As promised in my last post, I have a few exciting announcements to make. Feel free to reply directly to this email any time if you have questions, thoughts, or see something you like. I always enjoy hearing from you!

Wild & Scenic Rivers of Oregon: Bill Introduced to Congress

I’m excited to announce that last week, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act of 2021 to congress, which will designate rivers across the state as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Check out the Ouroregonrivers.org web site for details about the legislation and what the National Wild & Scenic designation means. This bill is among the greatest acts of conservation in Oregon’s history and will help preserve our outstanding quality of life for generations.

Many thanks to all of you who have already supported this historic effort!

Now the work begins to pass the legislation. Through my partnership with Oregon Wild, we’re continuing to offer a special painting series of Oregon rivers to support the bill. Four of the six original artworks created for this partnership are available as of today (South McKenzie and South Umpqua are sold). Limited edition prints of all the paintings are also available.

As many of you know, I’m donating 25% of proceeds from these artworks directly to Oregon Wild to help support the campaign. Oregon Wild has done a wonderful job nourishing grassroots efforts, sharing information, and connecting communities to the value of healthy rivers. Check out Oregon Wild’s web site to learn more about the work they’ve been doing across Oregon to preserve our wild rivers.

By purchasing these artworks, you invite the beauty of our wild rivers into your daily life, support the arts, and contribute to something meaningful. These paintings are already a time capsule of special places as they are today. I’m hopeful they will also serve to capture a moment in the history of America’s conservation legacy.

Breitenbush Hot Springs: Wildfire and Healing

I remember the first time I spent a weekend at Breitenbush Hot Springs nearly 20 years ago. We had two young children, two busy careers, and it seemed like not enough time in the day to breathe.

We decided to take a personal retreat at Breitenbush – just the two of us. We fully embraced the experience, giving ourselves over to the healing vibe, great food, daily meditations, and wonderful, wild river and forest of the retreat. Oh, and of course soaking for hours in the mineral-rich waters. At the end of our stay, I walked the labyrinth down by the river and experienced the first of many personal epiphanies. In 48 hours, we felt deeply restored.

Breitenbush Cabins by Robin Hostick OIL ON BOARD, 12 x 16 in. — Breitenbush Cabins by Robin Hostick
OIL ON BOARD, 12 x 16 in.

Since then, we’ve returned to Breitenbush many times and have always marveled at how lucky we are to have this uniquely Oregonian retreat so nearby. It felt like a little piece of PNW paradise, a much-needed respite from the hectic mainstream.

In September of 2020, wildfires swept through and devastated the hot springs and its community. A large portion of the retreat – including many beautiful, hand-crafted buildings and all of the guest cabins – was destroyed.

Fortunately, this resilient community is rebuilding. I recently painted a winter scene of the cozy, geothermally heated guest cabins from several years ago and reached out to Breitenbush to see if I could help. We’re now partnering to offer artwork to celebrate the legacy of Breitenbuh and support the rebuilding. Although the original painting sold pretty quick, limited edition prints are available, with 25% of proceeds going directly to Breitenbush.

A Couple of Shows

I recently had a couple of pieces accepted at west coast fine art exhibitions. The first painting was accepted in the Winslow Art Center 2021 Online Juried Show, available now through March 31, 2021. The second piece is showing with the Las Lagunas Gallery’s 2021 “Landscapes” show through February 27th. Both are available now.

The Mountains Are Calling

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been having a blast immersing myself in epic mountain landscapes. The result is a miniseries – 10 works total – of small paintings and sketches featuring some of my favorite places. I’ll tell you all about it in my next post.

Just a quick heads up: the mountain miniseries will be officially released for sale in a week or two. I’ll send you a note before they hit the web site, but if you’d like a preview, I’ve been posting the paintings, sketches and some process shots as I complete them on my Instagram and Facebook pages. Get in touch any time if you see something you like.

I hope you’re staying healthy and happy through the winter. Signs of spring are already showing up!

Jun 17, 2024

Show of the Year

In other words, I’m just doing one show this year. I know, it’s a narrow window to get a look at this year’s new works. Although I would dearly love to do more shows, we’ll have to make the best of this one. Here’s why.

Mar 5, 2024

Go Solo to Go Slow

Normally I explore with at least one other person. On this occasion, however, what started out as a group adventure dwindled to a group of one. So be it, I thought. A solo adventure awaits.

Nov 22, 2023

A Good Way to Make Space

I have a confession to make: I’ve been playing hooky from my social media obligations. I know! The nerve! But one thing is for sure: it’s given me some fresh perspective on what’s important. Here’s why.

Jun 1, 2023

Winter Works and Summer Shows

Those of you living in Oregon know this was one of the colder and wetter winters we’ve seen in a while. The term “cabin fever” comes to mind, perhaps mildly compared to many places in the world, but at some point I really yearned for a little sunshine, you know?

Everyone seems to have a different strategy for coping with a hard winter. My strategy this year was to spend most waking hours painting in my studio. The result, as planned, is a new body of work ready for release this summer. And you, my dear subscribers, are the first to see it.

Mar 7, 2023

This Feeling is Super Healing

Have you ever found yourself in the presence of beauty when time seems to stop for a moment? Maybe you sense the wind, the cool tingle of raindrops, or the silence of the desert. How did you feel? In awe, perhaps, or simply grateful to be alive? I sure hope so. Because it turns out that feeling is really, really good for you.

Lucky for us humans, the feeling of awe is there for us when we need it. Read on to learn what it is, how to find it, and how it drives my art practice.

