RONALD REAGAN ~ "There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits on the human capacity for intelligence, imagination and wonder."

REDMOND (WA) SATURDAY MARKET SEASON ~ May 1 to October 30!

SUMMER APPEARANCES:

NOTE: Market appearances are subject to GOOD weather. I will note cancellations here whenever possible.

May 1 kicked off this much loved Eastside venue. Bring your carryalls to load up on the fresh flowers and veggies, as well as the one-of-a-kind arts & crafts. Hope to see you there!

See my Welcome and Retail pages for more information or visit the market online at www.redmondsaturdaymarket.org.

LET'S GO OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE DAY!

Here I am with my sweetheart husband, Doug, at a neighborhood picnic (one of the themes of the collection featured here). We love to grab our hamper and eat at the park or on the deck of our ancient Sea Ray when the weather's good!

2010 is a milestone year for us as we just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Doug surprised me with a combination 60th birthday/anniversary excursion to the Hawaiian Islands in March ~ the first real "relax-and-do-nothing" vacation we've shared since our marriage in April of 2000.

Kauai is our favorite destination and Hanalei, our favorite beach. MGM filmed the movie "South Pacific" at Hanalei in the 1950s, and the signature mountain, Bali Hai, is clearly visible.

We love the leisurely pace of this island. There are only a couple of posh resorts, so it feels like a real" island getaway" to us. We spent ten unforgettable days ~ kayaking, sunbathing, walking the shoreline, shopping, and sipping Mai Tais. Bliss!

And here's Doug in his Hawaiian shirt!

20 PAINTINGS (8 NEW!) WITH THREE THEMES:

Click on the images below to see larger views. Beneath each theme are photos and stories for that group. To order prints, cards, magnets, etc. visit my Ordering page. ENJOY THE COLLECTION!

PICNICKING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST (6 Paintings ~ 1 NEW!)

NEW! "Stars & Stripes in Snohomish" ~ (SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON • MARCH 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

In 2007, when my stepson and daughter-in-law moved to Snohomish, I decided to expand my Snohomish collection and create a calendar highlighting its beautiful homes.

I spent several weekends walking the historic district, snapping photos of every setting that “spoke” to me. This green and white clapboard home at 314 Union Street with its crisp white picket fence caught my eye.

Even though the month was October, the home was decorated with dozens of little waving American flags. It inspired this artwork, which carries through the theme of celebrating Independence Day with an old-fashioned picnic. We’re bringing the cherry pie!

To learn more about this remarkable quaint and charming community, visit www.ci.snohomish.wa.us.

"Happy Times at the Hill House" (PORT TOWNSEND • MAY 2006 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This pretty two-story house, originally constructed for J.J. Hunt in 1872 at 611 Polk Street, became home ten years later to Robert C. Hill and his wife, Elizabeth.

Active in local community affairs, Robert Hill was elected mayor of the town in 1885, and also was instrumental in establishing the First National Bank of Port Townsend.

This is a fun summer painting with a picnic theme ~ complete with “Old Glory” billowing in the breeze. I filled the artwork with good friends about to enjoy an old fashioned feast of watermelon and other traditional favorites. Our kitties Andy and Sophie are quite an armful for my husband Doug, pictured in the front window.

For more information on this seaside community, visit www.ptguide.com.

"The Bay House" ~ (PUGET SOUND, NISQUALLY, WASHINGTON • SEPTEMBER 2005 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

This seaside home was built in 1962 on a spectacular piece of Puget Sound waterfront property near Nisqually, Washington. When I painted this, the couple who owned it were In their 70s with their six children grown , married, and moved to other destinations all over the U.S. Thus, their decision to sell this little gem. Needless to say, for everyone ~ the couple, children and grandchildren ~ this little spot held many memories.

As a gift, the realtor commissioned this painting featuring all of the family members celebrating a last 4th of July at the place. In honor of "The Bay House," the family wrote this poem:

The gatherings started in ‘45. Friends and family brought the land alive.
Till ‘47 the way in was by boat; the pond and the bay made a natural moat.
The house was added in ’62; the gatherings expanded as the family grew.
This painting is to commemorate the very special 2005 date.

"9th Avenue ~ 4th of July Frolics" ~ (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • AUGUST 2004 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Summertime in Spokane, Washington, the place where I grew up, is a true slice of “Americana.” Although Spokane is a large city, it has always enjoyed that “small town feeling” where everyone knows everyone else ~ and I tried to give that quality to this painting.

