There are times when Im not sure what to paint and feel a little stuck in my creative practice. This is when I know it’s time to go outside. When I step out the door, whether its in my backyard to observe the visiting birds, the way the light shines through the trees, or to just to breathe the fresh air, I feel a waft of inspiration come to me .

Earlier this summer in June, I woke up early with a clean slate, nothing on my agenda and a free day to do what I pleased. So I packed up my painting gear, breakfast sandwich and a mug of hot coffee, put on outdoor wear, put my dogs in the car and ventured off to Sauvie Island at 7am. It was a beautiful clear sunny day as I headed about 30 min out of town to one of my favorite places to paint.

Every time I cross over the Sauvie Island bridge, I slow down my pace to observe the incredible landscape. It’s so amazing over there, with view of Mt Hood, Mt Saint Helens, and Mt Rainier all at the same time.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the whole landscape.There is a lot going on, so much to see, to much to fit a small piece of watercolor paper.

Preliminary sketches for a painting study

The beauty of watercolor lies in the luminous washes that create the illusion of light and space. Learn to understand the relationships between color, value, wetness and composition as the magic of watercolor is revealed.

When I paint birds, I get to know their personalities, as well as the distinguishing marks and exquisite color patterns.