We went to Oregon for three weeks of painting and printmaking. We knew it would be rainy, but it didn’t matter as we’d be working mostly, and inside. As it happened, however, there were plenty of sunny moments, just not when this photo was taken.
The Holy Toledo Tavern, not a place we frequented, but couldn’t resist the photo.
“Holy Toledo” is an exclamation of surprise that apparently comes out of Christian Spain after its liberation from the Moors. Not that we learned that bit of trivia there. But we were in the small Oregon city of Toledo, where these Moores felt quite welcomed. We walked daily, rain or shine, found wonderful places of discovery and made numerous friends, including a surprising number of fellow artists. There was also plenty of time for reading and meditation, making it all “holy” indeed.
The river runs to the coast at Newport, just a few miles down.
Toledo is a mill town which fairly breathes and belches and coughs, sounds heard particularly in the night or between rains. There’s much more to it than the Georgia-Pacific pulp mill but this gives a sense of part of the town’s personality.
The day before our 46th anniversary, trying chowders.
(As with all these photos, click for a larger view.)
One of our self-assigned challenges was to find the best clam chowder on the coast. Here we are at the famed Mo’s in Newport. Actually, the chowder at The Sea Hag up the coast in Depot Bay was the best we found. There it’s so thick you can cut a trough in it and it holds its shape, like with Moses and the Red Sea.
Whale Cove, just up the coast from Cape Foulweather, so named by Captain Cook.
For our anniversary proper, we went to Restaurant Beck at the Whale Cove Inn, a most majestic place, with the water below ever wild and restless. We reflected on the quality of our lives, thanked God, and ate great scallops and Ling cod with farro “polenta,” foraged mushrooms and greens. Ah, life!
Anne’s half of the studio, renovated space in the former Justice of the Peace quarters.
But we came to work. Of course, work for us is what a lot of people would call “play,” and all of my life I’ve not known quite the difference. One of the great things about the trip was Anne being able to put in focused time, hour after hour, day after day. It’s something that doesn’t happen at home what with “everything else.”
Another view: The hand press and work in process, drying.
One of her goals was to bring a lot of her unfinished pieces along and finish them up. It’s been years for some and many reached handsome completion. And many new ones were begun.
Yet another view of Anne’s side of the room. (Again, click photos to enlarge.)
As shown by the blest mess in the foreground, completed pieces can be made up of a lot of parts, interesting and unusual papers picked up on travels, printed segments torn or cut from less successful beginnings, and scraps of found ephemera. All that, plus the aesthetic eye, can produce wonderful art.
Hyatt’s side, one view of two.
While the time was unusual for Anne, giving her more days and hours per day to focus, my life wasn’t so different. I tend to paint part of every day at home, and continued to do so here. Writing was another occupation, plus more reading than usual. Then, for both us, there were the excursions out, the occasional movie, continual listening to music, computer glitches, conversations. Life!
The sink side, with three weeks of “finished” art on the easel and three walls.
While Anne brought unfinished pieces to complete, I brought only blank canvas. But, as I told Anne, sometimes I like my paintings better before they’re “completed.” She suggested I start new ones before I’m done. So I did, and I may have found a new way of working. It’s another example of how opposite personalities can influence each other.
(For discussion on the beauty of “incomplete” work, see the most recent Blank Slate blog post, “Strong in its Kind,” on this website, or here.)
The lower level, where we spent half the hours.
Here’s a panorama of where we spent the rest of our hours . . . the kitchenette, the writing table, dining table (tucked under the stairs), reading chair (near left, barely shown) and bed. Anne thought to bring one of our Guatemalan bedspreads to make it feel more like home. It made for a nice touch.
The famous Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
This old lighthouse is just one of the highly photographic sights along the coast. We took many pictures, of boats and rivers and harbors and houses and hills, but this one seems a good touch for signing off. It was a wonderful trip, all work and all play, just the way we like it. We’ve already put in reservations for next year.
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The Oregon Studio
Anyone interested in renting the Justice of the Peace studio discussed above can contact artist Michael Gibbons. Click here.
Blank Slate
The new blog, Blank Slate features musings and meanderings, insights and entertainments, and words rather than brushes for the art. Back issues are viewable on this website, above right. To subscribe, click here.
Moore & Moore Art Gallery in Dana Point
Open by Appointment
949-240-4642
Semi-Private Coaching for Painters
Offering 2-hour sessions on Mondays and Wednesday and Saturday mornings
in the Hyatt Moore Studio, Dana Point.
For more info click Art Coaching Flyer.
Or call 949-240-4642
Printmaking Classes
In the Anne Moore studio, Dana Point
To see more of Anne’s, work go to: www.annesprints.com
Call 949-240-4642
11:05 am
We ate at two or three Mo’s up and down the Oregon coast, as well as The Sea Hag, on our trip west in 2010. Great food, indeed! And great scenery.
11:35 am
Thanks! .. Wow! … KOOL! ..
Waz jus thinkin’ of ya yesterday, wunderin’ is ya’d sho 2nite @ ArtWalk!!??
