Mondriana

Journaling

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:44:28 GMT

Obviously I am not a journalist. I paint therefore I spend little time here and more time painting.

Accepted at Broderick Gallery

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:37:57 GMT

Two of my paintings have been accepted in to a show at the Broderick Gallery down town Portland, Oregon.
"Unexpected Beauty, Street Views"
Proceeds benefit Street Yoga (a Portland non-profit organization for helping youth on the street)
The show hangs from February 5, 2009 through the first week of March.
I'm moving up in the world.
:-)

Honorable Mention

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:21:21 GMT

I won an award.
News From... The Kingstad Gallery Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters' Annual Exhibit 2008
Expressions of Nature/Expressions of Self

juried by George Broderick, Eric Kingstad & Lora R Fisher

awarded me an honorable mention for my "End of the Tile Factory" painting.

www.kingstad.com/gallery/gallery_home.html

I actually painted the scene while with the Pacific Plein Air Painters group out of Hillsboro but was able to enter in this show with others I painted with the Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters.

Cafe Painting sold

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:10:12 GMT

Look Look I sold another painting. "Cafe in the Heat of the Day" sold at our local annual Columbia Arts Guild event held in conjunction with the Scappoose Sauerkraut Festival. The owners of the cafe purchased it. If you come to Scappoose you may be able to view it in the near future at the Old Town Cafe E. Columbia Avenue, right next to city hall and the police station.

New NW Coast Native American Designs

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:43:39 GMT

Man have I been away from here for a long time or what?

I don't seem to be able to journal, blog and paint at the same time.

But I do have two new trompe loeil designs finished, have been painting plein air all summer and have 5 works in a show at the Kingstad Gallery. "Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters Expressions of Nature/Expressions of Self"

For a sneak preview of the show go to http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

x

Sold Sold

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:33:21 GMT

Sold is such a lovely word. Two of my paintings sold at the South Store Cafe in Scholls. One was a wetland stream scene and the other was sunlight through a hole in the roof on an old brick chimney.

Very satisfying to know someone likes them well enough to pay for them.

Painting Today

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:39:52 GMT

Went painting today in the yard of one of the Pacific Plein Air Painters. His wife works for the doctor I used to work for for more than 8 years. She is also a Master Gardener and they have a lovely forested area with all sorts of flowers and benches and bird houses and trails and wonderful things to paint. I started a nice little painting with a small birdhouse bench and some Iris in the foreground. Now I have two unfinished outings with Iris.

I hope to be able to go to the Portland Rose Garden to paint soon and then to Lake Sacagawea in Longview. Those will both be beautiful this time of year.

Finished paintings

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:11:06 GMT

I have completed the Sauvie Island Reflections paintings I was working on and have it posted in my blog. I entered three pictures of it so you can see the stages it went through.

http://maeona-maeonasart.blogspot.com/

I have been busy painting and my husband has been busy making frames for my work. The weather is still so iffy that it makes it hard to plan to go out to paint. Last week three of us carpooled to Salem and the Schrieners Iris Garden to paint. What a beautiful place. They have way more than just Iris and we had a great day painting. There were also other artist and photographers gathered there as well.

Sauvie Island Paint Out

Mon, 19 May 2008 20:39:39 GMT

I went out with the Portland Plein Air Painters to Sauvie Island one day recently and painted. The day was cold, windy, and sometimes rainy. There were 6-8 of us set up inside a wildlife bird watching station painting views over a small lake. At one point in the day a bus load of 20-40 kids unloaded to identify birds but really didn't accomplish much. They asked us about painting and tried not to get in our way but it was really crowded under the roof. As they were leaving I pointed out some swallow nests under the roof and a robin's nest at the end of the building otherwise they wouldn't have seen anything. They all piled back on the bus and headed to their next stop. Can't imagine that any self respecting bird wouldn't just flee at first sight of them. Anyway, I have about completed the painting back in the studio. It has turned out ok but nothing in really thrills me yet. I have a second painting drying too that I did of a culvert and pond at Peteresen's Farm in Hillsboro with a couple of other ladies from the Pacific Plein Air Painters. It seemed rather blah at fist but I have now added an antique tractor to it that gives it something to look at.

South Store Cafe Art Show

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:36:15 GMT

Yipeeee! I sold a painting. That is always my first reaction. My second one is oh dear I will never see that painting again. Then I remember I have photos of it in my files.

The one sold was "McKay Creek Wetland". One of my 2008 Plein air paintings.

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

Portland Plein Air Painters Group

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:01:23 GMT

I have just recently joined the Portland Plein Air Painters Group online and I plan to go to my first meeting with them this coming Tuesday. This should give me more choices of places to go paint. I really enjoy my small Pacific Plein Air Painters. I feel very comfortable in the smaller group but my ArtBiz coach says branch out and try "scary things" so here I go.

