Chagrin

I was sitting on the bench under the cherry tree gazing up through the white bolssomed branches against a late April clear blue sky watching the Swallows darting about doing an exemplary job catching insects, when the flutter of a small butterfly caught my attention as it hovered over the flowers on the tip of an upward reaching arm of the tree, and in a fraction of a thought a Swallow registered on my minds eye where the butterfly had been, leaving me sitting on the bench under the cherry tree gazing up through the white blossomed branches against a late April clear blue sky watching the Swallows darting about catching insects.

by
Maeona L. Urban

Merry Christmas to All

 

Merry Christmas to All

Frost on the Holly

Oil on canvas

18" x 14"

Dance of the Lilac and the Pine

Lilac's tender Spring green leaves,
heart shaped V's
collect and drop glass-like beads
to a Waltz beat.

The count...
One two drip
One two drip
One two drip

The tempo increases to a tango.
The branches begin to sway
to an imperceptibly increasing breeze.
The Lilac moves to the new rhythm.

The count...
One two three sway
One two three sway
One two three sway

The wind and rain subside.
The dance tempo calms.
The bodice of the Lilac sways gently
while the leaves return to the Waltz.

The count...
One two drip
One two drip
One two drip

The Pine across the yard lowers it's branches
from the collective weight of the rain
and gives a gentlemanly bow
to the Lilac at dance's end.

by Maeona L. Urban

Sail Boats Interpretation 3

Sail Boats Interpretation 3

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas

I love doing  this new style I am experimenting with. I have used a palette knife and paints direct from the tube in this painting. The subject is from the Portland Plein Air & Studio Painters winter project but the interpretation is all mine.

Autumn Clnflagration

City Hall

My latest painting is of the Scappoose City Hall/Police Station. It has taken me over a year to find a companion subject to the painting I did of "Cafe in the Heat of the Day". And the funny thing is they are just across the street from one another. I loved doing the cafe scene in such saturated colors and when I saw the Autumn colors of the trees I knew that was exactly what I needed.

Cafe

Christmas Pinhole Leaf

This is my Christmas Pinhole Leaf. I used to make this sort of thing with my Grandmother.  The Maple leaf was still fresh and it was pinned to a piece of cardboard. Then a stencil was placed over it and I simply poked a bajillion little holes in the open areas of the pattern. It was great fun and I am sure kept me busy for a long time.

I recently went to the Audubon Wildlife Festival at Montgomery Park and I spied this great display of leaves. Some of them were natural, some vivid almost neon colors, some simple black and white.  They were all gorgeous! And they reminded me of these leaves I had made with my Grandmother years and years ago. I'm not saying how many years but quite a few. You may want to see some of his so I am posting his website as a link. www.phantomleaves.com  To see some you must go in through the order on line box to see what is in his catalog such as  http://www.phantomleaves.com/catalog/item/7229583/7447194.htm

You really must try to see them in person as the pictures really don't do them justice.

I hope you all have wonderful memories during this Christmas season.