Landscape Painting in the Pacific Northwest

Plein air painting at Discovery Park, Seattle

Washington State has a nice variety of landscapes for the plein air painter. We can choose from lush old growth forests, valleys in the mountains, snow covered peaks, vast areas of prairie east of the Cascades (I think that's how you describe those landscapes), numerous lakes, and the Pacific Coast. Check out these photos I have taken since August 2012 after I moved to Seattle.

The Puget Sound at Lincoln Park, West Seattle

Edith Creek at Mt. Rainier

View of the Tatoosh Range, Mt. Rainier

Ohanapecosh River, Mt. Rainier

The Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound seen from the top of the Space Needle

Nisqually River Valley, Mt. Rainier

Snow Lake, Snoqaulmie Pass

Oregon also has vistas that rival what Washington State has to offer. Last summer Cheryl and I stayed at the historic Balch Hotel in Dufur. It was out in the middle of an area with rolling hills and fields. Nearby is the Columbia River Gorge with it's grand views. Hood River also has fantastic landscapes and a nice views of Mt. Hood. Further West heading towards Portland there are numerous waterfalls including Multnomah Falls which is said to be the second tallest waterfall in the U.S. Overall this area of Oregon is a plein air painter's dream.

Mt. Hood, north of Hood River

Columbia River Gorge, west of The Dalles

Columbia River Gorge, west of The Dalles

The lower part of Multnomah Falls

Mt. Hood, seen from the Balch Hotel in Dufur

Grounds of the Balch Hotel

Front of the Balch Hotel

Parlor of the Balch Hotel

Mt. Hood seen from Dufur

Looking south from Mt. Hood and the Timberline Lodge

During the late 19th Century Albert Bierstadt made a handful of studio paintings inspired by Washington's landscapes. One is of Mt. Rainier dated to the early 1890's. The other is his masterpiece, "Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast which is in the Seattle Art Museum. In addition to these he also painted Mt. Baker, Mt. St. Helens, and Oregon's Mt. Hood.

Albert Bierstadt, Mt. Rainier, 1890

Albert Bierstadt, Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast, 1870

Currently I am working on a studio painting of Lake 22. I had finished it last Sunday but I decided to go back in and rework a few areas. I will post more about that painting in a few days.