Monday!

Happy New week painters and art appreciators! Do you have a lot of plans for the week? I do. Hoping I will be able to get it all done. This is a painting from the Sandy Delta park. 

Last Friday I attended a lecture by Thomas Kitts at the Columbia Art Gallery. This is from his presentation. Here he was talking about "Style vs. Mannerism". 

One of the things he talked about the popularity of Japanese prints and how it influenced artists like Mary Cassatt. So interesting! I hope he'll repeat this talk in the future in Portland. 

Bonus! I saw the current show at the Columbia Art Gallery (theme = gardens). The show has wonderful paintings... and they also included fabulous 3 dimensional "jewels" like this one.

Also....to see what everyone brought to last week's Thursday art discussion go HERE. :)

(Top Photo): Painting: Celeste Bergin, Two Trees at Sandy Park, oil on 10x10 canvas panel (purchase information here).

Tuesday!

It's been awhile since my last figure painting, so I felt a little rusty painting this today. In the end I felt this was a fairly decent oil study. (I've got plans for more life sessions this summer). 

I love these small sketchbooks that I get called "Pen & Ink".  I keep this photo of my friend Crystal tucked in the very back. (Crystal died a couple years ago). When I use every page I eventually "reach" Crystal's photo inside the back cover. I always transfer the photo into the next new sketchbook. It's just a cool way to remember her!  

A typical simple sketch from my sketchbook...  the people in line at the coffee shop.

Today, also, I stopped by to visit with celebrated Portland artists Jason Brown and Chris Haberman. They were working on art for their upcoming show (beginning July 31) at Goodfoot. The Paparazzi (Dave Burbach) documented their cool space and remembered that he helped his Dad deliver bread (many years ago) from this same location on Stark Street (when the space was "Luxury Bread").

L to R Jason Brown, me and Chris Haberman

(Top Photo): Oil study, Celeste Bergin, Jasmine, oil on 16x12 canvas panel

Weekend!

On Thursday I went to the usual art discussion meeting. The topic was "darkest dark and/or black". To see what all the artists brought....go HERE

(Painting) Celeste Bergin, Sunscape, oil on 8x6 gessoed hardboard

Tuesday!

My friend June Underwood recently moved and she offered me some Bankers Boxes. They are perfect for so many things....especially for storing canvas panels. So today I dragged a lot of stuff outside and spent the afternoon sorting and organizing. An hour or so into this project I really wondered why I just had to do this today. (It's only like the hottest day of the year).

Well, the effort was worth it....isn't this great? One of these days I plan to photograph everything and ditch at least half of what I've painted, but that is a project for a rainy day. Until then everything is nicely contained. (Thanks, June). 

A bonus of the day was getting to see June's new wonderful painting studio. Here I am taking photos...and saying...."Well, I'm going to have to blog this"

And the Underwoods were cool with it!

"One more picture June!" and June says, "ok then, let me give you my nonchalant look"

(Photos by the paparazzi, David Burbach)

Sunday!

I've been cleaning my studio. It's cool in the basement...and I mean cool temperture-wise not cool like James Dean. I hope to be done with it soon!

Painting: Celeste Bergin, Floral, oil on 5x5 cradled panel

Thursday! (...."Throwback Thursday")

Today's topic in our art discussion meeting was "Throwback Thursday--(bring an old painting)". This is the first oil painting I painted (in 2004). Even though there are things wrong with it, I've always liked this painting. To see what everyone else brought...go HERE.

Painting: Celeste Bergin,  Plenty of Red, oil on 20x16 stretched canvas

Sunday

This is the practice floral I have been working on. .......(there's more to go).
Painting (in progress), Celeste Bergin, Floral, oil on 16x12 canvas panel

Friday, Happy 4th of July!

Dave and I ate grilled hot dogs in the back yard and we made ourselves dizzy with bubbles. Did you have a great holiday?

Yesterday I went to the art discussion meeting...see what everyone brought HERE.

Wed-nes-day!

"Impromptu day"... I met with Steve Kleier for coffee this am at Bipartisan Cafe. He is such a great plein air urban-scape guy. "Hey, Let's paint right on this street"...he said (and so we did). I want to go back to that same spot again. We set up right next to a row of trash cans. 

Then!...at noon I threw in with some other plein air pals at Laurelhurst park. We had a great model named Sarah (or Sara?). I had only a 16x12 panel with me so I opted to concentrate on a portrait. It was just a perfect day. (Thanks to Dave Burbach for the photos)!

(Top Photo): Study: Celeste Bergin, Next to Bipartisan Cafe, oil on 10x8 canvas panel

(Bottom Photo): Study: Celeste Bergin, Model at Laurelhurst, oil on 16x12 canvas panel

(Direct Link to Slideshow HERE)