Family and friends are picnicking, heading out to the golf course, and just enjoying the sunshiny outdoors on a holiday weekend. With gaily waving flags and patriotic bunting decorating this scene, it could be Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day ~ all wonderful, authentic American summer holidays. This Tudor is one of four Comstock-Shadle family “sister” (similar to each other) houses on 9th Avenue, constructed in the early 1900s.

AWARD WINNING! "The Bill Brown Building" ~ (REDMOND, WASHINGTON • MAY 2005 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

This handsome building, located in the heart of Redmond, Washington on Leary Way, was built by Redmond’s most famous mayor, William “Bill” Brown.

Bill was mayor from 1919 to 1948, and this was his second business building on this site. It housed a saloon, drug store, soda fountain, barber shop, dance hall and mortuary.

Rumor has it that the building also was home to the town’s “ladies of the evening” ~ and even had an entrance to a secret bootlegger’s tunnel from the days of Prohibition. This structure hasn’t changed much since the early 1900s, its owners being careful to maintain its original beauty.

I gave this artwork an “All-American Celebration” theme and filled it with fun loving family and friends ~ and pets!

"Gleason Green Goddess" ~ (PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON • JULY 2006 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

It’s time for a fun summer picnic complete with flags unfurled and all the traditional fixin’s ~ from watermelon to beef burgers to chocolate layer cake! My husband and I are pictured celebrating with our pals, the Ebners and the Herberts, at this beautiful, historic Port Townsend home.

It was constructed in the early 1900s at 706 Taft Street by dentist, Dr. Gleason, and adorned with a decorative turret and unique arched front picture windows. The home’s interior featured a creative use of wood throughout, including built-in china cabinets. The home was patterned after a similar home in Boston where Gleason lived before moving to Port Townsend.

For more information, log on to www.ptguide.com.

GORGEOUS GARDEN SETTINGS (6 Paintings ~ 4 NEW!)

NEW! "Manresa Castle in May" ~ (PORT TOWNSEND • APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Originally known as the Eisenbeis Castle, it was named for Charles Eisenbeis, Port Townsend’s first mayor and a leading local businessman.

The regal four-story castle was built in 1892 on 7th and Sheridan Street and was inspired by castles on the Rhine where Eisenbeis had lived before coming to the United States.

The castle originally had 30 rooms that enjoyed spectacular views of Puget Sound. Beautifully enhanced by gorgeous hand-carved oak woodwork and vintage chandeliers, the castle is surrounded by stunning grounds and flower gardens.

When I painted this piece, it was serving guests as a very popular inn and fine restaurant.

To learn more about this popular destination, you can find them on the web at www.manresacastle.com.

NEW! "Bozarth Mansion in Bloom" ~ (THE NORTH SIDE, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

In 1911-1913, this mansion was built for J.P. Graves by Kirtland K. Cutter for about $100,000. The famed Olmstead Brothers of Brookline, MA designed the gardens and underground water system. In addition to owning one of Spokane’s trolley lines, he also had the largest herd of jersey cattle on the west coast.

It was originally called “Waikiki” in honor of the island Graves visited and because of the 24 streams on the property (“Waikiki” means lots of rushing water.)

In 1963, the mansion was purchased by Gonzaga University, and today it is know as the Bozarth Mansion and Retreat Center.

Visit the Bozarth Mansion online at www.bozarthmansion.org.

"Morning Walk at Roche" ~ (ROCHE HARBOR, WASHINGTON • AUGUST 2000 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Mornings at Roche Harbor are the perfect time for a quiet walk on the docks, the boardwalk, and especially through the gardens that flourish at this lovely setting.

The retired kiln factory building can be seen in the background of this piece. It’s the current home of the local green grocer and a cafe which serves hearty breakfasts.

This is just one of the restored building that was part of the McMillin estate that house the island's main industry ~ a thriving lime mine and kiln.

For more information about this charming community, visit www.rocheharbor.com.

"Davenport Fountain at Duncan Garden" ~ (MANITO PARK, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • MAY 1997 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

The Davenport Fountain was donated in 1956 by his family in the memory of Louis M. Davenport ~ longtime owner of the downtown Spokane landmark hotel that bears his name.

