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Image description
"STILLNESS"
22x28x1.5 Oil on canvas


There are moments, when I am painting a water scene, where I start thinking  about my childhood lake experiences. 
I remember early mornings listening to a loon calling out, or watching  an egret, (that I'm now working on), remembering how it holds impossibly still in the reeds!  I feel that particular soft hush that settles over the water at dawn.  I grew up on the Great Lakes and that morning softness has never left me, it is a safe feeling of contentment.

Lately I have been interested in exploring Oregon's coastal estuaries....a landscape my hands are still learning, but one my heart recognizes. 
Heron and egrets move the same way they did on the lake so there is a mixing of what I see now, and what I've never stopped feeling decades ago.

Here I go, being vulnerable again...I sometimes wonder if my emotions find  their way onto the canvas, through color, brushwork, good juju?  When I paint, the past and present aren't separate, everything blends it's way into a structure or ripple.  And I'm pleased with my work.  Happy to be painting what I love.


Are there are areas in your life where you feel this too?  That ache for a place or experiences, that shaped you....showing up now,  quietly in something new.



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Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
 
 
Summer is in full swing.
I'm hiking and painting for more shows and galleries. 

I have new paintings in the studio. 
Email me at Ladypatrice5@gmail.com 

 if you are interested in previewing them, before they are released.
Enjoy Life,
Patrice

http://patricecameronfineart.com
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There is a special kind of silence that exists by the water's edge.  It isn't the absence of sound, but rather the presence of a rhythmic, living flow.  It moves, breathes, and changes every second.  To  paint a river is to capture and appreciate it's moments.... I photograph them and they become my visual journals, a foundation of everything I feel while there, and later paint.
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The course of a river flows from it's headwaters in the mountains, to it's mouth, often an ocean. 
The headwaters are where small streams merge as the river flows downstream, joined by other streams called tributaries.  This forms a larger river system. 
At it's mouth, the river slows and deposits sediment and forms an estuary, where fresh water mixes with saltwater.  Estuaries act as 'nurseries' for marine life.  Ha!  There's your lesson for the day. 


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 I love hiking rivers, and witness the balance between  power and vulnerability.  Part of sharing my work is a reminder that  these waters are a gift... that needs our respect, and protection.

My art, like the river itself, is a journey of constant transition. The past few years I have focused on the wild waters and meadow landscapes, with streams.  As I move into this new year, my focus is shifting downstream.  I'll be exploring  estuaries by kayak.  They are sanctuaries of calm, and wildlife.  I'm eager to see how this transition from mountains to tidal streams will change my palette, and soul.

 

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I'll be writing quarterly this year. 
Much painting to do for the galleries and upcoming shows.

I post new work on my website as soon as it's completed.  
Contact me if you are interested in a piece.
Please forward this to someone you know who loves rivers too.

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How nature calms the mindand supports well-being 
Hello everyone!  I took the summer off writing to enjoy the beauty of hiking rivers in the Pacific Northwest, mainly Washington.  Sitting by the river and listening to nature sounds, feeling immersed in the scene, was exactly what I needed.  
Back in the studio, I enjoyed the same feelings ,as I recreated them on my canvas.  Do all artists feel this way?  What about nature is so satisfying?  One evening I started looking up the effects of nature on people and came up with some interesting info to share, especially in regards to art.  Ready?

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Yikes...this doesn't look very calming! 
Ha, it's an underpainting and sketch of a new river painting.
My scientist husband will be interested to know there is science behind the calm.  We are wired to seek connection with living things and relax around water, plants, earth and sky.  This is because long ago, our  ancestor's survival depended on them.  Art that references those cues... gives the same relaxing response, even if the visual nature is pigment on a canvas. 
 
I learned about "soft fascination"...something that is interesting to hold our attention without demanding it.  Nature scenes create this soft fascination and helps the brain to recover from mental fatigue. 

