Painter on the Scene as Greenpeace protesters hang off St. Johns Bridge to block ship's passage - KPTV - FOX 12

Well, I decided if those protesters were going to "decorate" our bridge so beautifully, I could show up and paint it, at least.  Somehow it led the 11 o'clock news. My mom would have loved it! See the news real on this link:



Greenpeace protesters hang off St. Johns Bridge to block ship's - KPTV - FOX 12

Photo from Huffington Post Article

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/30/greenpeace-suspend-portland-bridge-stop-shell-ship-arctic-drill-oil_n_7902020.html?1438255407

I'd like to help with this effort so let me know if you're interesting in purchasing this painting or a print to benefit Greenpeace's efforts to stop drilling in the Arctic.

Twelve Days, 21 Paintings!

My time at the coast was productive. The annual Sandgren Coastal Paintout happens for two weeks every July in the Newport, Oregon region and includes many beautiful state parks and scenic areas.

My 21 works, range in size from 36" wide to only 3". Some were quick "sketches": others more finished. I look forward to finishing and showing this body of paintings.

Seal Rock, 18x24"

Ona Beach, 16x20, oil sketch of family with kites

The beautiful, ever-changing scene I was painting at Ona. So fun to watch a family at play!

Rocky Creek, 11x14, Erik Sandgren paints in foreground, Carol Marine in distance with umbrella

My morning mist painting at Seal Rocks. (It was socked-in by fog)

Our afternoon critique with maestro Erik Sandgren

Photo of Seal Rock, one of my favorite places for scale and variety

My very large canvas at Rocky Creek Scenic Wayside

The Illustrious Erik Sandgren painting at Rocky Creek Scenic Wayside

Trees at Yaquina Bay (each 11x14)

Yachts Evening Light 2" x 2"

Yachats 20x16 (mostly done-except upper left)

Another view of all back on my studio floor

I Love Painting Bridges!

What a day! I am blessed to live in such a beautiful neighborhood and have a group of painters who like to get out and paint "plein air" (Frenchy term for painting outside, like the Impressionists).

Bridge Rhythms (work-in-progress), Oil on Canvas, 20" x 20", Quin Sweetman

Painter buddy from the neighborhood, Jodi Burton

End of the day, light dying, packing up

This is a larger painting for plein air but I'm going to paint larger more often as it is more freeing for gestural brushwork and compositions. Go big or go home!

Works in Progress

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've been remiss in posting on this blog lately but I assure you, I have been making art ... or attempting to do so. In winter, I tend to focus on painting still-lifes and figures from life model sessions. I hope to capture my subject's unique essence in a short period of time and the models often move but I try to stick to what struck me in the original pose. For those interested, here are a few works in progress which are nearly complete.

In my studio ...sunflowers 24x18", dahlias 14"x11"

Men can be beautiful too! Loved the graceful way our model posed

 (finishing right side of canvas/patches on figure)

24x18"

                                                      "Elizabeth in Repose" charcoal drawing, 17x14"

...Oh yeah, I was in the newspaper yesterday. Here's a link to fun portrait I did quite a while ago:
Duluth News Tribune Life Section.  I love to paint portraits of people and animals ... and it pays for more paint supplies/painting trips, so let me know if you'd like me to paint one for you.

Top of the afternoon to ya!

Quin