Daily Artwork by Carolyn Jean Thompson

"Canyon Walls" pastel painting

2012-02-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

11 x 14

I finished this one today. Wow, this one really charged me up! I forced myself to go slow and I worked a little at a time and then would go across the room and sit down and view it and analyze what I had done and what area to move to next. I would go to bed thinking about it, wake up thinking about it. I am happy with it. I think by moving slowly I was able to take my vision and carefully place it on the board. Sometimes it is fun to work fast and spontaneously, but sometimes when you want your values right, your warms and cools right, your complimentary colors right, I need to go slow.

Pastels are calling me!

2012-02-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I put my "in progress" watercolor canyon painting on the mantle to analyze it. My husband and I both agree it looks better up close than from across the room. The mantle is high, and viewing it is going to be from a distance. It just isn't working right now. Maybe I'll start over on the back side of the paper. But for now....the pastels are calling! The watercolor project fueled the desire to paint a different scene I photographed on that trip to Moab, Utah.

I started with a watercolor underpainting. Now I am adding pastel. You can still see the watercolor areas on the right side and bottom. I want to go slow with this and be sensitive to the watercolor shapes that did their own thing...rather than trying to copy the photo exactly.

The largest watercolor I've tried....

2012-02-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Oh, boy! A big painting - whole sheet of Arches 150 cold press. I don't think I've ever done a full-sheet before. It barely fits on my work table, and then, on the largest board on my easel!

I'm taking a little break from pastel to see if I can pull this off. It is to go in a frame we already had a nice, but dated, poster in. We looked at that poster enough years. And it will go over the fireplace.

"Temple Fish" pastel - finished

2012-02-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

9 x 12 pastel on sanded paper

Well, how's this for a splash of color! I finished this painting today. I do want to do more paintings of fish, and I'd like to improve and better the outcome, but I had fun nonetheless.

I entered Richeson 75 Landscape show, and my painting "Watching the Stream" was not a finalist (in which case you must ship your paintings to their gallery in the MidWest), but it did make the "meritorious" selection. I am very happy. This is the first time I entered one of their juried shows. My painting will be printed in their catelogue, along with 100 other meritorious paintings. I ordered the catelogue - they print a hardbound book. I'm looking forward to receiving it.

"Red Ginger" - a very quick plein air pastel painting

2012-01-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

12 x 9 pastel

Waimea Valley and Falls is a lovely place to visit. It can be quite crazy on a weekend. We got there early in the morning on a weekday and it was quiet and peaceful. Lots of botanical areas and paths, a lovely natural creek and waterfall, meadows and benches to sit, birds to listen to and watch on the grass.

Waimea Falls (at 1/3 capacity)

After walking all around, we had a quiet time at a grassy picnic area and I did a one-hour painting of red ginger hanging over the grass while my husband read a book.

antherium

? heliconium?

"Temple Fish" in progress...

2012-01-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

Today was a day to relax. An hour by the pool, a little walk about, and a little time by the beach. It was too breezy outside to paint, so I dabbled on this "fishscape", using my photo from yesterday at the Temple up on the computer. Adobe Photoshop zoom helped me to see the fish eyes and details a little better.

I started with a watercolor underpainting, then began to add pastel. No time to finish. Had to put it away and pack for tomorrow. We are going to Waimea Falls Park. I wish I could paint faster! So many subjects I would like to paint....

Byodo-In Temple in Hawaii - plein air study

2012-01-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

12 x 9 pastel

Today I visited the Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, Hawaii. This is a replica of a temple at Uji, Japan. There was a jazz festival there today as well, so I got to listen to music while painting. I am calling this a field study, because it was done quickly and with frequent interruptions by people who wanted to talk to me, which did affect my concentration and rhythm. But it was still a wonderful day, and I took lots of photos.

I REALLY have a tough time with buildings! And this architecture was quite a puzzlement to me!!! LOL! I really goofed here! Oh well, here is a link to the park's website so you can see the real deal!

"Breakwater" pastel painting

2012-01-27T14:39:00.000-08:00

9 x 12 pastel

This morning I went out to a point where the breakwater is and an inlet for the swimming lagoon for our resort. I thought I would practice waves again. This time, I did a sketch first, to work out a better composition than the last one.

I had a few visitors. I enjoyed talking with a Japanese woman from Nagoya, Japan. We spoke in our broken English and my few words of Japanese. You see, I have an interest in Nagoya. When I was an exchange student, I visited a family there for three weeks.

Another lady from New York, who is a watercolorist, came by too. She was quite fascinated how I start my paintings with watercolor, and then add pastel on top.

There is a nice koi pond here at our resort. I'll have to do a painting of fish - only this time should be more challenging - they keep moving.

"Aqua Waters" pastel painting

2012-01-26T20:57:00.000-08:00

9 x 19 pastel on paper

Today we went for a drive and had lunch on a beach. We saw whales breach off in the distance. The ocean was rougher today, and the Trade Winds were finally here to help blow the "vog" away (volcano produced fog/smog). The waves were rolling in, and while hubby read his book, I painted this while sitting on the sand (to avoid the wind as much as possible).

I haven't had any training in seascapes and painting moving ocean waves, but I had fun trying. The tropical colors of the ocean is irresistible. I was so into it that I wasn't paying attention to the "it's time to go now" hints I was getting.

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain. I don't know what I'll do....

