Art Is For The Heart

"8th Street Magic Hour". Original oil on panel. 12" x 10". Framed. So many of the most iconic Astoria, OR cityscapes were purchased during Astoria Open Studios. Somehow, this little piece made it through without getting claimed, in spite of many near adoptions.

It's a painterly, loose take of one of my favorite streets in my favorite town at my favorite time of day. The magic hour: where natural light is fading and manmade light is emerging. I love this crossover.

I loved the way the headlights of the oncoming car are sneaking up on the crest of the hill. I loved the vantage point atop 8th Street. The Columbia River on its last stretch to the Pacific in the background.

It's very Astoria. The Patina. The history. The charm of this place.

Love it? Let me know.

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Come see me at Astoria Open Studios Tour this weekend, July 30 and 31st. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Atop the 8th Street Hill, Astoria" 18" x 15". Original oil on panel. This is one of many new pieces painted from my regular walks through Astoria.

A friend recently taught me the word "limutas"--relating to a sense of place. That is what I'm after--not just painting the way a place looks, but the way it feels to me. This is why Astoria is my muse. I love the the feel of this place.

DM if you love this piece.

Looking forward to seeing you.

“Artist For Hire at the Ballard Market”. Oil on panel. 12” x 10”. (Sold. Ask me about handfinished prints.)

I encountered these two at the Ballard Market in Seattle, shortly before an epic rain. There were poets writing poems and this portrait artist. Each of the three artists for hire dressed like they were attending a party. So I suppose it was a party of sorts.

What struck me about these two was the intense reciprocity between them. The artist looked so intently. And so did the boy. And the way he stood there took me back to gradeschool when I’d let my jacket sluff off my shoulders when I’d started to get warm—maybe before I fully even realized I was too warm. I loved his puff-jacket. I loved the easy way he stood. And his presence in this moment. I loved his “Alfalfa” hair spikes and imagined his mother licking it down before he left the house, but to no avail. And I couldn’t help but wonder if this experience didn’t seed the idea of artmaking in this boys mind. Or maybe it was already seeded? It was in mine when I was his age. It felt as though they was a weighty exchange happening here.

This is one of two little panels I’ve done from my recent weekend staying on the Jaunty—a lovely wooden cabin cruiser on Lake Union. The whole area of Seattle is imminently paintable. And I especially love paintings as journal entries to document special special times, adventures, or whatever is noteworthy in my life. This is very much a journal entry.

Do you love it? Thinking about adoption? Let me know right away. The little ones (especially) don’t last long.

Framed, wired, bumpered. Ready to hang. Free shipping/delivery in the U.S.

"The Yellow Foursquare at 14th and Irving". 11" x 9". Original, oil on panel. Framed. I walk past this place fairly often on the way to downtown Astoria. The building on the right is where i do Jiu Jitsu. That's the Columbia River in the distance and Washington State on the other side.

I loved the light on this particular day. I loved how the west/east light made columns of light on west/east street and cast north/south streets in shadow. I loved how the westward face of the telephone pole was lit. I love how the aloe tips were brushed in light. And mostly I loved the shadow cast by the eave of this historic American Foursquare. The angle of the light and the clouds feel like early Spring. Renewal on the horizon.

These little pieces are especially affordable. Do you love it? Send me a direct message. Let me know.

"The Yellow Foursquare at 14th & Irving". 11" x 9". Framed. Original, oil on panel. I walk past this place regularly. The building on the right is where I do Jiu Jitsu. Columbia River in the distance and Washington State beyond it.

I was struck by this scene on this day because of the light. I loved how light made west to east columns and cast the north/south streets in shadow. I love scenes where the foreground is in shadow and the midground is lit. It always feels hopeful to me. I loved how the tips of the aloe-looking plant (is that aloe?) are sun-whisked. And whole the telephone pole is lit on its westerly side. And more than anything, I loved the shadow cast by the eaves of this grand American Foursquare. The angle of light and the clouds feel to me like early Spring. Renewal is coming.

It's framed, wired, bumpered. Ready to hang. These small pieces are especially affordable. Do you love it? Send me a message. Let me know.

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"14th Street at Night". 15” x 17” oil on panel. Framed.

This piece is on the faster and looser side for my cityscapes, with more improvised color. Astorians will recognize this look north on 14th at Duane down to Commercial and the red lights at Marine Drive.

DM me if you love it. And feel free to visit my website for more originals and hand finished prints, many of them of our beloved Astoria. www.jwesleywillis.com. Join the site for more updates.

