Autumn Wind Home Page
See What's New!
Autumn Wind Site Map
Contact Us
Links
Altered Journals
The Beauty of Rain
Altered Board Books
Inchies
Nature Photography
Our journaling spot along the banks of the Hood River
April 7th, 2007. Today we stopped along the banks of the East Fork of the Hood River for some nature journaling. We were approximately 1 mile south of Parkdale, and about 60 miles from our house in Troutdale.
It rained pretty steady, so we set up a makeshift tarp slung over tree branches in order to stay dry. We sat under the branches of a large tree where the rain wasn't as heavy. It was quite cozy. We had to sit close to fit under the tarp. It was a feeling of complete tranquility and intimacy, with my husband, my best friend, sitting close, doing something we both love, and no sounds but the rushing water and rain.
I tried my hand at ink and watercolors, while Jeff stayed mostly with ink. Jeff did try some trees using a light watercolor wash, then techniquing the rest with ink.
-Terry
The river forks south
The East Fork
Ornamental raindrops on Ponderosa needles
Our Nature Journaling Trips
Terry's Journal Art-East Fork, Hood River, 4/07
Terry's Journal Art-East Fork, Hood River, 4/07
Jeff's Journal Art-East Fork, Hood River, 4/07
Jeff's Journal Art-The Wind River, 4/07
Terry's Journal Art-The Wind River, 4/07
Jeff's Journal Art-Panther Creek, 4/07
Jeff's Journal Art-Panther Creek, 4/07
Jeff's Journal Art-Laurance Lake, 10/07
About Laurance Lake
About the Hood River
Our trips to the Wind River
About Panther Creek
The Sandhill Cottages
East Fork Shallows
Cascade Locks and Ice Cream
Lunch was great, the rain was wonderful (I'm a rain lover), and of course, working alongside my favorite person always makes for the best of times.
-Jeff
Saturday, April 7th, 2007.
It was pretty much a drenching ride home on Interstate 84. Terry and I decided to stop through Cascade Locks on the way home. This is a usual stopping place for us since they serve some of the biggest ice cream cones around. Unfortunately, we didn't have any cash, and it's the one place that doesn't take debit cards. Still, I look forward to any reason to stop at Cascade Locks. It's one of my favorite towns in the Gorge.
I-84 Rain
Cascade Locks
The Columbia Gorge
Panther Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Once again, a weekend jaunt was in order. This time, we came upon Panther Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. After putting up a rain tarp, we'd settled down for some watercolor renderings. I drew the creek in watercolor and pen and ink. The quiet was indeed refreshing, and the gentle bubbling of the creek was a forest lullabye.
The rain was intermittent, and colder, probably because we were higher up in the forest. For lunch, we brought along some garlic roasted bread, cheese, and a salami loaf. I think that Terry and I were both pretty much chilled to the bone by the time we got ready to pack up and leave.
It was really a splendid day by this marvelous creek. Going home was even better because home for us was cabin number six at Sandhill Cottages in Carson. These were absolutely charming vintage cottages with peaceful green surroundings. They have a true vintage ambiance and the cottages are surrounded by lush green that reflects serenity. See our photos here.
Rain Forest serenity: Panther Creek
Quiet backroad
Jeff's drawing of this scene.
Click to enlarge.
JOURNALING ON THE WIND RIVER.
I guess I'll remember the wind more than anything. Our first trip to the wind river was on an embankment overlooking the river by probably 2 or 3 miles away. It was really a satisfying experience finally getting to just sit in the sun and draw the scenery around us. However, the traffic noise was very disrupting as we hadn't counted on so many cars passing through such a quiet backroad.
As for myself, I really felt a sense of peace studying the gentle calm of spring grasses as they blew in the stalwart winds high upon the ridge. I loved the shadows on the rocks and gravel. It's the simplicity of such things that truly appeals to me; the things seemingly ignored that carry so much inspirational weight. I tried my hand at some watercolor washes, but had forgotten about the sun, and how quickly it dries a wash. So, I found that I had to work much faster.
Terry tried both watercolor and oil pastels. I liked the watercolor that she ended up with. The sights among the bay on the Wind River were truly soothing, and quite striking, possessing an almost Monet light.
-Jeff
Terry's journal art.
Click to enlarge.
Jeff's journal art.
Click to enlarge.
Terry rendering leaves with ink and watercolor.
It was Terry in fact, who suggested that we go farther north looking for just such a turnout as this one. Before long the sun came out, and the day was as gorgeous as anyone could hope for. I was captivated by the many shallows, and the different colored river rocks in the transparent green waters. There was moss everywhere, and the sun sparkled rapid currents.
I love the evergreen fans that rustled in the spring breezes. They provided shade as a verdant canopy while the music of the river kept a steady cadence. The slight surface displayed multi-colored river rocks beneath a shallow runoff. I've always loved the way moss grows on the trees, then hangs down like green tinsel. In short, the afternoon was golden, and the river presented itself to us in a sort of ambient green, gentle and altogehter quieting.
-Jeff
Jeff's river art. Click to enlarge.
Terry's leaf prints. Click to enlarge.
Afterward, we collected fall leaves-gigantic fall leaves, and toured the back roads. We stopped once again at Draper's Farm for fruit and cider, then home again for a great Halloween movie.