"Kailua Beach" plein air pastel painting

2012-01-25T18:56:00.000-08:00

12 x 9 pastel on sanded paper

I met with the Windward Wanderers and had a wonderful time "painting in paradise"!! Kailua Beach is a beautiful beach. The sand is like silk, the water shallow and calm enough for small children to play. There is a lagoon from a stream that empties into the beach. These colors are real! Absolutely gorgeous turquoise water!

The painters were friendly and I joined them for lunch at the local market down the street, where we sat at picnic tables and admired each other's work. One of the painters was visiting from Susanville which is about 90 miles from Reno where I live! Fancy meeting here! The picture below is of her with her watercolor of the canoes by the lagoon.

I am really happy with my new "Backpack" size Heilman pastel box. Because it is smaller, I can now use my umbrella and I can adjust it perfectly to shade my work and pastels.

Aloha from Hawaii!

2012-01-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

With the fire threat behind us, we were able to go on our vacation with no worries.

This is the early morning view from our resort room. I am on my way to the windward side of the island to meet Helen Iaea and the Windward Wanderers (all media plein air painters) to paint on location at Kailua Beach Park.

Helen is the president of Pastel Artists of Hawaii, and responded to my e-mail by inviting me to paint with them. Helen is not only a wonderful pastelist, she is also a talented watercolorist. See her website here, and be sure to check out her pastel entitled "Tropical Tangle". Gorgeous flowers!

You can also check out the Pastel Artists of Hawaii website here. Unfortunately, I just missed their recent paint-out.

Later.....

The fire danger has passed....

2012-01-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends! We had a scary wild fire in our area and it was heading our way. The 80mph winds made it out of control. At this time they have counted 26 houses burned. Yesterday I voluntarily packed up my bunny, and put all six birdies in one small cage, and took them and some important personal items to our old little house that is empty and for sale, since it is farther away from the danger.

My girlfriend lives in the area where it started and several homes in her neighborhood were lost. I talked to her on her cell phone because she had no power. She was covered with soot from using the garden hose on hot spots in her yard, but otherwise she was safe.

The barn where we both board our horses was upwind from the fire, so we were relieved about that.

My husband and I then packed more bags and just watched TV to see how it was going. We could see fire on the ridges from our house - a big orange glow outline. We went to bed and did not sleep well. The smoke gave me a headache. No one came to order evacuation.

This morning it was 50% contained, and the wind was quiet, so I went back to pick up the pets and unpack everything. I am still worried about another friend who lives in one of the neighborhoods that was evacuated. My heart goes out to those that suffered loss, and my thanks and appreciation for the firemen, policemen and first responders who worked so hard all day and all night.

Whew!

"Textures of a Cedar" pastel painting

2012-01-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

20 x 16 pastel on board

Well, I finished it. It was interesting working much larger. I found that I did the same size strokes as when I work small. It is not like painting with a brush, where you switch to using a larger brush. My pastel pieces are still the same size and many have worn down to little pieces. Next time, I will try to make the strokes bigger. It will help to not pick a subject with so much texture that I want to include as part of the scene.

Next time, I'll try BIG and BOLD!!!! (that is hard for me!)

Work goes on with this tree painting

2012-01-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm getting close to done...

New painting in the new year - in progress

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

painting in progress

Hello and Happy New Year to all! I hope you enjoyed the holidays as much as I did. As much fun as it was, I am happy to be back to a routine and painting.

Here is a painting I am working on. It is the largest pastel I have tried thus far. It is 16 x 20. So, I figure I should allow myself more time to complete it than before. I started with a watercolor underpainting and now I am doing pastel over it. If it works out, some of the underpainting may show through. If not, it will be totally covered with pastel. I let the painting dictate to me what it needs.

I am also working on another project .... my new website!!!! Woo-hoo!!! At this time I am building it. When it launches, you will be the first to know!!!

"View From the Point" pastel painting

2011-12-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

11 x 14 pastel on board

I finished this painting today. This one was challenging for me. Not only was it complicated, but I had to portray a sense of distance. In the artsy world, this is called "atmospheric perspective". As I painted, I would remember the words of my instructors on how to do this. In a nutshell, the farther away the objects, the less intense the colors are and they appear bluer and also less detail and contrast.

Travel stories, paintings, and meeting other artists while on a trip

2011-12-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

When we travel, sometimes there is great subject matter to paint every where you turn. There isn't enough time to paint everything you see, so we take many digital pictures that we can use for information in our studio paintings. Here is one I am working on right now (about half done) - from a trip through Southern Utah last summer:

But sometimes in your travels, you are in a city or rural area with fences, or a resort surrounded by golf courses, and you don't know where to go to paint or take pictures. I recently found myself in that situation and I contacted another artist blogger, Becky Joy, in Phoenix, Arizona before our trip there. Becky is an accomplished and talented plein air oil painter, who I have followed for a year. See her website at http://www.beckyjoy.com/ and take a look at her beautiful paintings.

Becky was gracious and friendly when I contacted her. We got together to paint in a scenic natural desert area on the outskirts of town that I would never have found. I appreciated her taking the time to paint with me....and I couldn't resist purchasing a couple of her small oil paintings.

Now, we have another trip coming up. We will be going to Oahu, Hawaii for a week. Thank goodness for internet! Almost all art organizations have websites. I contacted the Hawaii Pastel Society, asking if there were any paint-outs during our stay. The president/artist wrote back and invited me to paint with her group. So, it will be another great trip, with comraderie of fellow artists!