Viewing natural scenes and nature art reduces stress.  Many studies have agreed on this.  And here's another interesting concept... many natural patterns, like ferns, coastlines, clouds, tree stuctures, contain fractals, or repeating shapes of differing scales.  This is also associated with stress reduction and why abstract art with those patterns feel soothing, without depicting anything literal.  Look for that next time you are visiting a gallery.  
Greens and blues are restful and earth tones feel grounding.  
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I start adding structure and color from the top to the bottom.  My eyes see distance at the top, so essentially I see myself working from back to forward.  Adding darks in my shapes, then some lights and mid tones.  Notice how I let some of that crazy yellow green show through.  Sunshine causes interesting colors in water.
Here are some of the best places to put art for the biggest wellness impact:

Because of that 'soft fascination', the workspace is a great place for a nature piece...in your line of sight rather than behind you, on the wall.  

The entryway is perfect for a serene work of art and is a calming, first impression.

Choose tranquil scenes of horizons, water, and botanicals, in bedrooms.  Keep the scale generous without dominating.

And the  larger the landscape in your livingroom, the larger the room will seem as it draws in your focus.  Complementing this with a tactile throw and a stone vase will make the calm three-dimensional.
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LULLABY IN MOTION
Finished 22x28x1.5 gallery wrapped oil on canvas.  
Multiple layers between drying times.
$950
Timeless nature referenced art honors pattern, light, texture, and breath.  You should feel it. Your shoulders should drop as your breathing slows.  
Nature-inspired art has been doing this for centuries...from cave paintings of animals to Japanese sumi-e ink washes, Arts&Crafts florals, Scandanavian folk art and today's nature photography.  Artists are returning to waves, stones, clouds, trees, and horizon lines... because they speak a visual language our bodies instinctively understand.


 
Shows & Sales
DEE DENTON GALLERY
September 29 to October 27,2025
368 S State St
Lake Oswego  97034

LOCAL 14 SHOW & SALE
October 3-5, 2025
World Forestry Center
4033 SW Canyon Rd
Portland  97225

CHARBONNEAU FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
October 10-12, 2-25

Charbonneau Country Club
32050 Charbonneau Dr
Wilsonville  97070

 
Gallery Representation
VALLEY ART GALLERY
November 7-December 31, 2025

2022 Main ST
Forest Grove
Artist Reception November 7 
6-8pm

SALEM ON THE EDGE
156 Liberty St NE
Salem,  97301

CURRENTS GALLERY
532 NE 3rd St
McMinnville, 97218


Lots of new work going to each show.
Come see what I've been working on this year!
Blessings
Patrice
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Hello Everyone!
The Pacific Northwest  boasts colorful displays... and the warm sunny days declare summertime!  I am happiest with lush beauty around me.

As usual for me, I am in the studio creating, experimenting, and pushing myself in areas I have not tried before.  Sometimes my work develops beautifully and I am  satisfied with myself and talent.  I don't post pieces  that  challenge or annoy me.  I work on it until I reach a point where I am aware I am no longer making meaningful progress....and then I put it aside, take a break, and start on something new the next day.  Eventually I'll come back to it, see it as a challenge, and work it til.... I paint over it with white gesso and start again....something new and with a different twist.  Keeps me in the studio.
 

Here are a couple paintings I recently finished, and am pleased with.  Yes, I know it's summer, but I put on my Christmas playlist and I'm good.

 And what about those images that never make this newsletter.  I think about those and wonder what the Masters did.  My curiosity led me to some interesting info...you interested?


 

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THE LAST SUPPER
​Leonardo DaVinci
Artists have good and bad days.  DaVinci was a difficult artist for patrons to work with as he would abandon commissions.  He had lots of rejections and considered himself a failure.  

The Last Supper commission did not turn out well for him.  He was commissioned to paint a fresco...which is a technique, rapidly done, using watercolor paints on a wet plaster  wall.  The colors penetrate the plaster and becomes fixed as it dries.  Davinci wanted to take his time and decided to use tempera and oil paints on a dry plaster wall.  That didn't work and the pigment didn't stick to the wall, and actually degraded the image.

I'm sure many artists have failed paintings but none quite so famous as this one.  Most of the Old Masters would rework their paintings until they were satisfied.

DaVinci was a perfectionist and re-worked his paintings alot.  He actually had quite a small body of work completed in his lifetime, about 20 paintings, which are now incredibly valuable.