Colored Pencil Folk Art Bible

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:13:13 GMT

Ok, yes I know I'm a bit crazy but I get bored just reading. After all artists are visual. So I am creating my very own colored pencil folk art Bible. As I read through each chapter I make notes about things that I visualize. I then draw them on a poster size 24" x 18" drawing paper and proceed to fill it in with colored pencil. If you want to take a peek at it here is the address:

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

American Trail Gallery

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:49:51 GMT

Whopeeeee...

I have had five pieces of my NW Coast native American designs accepted at American Trails Gallery in Ashland, Oregon.

Orca
Frog
Shasta Bear
Facing Raven
Eagle/Raven engagement set

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

Upcoming Show

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:17:44 GMT

"Colors of Scholls"
Pacific Plein Air Painters
May 6 - June 29, 2008
Opening Reception
Saturday, May 10, 6:30

South Store Cafe
24485 SW Scholls Ferry Road
Scholls, Oregon

Paintings inspired by scenes and landmarks of
Scholls, both now and then.

urbanart@centurytel.net

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

A Sunny Warm Day Finally

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:57:50 GMT

It is going to be 75 and sunny today instead of Oregon gray.

Yesterday I sent 5 Northwest Coast Native American designs to American Trails Gallery in Ashland, Oregon. I have packaged two watercolors for shipment to Salem, Oregon and am getting another watercolor ready to send to Cincinnati, Ohio. I am putting finishing touches on an oil painting for a show in Scholls, Oregon. Feels good to be productive and have the sun out!

Latest Plein Air Paintings

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:07:39 GMT

My latest 2008 plein air paintings have been posted to my wetpaint site.

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

Spring Dance entry-3

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:29:14 GMT

A very interesting thing has happened. I've gone out on the web to look for a picture of the painting and have only found a version that has adults "line dancing" with a very similar airy background.

Do you have any enlightenment for me?

Spring Dance - entry 2

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:13:51 GMT

I started typing this little ditty about a painting called Spring Dance in hopes that it would inspire me to write something more than I got and did my chores and then went to my studio and painted today. That's just what I have been doing lately. I have orders for sending 5 of my Northwest Coast Native American designs to American Trails Gallery in Ashland, Oregon. I also have an upcoming show with the Pacific Plein Air Painters group. That show will be "Colors of Scholls', at the South store Cafe. So I have just been busy painting and not very creative typing.

Spring Dance- entry 2
"Poets, artists, and musicians alike love to sing of the spirit of spring. It is a story each one tells just as he likes, but no two stories are ever the same.

One modern painter, Frans von Stuck, has told his story of spring as it has never been told before. He knows the happy season is just beginning. He knows it is the youth of the year. He knows all nature is waking to life. Everything is new. Everything, is fresh.

All his colors are as light and airy as the gay young figures sporting about. The trees are a light leafy green. The sky is a delicate blue. The clouds are airy and light. Even the distance is o'erspread with a delicate haze.

Early golden buttercups are laughing in the bright green grass. Above dance the gay, lithesome maidens in tints of green, yellow, and violet. The whole scene is enveloped in the soft, delicate atmosphere of early spring.

While the figures frolic about, the trees, the clouds, and the distant hills swing in the tune of their dance. the tree, at the left, leans with the two figures nearest; that at the right turns its leafy branches echoing the figure in violet. Even the clouds take on the curves of the dancers. The artist has left a rift of blue above which repeats, with outstretched arm the maiden below. This the artist makes all teh parts of his picture swing together. It is this that makes rhythm, and gives music to the whole scene.

The painter added a touch of brilliant red to the picture. This gives a beautiful strong note to the spring song. It helps to keep the dancers down to earth; otherwise they might go flitting off to the clouds, so light and airy are they. This brilliant note serves as a happy contrast to the bright pretty green of the hilltop. Notice that it is repeated ever so little, at the left and right, in the subtle suggestions of flowers."

"Oh to live is to be jolly!
When Springtime cometh with
The summer at her heels!"

My personal spring this year has been colder here in Oregon than in the past. Record rain, record, cold, for the month of March. Maybe that is why I have been drawn to this painting and why my own creative skills seem to be drained.

Spring Dance-Breslau Gallery

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:10:44 GMT

Artist: Frans von Stuck
School: German
Dates: 1863-

Spring Dance-A painting of six youth holding hands and dancing in a circle on a hilltop.

"Ring ting! It is the merry springtime!
How full of hear an body feels!
Sing hey, trolly, lolly,
Oh to live is to be jolly!
When springtime cometh with
The summer at her heels.!
James Bennet- "The Master Skylark."-The Century Company, 1897.