A new painting almost done....it will be called "Among the Rocks"

2011-12-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

14 x 11 pastel on board

I started this painting with a watercolor underpainting. I've been working on this for the last several days. Trying to go slow and thoughtful. I also do a few strokes of pastel and then step back about 10 feet frequently. I am going to think about it and view it for a few days before putting on the final touches.

Winter Show Results from the Sierra Pastel Society!!!!

2011-12-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

"Koi Ripples" won Best of Show

I have an announcement! Two of my paintings won awards in the Sierra Pastel Society's Winter Show! http://www.sierrapastelsociety.net/ The judge was Craig Mitchell, a very distinguished and accomplished artist http://www.cgmitchell.com/, whose work I admire. I am sooooo flattered and humbled at the same time!

"Winter Meditation" won Award of Excellence in the Signature Status division

Since I live quite a ways from the show location (Placerville, California), my friend, Kathy, sent me a clipping from the local paper in which some of the paintings (Koi Ripples included) were printed in color. This is the first time I've had a painting printed in a newspaper!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the members of Sierra Pastel Society who do all the work putting on their shows. It is because of these hard-working, "can-do" folks that make these shows happen for us all. I only wish I lived close enough to help.

"The Gift" a pastel painting

2011-12-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

This painting is not just another poinsetta painting for the holidays. It is a reminder to me that life is a gift. We must live life to the fullest, love to the deepest, and not take this time on earth for granted ... because it can be gone in an instant.

This painting is dedicated to a wonderful artist by the name of Reiko. I did not know her well, but her watercolors were incredibly beautiful and her cheerful personality warmed the hearts of those in her presence, myself included. She was a giving artist and shared her knowledge with her students. I only wish I had gotten around to taking one of her classes. She will be deeply missed by many in the art community.

Re-working a painting - "Quiet Finale" pastel painting

2011-12-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

The new re-worked version

I painted this almost a year ago. I posted it on Wetcanvas.com (an on-line artist's community). This is where you can ask for critiques and comments of other artists. One artist gave a very good comment that I agreed with after she pointed it out. So for months, I didn't know how I wanted to go about correcting it.

Today, I wanted to frame it to take it to the show, but I wanted to re-work the weak area pointed out to me. It came to me how to accomplish it. There are several methods of removing pastel, but the one that works for me is canned air with a tube in the nozzle. I blew off the error (outside of the house!) and then re-applied pastel in a way that changed the foreground by eliminating too many rocks in a row with equadistance between them (very repetitious and boring).

So, here is the re-worked version, and I think the composition works much better. So, I'll frame it now....

"Winter Meditation" pastel painting

2011-11-30T16:54:00.000-08:00

I've been busy in the studio lately!

11 x 14 pastel on board

I just finished this painting today and it will go to a Sierra Pastel Society Show next week. I may not have time to paint a second painting, but will try. In the meantime, I have selected 2 other paintings I did in the last 2 years and will frame them to go.

I have an announcement! My painting "Watching the Stream" won Award of Excellence in last month's Sierra Pastel Society's Signature Show! I am so astonished, as this was my first signature show and the competition is strong.

"Watching the Stream"

"Melons and Silver" is done! Woo-hoo!

2011-11-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

11 x 14 watercolor on 400lb Arches coldpress

It feels so good to finally finish a project that had to be set aside for a long time...
Thank you Anne Abgott for a wonderful workshop and sharing your techniques.

Picking up where I left off...

2011-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

It has been a year since I took the watercolor workshop from Anne Abgott. It was a wonderful workshop. The last day we had only half-day to start this painting. We were all given color and black and white photographs to work from, and Anne gave a demonstration on painting the melons and the silver and cup. None of us got much done, and I really wanted to finish this. I re-read my notes from the workshop, and re-studied her book "Daring Color" to refresh my memory on her technique. It is fun to do watercolor again! And I'm enjoying working in my studio at my drafting table that was in storage for 4 years.

I can see colors on a cloudy day!

2011-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

8 x 10 pastel on peach LaCarte plein air

Today it was cloudy and overcast all day. At first I thought it would make for boring scenery and lower my inspiration to paint - the sky casting a grey muted light over the landscape - making it seem grayer than it would be in bright sunlight and turquoise sky. But once I set up and picked my scene, I was happy I could gaze at it longer than on a sunny day. It was not blinding me. No bright light was bouncing off the rocks, plants, leaves, soil - which obliterates the colors of these things. The longer I gazed, the more richer the colors became. It was one of those ah-ha moments. I won't be discouraged by grey skies again.

Inventing the sky

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

There were more "assignments" our teacher, Richard McKinley, gave us at a workshop a few years ago. One was to paint the same painting with different lighting and atmosphere. So, I did that here. I looked at my field study from the other day of the desert buttes and invented a southwestern sunset sky. This was fun. I got to use colors from my pallette that are different from what I'm used to.

Painting from a plein air field study

2011-11-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

8 x 10 pastel on pale olive green LaCarte

The other day I painted out in the field, but wasn't happy with what I did. I'm painting plants I am unfamiliar with, and experimenting with the pastels how to paint a "whispy" tree. So today I did a new painting, using the other painting and my photo displayed on my laptop for reference. Teachers have said this is a good thing to do - to paint from your sketches or field studies. It really frees you up to experiment - I changed the format from portrait to landscape, I moved trees, rocks and the path. I got the wispy tree better this time. I think this painting is a little bit better, but I still see things here I could improve on. I can see the benefit of this type of work. I should do this more often.

