Wow this winter has been long! Is it me or do the cold, dark months seem to drag on? I’ve got a couple weeks off for ‘Spring Break’ but it sure hasn’t felt like Spring yet. Here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s known for the mild, but wet, winter and spring. However the term ‘mild’ seems to be up for debate. Yes it’s too warm to snow, but just barely. While it’s rainy, it’s a cold rain and not very pleasant to be out in. So I’ve been cooped up inside for most of ‘Spring Break’…which in a way has been great from an artist’s perspective. After all, I’ve been painting pretty much all day, every day. Every artist’s dream, right?

Cherry Trees full of pink blossoms along the riverfront with a city scene across the river and a stone wall in the foreground.

But even I am feeling like I need to bust outside or go stir crazy. Finally on one of my last days off, it dried up and the sun finally came out. I kept hearing on the news that the famous Portland, OR Cherry Trees were in peak bloom and we had all better rush down to the riverfront to see them before it’s too late! So with the sun bursting through the cloud cover I’m feelling a sudden burst of energy and bundle up to head down and check out the scenery.

It seems that all Portlanders were feeling the same jubilation over seeing the blue sky and sunshine! The waterfront park is filled with quite a few people enjoying the views and the glorious Cherry Trees in full bloom. Children are playing, couples are walking hand-in-hand, tourists are taking photos, and everyone is smiling. Ahhhh…maybe Spring really IS here! What a joyful and refreshing sight after months of dark, gray skies and rain! I joined the crowd taking scads of photos of the trees, river, distant mountain. And oh the vibrant Spring greens of the grass and new leaves and delicate pinks of the blossoms. It was such a sublime and joyful feeling that how could I not go home and start painting it?