Air and sunlight! Dance and song! This is the spirit of spring! Blue Skies! Leafy trees! Laughing buttercups and daffodils! Oh, to live is to be jolly

When springtime cometh with The summer at her heels!
So sang our maidens, everyone, as they skipped far away from the life of the world to the high green hill-tops beyond. Here they sing and dance, and dance and sing, with sunshine in their waving hair, and flowers at their feet!

Great Pictures and Their Stories

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:00:57 GMT

Great Pictures and Their Stories-Lester

How to Look at Pictures
"You must look at pictures studiously, earnestly, honestly. It will take years before you come to a full appreciation of art; but when at last you have it, you will be possessed of the purest, loftiest, and most ennobling pleasures that the civilized world can offer you." john C. Van Dyke.

Mentzer Bush & Company-The House of Beautiful Books-New York-Chicago

Great Pictures and Their Stories-Interpreting Masterpieces to Children-Book Five-By Katherine Morris Lester-Director of Art Education in the Public 'schools of Peoria, Illinois

Copyright 1930 - I was given this book by my mother and I find it quite engaging. I decided to share it with you all in here.

Foreword
Picture Study is rapidly becoming an important factor in education. "Nearly every progressive city," says the Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C. "is making use of some form of picture study in its school system"

The twentieth century has ushered in the reproduction of masterpieces in color! To what heights of delight the children of our schools may be carried by the famous pictures of the world in color!
It remains only for the elders to choose pictures adapted to the childish interests; pictures which will cultivate a taste for the best in art; pictures which through the impressionable early years will lead to a true understanding and appreciation of the world's masterpieces!

In preparing this series of readers it has been the aim of those selecting the pictures to consider always the child's interest. The field of pictures is large. Not only have the "old masters" been drawn upon, but masters in modern art as well, including moern American Artists. Thus constantly, through this series of pictures, the principles of beauty which made possible the "old masters" of yesterday are seen again in the art of today.

In the preparation of the text the child's interest and his ability to read are carefully considered. Real picture knowledge is conveyed in the child's own language.

In the primary grades the interest is largely in 'what it is al about." Consequently the text aims to satisfy this curiosity, and at the same time lead to unconscious observation of those things which are most alive to the little child.--color, life, action.

The vocabulary for Books I, II, and III is based on "The Reading Vocabulary," the Horn, Horn, and Packer list. 1925

In the intermediate grades, a lively interest in the story is always uppermost. Gradually an appreciation of picture-pattern develops. Simple elements in picture making,--i.e. center of interest, repetition of line and color, --may be intelligently comprehended by children of the intermediate grades.

In the grammar grades great interest in the story continues, and with this interest there develops an appreciation of HOW the story is told, --the real ART of the picture. The pupil not only learns that the picture is a masterpiece, but WHY. He thus acquires standards for judging other pictures.

Each picture is followed by a short sketch of the artist, told in a key adapted to the age and interest of the child.

The questions which follow the text will assist in developing an intelligent appreciation of the picture.

The author is particularly indebted to Miss Jennie Long, recently Supervisor of Primary Education, Peoria Public Schools for valuable criticism of the primary text. Grateful acknowledgment is also made for the opportunity of practical work with a selected number of primary stories in the schools of Peoria.
The manuscripts of the intermediate and grammar grade books have been submitted to teachers of these grades, to whom the author
is indebted for helpful practical suggestions.

The MUSICAL RENDERINGS for the pictures have been graciously contributed by Eva G. Kidder; Director of Music, Peoria Public Schools. The author believes this to be a very valuable feature of the test-book series. The Author.

My collection begins in Book Five.

Illustrated with reproductions in color from the original masterpieces, by Courtesy of the Art Extension Society of New York.

Salish Art

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:31:13 GMT

I've been reading a book titled "Contemporary Coast Salish Art" very interesting book about how Native American artists are using traditional art forms and modern media to continue an ancient art form.

"The life of an artist is not an easy one, but rather one that requires vigilance, determination, experimentation, patience, and a strong mind. Because the artist calls upon the spirit realm for guidance (k'w edicut) and because the artist must become intimate with thenatural world the Creator has left for us, it is a blessed gift to be an artist." Vi (taqw vseblu) Hilbert

Old Tile Factory

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:16:01 GMT

Well I went out painting again today with the Pacific Plein Air Painters. We went to an abandon clay drain tile factory. Two great big brick kilns with arched stoking doors. Lots of debris around. A huge chimney that has begun to cave back in on itself at the top. Lots of burnt sienna and rust and old wood. I'll have to finish it in the studio. I took lots of pictures to paint from.

I need to get last times painting from McCay Creek Wetland posted in my wetpaint.com site.

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

Painting, Websiting, Logging Paintings, Sending out Feelers

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:36:38 GMT

Busy busy busy.

I went again last Wednesday to McCay Creek Wetland with other artists to finish what we started last week. It is so nice to be out again.

