GOOD PASTURE BRIDGE

On a recent trip up the McKenzie River east of Eugene we crossed the Good Pasture covered bridge. When we looked back we could see the fall colors framing the bridge.

I like the composition and the light and dark values of the shadows on the bridge rails and the interior of the bridge. I also like the tree trunks on the right and the reddish-brown color of the road. The branches arching over the bridge seem to have gotten lost in the background, however.

The painting is 24" x 18" and 30" x 24" framed.

GINNY @ 50

My friend Ginny spent a year planning her 50th birthday: a two week sailing trip through the Caribbean with five of her best friends. Ginny has sailing experience but went to sailing school so she could captain the 46 foot sailboat. This painting came from talking with Ginny, looking at her photographs of the trip and reviewing her sailing magazines. I then developed a drawing that I hoped embraced her experience.

BRUCE'S RED TRUCK

This painting is from a photograph taken by Bruce Fingerhood of his old red International truck. The backdrop is along the Willamette River near Springfield, OR.

I liked the serenity of the image and the reflection of the trees and sky on the windshield. There is a lot of light shining off the truck body even though it is an older vehicle. The truck really came to life for me when I painted the headlights. It gave the car a "face" and a personality.

I liked how the leaves are scattered in the foreground and the color of the foliage in the background, although I'm not enamored by the way I painted the trees. I think they could have been less distinct. I tried to blur the leaves a bit, but decided not to get too carried away. I have a couple more fall paintings to do so I can experiment with the leaves in those paintings.