Located in the center of John W. Duncan Gardens (named for the Manito Park superintendent), it is the “star” of the formal European Renaissance-style gardens that surround it.

This beloved setting has hosted dozens of weddings throughout the years. The fountain is filled with pennies tossed by “wishing” natives and visitors alike who are drawn to the colorful destination every summer.

To learn more about beautiful Manito Park and this remarkable formal garden, visit them at www.thefriendsofmanito.org.

NEW! "Celebrating at the Seattle Golf Club" ~ (THE HGHLANDS, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON • APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

This is a portrait of the handsome old clubhouse designed for the Seattle Golf Club by the renowned Spokane architect, Kirtland K. Cutter.

Built in the early 1900s, this building is part of the Highlands, a very elite neighborhood that is home to some of Seattle’s wealthiest residents ~ like the Boeing, Stimson and Nordstrom families.

This painting pictures my friend Marie’s wedding day with her new husband Graydon, stepson Chris and a group of her girlfriends.

Visit this venerable old Seattle Golf Course at www.seattlegolfclub.com.

NEW! "Cottage Clubhouse at Jefferson Park" ~ (SEATTLE, WASHINGTON • APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)
This artwork pictures the vintage cottage-style clubhouse that
has served one of Seattle’s three municipal golf courses ~ this one located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood just south of the downtown corridor.

Two things make the setting special. The first: Jefferson Park served as “home course” to renowned golfer Fred Couples when he was learning the game as a youngster.

The second: the course enjoys colorful gardens and blossom-filled urns leading up to the cottage clubhouse, and on the tees and fairways. Spring is particularly love at Jefferson Park.

Visit this pretty public golf course at www.premiergc.com.

VIVACIOUS VICTORIANS & COZY COTTAGES (8 Paintings ~ 3 NEW!)

NEW! "Cozy Cabbage Patch" (SNOHOMISH, WASHINGTON • APRIL 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8X10-INCH)

For decades ~ and as long as I can remember ~ a trip to Snohomish with my girlfriends to hunt for antiques was something to look forward to!

These outings usually included sharing a meal at the “Cabbage Patch Restaurant” ~ and bragging to each other about all of the bargains we found. Lunch was often the highlight of our visit, and gave us all a chance to unwind and enjoy a marvelous meal in lovely, charming surroundings.

This pretty red and white two-story Victorian is located a half block off the community’s main street in the “antiques” district. The happy shoppers are sis Marilee, gal pal Marie and me!

To find out more about this popular eatery, visit them at www.cabbagepatchrestaurant.com. You'll also find my NEW 2011 Snohomish calendars here, with this restaurant as the cover art.

To learn about the community, visit www.ci.snohomish.wa.us.

NEW! "Browne's Addition Beauty (Page Ufford House)" ~ (SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • FEBRUARY 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Built in 1896 of shingle and basaltic rock, this three-story Queen Anne sits on Browne’s Addition’s west bluff overlooking Latah Creek. Alba J. Page and his wife Flora lived here first, succeeded a short while later by William and Ethel Ufford ~ thus the name.

When I painted the Victorian, it had recently been purchased and carefully restored by Katherine Fritchie, who transformed it from a down-on-its-heels apartment house to the classic single family residence painted here. The process was fraught with unique challenges at every turn, but Kathy persevered. After years of neglect, the house shines with its original integrity, and was approved for the Spokane Register of Historic Places.

It’s spring, and I’ve pictured my nieces and me with a huge pot of blue hyacinths for Kathy and her pal, Fachi.

NEW! "Brick Bungalow Beauty" ~ (THE SOUTH HILL, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • MARCH 2010 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

This sweet buttery yellow bungalow was part of the 2009 Holiday Parlor Tour that Snohomish hosts annually at Christmastime.

Located in the historic district in the midst of Victorians and foursquares, the craftsman-style residence provides a tidy departure for the neighborhood.

The home is embellished with a multi-colored brick fireplace and front porch columns. Handsome period windows round out the charming presentation.

I gave this setting a springtime theme and filled the gardens with blue hyacinths and dozens of red and yellow tulips ~ which I’m selling in this piece!

To learn more about this community, find them at www.ci.snohomish.wa.us.

"Puttering at the Peach House" ~ (PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON • JULY 2006 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

This pretty little two-story peach house is one of my favorites.

This painting is my second effort at painting the home (the first one, “Apple Pickin’ at the Peach House” was completed years ago in 1978).