Nov 9, 2022

Plein Air, If You Dare

Back in August, during the Umpqua Valley Plein Air event, I found myself looking for a place to camp for the night along the North Umpqua River. I finally came across a little campground tucked down off a gravel road along Canton Creek. It was mid-week, and to my surprise I found every site except one marked as reserved. Strange thing, though: the whole place was deserted. Where was everyone?

Sep 21, 2022

Into The Wild, Again

“I couldn’t believe it,” the man said, decked out in hiking gear and speaking with a German accent, “She was like THIS close to the grizzly.” He pointed to a car about twenty feet away. “Taking pictures with her phone!”

Yep, that was the scene up in Jasper National Park (British Columbia, Canada) a couple weeks ago. We arrived early to hit the trail up into the backcountry. Like everywhere else in the park, things were already busy. But on this particular morning, something was obviously up.

Aug 10, 2022

Crowd Dodging 101

Maybe you know the feeling: you show up to a beautiful, wild place you’ve been dying to see, or perhaps you’re returning full of anticipation for another visit, and reality sets in. It turns out there are a lot of other people with the same idea. Wow, you think. On the one hand, yay for all the people loving the outdoors! On the other hand, you might be looking for a more one-on-one experience with nature. How do you deal?

Jul 12, 2022

How to Test the Universe

As many of you know, it was a long, rainy winter here in Oregon. Many times on a rainy evening, after a full day in the studio, I’d ask myself whether I’m really on the right path. There’s so much to learn, so much to do.

Then I’d remind myself that this is an experiment in testing the principle of following your dreams. If you do what you love, and work hard a it, the universe will provide. Right? That, of course, and connecting with good people who love what you do.

May 23, 2022

Nine Things to Look Forward To

Maybe the only thing better than an Oregon summer is an Oregon summer with art. If that rings true for you, I have some great news! Over the next few months, I’ll be showing at nine different locations around the state. I know! Crazy. I just counted them up. And I’m hoping to see you at least once.

Before I say more, I’d like to warmly extend a couple of invitations.

Apr 4, 2022

A Most Dangerous Delicacy

A couple years ago a major storm coincided with opening day of crab season. At the stroke of midnight, over the sound of wind thrashing in the forest behind our cabin, we heard the rumble of diesel motors that told us the fleet was heading out. Through sheets of rain, we could just make out a line of lights navigating through the channel to the open ocean.

Nov 16, 2021

Don't Try This at Home

I’m talking about plein air painting, of course. The idea is, you’re supposed to be creating art outside, in the open air, baking sun, smoke and wind, not at home. Whatever it takes. No matter what.

But there are definitely a few things to be considered first. Here’s a short list.

Nov 9, 2021

Ever Tried This Social Adventure?

It appears I’ve made a habit of beginning each blog post with a dicey outdoor adventure. The truth is, I have a lot of those. But there are all kinds of adventures to be found, and not just in the outdoors. For example, leaving behind a thriving, comfortable career in mid-life to become a professional artist has opened opportunities for adventures I hadn’t expected. And not just because I made the leap two months before the pandemic hit.

Here's an unexpected mindset that can help you turn challenges into adventures.

Oct 12, 2021

Claude Monet's Best Kept Secret

A couple weeks ago we came through Seattle on our way home from hiking in the North Cascades. The rains swallowed up the mountains and that was the end of our trip. Not much point in being in the mountains if you can’t see them. So, we decided to make the best of it and stop in at the Seattle Art Museum.

As it turns out, SAM’s feature exhibit was Monet at Etretat. I couldn’t believe my luck! But what I learned at this show might surprise you.

Sep 29, 2021

This is the Real Middle of Nowhere

After six hours of bushwhacking through the steepest, gnarliest forest I’ve ever encountered, we arrived at the bottom of the canyon. Hidden in the shadowy depths of the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness, we’d found the eponymous waterfall at last. Above us, the cool waters of Wasson Creek cascaded down a series of stone ledges, dappled with the waning sunlight, while the silent forest towered above us.

This peaceful moment was eclipsed, however, by one thought: we still had to climb back out – probably in the dark, with no trail to follow. And one of our group members was already near exhaustion.

May 12, 2021

These Rules of Thumb Could Save Your Life

I shimmied along a narrow ledge above a slot canyon somewhere in Anza Borrego State Park. At some point I began to vividly imagine what it might be like to slip and tumble into the narrow void. A trickle of sand and pebbles skittered down from under my feet. Looking back the way I came, I tried to judge the point of diminishing risk/reward. It didn’t look promising, but the alternative was a two-mile detour. Should I go for it?

May 4, 2021

One Way to Connect With People Through Art

After a long and wonderful break (more on that later), I’m back in the studio painting steadily to get ready for what will be my first summer of art fairs. I’m super excited about it. I’m also a wee bit apprehensive, hoping it will be worth all the effort, not to mention giving up of some of the best weekends of the year for exploring the backcountry.

Feb 24, 2021

Little Big Mountains

In mid-January, the summit of Mt. Hood is normally frozen solid. That’s a good thing in mountaineering terms because it means loose rocks and ice stay in place and rather than tumble down on your head as you climb.

But as we slogged upward through the deep snow towards the Hog’s Back, the final ridge before the summit pitch, a melon-sized rock hurtled suddenly over the ridge and down the mountain side as though shot from a cannon. We all watched it’s passing, our heads swiveling in unison, and said a few bad words.