“What Never Changes in the Window Light of The Spar.” Original oil on panel. 12” x 13”.

I was recently reminded how much I love doing fast, extemporaneous work, where I'm painting whatever is topical in my life as though it's a visual journal entry.

This piece is a scene I encountered Saturday in the little town of Cathlamet, WA, adjacent the Cathlamet Island in the middle of lower Columbia. Cathlamet is not unlike Rainier, OR—which I recently painted. And it’s not far away. There’s a slightly forgotten feel—a kind of un-parallel with modern urban life. It’s full of a vibrance that sits right beside forgotten things.

And these two, sitting in the window on what looked like their 50,000th lunch date. I could feel the gravity between them. And although they didn’t seem all that chatty with one another, they looked at each other like you’d look at a plate a barbecue ribs, when you’re not super hungry, but know you will be soon. I just loved the way they felt together.

DM me if you love it. We’ll talk about adoption. As alway, it will be framed, wired and ready to hang. Shipped at no cost.

“Mid-evening Light Near The Airport D**e Trail”
22” x 17”. Original, Oil on Canvas. Framed. Free Shipping.

A handful of the paintings damaged in the house fire were repairable. I set them aside in my studio, which is where they’ve stayed. Today, after finishing several large pieces, and before starting another large commission, I saw this piece staring at me. Maybe whimpering a little? It was covered in a sort of cement created by loose cellulose insulation and water from the fire trucks. I started by brushing it off with a stiff house painting brush. Then gently wiped it down with turpentine on a cotton rag. Even with the cleaning, it was still a bit beat up. And only about 80% complete.

I think I took it the rest of the way today. Where fire debris—lathe and plaster—had falling from the ceiling and damaged the paint, I just repaired the mark by painting in a daylight moon. (Which was a Bob Ross “Happy little accident” moment.)

Astorians might recognize this as a favorite field for our resident Elk. It’s right past Jeffers Garden, over the Lewis & Clark Bridge, near the entrance to the Airport D**e Trail. There are so many gorgeous landscapes in every direction from this spot. In the background you can see the Peninsula Astoria calls home. It’s a favorite place to walk and paint. And a great birdwatching spot.

If you love it, let me know. DM me. We’ll talk about adoption papers.

“Max Troublefield at the Voodoo Room”. Oil on panel. Framed. 14” x 12”. Holler at me fast if you love it. They don’t seem to last long. (And I don’t care about fast pays. If you love it, I’ll make it work. Break it up. Whatever.)

"Corner Light, Blue Scorcher". “Corner Light, Blue Scorcher” 12” x 12”. Framed. Original, oil on panel. The Blue Scorcher has to be one of Astoria’s most beloved spots. I love this corner. I love how the tables are often cast in shadow, but this couple backed slightly into the the warmth of the sun, which is so often sneaking around the the Fort George/Blue Scorcher building.

DM me if you love it. Or just adopt it here:https://www.artisfortheheart.com/product-page/corner-light-blue-scorcher

"Custard King." 13" x 10". "Ice cream" and the Stars and Stripes. What could be more American? Custard King. Astoria, OR. I think about painting this place every time I drive to the bottom of the hill. And this time I actually did it. The original just sold. But I have limited edition, hand finished, canvas prints. They're framed. Free shipping. Very affordable. DM for details.

“Light Gambols At Cascade Lake, Orcas Island” 15” x 22”. Oil on panel. Come see this and other work from my Orcas Island painting tour at my Astoria Open Studios Tour July 24th and 25th, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Longview" 14" x 10", original oil on panel. I was driving back to Astoria from the valley. I pulled over in Longview, WA to check a text. I looked to my left and saw this scene—the downpour of light on the center car—the way the car shadows describe the cars’ different relation to the light. Had to paint it. Getting close to finishing this one. DM me if you love it. I can make prints, too.

"Hammond", 20" x 15", original oil on panel. (Image photo credit, Sid Deluca.) Something about this scene--the way the car is parked on a bias I think--is so casual, like it implies a short visit. Running in to say high to a friend? It implies something between urban and rural. And I just couldn't look away. (Sid, the first time a make a print I'll make an extra for you.) #

The greys. The delicious greys. "West on Bond". Just reworked this piece a little. I seem to paint Bond Street in every different light. Probably still not quite done, but it feels closer. If you love it, DM me. We can talk about adoption papers.