Hiking and painting in the desert

2011-11-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

8 x 10 pastel on tan LaCarte

This is a quick plein air of really neat desert park - Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ

A small and quick study of clouds in pastel

2011-11-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

This little painting is 5 x 7 inches - about the size of a postcard. I love the way clouds hang over the top of mountains. Pastel is fun to work with while doing clouds. You can get your fingers in it and smear it around, or tap it or push it into the paper. I used peach colored LaCarte paper.

Plein Air field study - "Sonoran Fall" pastel painting

2011-11-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

10 x 8 pastel on brown LaCarte

OK, I've spent way too much time on the house. Now, back to painting with a capital "P"!

Per your request....here is the decor I have been designing and making

2011-11-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Since you asked, Kira, here are some pictures: I hope the painters out there following aren't thinking I have given up painting for home decor! It is just a thing you do once in 10 or 20 years!

The professional drapes were the starting point

I made 3 small pillows with left-over fabric from the drapes

I made a cover for the comforter with discount fabric

I bought gold fabric for the back of this euro sham so I can turn it over when I want just gold

I got a wooden screen at an import store, painted it brown, then stapled fabric on the back

Now, the only thing missing in our room is a painting (or two) over the bed!!!! Yes, that is on my agenda now!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted...

2011-10-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth! Blame it on getting settled in a new home. We had a drapery specialist install some window coverings. This is very helpful in a new house in a neighborhood!!!! Anyway, with this new fabric, color and look in our master bedroom...you notice all your old bedding...yuck! Doesn't go at all. So, I dug out my sewing machine and got discounted fabrics and trims that blended, and even used the left-overs from the drapery makers. Voila! New duvet cover, new euro pillows, new decorator pillows, new room divider screen to hide my yoga mats and equipment in the corner. Soooo, I've been artistic, but in another way....

Then, I've also traded my artist beret for a "Miss Fix-it" hard hat (or painter's kerchief). I've been cleaning, painting, repairing and other stuff at the little house we were in before - getting it ready to sell.

Then, I needed to frame 3 pastel paintings to go to the Sierra Pastel Society Signature Show! Just finished framing yesterday! I'm all ready to take them now.

But, oh! How I've missed working and painting in my new little studio! I brought out a watercolor painting I started in a workshop a year ago. I'd really like to see if I can pick up where I left off. I'd like to do that this week. I hope to post pictures of my progress. Hopefully our computer will last a little bit longer. It was beginning to sound like a dying cow. A computer guy said to open it up and use a blower or vacuum to get the dust out of the fan. It is quieter, but it still makes strange noices. And our monitor has lines going up and down, and more have added to the streaks. And my memory card reader that I use to download photos is on the blink. Gosh! Isn't it amazing how dependent we are on all these gadgets????

"Too Pretty to Eat" watersoluable pencil art

2011-09-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

I finished this today. I did this totally with watersoluable color pencils. I used the dry pencils on top for the finishing touches. I had fun with this and was very impressed with how the pencils cooperated!!

"Dancing in the Light" pastel painting

2011-09-19T17:20:00.000-07:00

14 x 11 pastel on toned board

I've been working on this one on and off for about a week. I took the photo a year ago when the rabbit brush was in bloom. But I never had the chance to paint it until now. And right now the rabbit brush is in bloom again. Time flies...

Progress report: vegetable basket

2011-09-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am coming along with this drawing. I am also working on a pastel painting and I will post that next time.

Vegetable basket progress

2011-09-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here is the up-date on the veggies. So far, I've only used waterbased pencils.

Painting on the Plane

2011-09-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a smooth flight, I was able to work on this. I think watersoluable pencils and water reservoir brush work great on a plane!

"Vines and Moss" pastel painting

2011-09-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

12 x 9 pastel

The big old oak trees here are amazing. I only painted a small portion of one. Their limbs are massive, and spread out like an octopus. The moss hangs down all around. Ferns grow on the top of branches. All kinds of vines grow up the trees.

Work in progress - pastel painting

2011-09-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is something I am working on. This is spanish moss and a trumpet vine and moss growing on the old oak trees.

Most of the day we were out and about. Here is a picture of an alligator we saw:

"North Channel" pastel painting

2011-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

I began this painting with a watercolor underpainting on white Kitty Wallis paper (see below). This was a lovely view from the North Beach area of Hilton Head Island Sea Pines area.

Iguana - watercolor and colored pencil

2011-09-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

I had planned on renting a bicycle this morning and going for a ride while my husband was golfing, but vacation laziness set in. So, I worked on this Iguana drawing instead.

Here are some pictures of the lighthouse at Harbour Town, and the spanish moss growing on the trees here.

Lizard phobia? Painting on a plane...

2011-09-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

After giving up so much art time to moving into a new house, I vowed to paint every day on our vacation, including on the plane. I took my favorite sketchbook, photo references, watercolor pencils, and water container brush in my carry-on.

Isn't it interesting when the passenger next to you tries to ignore you? You go through 3 or more hours, never saying a word or exchanging a glance. This young guy read his book and figited the entire time I worked on this iguana. Every now and then he would sneak a glance at my drawing. Either his book was creepy, violent, or suspenseful, OR, he had lizard phobia, because he gnawed on his fingernails for 2 hours straight, pulled at his shirt neckline, flung his arm out (kink in elbow?). Once I went to reading my book, he played with his I-phone and finally seemed relaxed and calm....

The first day of our visit, we walked around and explored Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island, on the coast of South Carolina. It is very, very warm and humid - very different from the hot and dry climate of home. Here is the sunset from Harbour Town.

