Nose Pressed to the Glass.

This time of year we spend a lot of hours with our noses pressed to the glass wishing that the rain would go away and the sun would come out and play. How do you paint when the wind is blowing, the rain is constant and the temp is cold enough to freeze a well-digger’s…but let’s not dwell on the negative?

It’s hard to work up the motivation much less find something that inspires you when you won’t even go out to greet the Publisher’s Clearing House guys.

Now this is where getting along with the photographers among us can be a boon. They’ve been out all year long stocking up on beautiful, colorful images which can now be used as a starting point for your painting. You don’t know any photographers.

That’s too bad. It says something very unfortunate about people and how they work together or don’t. Maybe now would be a good time to visit the Oregon Coast Photographer’s Association meetings. And you’re in luck; they meet twice a month so you won’t have to wait for next month to start building bridges.

You could try the reception for the Umpqua Valley Arts Association “Expose Yourself” show, but maybe you don’t want to travel that far or like me you are scared stiff by Oregon Roads. There is the Lighthouse 2.0 show coming up at Whistling Gallery. That’s a lot closer and ought to be crawling with photographers. You could stop at Second Street Gallery on the way back and talk to Richard. I know he’d have some names for photographers if he only mentions the ones who entered the Celebrate Photography show.

But wait, you have a camera? Then what are you doing here? Get out and take those pictures.

Now me, I’m delicate, I’m fragile, I’d melt, so going out in the rain is not something I would want to do. Probably why the Dimmocks and Kelle get all of those fantastic bird pictures, they go outside.

Wait, there is a thought, (I know, you’ll call the World), don’t go very far. In the first place you have to protect your camera from the rain and there are plenty of great pictures lurking close to home, so you’ll only have to get a little wet.

What? Where are these alleged pictures lurking close to home, where you don’t have to get soaked and can be back in the warm, dry house, in a flash? They’re hiding behind your windows. That’s right. I want you to go outside and look back into the house through your own windows.

Some of the best, most interesting images can be found looking in through a rain soaked window. Think about that bowl of apples, tomatoes, bananas, which has been sitting on the table for months. Inside the house it’s boring. I know, you did not plan it that way but the truth is it’s boring. That’s why it has been sitting there all of this time, it was so boring that you never looked at it and wondered how long it had been sitting there.

But look through a rain-soaked window and suddenly it’s brilliant.

Don’t care for still life? How about the family? Get the “Big Guy” off the sofa and have him look out the window. Even the most dedicated Archie Bunker becomes mysterious, thoughtful or melancholy with a few rain drops making trails across the frosted glass.

And the good news? The good news is it will change every time you venture out. The people will change, the nick-knacks will change, the lighting will change and you’ll be there to capture it, ‘cause it’s you own window!

And just in case you don’t believe me, take a look…



Makes you want to put on your trench coat and head out to the mean streets, or at least peep in the windows. And no, stick to your windows, the neighbors will not take kindly to your artistic vision.