Portland Open Studios, Washington County Open Studios, Calendar

I am in the Portland Open Studios tour (Oct. 10-11, 17-18, 2015) and the Washington County Open Studios tour. 

(Oct. 17-18, 2015)

This is your chance to go to the artist's studio, see their workspace and their processes.

I have been setting up all the things I want to show you. :)

 Here is the Portland Open Studios catalog....

.....and the maps to different artist's studios that you can visit over the four days.
It's been really good for me because I have to think through what my process is: taking pictures, setting up a still life, drawing, painting, etc. .

Along with my approach to painting, I've decided to have a calendar and note cards available during the tour. 

I like to paint on wood panels, so I ordered 12, 10"x 10" to do flower paintings for the calendar and note cards.

These cradled boards have a very nice, smooth, 1-1/2 inch edges, so I decided to tape them (with Painter's tape) because I don't know if I am going to leave them natural, stain them, or paint them. 
Since I only have one working hand, I put the tape on the side of the table and pulled down.... 
it worked perfectly!

The boards needed to be prepared by using gesso as a substrate. Gesso is designed to penetrate supports and provide a surface to which paint can adhere. I am going to try Krylon Gesso Spray. 

More to come!

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  

"To Kill A Mockingbird", by Harper Lee, narrated by Sissy Spacek 

Podcasts: 
American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball
Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

The Nerdist, Patrick Stewart, hosted by Chris Hardwick

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

The Chalene Show, hosted by Chalene Johnson
Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner
"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal
Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto KasperTruth For Life, hosted by Alistair Begg

Music: 
My iPod

Really helpful!:
I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check. Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

"Golden Tulips" and Jo Reimer's Studio

"Golden Tulips"

12"x 16"

oil on canvas, 1" profile 

$425

Click here to purchase

Jo Reimer's Studio

I had the pleasure of visiting my friend, Jo Reimer's house and studio, and enjoying coffee 
in her beautiful back yard.

"Mattie's Garden" 

quilt

 Upon going to her studio, I was struck by this absolutely gorgeous quilt she had made. I had no idea that she also specialized in making quilts. I learned that she has a degree in Home Economics/Textiles and Construction, and that she taught in junior high and high school for several years as well as at the Oregon College of Art and Craft.

 " ...I stuck with using the threaded needle, art quilting,...and sewing until 1998 when I turned off my sewing machine... and leapt into fine art...." - Jo 

The whole atmosphere in her studio is awe-inspiring with all those art books, 

places to draw, paint, and lots of beautiful paper!

 "My favorite way of  working is what I call collage painting. I apply dye, ink, watercolor, ...to paper...to create interesting collage papers that are uniquely mine." - Jo

" It's like my cooking...I sort of follow recipes 
but mostly I wing it!" - Jo

She takes maps and shreds them...

...and combines  them with collage and paint, to make these wonderful pieces of art.

Then...

..."I create my own sketchbook/art journals in which I make 
plans, journal about art and life..."- Jo

She also takes her sketchbook traveling. She has a fabulous sketching kit 

and a tiny watercolor set that she made herself!

She is having an Open Studio this weekend, 

October 4 and 5, 2014, 11 am to 5 pm. 

11990 NW Maple Hill Lane, Portland, OR

Jo Reimer

Thank you to Randall Tipton for introducing me to Jo 

and thank you to Jo...

I had a lovely time at your house/studio! :)

Listening to while I paint:

Podcasts: 

The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper

American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Christopher Kimball

Music: 

My iPod

Really helpful!: 

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check! Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)