The next morning, we woke to rain. It is from a hurricane off the Gulf of Mexico. So we stayed in and I added watercolor to my Iguana. The rain has now stopped, so we will go out and explore some more.

In case you are wondering, we saw these iguanas along the riverbank trees in Costa Rica. It was mating season and the males turn from green to bright orange. They are interesting creatures - lots of scales and spikes and detail - for my detail fix.

"Watching the Stream" pastel painting

2011-08-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

I turned on The Magic Flute and sang along while I finished this. It is funny, I was doing the dashes and dots of the white water to the music. Then, after that song, I realized I overdid the dots and dashes! So I had to go over them with color of the stream bed.

Trying to get back into painting little by little

2011-08-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

For the last 2 mornings I have dabbled with this painting. This was the one I started while at the Albert Handell workshop - the one where I blocked in the watercolor underpainting and then was visited by two large dogs, so I stopped. It is good to be painting again! But, after a month of not painting, I feel slow as a turtle, deciding what to do and with what color.

Pixie was sooo happy I was in her area of the house, that she was scampering all around my feet and the easle, jumping in the air doing bunny binkies. Poor bun, she has been so lonly back there with my working all day, every day in other parts of the house.

Oh, my goodness! Signature Status!

2011-08-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

I just got word that I was granted "Signature Status" for the Sierra Pastel Society! I am soooo flattered!

Some may be scratching their heads saying "what does that mean?" Certain art societies have a system like this where if you are a member and have a) placed in a certain number of society shows, or b) your work was submitted to the society and voted .... In the pastel societies - signature status makes me eligible to be in a pastel show exclusively for the signature members.

This means - I better get busy in my new studio, because a signature show is coming up and I need to have something to take in a month!!!!! Yikes! (Gasp!) Calm down! Deep breath, exhale slooooow. Tune out the tractors in the backyard moving boulders and dirt around....just missing the house. Ignore the carpenter in the bedroom putting up crown moulding. Don't answer the phone - it is probably the landscaper asking more questions. Let the second guy figure out how to fix the pergola that went in wrong and crooked. Hide from the mason who is putting in the barbecue......

Think art....beautiful scenery.....art....painting....

Recent pictures of my art studio

2011-08-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

I am so anxious for things to settle down so I can use my new studio! But details, deliveries, repairs to furniture that got damaged in the move, window coverings and drapes, landscapers, and the like, have interferred with my time! I clearly need a window covering of some kind in that big window. The sun comes right in and it is hot and bright. Time to take measurements and bring out the sewing machine!

Here are some recent pictures of my studio - complete with studio bunny, checking out the new digs. That is Pixie and she loves to run around her room and the studio. The white bunny on the chair - that is actually a puppet!

The little dresser with mirror I just could not part with - so it has a new use - storing art supplies.

If you paint outside, they will come....

2011-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

Um, are those sugar cubes in that box per chance....?

Thank you Ida, for taking pictures of me and my fans! I must have been so flustered with all the attention I got (at one time all three muzzles were sniffing at my box), that I did a poor painting. So, below, behold my sky and foreground grasses! (The rest are bold edits by Bill, which made it look a lot better!)

"Sierra Valley View"

Painting at the Stream's Edge

2011-08-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

"Stream's Edge"

I really like painting streams now! It is very fun, and I think I have developed a method. HOWEVER, as I progressed up the page, I was getting PRETTY tired of painting all those dang rocks!!!! Enough is enough! So I left it a little unfinished looking....to Bill's dismay. He gave me a hard time about that!

Learning to work with a different paper

2011-08-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

"Indian Paintbrush on the Ledge"

Another thing I struggled with to learn - was to use different paper than I'm used to. This is Canson "Twilight" colored paper. I just need to pile on the lighter pastels because my paintings come out too dark. Again, after the sun moved, I found myself being blinded by reflected light in front of me, blinding me. I realized it a little late. Better late than never.

Hike down to the Falls

2011-08-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

"The Falls"

One day we hiked down a steep ravine on the Pacific Crest Trail to a waterfall. It was VERY LOUD! This is my attempt to do the water, but I didn't finish it as you can see from the sketched in rocks. I learned something this day. I learned about how the light reflects off the rocky walls of the canyon and how it blinded me. I could no longer see what I was doing. Now I know what I SHOULD have done. I should have turned my easle 180 degrees around and stood on the other side so my back was to the "back-lighting". Lesson learned....

Alpine Lake Scene

2011-08-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

"Salmon Lake"

One day we went to a little lake to paint. We were all told to bring our swimsuits if we wished. So I did and I enjoyed the cool, refreshing waters since I wilt in the summer sun and heat. Afterwards, I sat in the shade and used the back hatch of my Subaru as a desk and sat in my folding chair in my wet swimsuit and did this painting. My plan was to do more bold "light" areas (the grassy areas cascading down the slope). I think I succeeded, but compared to others, mine still looked pale and wimpy. Another thing I've learned by watching Bill, is using the edge or the flat side of Terry Ludwig pastels to suggest light on the granite rocks. He does it so well ---- maybe with practise....

Another practise at the stream

2011-08-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

"Stream and Rocks"

This was painted totally by me!!!!

Some Mountains Need Editing!!!!!

