I’ve written a lot about Jon Colburn and visited his studio many times, since his partner is my long-time friend and garden mentor Irene Longaker. The other day R and I were in the PNAA (Pacific Northwest Artist Archive) and archivist Mary McRobinson had a nice painting of Jon’s over her desk, on loan from the Hallie Ford Museum of Art…
Since Irene and I were having a lunch date Tuesday I thought I’d pop in to Jon’s studio and see what he’s up to…and you have to go through the beautiful garden, here the Cecil Bruner (on the left) and the Constance Spry roses are in all their glory…visiting this duo is inspirational on many levels…
…and of course Jon was in his studio painting…
He staples a canvas to the wall, finishes it and covers it with plastic, and then staples a second canvas…until he has three when he will put them on stretcher bars…Irene pulls out another new one…
Bascomb standing watch…
back out through the garden…
with a quick peek into “Camp Irene” where studio cat Max was relaxing …
back through the house…Irene’s living room is one of my favorite rooms in all of Salem (note Poppy on the new needlepoint cushion–oops)…
and the new blue walls make Jon’s painting look great…(or maybe Jon’s painting makes the new blue walls look great??)
a photo Irene took years ago recently unearthed and rehung…
the new Tom Cramer painting…used as the “card piece” for his recent show at Bruinstudio in Salem
back out through the front garden…
Goodbye friends…
On The Way 
irene is the cat’s meow! what a garden. and jon’s work shot by bonnie hull, stapled to the wall by 3’s, & then stretched, and pics of his studio— such a lovely visit, bonnie. thanks for documenting it.
Boy do you make us look good. I love your blogs. Thank you.
I aim to please…
Wow! Cats and Cecil Bruners and art and all the lovely colors of it all. How could you bring yourself to leave it?
There gardens are beautiful! I really like the painting that resembles batik fabric.
What a delight! Nancy
such a treat for the eyes! thank you
Bonnie – thanks for the great visit to Jon and Irene. We miss them, their garden, studio, and house, and will reconnect soon. Meanwhile, I also miss your blog, which for some reason I cannot receive on gmail. Please add another email address: judyblanken@icloud.com