Tag Archives: pacific northwest artist

Remember when I said I entered the Lake Oswego festival?

With some of my paintings at the Open Show of the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.

With some of my paintings at the Open Show of the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.

“Rumpelstiltskin” won an award and “No More Candy.” found a new home. What a good day at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts!

It’s an amazing show. I had so much fun walking around recognizing work by familiar artists and finding new ones to look up when I got home. Definitely worth a trip this weekend!

Lake Oswego Festival

Lisa Griffen, "No More Candy." Mixed media on 16x20" canvas.

Lisa Griffen, “No More Candy.” Mixed media on 16×20″ canvas.

I finished this painting on Thursday and dropped it off yesterday, along with 5 others, for the 53rd Annual Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts that takes place next weekend (June 24-26). This is my first time doing the Open Show at the festival. I’m excited about entering my paintings in such a big show that gets over 20,000 visitors. Standing in the long line to drop off art, I was looking at the beautiful florals and landscapes around me and thinking my art would definitely stand out–hopefully in a good way.

When I got home, one of the show volunteers had written me to say that he was glad to see my work there and that photos online don’t do my paintings justice. That made my night!

Old Soul

Lisa Griffen, Old Soul, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Old Soul, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This is the fourth of my ten paintings for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland. There was about half a day when I considered painting over the figure that was emerging in this painting but I kept going with it and I love the way it turned out.

Sunday was the deadline so my paintings are all turned in. This is my third year doing this show and it now feels like an annual tradition: get the Big 500 paintings done and then the holiday season really starts!

Pajama Party for One

Lisa Griffen, Pajama Party for One, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Pajama Party for One, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This little piggy has his PJ’s on and he’s ready for fun! My second painting finished for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland, which opens December 12 at 2 pm with a huge reception.

Wise Beyond Your Years

Lisa Griffen, Wise Beyond Your Years, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Wise Beyond Your Years, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This is my first painting finished for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland. This is my third time participating. Every year I get my boards and plan to finish my paintings before Thanksgiving…and every year I’m still working on them at the start of December! One down and nine to go!

The show opens with a huge reception on December 12 at 2 pm, with music, snacks, a canned food drive for the Oregon Food Bank, and thousands of pieces of original art priced at $40 each. It’s always a good time and I’m looking forward to being a part of it again.

Solo show at New Seasons

Wishbone. Original mixed media outsider art painting on 16x20" canvas. $200.

Wishbone. Original mixed media outsider art painting on 16×20″ canvas. $200.

I’ve had a bad cold since returning from vacation, but made it out of bed this morning to hang my solo show at the Cedar Hills New Seasons cafe with lots of help from my sweet husband. Wishbone and 12 other animal-themed paintings will be there until the end of September.

Art Challenge

Simon. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Simon. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

These are my black, white and red paintings for the 6th Annual Art Challenge at Village Gallery. I’m glad I chose to use these colors and I like the way the paintings turned out. The photos look a little fuzzy for some reason but they’re bright and sharp in person.

The reception is tomorrow from 2-4 pm. It’s going to be a fun reception with a good crowd, so if you’re in the area, stop by and see us!

Bertrand. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Bertrand. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

George. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

George. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

Francois. Mixed media on 6x6" canvas.

Francois. Mixed media on 6×6″ canvas.

Cat and Kittens

This painting is a little different– the colors are more muted than my usual palette, there’s more going on in the background, and it has three figures instead of one. I’m happy with the subdued colored and the rawness of the mother cat. I’m also happy that it sold the day after I posted it on Facebook!

Cat and Kittens, mixed media 20x16". Sold.

Cat and Kittens, mixed media 20×16″. Sold.