Month: November 2014

“Multnomah Falls”

painting
Multnomah Falls 8x24" (acrylic on 1 1/2" canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

Multnomah Falls
8×24″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

Towering, powerful, and majestic…

Multnomah Falls is a glorious site to behold. Located on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge–which provides a natural border between the states of Washington and Oregon–these falls are just one of 77. Multnomah Falls is actually the largest tourist draw in Oregon attracting 2.5 million people annually! My sister and I visited it during our road trip through Washington and Oregon, but we didn’t plan our visit very well as we ending up there on Labour Day….definitely something we’d plan better next time! The parking lots were packed, and the access roads were blocked with bumper to bumper traffic for hours! The exit to Multnomah Falls was actually closed down because there were too many people trying to access the area. It is understandable, however, why it is such an impressive site to visit as the falls tower 620 ft above and are really easy to access right off the road. A short hike up allows you to walk across a bridge that crosses over the lower part of the falls, and if you are more ambitious you can hike up to the top of the falls. It was definitely a lovely site to see, but I would advise anyone to visit on a day when the rest of the country isn’t on holiday : )

“Prairie Storm Approaching”– Commission

painting
Prairie Storm Approaching 16x20" (acrylic on 1 1/2" canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

Prairie Storm Approaching
16×20″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

This work was commissioned by a friend who wanted a painting depicting canola fields and an old building. I actually met her through a mutual friend on a road trip to Alberta where we stayed with her parents. We spent hours driving past similar scenes such as this: vibrant yellow rolling hills blanketed in canola and vast changing skies dotted with time-weathered barns. Since she grew up in Alberta, these quintessential prairie sights would do well to remind her of home.

“The Heavens Declare”

painting
The Heavens Declare 12x36" (acrylic on 1 1/2" canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

The Heavens Declare
12×36″ (acrylic on 1 1/2″ canvas), R Luymes (c) 2014

 

Firstly, I need to give a shout out to my friend Melanie who provided the reference photo for this painting. I did not have the pleasure of seeing this particular view of the sky in person, but I remember this night distinctly. As the sun began to set the sky lit up in fiery colours of orange and yellow. The only vantage point I had was from my home’s front windows which were unfortunately quite limiting. Across town at the same time I was wishing I had a more open view of the sunset, my friend was taking photographs with her phone overlooking Sumas Prairie (You can see the tip of Mount Baker near the centre of the painting). She later told me about the view and showed me her pictures, and I knew I just had to paint it!

This painting was both a joy and struggle to paint. When approaching such a dynamic subject matter, such as this brilliant sky, I often worry about doing it justice. I loved the saturated colours and unusual formations of the clouds, so I decided to take on the challenge. Out of the clouds tongues of fire seemed to emerge, and this sky loudly proclaimed the handiwork of our Creator. The inspiration for this painting’s title comes from the beginning of Psalm 19 which to me summarizes the majesty of this night’s sky.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19: 1-4 (NIV)