Watercolors by Bonnie Allen

Oregon Morning

2009-09-02T16:36:00.001-07:00

I walk the colorful path in morn.

Shadows dancing playfully.

Sun rays peeking

Through the tree branches.

Reminding me of home.

jj

Roses

2009-09-02T16:32:00.001-07:00

This painting in watercolor was created using only two colors. Red and green. It's hard to tell there are only two with all the variations I was able to achieve while mixing the colors in various ways. Watercolor can be quite unpredictable which makes them a joy to work with.

Vintage Vespa II

2009-07-25T19:55:00.001-07:00

Just finished another scooter watercolor especially for the scooter club my daughter belongs to in Seattle, the Westenders. I think the double seat on this one looks really neat!

Vintage Vespa I

2009-07-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

Vespa scooters are seen everywhere these days as the crunch of gas prices causes many commuters to find alternative modes of transportation. The soft yellow and complimentary blue tones, along with the cobblestone road it rests upon, give this sweet little scooter charm!

Pink Gladiolas!

2009-05-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Stunning in their pink blossoms, these gladiolas sitting on my dining table, lift their arms to the ceiling with a zest for life!

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."
Lady Bird Johnson

Bridge to Cooper Lake

2009-04-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Cooper Lake is a lake in Kittitas County in the Polallie Ridge Area of Washington State. It's mostly known to those that fish or hike, and there are many other popular lakes in this same area as well.

During the winter months, many of the lakes in this area are not reachable until well after the snow melts away. Locals and travelers too, anxiously await this time of year so they can enjoy the great outdoors once again!

A True Sign of Spring!

2009-04-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

Daffodils always prove to us that springtime is finally here! In the Pacific Northwest, we seem to have to wait a long time for these bulbs to show their yellow bonnets and when they do, it's all uphill from there!

Purple Iris

2009-03-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Spring, which is right around the corner!

Tall and proud, purple iris sway in the gentle breeze as the seasons change. What iris are missing in scent, they make up for in their beauty and uniqueness. Have you ever looked at one up close?

Grazing Elk

2009-01-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

High on a ridge, these elk graze within the safety of their familiar woods. While one bends to feed on the vegetation, the other watches with its keenful eye. This scene reminds me of a beautiful poem by Joan Walsh Anglund I read long ago:

"I kneel to quiet, a doe to a pond. I sip from solitude, knowing soon the guns begin."

Good Ol' Granny Smith

2009-01-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

This is Granny Smith. She's round, plump and bright in color! We love her pies, cobblers and applesauce swirled with cinnamon! Nestled in this white dish with all her friends, Granny delights in herself sitting right on top because she's thrilled to have the best view!

Uh oh! Here comes the owner of the house reaching for a knife! Quick! Make room for Granny! Now she's fighting for the safety of the bottom of the bowl!

Bowl of Pears

2009-01-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

Pears often seem to take the longest to ripen once we've brought them home from the market. It's always a reward though, when we bite into one that's been ripened perfectly, if we can wait! I've noticed that while pears mature, they do lose some pigment in their skins, but at the same time they soften, making it easier to eat and so much more juicy!

My Roslyn Home

2009-01-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is the home I owned for over 20 years in the tiny mining town of Roslyn, WA. Many good memories are wrapped around this place. The frequent snowfalls, surrounding mountain ridges, and most of all, the love and laughter that warmed its walls inside.

It's funny how much our homes are witness to our lives, and yet they never tell a soul. They stand quitely, harboring secrets, sheltering those inside from the unforgiving cold.

Cabin at Olmstead Park

2008-12-29T16:35:00.000-08:00

Olmstead Place State Park, where this cabin is located, is a 217 acre park featuring a working pioneer farm and hosts tours & fieldtrips year round. Just 4 miles east of Ellensburg, this park offers many activities such as hiking, fishing in Coleman Creek, butter churning and pioneer games for kids.

The bright bold colors of pink, yellow, green & blue, provide the perfect frame for the mostly white cabin structure.

Barn in Late Summer

2008-12-22T18:33:00.001-08:00

Nestled on a hillside near Ellensburg, this red barn stores feed for livestock living on the farm while also offering shelter from the weather.

I like the way the sky is mimicked in the fields below representing the vastness this part of the country is lucky to bestow. The soft green wash in the trees foliage suggests the fullness of the season.

Blue Jays on a Fence

2008-12-22T18:24:00.000-08:00

Are these blue jays pondering their next landing? Or, maybe they're trying to decide what their next meal will be. Whatever they're thinking, I always wonder about how birds communicate. Independent creatures they are, yet they always seem to huddle closely when they're parked for a spell. These jays should decide quickly as the owner of this house may step out onto his porch at any time!

Farmer's Market

2008-11-21T08:57:00.001-08:00

Many towns and cities around our great big world have farmer's markets. Small outdoor gatherings of farmers and crafts people selling their goods in colorful displays. I often find that people watching can be as much fun as finding that perfect flower arrangement, or a precisely ripened piece of fruit. Farmer's Markets are full of chatter, laughing, and movement. They are a perfect backdrop for artists using many different mediums.

Bridge Over Yakima River

2008-11-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

Fall colors add warmth to this watercolor of the Umtanum Suspension Bridge over the Yakima River. This time of year the valley and hills are astounding in brilliant tones. A beautiful place for a stroll or Sunday drive, I often take my camera along with me so I don't miss scenes like this one.

White Tailed Deer

2008-11-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

These white tailed deer are taking a stroll on a fresh white blanket of snow. Looking as if they are about to run away, the three cautious deer check me out as I push the tiny button on my camera. I must have interrupted their search for food as I noticed a few green branches pulled from a snowbank to my right. Not wanting to alarm them anymore then I already had, I gently put down my lens and took several steps back to let them know that I was not a threat. I am always in awe when I am this close to these beautiful creatures. They exude a gentle peacefulness not often apparent when watching the human race.

Ellensburg Street Scenes

2008-11-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

This watercolor of downtown Ellensburg shows off our beautiful trees and lamp posts lining our shopping district. People come to Ellensburg from all over the country and many choose to retire here. Relatives visiting college students attending Central Washington University, and travelers passing through via Interstate 90 both enjoy the flavor of a colorful small town nestled in the Kittitas Valley. Ellensburg is also host of the popular Jazz in the Valley and Ellensburg Rodeo.

Downtown Ellensburg

2008-11-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Street scenes like this one of downtown Ellensburg, WA. exercise skill in painting both buildings and movement on the sidewalks. Ellensburg is known for its older brick buildings and quaint shopping district. Ellensburg contains an eclectic mix of residents too. Some are retired and chose Ellensburg for its beauty and slow pace. Others live here for our well known four year college, Central Washington University.

Springtime Crocus

2008-11-13T16:21:00.000-08:00

Crocus let us know that spring is coming. A hope of a new warmth to melt away the frigid cold of winter passing. These soft purples and greens compliment eachother while reminding us of the beauty & wonders of nature.

Poppies

2008-11-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

These bright and happy field poppies in watercolor have a transparency to them and seem to be dancing in a gentle breeze.