I’m excited to share that I’ve been given the opportunity to consign a wall in our new local collective, The Maker’s Mall, here in Veneta, OR. Being part of this creative community has inspired a new direction in my work — capturing moments on canvas that celebrate the beauty and spirit of the place we call home.

If you live in Veneta, or find yourself visiting our charming town, I hope these pieces will feel both familiar and meaningful.

One of the first locations I chose to paint is Fern Ridge Reservoir Sunrise, our local boating lake. Kayaking is one of my favorite summertime rituals. In this piece, a lone kayaker greets the sunrise — a quiet, peaceful moment that so many of us who cherish this lake can recognize.

This painting also marks a few personal firsts. It’s the first time I’ve included a dock in one of my landscapes. Perspective can be challenging, but I embraced it — and I’m especially pleased with how it anchors the composition and invites the viewer into the scene.

And then there’s the sky. I’ve shied away from bold orange sunsets, unsure of how to handle their intensity. This time, I decided to lean in. The result surprised me. The orange feels radiant rather than overpowering — and I’ve officially made peace with orange skies.

This little painting is the first of many local-inspired works I plan to display at The Maker’s Mall in the coming months. If you’re nearby, I would love for you to stop in, experience the collection in person, and perhaps take a small piece of Veneta home with you.

Below, you can see the stages this piece went through as it came to life.

I used a 4 by 4 inch stretched canvas, and Golden Heavy Body acrylic paint for this piece. ‘Fern Ridge Reservoir Sunrise, Veneta OR,’ an original acrylic painting by DVD © 2026.

Price: SOLD $40.00