Rembrandt, VanGogh, and Michaelangelo all set aside and reworked their art. 

A common theme I found was their perfectionism and willingness to refine their art.  This demonstrated a commitment to growth and mastery.

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This one went to the critique group.  I was happy with it and after listening to suggestions from other artist's I trust...I gave it my own critique and felt a couple of changes would strengthen the composition...My critique group is a great safety net!
 
I'll be in the studio all summer getting ready for  several Autumn shows.

If you are interested in coming over to see new works for purchase before they go out to galleries or shows, contact me for a visit.  Many of you have already been over.  The hot pot is always ready for a cup of tea.

Blessings,
Patrice

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Hello everyone and Happy Springtime!

I've been busier than usual in the studio this past month and have a couple really good examples to show and tell.  Each showing a painting progression and the point where... fantasy and reality meet, during the creative process. 
Intrigued?  Let's start...
Oil paints are on the palette, cup of tea nearby, Pandora radio on Shuffle, and currently playing xmas music.
I've taken transparent paints of mid to dark values and kinda-sort-of, strategically placed them on the canvas, left.  I've included my sketching tool so you can see how I define my shapes, and space.

On the right I have removed alot of paint with Kleenex tissue, small sponges, and Q tips.  What you are seeing is the staining affect of paint, paint left alone, and a couple of hours of removal, to create lighter values. Am careful to keep the darks where they are needed.  This is all very technical and requires practice and time. 

And then I get up and leave for a little time...either going for a walk outside or getting lunch.  I've found it so important to disengage from the painting at this point so when I come back, I am looking at it with new eyes and feeling my next move.
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Then,I spend time examining it's entirety.  I'm fully present....and I walk into my painting and am there looking around and sensing balance, color, and realize the painting has 'good bones.' 

Then the question "where is this composition taking me?"  I see where the strong diagonals of the path and mist meet... to where the mist identifies the top of the path.  Hmmm...I wonder what's beyond that curve?

I am a creator in this place and am adding opaque paints now, my brushwork controls the energy of the moment.  Lavender mist, through the trees.  I feel it's coolness on my skin as I soften edges.  The mid ground trees need warmer green in the branches coming forward, yes, that's good. 

Then I smile at the colorful mess in the foreground path and mix complimentary colors and enjoy the strokes placed to receive the light. Neutrals give energy to those wild colors and add cohesion to the story, a misty morning hike on the mountain path.  What beauty lies ahead?

 
I'm back now.
As I paint, I rely on technical creativity to a certain point
​then allow intuitive ideas or inspiration that bubbles up, to guide my next steps.
 Want to come into another painting with me?.....
Another fun start laying in transparent paints and developing my sketch with shapes.  I get right into the subtraction portion while the paint is still wet enough to work.  I leave darks and some paint and have fun with those spiky grasses.  I can leave it like this to dry and finish later, or continue applying the final paint...which is known as alla prima painting.  
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After a short walk in the sun with Angel, the wonder dog, I return and take in the painting.

I walk right into the background  determining an Autumn palette, and add the sky. Pink mist and a couple  orange brushstrokes for and abstracted sense of trees.
Long simple strokes create a resting place for the eyes which is needed to balance the busy foreground grasses.  The water is an important secondary player and gently guides.
Early morning sunrises are softer, as the hot sun is not high in the sky producing bright highlights.  Colors seem more saturated and the outcome is pleasing to me.

IIII Intuitive painting and intuitive living are pretty much the same. 
We all have guidelines and when overwhelm occurs it's helpful to disengage
for a short time and do something nourishing.

Come back, open yourself to answers...
get quiet and allow ideas and inspirations to bubble up. 
Then try them out. The outcomes may be pleasing to you too.
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For those of you following the emergence of my Misty Landscapes...this is where I will be exhibiting them all, for the first time! 

Plus, this amazing group showcases authors, world traveling animal and bird artists, competitive award winners, instructors, and Pacific Northwest favorites. 

