Re-entering the studio is never easy after a holiday. It always requires some time to get the flow back. This year, I decided to start back with acrylic, the most forgiving medium. I’m working on a series of pieces about the dark forest. I want it to feel like a welcoming, sheltering place rather than a forbidding one. Color is my primary vehicle to communicate...
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A fresh start for the new year should include some clean, fresh color in the palette, and that got me thinking… I don’t think I’ve ever posted about my choice of colors or my actual palette before. I’ve migrated between several different watercolor palettes, including the Robert Wood palette that my first instructor started me on. One thing I...
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This is a painting from my workshop at Umpqua Valley Arts last month. I’ve been absent from the studio most of this month, preparing for the holidays, enjoying the camaraderie of friends and fellow artists. Thank you for your interest in my work and support over the past year here at my little internet home. According to my stats counter, this year has seen over...
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It’s been busier than usual around here, with the holidays right around the corner, kids coming and going from college, and new critters here on the farm. An art and facebook friend Katherine Dunn posted an appeal from a friend of hers who needed to re-home two wethers before Thanksgiving. We finally got around to meeting and both decided that her boys Puck &...
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For some reason I thought the weather was going to be sunny again today, and I had planned to work in the garden. I have some bulbs that need to go in the ground… grape hyacinths and snowdrops. I want them to have plenty of time to soak up all this RAIN and build their beautiful blossoms for spring. Oh well, I guess I will work on something I keep thinking about...
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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of sharing with friends and family. I know I did. One thing that I’m so grateful for is being able to pursue my passion for art. I’m looking forward to sharing that with like-minded individuals at Randall Tipton’s upcoming workshop here. I asked Randall to write a bit about the workshop… only three...
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My terrific students in Roseburg! Everyone had fun, and worked hard Tim & Michelle View from our UVArts Center Classroom “Saturated” copyright Ruth Armitage 2011 Watercolor on Yupo...
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This watercolor flew home from Golden, Colorado this past weekend, fresh from the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia show, juried this year by Cheng Khee Chee. I was happy to see it traveled safely in its cushioned box I had been agonizing over which image to enter in the American Watercolor Society this year… and this one won out. I chose it because I really love...
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Yesterday I delivered work to the Riversea Gallery in Astoria. It was a great, uncrowded, day at the beach. I had the chance to pop in to White Bird Gallery in Cannon Beach on the way home to visit the paintings of one of my favorite Oregon artists, Randall Tipton. When I was teaching my “October Spark Session” I showed some of Randall’s work to my...
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It has been a busy weekend here in Oregon City! Friday night I had my opening at Blenda Tyvoll’s Victorhill Farm, just up the road. It was a very nice party and we were busy all evening. I had some nice sales, and a lot of fun too! Thanks to everyone who attended! Then yesterday I spent most of the day there, visiting with customers. Later in the evening,...
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I’ve been busily framing and finishing paintings this week for my exhibit at Victorhill Farm which starts tomorrow! Do you think I have time to do one more new painting? Ha Ha Here are a couple of new ones that I plan to show I hope you can join me! I plan to be there for the Preview Party Friday night from 6-9 pm and Saturday & Sunday from 11-5. It is...
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I don’t know what it is about fall weather that kindles so much energy for me… maybe it’s the crisp foggy air, the promise of spiced cider, freshly planted hyacinths, the warm scent of pumpkins and the catharsis of clearing out the garden after another growing season has passed. We’ve been filling the freezer with the bounty from our farm, tilling...
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There are many reasons to Clean one’s home: A Clean home is a healthy home Company will be here in less than an hour You’ve lost that important check that you meant to deposit last week Your mother is visiting tomorrow You’re tired of looking at it all You don’t have the energy to go in the studio Someone moved out You’re giving a party Only...
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I had a wonderful trip to Sara Swink’s studio this past weekend for Portland Open Studios. I had fallen in love with her work when we taught together at Menucha for Creative Arts Community. Since then I’ve been wondering how I could get one of her beautiful pieces into my home. Sometimes it takes patience to acquire a piece of art, and this was no exception....
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I’m really looking forward to seeing a friend and mentor, James Kirk, on this Thursday, September 29 from 2-4 pm. His stunning show “Face Forward” will open at the North View Gallery, Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus (CT Building) at 12000 SW 49th Ave., Portland OR. I hope you can see the show, which runs September 29 – October 28, 2011....
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Archival matt and Simple brushed metal frame, local delivery or shipping within the continental U.S. included Saying goodbye to summer is never easy, but I love the cool crisp weather and the return to routine. The image above is not the best shot of this painting… I’m not sure what happened to the photograph, but you can’t really see the calligraphy...
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Tweet “Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.” -Unknown Little by little my garden is starting to fill in. This is the time of year when all the weeding and planting starts to pay off, and these last few days of summer become even sweeter with knowing that they will soon be changing to fall. I thought...
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My husband & I had our 25th Wedding Anniversary this month and to celebrate, we took a trip to Colorado to visit our son & his girlfriend. They are working at Florissant National Monument, just west of Colorado Springs, near Pike’s Peak. There was a nice article in the Pikes Peak Courier mentioning Tim and his girlfriend Michelle for their work with youth...
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“A Great meal is like a fireworks display, nothing remains.” – Paul Bocuse I beg to differ with the comment above! Last weekend I had a wonderful mini-retreat with three artist buddies: Judy Wise, Jenny Wentworth, and Melinda Bloom. We met at Judy’s house for a feast of fresh vegetables and homemade baked goods that would set your tummy rumbling if...
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It’s been a busy and productive few weeks. As soon as I got home from the Salem Art Fair, we had two adorable exchange students from China arrive: ‘Vi-Vi” and ‘Emily’. They made the most of their few weeks here, heading for classes downtown every day, including shopping, tourism and more shopping. They kept us hopping and introduced us to...
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It’s been a very busy couple of weeks, trying to finish projects at home before I head off tomorrow for Menucha. I’m getting so excited about spending the whole week making art, renewing friendships and soaking in the quintessential beauty of this retreat center in the Columbia Gorge. Some of my favorite artists will be instructors as well: Susan Cowan, Sue...
Learn MoreI can’t believe it’s been over a week since the Salem Art Fair! What a wild, wet weekend it was….. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to come by the show in spite of the rain! As promised, I’m sharing the results of my recent survey. I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond! I got most of my responses from those who get my email...
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“Summer Night” copyright Ruth Armitage, Acrylic on Paper 22×30″ Available $1100, Matted in archival rag mat and framed in a textured copper simple frame. No Delivery charge in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Contact me for Shipping Costs “When you begin to act on your creativity, what you find inside may be more valuable than what...
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I’m interested in the preference of my readers… what you like about my blog vs. my email newsletter. Do you read both? Which do you prefer? Why? I’m hoping you’ll take this short survey… As an incentive, I’m giving away a print of your choice from my Etsy shop to one lucky participant. I will draw a name by random number selection...
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Summer is here, and that means one thing… hanging out in the beautiful Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, under the oaks… people watching, talking art, listening to music, seeing my ‘peeps’! I’m getting excited and I hope you will be able to stop by. For more info, visit www.salemart.org. I’m in a new booth location this year: Aisle 17...
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