I’m pictured with my husband, Doug, in the front yard (along with a few bird houses) doing what I enjoy most ~ painting!

I took a little bit of poetic license with the seaside background. Although the shore is a short walk from this house, this house is actually located within a neighborhood of Port Townsend.

To learn more about this destination and their Annual Tour of Historic Homes, visit them at www.ptguide.com.

"My Grandmother's Garden" ~ (SPOKANE, WASHINGTON • MARCH 2005 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

My father’s mother, Jessie Simpson, loved to garden. Although she passed away when I was only six-years-old, I remember clearly the beautiful grounds surrounding my grandparent’s home.

Built on a double lot not far from Rockwood Boulevard on the lower portion of Spokane’s South Hill, half of the property housed this beautiful “Arts & Crafts” style bungalow, and the other, my grandmother’s huge magnificent gardens. Filled with rockery, foot paths, little tucked away seats, a grape arbor ~ and hundreds of colorful blooms ~ Jessie Simpson’s gardens were a magical place for children.

My sister, Marilee (who has inherited my grandmother’s “green thumb”), my mother, Sally, and I are pictured in the lower right hand corner of this painting, holding our plants and receiving a valuable bit of gardening wisdom from my grandmother.

"The Stone House" ~ (REDMOND, WASHINGTON • MARCH 2005 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

The Stone House is one of the most unusual buildings in Redmond, Washington. Built in about 1916, Orson and Emma Wiley chose brick and multi-colored rocks collected from nearby rivers and streams to design and construct the decorative cottage.

In neighborhood filled with Victorian frame homes, the creative use of the building materials really made this home “stand out.” Wiley was quite a local entrepreneur, owning both a livery stable and a thriving saloon. Local legend has it that he constructed a web of underground tunnels to the stills on his property during Prohibition ~ a colorful story that has never been substantiated.

Today this setting houses a wonderful dining establishment specializing in fine, fresh Pacific Northwest fare. Visit them at www.stonehouseredmond.com.

"Marriage at the Starrett Mansion" ~ (PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON • AUGUST 2006 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

What a lovely setting for a wedding-themed painting! The famed Starrett Mansion is one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the United States.

This beautiful three-story was built at 744 Clay Street for only $6,000 in 1889 at 744 Clay Street by George Starrett as a second anniversary gift for his wife, Ann.

Unique to the home is the tower, free-floating staircase, and interior “widow’s walk,” (so that the wife waiting for her husband to return from sea could watch and wait in comfort). The Smithsonian Institute believes that the two-tiered free-floating staircase is the last one of its kind in the country.

The ceiling of the tower features the “Fresco of the Four Seasons,” created by Seattle artist, Otto Chapman, which also was designed to serve as a solar calendar.

To learn more about this Victorian B&B, visit them on the web at www.starrettmansion.com.

"Makin' Shortcake at the McDowell House" ~ (BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON • MAY 2005 • ACRYLIC ON CANVAS • 8x10-INCH)

Located near the historic Wilburton Trestle in Bellevue, this Arts & Crafts style house is headquarters for the Eastside Heritage Center (once housed in Redmond’s Clise Mansion at Marymoor Park).

Built in 1908 by the McDowell family with lumber from the nearby Wilburton Mill, this pretty house was once part of High Ridge Farm and Cherry Hill Farm, as well as home to the Dawes family and the Paxton family.

The City of Bellevue with the State of Washington immaculately restored the exterior of the home and its surrounding grounds, creating a truly beautiful setting.

Every year the Eastside Heritage Center also hosts Bellevue’s annual Strawberry Festival, thus the good-eatin’-summertime-dessert tone of this painting which features EHC volunteers, my friend, Lisa James, husband Doug, and niece and nephew, Kelly and Michael.

For information on the Eastside Heritage Center, find them at www.eastsideheritagecenter.org.

HOW TO ORDER ANY OF THE ARTWORK FEATURED ABOVE ~

If you'd like more information on purchasing prints or cards of any of the paintings featured in this collection (or any of the artwork featured throughout this site), please click on my Ordering page. There's a description of all of the available items ~ plus a convenient, easy-to-use fax order form.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ARTWORK?

TELEPHONE: Tel 425.868.9238

EMAIL: artist@pattisimpsonward.com

WEB SITE: www.pattisimpsonward.com