastelmat, 2026, 7″ x 9.5″

This piece was inspired by a misty morning hike down an oak lined trail. This piece was done using Blue Earth pastels, listening to Downliners Sekt (an old album, “Statement of Purpose”).

Summer Silhouette

Jul27
“Summer Silhouette” pastel on Pastelmat, 2026, 7″ x 9.5″

Inspired by a summer morning walk along a trail at the edge of Basket Slough, a stormy sky, and dry grass and meadow flowers. This painting uses Sennelier and Blue Earth pastels.

View of the Willamette River

Jul11
“View of the Willamette River” pastel on Pastelmat, 2026, 7″ x 9.5″

Inspired by a favorite trail along the Willamette River, and the springtime view at a favorite spot along the way. This piece uses a combination of Henri Roche, Blue Earth, and Sennelier soft pastels.

Stormy Weather

Jul10
“Stormy Weather” pastel on Pastelmat, 2026, 7″ x 9.5″

Inspired by the night-dark clouds of a storm moving in, and rain falling as a misty curtain over distant hills. This piece makes use of Henri Roche’s “Feu d’artifice” selection of dark pigments enhanced with sparkles.