You folks must have had a really full vehicle (certainly NOT that BRG ol’ Jag! .. Huh?) .. Or you went up with a car and returned with a U-Haul attached.
I’ve noted those chowder “ratings” and will apply same someday.
You always look so well worn with one another, something I would imagine most of us are envious of! Good pix, see ya soon.
bruce
11:41 am
Thanks, you two, for sharing the private joys and discoveries in your lives. The photo and note sequence was quite close to being there with you. Brought a smile and a quiet HMMmmmm for five minutes of an intense day.
11:48 am
It makes me happy to see that you are such great companions for each other.
12:29 pm
Now if that isn’t God’s Country – I don’t know where it is – and having two of God”s Children enjoying it to the fullest! Wonderful anniversary gift to your selves and a wonderful gift for your sharing! Thank you.
12:49 pm
I am so delighted that the time away was rich in every way. What a wonderful way to celebrate your ongoing adventure of marriage.
1:06 pm
You’re an inspiration for our anniversary trip in April! I’m so glad to hear your trip was so restful, yet productive. I love the Oregon coast with some of the most majestic, rugged, wild scenery in all the world. Sounds like you had a great celebration of all God has given you two. Cheers!
1:20 pm
Hyatt,
I’ve been reading your blogs periodically. They bring a wonderful breeze to my soul.
Today’s was particularly lovely. I felt as though you had given me a mini vacation on the coast. Thanks.
Keep doing what you are doing!
With much appreciation.
Paula
2:09 pm
Thanks for sharing this part of you lives with us. We hope to hit Oregon coast during road trip in Sept. cheers
2:44 pm
Great blog! So glad you had such a wonderful getaway with lots of time to connect with each other and your self expression.
6:14 pm
Happy Anniversary, Anne and Hyatt!
Wow! We sure enjoyed taking a few minutes out of the day to be blessed by your post. You two are living LIFE to its fullest! LOVE your photos showing the creative parts of you at work.
Thanks for giving us a peek into your life and your special days on the Oregon Coast.
Love you two!
10:22 pm
I enjoyed very much your email and your photos. Since I am originally from Oregon, it was a great reminder of our many trips up the Oregon Coast.
10:37 pm
Hello Hyatt and Anne,
So beautiful, not only the place but your words and experience. Praise the LORD and Happy Anniversary too.
I am currently in Japan with my husband for his work. So many times I want to grab a brush and paint, but I did not bring those. I did however take a class in Japanese paper tearing art called Chigri-e — super interesting and builds patience.
I don’t know if you have ever visited Giverney, Monet’s house and gardens in France. Anyway, one time, I was fortunate enough to go and inside was a collection of all Japanese art, which evidently is the only art he collected. I have always loved The Great Wave-View of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai, and soon I will see the painting in Tokyo–very excited.
Waiting for the time of cherry blossoms to arrive, and thinking of the two of you and your lovely art, especially when I see the patterns on paper, fabrics and kimonos here.
We are living in a city, not the rural country, but as the weather improves I hope to get out and visit many areas with my CAMERA in hand. We are here until end of May.
Congratulations again and God bless and keep you both,
Carmen
11:19 pm
Hyatt! Oh, thank you for sharing! Love seeing you and Anne! Loved seeing a little of what you saw on your trip and what you liked enough to take a picture of it! Send more!!!!!!!!!! Loved seeing your work spaces! LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOAT HARBOR PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have tried to do similar pieces but it is so hard. Would love to see how you do the shapes of the boats. Wish I weren’t moving! Darn! But I will be back visiting. Maybe I could arrange times to come and paint for a class with you on those times. Will pray about it. Love your style and your work! Wonderful! I always get so excited to see your latest work! I always felt that way about Shirley too. How did this trip and what you and Anne saw on the trip influence what she did with her printing style? How does she use these trips to affect how she prints in the abstract ways? Love Love Lisa Again!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing!
11:46 pm
Thanks for the tour Hyatt….very enjoyable review of your time in Oregon!
2:32 pm
Loved everything every bit of the art work you sent. It made me wish I could go to Oregon again to paint. It is so beautiful there. Thank you both so much for sharing!
4:38 pm
Hyatt you and Anne are like a perfect pair of shoes. Right and Left shoe, working,walking and playing together. Like I said a perfect pair. Both of you love art, travel, books, conversation, and being side by side but still walking left foot right foot and going places together. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
4:46 pm
Happy Anniversary! Looks like you kept busy.
Thanks for sharing.
3:51 pm
Sorry we didn’t get a chance to visit before you left. Hope you enjoyed our little town! Until next time…
8:02 pm
Love it.
2:17 pm
Dear Hyatt and Anne, Happy Anniversary! And many, many blessings for a wonderful new year together. Your Oregon gift to each other sounds like a wonderful success. Makes my mouth water to visit this bit of Oregon. Your happiness and contentment shows in your photo. So refreshing in this age of break-up/moving on marriages.
Congratulations! Sally and Frank
5:57 pm
I am so envious. What a fantastic vacation together!
All of your artwork looks fantastic. Can’t wait to see it up close.
What a splendid relationship you have.