first impression of beauty and sublimity

Forest Grove show opens tonight (Wednesday, sept. 3rd) Hood River Plein air show opens Friday (Sept. 5th) details below

'Celebrate Forest Grove' offers music, art opening and food excerpt from The Hillsboro Argus

"Celebrate Forest Grove" is the theme for the First Wednesday event, Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Forest Grove. The Celebrate Forest Grove theme will focus on local organizations and events for the whole family. Features include live music by Reload, art vendors, wine tasting from ten local wineries, outdoor barbeques, farmers market, kids booth, comedy improv and food and retail specials in historic downtown Forest Grove. Valley Art Association will hold an artists' reception for its September and October show during the First Wednesday celebration. The show, "Of Earth & Sky," will feature oil paintings by Michael Orwick and raku pots by Barbara Hertel. The reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the gallery, 2022 Main Street, Forest Grove. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Hood River Show Opens Friday Sept 5th

Painting Outdoors from the Mountains to the Sea September 5 through 29 Columbia Center for the Arts 215 Cascade Street Hood River, OR 97031 541-387-8877

This year is the 4th year of the Pacific Northwest Plein Air painting competition. 30 regional artists (listed below) are participating in this year's juried show. As in previous years, there is a writing component to the show. This year, 12 writers (listed below) are participating in those events. The show opens on Friday, September 5, and extends through the end of the month. Artist Reception Vista House at sunset 30x40 by Michael Orwick Please plan to meet the artists at the opening reception on Friday, September 5, from 6-8pm.

Poetic light (Columbia Gorge from Hood River)

16x20 Painted in Plein Air By Michael Orwick As in previous years, this year’s “Pacific Northwest Plein Air 2008” exhibit focuses on both painting and writing about our natural surroundings. Painting This is a juried show, with 30 artists selected from many entries (see list of artists at the bottom of the page). The artists are dedicated to the historic tradition of painting directly from life. Plein Air artists promote a heightened visual appreciation of our area by sharing with the public our combined knowledge and experience through exhibitions of the highest caliber. Writing The writers will also observe nature first-hand and will create prose and poetry that capture their experience. A reading of the works created by participating writers will be held on Septembr 14. The Anthology of the writers' works will also be unveiled at that time. Works will subsequently be posted on this site. To learn more about the Plein Air Writing Exhibition and Anthology, click here.

Columbia Gorge view of Vista House, sunrise - photo byMichael Orwick Letters on Landscape Painting (en Plein Air) -A.B. Durand "In recommending you, in the beginning of your studies, directly to Nature, I would not deceive you with the expectation, that you will thus most speedily acquire the art of picture-making—that is much sooner acquired in the studio or picture gallery.I refer you to Nature early, that you may receive your first impression of beauty and sublimity, unmingled with the superstitions of Art—for Art has its superstitions as well as religion—that you may learn to paint with intelligence and sincerity—that your works shall address themselves to intelligent and sympathetic minds, and spare you the mortification of ever seeing them allotted to swell the lumber of the garret and the auction room." Excerpted from The Crayon, Vol. 1, No. 3, January 17, 1855. Collection to read much more of this beautiful letter http://www.myamericanartist.com/2008/08/letters-on-land.html 30 Participating Artists In the Hood River show Mitch Baird Celeste Bergin Janet Bland, Eric Bowman Donna Clark, Gregg Caudell Emily Dyches, Mary Lou Epperson Peter F. Fox, Terrence Gasca Scott Gellatly, Joe Howard Carol Jacquet, Eric Jacobsen Mike Kowalski, Don Lonsbrough David E. McNeill Michael Orwick Dennis W. Porter Mike Rangner Cathleen Rehfeld Charlene Rivers Todd Smith Susan Sutherland David Taylor Donna Van Tuyl Beth Verheyden Eric Voigt Karen Watson Bonnie White