Harley Talkington
For 40 years I have enjoyed teaching elementary and middle school students, looking for as many art opportunities as possible, including weaving art into history, science, writing, math and literature lessons. Now I get to create lessons for myself! Since childhood I have enjoyed many creative outlets including poetry in a myriad of forms, game-making, music, as well as humorous tributes/roasts of friends and colleagues. After visiting several artists in Washington County’s Open Studios in 2015, I was captivated by the vibrancy of Amanda Houston’s pastel painting. I began taking classes, and participating in Alla Prima, a Portland-based paint group dedicated to painting “plein air,” or outside, in the world. Among many skilled local artists, I was completely humbled to have been chosen as the winner of the 2019 Picture Hillsboro award. This really catapulted me into this new adventure. I enjoy painting landscapes, birds, “critters,” and am beginning to play with abstracts using oils, as well. So many blessings have come to me in the course of making art, including the privilege of honoring and responding to the beauty around me!