It has been a winter full of indoor activities. I've been working on and updating my web presence.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Maeona%20L.+Urban/34330.html

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

http://maeona-maeonasart.blogspot.com/

and of course here.

I have entered art showdowns in Saatchi-gallery and my voting rate has been in the mid 6 point range out of 10. That seems to be universal average. So I have a goal to get something in to the 7's. I have been rated as high as 6.8 but just haven't gotten to 7 yet. I'll keep trying.

I have many more pieces of artwork in my wetpaint.com site. The Saatchi-gallery limits us to 20 pics, which is up from the original 8 we could enter before on the site. They have also added a place where we can post our work for sale with no commission. I'm trying that too.

My wet paint site has my Plein Air work, my Northwest Coast Native American designs, my Florals, and my watercolors in it now. I still have much more work I could add.

I have also started a blog with my artwork. If you want to check out my new studio I posted some pictures of it. :-)

A fellow that inherited one of my NW Coast design carvings contacted my through Saatchi-gallery and asked if I could give him an insurance amount. Well they all were numbered and I have the dates and places they were sold so I can give him that. Since I no longer am able to actually carve them and I have just recently begun to paint them trompe loeil, I can give him the price it sold for then and let him get an estimate on how much it might be worth now.

So between my Artbiz.com coach telling me to keep more accurate books and his request for information, I have spent many days now going back through my old paper work to and from galleries, the paintings on my walls at home, the paintings in my studio, the works I have donated or gifted, and logged them by:
Title
Category (Portrait, Landscape, Floral, etc)
Medium
Size
Year
Location
Price
Status

Lots of work but well worth it to document my art. Besides it has given me good feeling to see in black and white how much I have done over the years.

I have also purchased a new printer, and it works! So now I can get on with making my new business cards, postcards, fliers, etc that I need to promote to galleries. Today I am sending off a letter of re-introduction to American Trails Gallery in Ashland where I used to sell my carvings, along with a slide, a photo, and reference to my other work on wetpaint.com hoping to get my new trompe loeil designs in to the gallery for sale. I really miss doing the carvings but this is turning out well.

Went Painting Again...Finally

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:16:07 GMT

I went out with the Pacific Plein Air Painters yesterday. I started a 12" x 6" of a small stream with tree reflections in the water. It was so nice to be out painting again after all winter. We are meeting at the same location next week to finish what we have started and possible do another. After painting we went to lunch at a quaint little Thai restaurant in Hillsboro and then I went to see the new gallery and studio area there where some of the Plein Air group have their work. Sequia Gallery + Studios. Very Nice!

My 2007 Artist Self Evaluation

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:40:00 GMT

My 2007 self evaluation: Here is an inventory of questions to prompt your memory.

How did you promote your art? I made an E-mail list, took new paintings to Lofted Lair Gallery,
What did you do to enhance your online presence? Added more paintigs to my Saatch-Gallery website, I built my new Wetpaint site, Started liveJournaling, and I started my Artist blog.

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Maeona%20L.+Urban/34330.html

http://urban-plein-air.wetpaint.com/

http://maeona-maeonasart.blogspot.com/

What technological skills did you learn or improve? My Website skills improved.
How many people did you add to your mailing list? I only added a few but I organized what I had.
Who were the top ten cool or influential people you met?
Did you create a new business card, portfolio, or other marketing piece? I updated my business card.
What medium or skill did you attempt or master? I attemped watercolor, restarted my NW Native American art in acrylics instead of wood, and moved from studio to plein air in oils.
What did you try that was completely new? I entered an art competition.
What did you try that was uncomfortable, but helped you grow? I competed in and placed honorable mention in a Plein Air timed competition.
What new art events, galleries, and museums did you visit? Glenn & Viola Walters Cultutal Arts Center www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/wcac .
What resources did you discover?ArtBizCoach.com
How did you improve your studio habits?
What books did you read to help your career?
What seminars/workshops/lectures did you attend? I attended Internet Workshop Stores on Line.
What organizations were you involved with? I have been with Columbia Arts Guild since 1980,but I just joined with Pacific Plein Air Painters.
What grants/honors/awards did you receive?
What articles were written about your work?
What submissions did you make? I applied to the Hillsboro Arts and Culture Center
Where did you save a wad of money?
What was the single best thing that happened to your art career in 2007? The Hillsboro Plein Air Competition was the most significant thing because I did something scary, and new. It started me on a path with other artists and a new style of work.

Know This . . .
It's easy to look at what you haven't done and feel overwhelmed.

Think About This . . .
Looking back on what you have accomplished will show you just how far you've come and help you feel better about the process.

Do This . . .
Celebrate your wins in a year-end ritual. I suggest writing it down by hand before adding it to your computer or blog. It's so tactile--so real.