2011-08-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

"Sierra Buttes Meadow"

One morning, we drove down the road and went into a lush meadow with a terrific view of the Sierra Buttes. I happily painted away (as did others) of these rock formations with snow in the crevaces. Once I worked my way down to the trees and the meadow, I got so frustrated with my dumb looking meadow and willow bushes. I was so absorbed with them, that when Bill came by I asked if he could help me with the meadow - my attempts weren't working well and I wanted to see what he would do. Swipe, swipe, swipe and he was done. Very simple, but so much more effective than my rendition. Then, he mentioned that the mountain looked like a big hand with curling fingers like claws! He was right! The mountain really did look like that! Just goes to show that nature doesn't always make a good subject to paint literally as it is!

Observing Light Hitting Water Ripples and the Rocks Under Water

2011-08-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

"From the Bridge"

One thing Bill paints that is so amazing, is streams and lakes where you see the rocks below the surface. I hope I can learn to do it as well, although I seem to have a different style than he does. Here is one of my attempts. When he came by, his critique was that I did not have enough color and light on the rocks, so he added a couple of strokes of orange. When I look at my paintings from this workshop, I gave him permission to make a few strokes or corrections on my paintings. That way I can see the difference. I can actually see the part I did , and the part he did and the difference. His strokes are bolder and simpler. This is what I seem to need to do. I have a habit of doing little whispy strokes. Good learning experience.

Back from Artists' Boot Camp!

2011-07-31T15:34:00.000-07:00

"Morning at the Camp"

I am back from Bill Cone's pastel plein air workshop in the Sierra Buttes area. It was a LOT of fun, a LOT of work, and the group of artists a GREAT bunch - not to mention Bill himself! We were such a fun group that a few members of a different study group (the Spiders of the Sierras!) hung out with us at mealtimes.

Bill demonstrated on the days that we were in wide open spaces where 14 people could gather around. Other times the terrain did not allow many people to watch him work, so many of us did our own paintings nearby and when Bill was done he made rounds giving us pointers. Each night we had an informal critique, and many evenings he had slide shows and lectures.

We all were so appreciative of his giving us a week of his vacation time from his full-time job, to give us instruction and guidance.

Most of us artists stayed at the campus "camp", staying in tents, and eating meals prepared by the staff in the dining hall. We had no visiting bears, but we were warned not to have food in our tent. One night I SWORE there was a bear outside our tent, scuffling around, but it turned out to be my tent-buddy, my artist friend Ida, searching for her flashlite!

Going to a plein air workshop with Bill Cone

2011-07-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm packing my pastels and sleeping bag - for a 5-day pastel plein air workshop with Bill Cone. Bill's full time job is an artist at Pixar Studios. But he is a fantastic pastellist on the side! See his art on his blog: http://billcone.blogspot.com . This workshop is taking place at the San Francisco State University Extension Campus in the Sierra Buttes area of the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California (sort of near Sierra City). The campus is a camp - complete with tents and someone cooks for us at the camp dining room! I don't know if we get cell service there. And I don't know if they have wifi for us artists. So, again, I will post my experience when I get back. See ya then!

"Little Sprinkles of Sunshine" a pastel painting

2011-07-23T17:37:00.000-07:00

After getting home from Albert Handell's workshop, I worked on this painting and finished it. I had only done about 20 minutes at the workshop before we adjorned to the final critique. It was a wonderful workshop and I learned so much and felt I went to another level.

So much excitement when I got home - the pavers are putting in the backyard patio and walkways, a friend has been putting a TV on the wall in the livingroom with speakers and other such techno gagets for listening to music, I did more schlepping stuff over and unpacking and trying to "set up house", and I finished the office set up. So today was the first day I painted in my studio! Yay!!!!

"Cone Flowers" Albert Handell Workshop Day 5

2011-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

On our last day we spent the entire day at a private home and gardens. This was my morning painting. We had the option to do a paint-along, but Albert was in the gazebo and there wasn't room for any more in there, and with SO many beautiful flowers and scenes to choose from, we all dispersed.

This painting of cone flowers and it's neighboring flowers was done with watercolor first, then the pastel over it. Albert showed me a little technique up in the right-hand side under the white flowers. He drew little curved lines under the white flowers with vine charcoal to subtly give texture like leaves in shadow and also add to the rhythm. His theme for teaching us to paint nature scenes was to capture and portray "rhythm". I think this was an important lesson I learned, and now I try to think of music while sketching the scene and how it might relate to the rhythm of the plants.

"Forest Vignette" Albert Handell workshop, Day 4 late in the day

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

4:00 pm is a pretty time to paint. The light comes through the trees at an angle. This was done again by paint-along method. This time, I was directly behind Albert and actually could not see what he was looking at, so I just looked at his painting and tried to copy it as he went. Some of my pastel colors did not match, so I had to blend two together to try to get the same color.

This was a painting done in a vignette style - where the painting doesn't go out to ever corner and some of the paper shows around the edges.

Not bad, if I say so myself! I think I'm getting it!

"House in the Forest" Handell Workshop Day 4

2011-07-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

On this day, Albert did a paint-along. If you have never done a paint-along, this is how it goes: the teacher sets up, paints a subject, and all of the students set up behind him/her and do everything they do - step by step, color by color, stroke by stroke. So, you try to learn while copying without any talking - just doing.

In this case, there was no room for all of us right behind, so we were at various angles, so, our paintings all had different perspectives of the house. No matter, it was still interesting. FYI this was done with a watercolor underpainting, and I did my own variation at the base of the trees.

