Paint the Gorge Retreat

Reflections from hosting an overnight plain air art retreat

Last month my partner Cole and I hosted an overnight art retreat in Mosier, Washington — a town in the Columbia River Gorge. If you’ve never visited the Gorge, imagine driving along a highway that follows a river winding through steep cliff face with stunning views around every bend. It’s the gateway to Mt. Hood, a dozen waterfalls, Hood River and the fruit loop, and eventually the desert landscape of Eastern Oregon. It’s also the border of Oregon and Washington.

The home base for our retreat was hosted at John Olmsted’s house; an artist and painter Cole met through the Ulna Studio community. His house is situated on six acres of oak trees with a view of Mt. Adams.

Quick gouache studies I made of Mt. Adams from John’s deck — about a half an hour apart.

Grass and oak trees on John’s property

We were lucky to have a great group of Portland artists join us for our first ever retreat. Everyone was very enthusiastic about plein-air painting, some even trying it for the first time. Cole led a workshop by the river’s edge on our first night while I chose a subject off the side of the road for the next morning. The dilapidated barn in a yellow field happened to be on seemingly public land so after painting it we approached and discovered a hundred year old house that had been converted into a house for bats!

The barn and the bat house! Plus all of our paintings.

Thumbnails and studies of the barn and surrounding field.

Painting of the barn from my demo,

Here are some insights from Cole and his workshop by the river:

In my painting demo, I emphasized that color isn't the most important aspect of painting; value is what truly makes a composition work. It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of vibrant colors and hues, but I wanted to convey that once you have a strong value foundation, the choice of colors becomes secondary. Whether you choose a muted palette or bold, expressive colors, it’s the underlying values that give the painting its impact.

Cole’s painting demo

Everyone found a nice solitary spot. Plein-air painting improves focus, inviting a person to really look at something and admire the moment.

Thumbnails!

My painting on colored paper from Cole’s workshop.

I hope to have the opportunity to host more painting workshops like this one in the future. To travel and be inspired by places away from home with a community of artists feels like medicine.

Some parting words from Cole:

What struck me most was the rhythm we fell into creating, sharing, learning, and then creating some more! We were tapping into something deeper than just painting; it was a collective experience of being truly present.

Another great thing was the hot home cooked meals. Laid out and prepared for everyone to enjoy, thanks to John our host for making some amazing pizza from local ingredients from the farmers market. I agree with Allie this retreat was just the beginning. I loved how it was more than just painting; it was about finding space to breathe...and be inspired. I can't wait for what's next.

Thanks again John for hosting us! Keep an eye out for our next artist retreat :)

Upcoming Events:

• If you’d like to dedicate time to your creative practice, I am offering my Sketchbook Journey art class again this fall

• I have a piece in The LP Show at A Sometimes Gallery - Carter and Rose. 3601 SE Division St. The opening is September 20th!

Currently Reading:

• I’m nearly done reading The Armor of Light (the latest in the Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett ) about the 23 year war between France and basically the rest of Europe.

Currently listening to:

• The Handsome Podcast