Tag Archive | Landscape

Siletz Bay October Morning

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.

A Pond in the Slough

Oct10

Inspired by treks across various savannahs and sloughs in Oregon, and particularly a recent visit to Basket Slough, looking down from the hillside towards a number of ponds and small lakes.

This piece was done using a selection of Schmincke pastels which recently entered my rotation. I’m very pleased with them.

This piece is available for sale.

Nightlight

Oct5

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.

September Sunrise

Sep27

Inspired by a recent sunrise, seen in McMinnville, Oregon. I find sunrises give me a sense of hope. I’ve been needing them a lot more lately. This is available for sale.

This piece is my largest pastel to-date, and is also on a different surface; Sennelier pastel card. I did my very first pastel on a small sample and I was very pleased with the results. I like the coarseness of the grit on this card stock. It holds pigment well. More delightfully than the texture and tooth of the card stock, I really like how well it stays flat (unlike the Claire Fontaine Pastelmat, which reliably curls).

July

Sep22

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

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”).

View of the Willamette River

Jul11

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

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.

Summer Sunrise, McMinnville

Jun28

I enjoy a beautiful sunrise. Happily, there are so many!

“Summer Sunrise, McMinnville, June 2026″ – 5″ x 7”, pastel on pastelbord

This June sunrise is done on Ampersand Pastelbord, using Blue Earth soft pastels. It captures the western horizon on a colorful morning, seen from a local trail.

This piece is available for sale. If interested, please contact me by email.

The Art of M. Elisabeth Howell

Capturing life in color and texture, and making it glow!