Artist wine reception Friday and Saturday 5-7pm.
Look for me...would love to chat with you!
Blessings,

Patrice
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Hello again and welcome to this month's art letter.
I'm sitting in my studio looking at the paintings of  misty landscapes I started back early December.  I had determined this is an area I want to explore with oil paint on canvas.  I started with a small 12x12 canvas, and  an intention of working larger...as I enjoy the way my body moves to music while my painting arm has full motion to navigate the brush.  Not like a wild woman,  but one who is in tune with both inner and outer experiences
In my practice, I work in a series which allows me to paint a single subject from multiple angles.  The creative journey is not always about the finished painting... but the process of exploration, learning, and self-discovery.    (The Masters worked in series...like VanGogh, who worked for five years on paintings of sunflowers!  Yikes.) 
But this series approach allows me to embrace the beauty of my mistakes and each painting becomes a stepping stone towards creative growth and insights.

This next painting is larger and painted after 9 small pieces.

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Now this is my most recent.  I have put in hundreds of  hours painting, exploring, making mistakes, and persevering.  This piece is the first to express parts of me that feel true and unique. Not necessarily the color palette alone, but how I placed paint  and walked inside the painting.  I feel as though I have excavated this, deep from within.  It's different from when I first started.
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Art is a mirror reflecting our unique perspectives, emotions, and experiences.  But it's not just confined to the canvas.  Everything we do...whether it's cooking, writing, or even how we interact with others... is an expression of uniqueness.  Each choice we make is a brushstroke on the canvas of our lives, contributing to a masterpiece that is truly ours.

Embrace your journey and remember that every mistake can be a step towards something great... our authentic self.
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Celebrating What's Most Important... Happy Wednesday everyone, and what a perfect day to celebrate yourself!

Yes...in today's newsletter we are going to take a moment to celebrate the most important person in our lives:  ourselves.  We are all busy, which makes it even more important to pause, reflect, and appreciate our unique journeys.  Let's start by acknowledging where we've been.  Our life is a tapestry woven from our experiences which have shaped us into the person we are today.  That's worth celebrating!  
In our daily hustle it's easy to overlook the incredible things we accomplish...growth, connection, creativity.  Go ahead, admire all your current endeavors.
And as we honor our past and present, let's not forget to dream!  Our aspirations fuel our motivation and give us desires we strive for.

I have been celebrating  myself lately.  I completed a year long intensive art program with 20 new large paintings in my portfolio and the invitation for a solo show going up February 1st...this Saturday.  This was last years big dream!  Let's look at some:

Celebrating ourselves is not an act of vanity; it's  a necessary practice of self-love and acknowledgement.  By recognizing where we've been, appreciating our current efforts, and dreaming of what's to come, we cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves.
And remember... each step you take is worthy of celebration.  We are works in progress and that is something to be proud of.

 

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ART IN ACTION...Hello again Friends!
I'm happy to announce my art portfolio was accepted by Milan Art Institute and I have received my certificate of mastery!

Soon after, I was  approached by an artist friend extraordinaire, Susan Curington, who has been working on an epic sized mural and  asked if I would paint all the children's faces.  It took me 5 seconds to answer.



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As an artist, I often find myself reflecting on the power of art to overcome boundaries and promote connections, one of art's many super powers!  This recent opportunity... to add to Susan's  large mural at the elementary school, highlighted the importance of community collaboration for me.

This mural  features a vibrant collage of children from diverse backgrounds blending the essence  of the community.  While I spent my time painting on the weekends, Susan engaged with the students and offered to let them paint, which infused the project with life.  This collaboration not only empowered the children but also instilled a sense of ownership and pride in their school environment.

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Community based art projects like this one are important.  They serve as platforms where artists, like Susan, can engage with local voices. This is where the mural becomes more than just paint on a wall... it transforms into a coordinated narrative that may inspires future generations.
 

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Here the mural is still in progress, but I wanted you to realize the scope of this project.  There are big windows across from it and it's one of the main hallways the children use.

I am grateful to contribute my small touches to this grand  project!  It was very fulfilling for me and an inspiring reminder again, how art strengthens bonds while making the community beautiful.

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Happy Autumn, Friends!