"Rocks Over There" Handell Workshop Day 3

2011-07-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

"Rocks Over There"

After I moved away from the stream and the dogs, our painting group and teacher moved up the trail into the trees. Here I worked on the rocks and trees. I am trying to do the late afternoon light on the trees, but I do not have the same talent of Albert Handell, but I keep trying. His demos and his pointers and critiques of my work in progress really help.

"Sketch of a Stream" Handell Workshop Day 3

2011-07-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

"Sketch of a Stream"

On the third day, Albert demonstrated a rushing stream and how to do water. It was fantastic!!!! So, in the afternoon, we went to a park and I set up by the stream. I did the watercolor underpainting and it came out almost good enough to leave as is. Then I added some vine charcoal accents (one of Albert's techniques) and then my first passages of pastel.....when two big dogs splashed into the water right in front of me and tried to run through my tripod holding my pastel box and easle, and stepped in my watercolor palette on the ground!!!! So, I decided to move out of that location and did not finish this painting....but I kind of like it as it is! I may use it as a reference and do another in the studio.

"Madrones" Handell Workshop Day 2

2011-07-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

On the second day we visited a private home situated on a hillside that had a view that stretched out so far that you could see the snow-capped sierras in the background. We had a choice to do that kind of scene and work on aerial perspective, or do the gardens and flowers. Albert demonstrated the garden flowers and I chose to do the Madrone trees with the view. (Someone forgot to turn off the sprinklers in the garden!!!!)

"Madrones"

watercolor underpainting

"Light Coming Throught the Trees" Albert Handell Workshop - Day One

2011-07-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

"Light Coming Through the Trees"

watercolor underpainting with some charcoal strokes

I just got back from a 5-day workshop with Albert Handell. Grass Valley, California is just far enough away to NOT commute, so I stayed at a local artist's home. It was great to be totally immersed in art for a long stretch of time. The pictures above are of my painting in the afternoon of the first day.

Albert did a demo in the morning showing the watercolor underpainting technique. We are all working on white Kitty Wallis sanded paper. One of Albert's techniques that I learned was the use of soft vine charcoal to give more texture and linear strokes to trees and branches. It is a very lovely way to add texture and softness at the same time.

Off to a pastel plein air workshop with Albert Handell

2011-07-09T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am packing for a 5-day workshop to be given by Albert Handell in Grass Valley, California. Check out his website here: www.alberthandell.com He does amazing work. I am really looking forward to: 1) learning lots from a fantastic pastellist; 2) painting again since I haven't had time due to moving; 3) making new art friends, and 4) having a BREAK and a REST from moving!!!

I am staying at someone's home and they do not do computers and internet. So, I'll take lots of pictures and post them as soon as I get home - along with some descriptions of the week.

See ya then!

New Beginnings - the first things in my studio

2011-06-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this several days ago, but my camera card reader died. Here is the bare bones of my new studio! Already I am filling the desk cabinet with art supplies and my favorite music CDs to listen to. I'll post an update soon!

Moving and setting up house and art studio

2011-06-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know that we are busy with moving into our new home. I am excited to have a room for my art studio! So far, I have an easel, chair, antique desk with hutch, and drafting table in the studio. I'm cleaning up a taboret that I will fill with watercolor tubes and paints. Pastels supplies will go in the antique desk.

Will post a picture soon!

"The Peak" pastel painting at Crested Butte, Colorado

2011-06-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

8 x 10 pastel on blue Strathmore pastel paper

We drove out to Crested Butte today where we have another friend with a cabin. I did this from the dining table in the cabin, since the wind was strong (and chilly) on the deck. So, technically it is not a "en plein air" painting, but I would like to call it "en cabin air" painting! Heck - it still was done live without photo!

If this looks like we are high up - we are! I think the house is somewhere around 9,000 feet. There are actually cabins and houses on the foreground and closest right and left hillsides, but I decided not to put them in. This picture looks more blue than it really is - maybe the light was fading and it is on blue paper.

"Telluride Spring" pastel painting

2011-06-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

We drove about 3 hours from Moab, Utah, to Telluride, Colorado. There we were invited into the beautiful home of friends of my husband. Today they drove us to various lookout points and short hikes. I must say, the snow capped peaks that surround the little village of Telluride are the most spectacular I've ever seen.

Before going out to dinner tonight, I practised my "one-hour" painting and did this from the deck off of our guest room - this was the view! I am giving this painting to them as a thank you for our stay and their wonderful hospitality.

"Through the Arch" pastel painting

2011-06-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

approx 8 x 10 pastel on peach LaCarte

We went to Canyonlands National Park in Utah. This was my favorite spot - the Mesa Arch. It is an arch on the edge of a cliff.

Canyonlands is a huge area. We only had time to drive out along the rim and view the canyon from various locations. After a while, I got a little scared of heights, so my husband did most of the picture taking that day.

Dead Horse Point - State Park - Utah

2011-06-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no paintings today - but here are some photos of Dead Horse Point - first, during the day, then, at sunset time.

Story has it that cowboys herded wild horses up here at the point and placed a wall of dead trees to keep them coralled. They took the best horses first and left the rest, and they unfortunately died because they had no access to water. Thus, the name.

"Across the Plateau" pastel painting

2011-06-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

3 1/2 x 10 pastel on peach LaCarte

After a lovely breakfast at our B&B, sitting outside in the garden, listening to the cooing of the doves, we went for a drive to see a state park called "Dead Horse Canyon". More on that later....

