William E. Elston

Greater Seattle is a rich environment for plein air locations. From the piers and “Old Seattle” of Pioneer Square, lush parks like Washington Park Arboretum and Discovery Park, to the beautiful valleys like Snoqualmie and Snohomish, there are many diverse areas full of interesting compositions and colors. We usually spend several days painting at a given location, and often return to a site later as the season changes.

When we go out to paint, we try to explore as diverse a canvas as possible. One week we may be painting the farm and grazing lands along the Snoqualmie River, the next we may be attending our French easels on the sidewalks of Old Ballard. If inclement weather is persistent we may paint under natural protections, like bridges and overpasses. Painting “en plein air” is about being in the moment, one just has to find the right moment to be in.

Spokane has a rich and varied environment for painting, with a mix of contrasting greens from the deciduous and conifer trees, beautifully large basalt rock deposited by the mighty glaciers of the ice age, and a bustling growing city.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful regions of the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River Gorge straddles Washington and Oregon. It features a number of dormant volcano peaks, such as Mount Hood and Mount Adams, Multnomah and Dry Creek Canyon Falls, the High Plains and of course the Columbia River itself.