I've been walking in the foggy mornings with Angel, the wonder dog, and enjoying the moody softness of tree shapes and colors.  And if that wasn't enough of a blessing...the sun  came out and exploded colors before me!  Those flaming scarlets, oranges, and my favorite...the greens transitioning to deep purples!  My focus allows me to capture the moments on a deeper level.

I write about this experience because it leads me to what I want to share today... how our 'attention' shapes both the artist's creative process and also the experience of the viewer.
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These images are from a recent hike at Duncan Creek, Washington. 
What do you see? .... Now what do you 
really see?
For artists, attention is not a passive observation.  It is an active engagement with their surroundings, which enhance the subtlety of life, that often goes unnoticed. 

When an artist becomes immersed in their surroundings, they develop a heightened awareness to details, textures, color, and emotion, that is often added into their work.  These special additions enrich the narrative.  This produces art which is a reflection of the artist's vision and viewer's shared  experience.

Let's consider those of us who view and appreciate art.  Our quality of attention also plays an important part in the reception of art!  When a viewer focused on a work of art, they are able to connect and interpret the artists intentions through their own experiences.  This process gives art meaning.

In this noisy world..the depth of our interest is what enriches our life.

 
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Here is my latest painting...HEALING MOMENT.

Take a look at her and focus on an area that interests you.  What comes up for you, curiosity, emotion?  Is there a story that is emerging that reminds you of something or somebody?

It's also ok if purple is your favorite color and you like the unusual background.

There is quality in all attention.
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Last year around this time I started  noodling the idea of what my life would look like if I had  gone to art school, as my family expected.  I surprised them all, me included, as I announced my decision to enter nursing.  It was a good decision and provided me with many years of rich experiences in the 'healing arts'.  I like that term.  Still,  thoughts of an  art career, teased.
I eagerly shared in January I had enrolled and started and intensive year art program and am thrilled to announce that I completed my studies... three months early!
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"COSMIC CONTEMPLATIONS"
30"x24"x1.5"
A deep thinker, she elevates her thoughts for inspiration
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This achievement was not without it's challenges, there were moments of doubt and countless hours of focused practice.  Through it all, I found a deeper connection to my art and creative spirit!

Comparing who I am as a nurse and artist I see the process in both decisions involved exploration, the decision, commitment and focus plus....a strong belief in myself that working through failure  will make me stronger.  This period of art immersion exposed fears... and triumphs.  And this inspired me.

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"BEAUTY & BALANCE IN NATURE"
30"X24"X1.5"
There is perfection in nature's balance.  Beauty in transparency.
My present body of work features oil paintings of women, each radiating expansive spirits and open hearts.  These pieces embody archetypes of courage, nurture, resilience, and more.   Each woman tells her own story, wrapped in a fantastical mystery that invites the viewer to explore their own emotions and experiences.  The colors, textures, and expressions are optimistic and designed to heal and soothe, creating a sanctuary of reflection and empowerment.  I paint what i feel and who I am.
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"PRISM FOR LIGHT"
30"x24"x1.5"
A lover of rain, she eagerly anticipates the rainbow!
I am overjoyed to share that I have been offered a solo show, an opportunity to exhibit the culmination of my efforts over the past eight months.  This exhibition represents one of my greatest accomplishments, and I can hardly wait to unveil the stories that have unfolded on my canvases.  this is not just a personal milestone but a celebration of the community that has supported me throughout this journey.  Your encouragement has fueled my passion and perseverance.
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"LIGHT AS A FEATHER"
24"x30"x1.5
Outgoing and playful...a powerful balance of confidence.
As I continue to build my portfolio, I am reminded of the power of art to connect, inspire, and heal.  

Stay tuned for details about my exhibition.  It starts
February 1, 2025 in Portland.
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It's that time of the year again!

I am delighted to be a part of the Local 14 Art Show & Sale at the WORLD FORESTRY CENTER, in Washington Park.

I am bringing some of my Ladies and will also have Pacific Northwest River paintings and framed 12"x12" florals in oil for small spaces.  
Always a fun show.
I'll be there...come visit!

Blessings,
Patrice

Author

Hi...I'm Patrice... an  oil  painter who writes, and enjoys sharing how I create and think.

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