A new vein of work is germinating: working small, with gouache and with acrylics, working more abstractly.

It is a tender spring day, the Scotch Broom is out in full bloom, adding spice to the endless greens of this place. Oakridge is an island in a sea of trees. A valley in an ocean of mountains.

May is the beginning of my painting season. I'm going for lots of small paintings, completed on location, using watercolors and gouache with some pencil and pastel mixed in where it works best.

It's fine to paint "realistically" but pushing the edges of the envelope has always led to greater pleasure and some lovely surprises, so that's where I'm heading with the work: more arbitrary color, dramatic tonal contrast, and less realism. We'll see where it all goes!

Here it is, and I am so very proud to present it, because it cost me some anxious moments, but I did not let fear win out. This spot is about a quarter mile from the encounter on Saturday. I will not be stopped.