​"Suspension" - mixed media on cradled wood panel, 12" x 6.5" x 1.75" .  Ready to hang.  Available here and at Artfinder.

​Taking a wee break from the chattering malarkey gang to contemplate the architectural beauty of the St John.s Bridge.  It's a local landmark - a steel suspension bridge over the Willamette River in the St Johns neighborhood of Portland.  There is a lovely park below the bridge near the riverbanks, and quaint town center nearby.

I'm not an architectural artist by nature, so it was interesting to see how my muse would approach a structure.  First up, she wanted to tilt the image, just as I do with many of my photographs.  Oh yes!  Then an underpainting in fluorescent pinks and blues...oh my!  Blend liberally with gesso, water-based inks and a little quinacridone nickel ago gold.  Oh wow!

Earlier this year, I took an online painting class with Pauline Agnew, where I learned about the Notan app and the Notanizer.  Until this week, I used it to create a value map from a photo to inform the values in a painting.  This week, I used it in reverse to check my completed painting for values and drama.

Imagine my surprise when the St. Johns bridge became a gothic, moody, haunted looking structure in the Notan app!  I adore the contrast between the colorful painting and the moody Notan image.  Yin and Yang.  Day and night.  Soft and scary.  I am a bit dazzled!