We came back to our lovely B&B called the Sunflower Inn, and sat outside in the shady garden and had a picnic lunch. After that Stan went to play golf and I went for a dip in the pool, and then did this little painting from the photo I took yesterday as we approached the "Windows" area of Arches National Park. Can you see the little arch in the background?

I want to paint rocks!!!! Arches National Park

2011-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

We saw so many amazing sights today. Here is just one picture of a beautiful arch of stone. For my friends from foreign countries - this is Arches National Park in the State of Utah. This is an ancient area of sandstone that was sculpted by wind over the eons.

I will be painting - maybe from a photo displayed on my laptop - maybe I can do it tonight in our room after dinner.

"The Loneliest Highway" pastel sketch

2011-06-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

5 x 7 sketch pastel on tan paper

Driving across the State of Nevada was not all that boring, in fact, it was really quite lovely. You can travel at the speed of 70mph, wind up and down mountain ranges, and then cut across wide expanses of desert valleys where the road stretches out in front of you as straight as an arrow as far as the eye can see. There is hardly any cars going each way. You are out in the middle of nowhere and you have to have a full tank of gas because there are very few towns, and not even those will have a gas station. It is nicknamed "the loneliest highway in America" because of it.

Because of all the rain, snow, sleet, and cool weather we had in May, the scenery was very green for a desert. I even saw Indian Paintbrush wildflowers and patches of purple flowering ground covering plants. The grasses in some of the valleys brought out bands of wild horses we could see from our car - even little foals at the mares' sides. I also saw wild antelope with their calves and one had twin calves at her side.

Although this picture doesn't show it, many of the higher range peaks still had a frosting of snow on top. One thing that is hard to paint well is the juniper trees that cover the hills and slopes. Many are the size of large bushes, but some get as large as an oak tree. Because the rainfall is limited, they are naturally spaced apart so as to not compete. Thus, the hills are "dotted" with trees. That is hard to paint well.

While we were driving, all I could do is a 3 x 5 sketch with a pencil. Then when we got to our destination I did this little pastel sketch from my drawing, using my memory to paint the color scheme.

A different kind of painting - with threads

2011-05-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Just no time to paint! But I did take my Mom to the stitching group in town for a few hours of group companionship (aka stitch n bitch). Really, we don't do that, but we do have some interesting conversations while we stitch our projects!

I haven't been to stitching in over a month. So this project is going to take a long, long time. Another friend I haven't seen in a while was also working on the same old duck needlepoint LOL! She said she'd be working on it 'till she dies!

We shopped yesterday for a washer, dryer and refrigerator for the new house. The store was having a Memorial Weekend sale and our large purchase qualified us for a mini flip-type camera for $20 - the kind you can take a short video, plug it into your computer and immediately download it to YouTube and post it on your blog. Woohoo! I can take a movie of a short demo of my painting process and post it here. That should be fun! Stay tuned....

Light Through the Hollyhocks - mixed media

2011-05-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to have finished this painting. After doing all I could with watercolor, I used traditional (waxy) colored pencils on top. I wish I had more time to paint. Someday....

I'm looking forward to life settling down! We've been sooo busy! Tomorrow I'm babysitting and we have to do the final things to close escrow on the new house with baby in tow....I hope Baby Whit can tolerate it all.

How to paint light coming through flower petals

2011-05-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

That is my goal with this painting. How do you do it? I think watercolor is a great medium for accomplishing this. I've seen it done so beautifully. So I am attempting to do it here.

One thing that helps is extreme contrast - the rich darks behind the sunlit petal. So, I added dark watercolor (greens, blues, purples, reds) in watercolor to the background here.

Then, I started adding pink watercolor to the petals already started, and then green to the leaves. I really enjoy doing negative painting. You can see this in the leaf where I painted the spaces between the veins. This is a popular watercolor technique, and sometimes I like to use it in a pastel painting.

They are finishing our new house. We are so excited. We have lots of plans for landscaping the back yard. On the sunny side yard, I plan a "secret garden", with hollyhocks on the fence, roses, raised vegetable beds, a small pergola for a little garden glider chair for me to sit under the wisteria and sip morning coffee.

Oh, yes, I forgot. The story about the house. Four years ago a friend told us about a new development and said we HAD to go and see it - see the model homes, and the one with an extra large laundry room off the kitchen that was large enough to make a craft room - she said I would LOVE it.

We went, we saw, we LOVED it. But, our hands were tied (we had to sell the Truckee house first). Once a year we would go back to see how many more homes were completed, and, to see if they lowered their prices since the market was starting to tank. The building was slowing down a little, but they were maintaining rather high prices in spite of it. Then, we heard they were selling the models and really slowing down building. We were still trying to sell the Truckee house, and we still could do NOTHING. We began talking about giving up the idea of having that house, that it probably would not happen. We made an extra special effort to NOT look at houses until the Truckee house sold - to avoid disappointment.

Then, a first offer came out of nowhere - for the Truckee house. We took it. It had an extremely fast close of escrow demand - 14 days - because he was willing to pay cash. It was a very low offer, but we took it.

One week after the close of that escrow, we had only one day that we could go looking at new houses before going on our trip to Williamsburg. It was a Sunday and we decided to just look at open houses. We spent the whole day, working our way south. The last stop was our favorite development. A different house was listed as an open house, and we knew we didn't like that house. So we went as our last stop.

I said - Wait! Look across the street! That is our favorite model and there is a sign out front (even though it wasn't listed on the realtor's website). We called the realtor and he came out and showed us the house inside. It did not have all the fancy upgrades the original furnished model had - including the large laundry/craft room, but that was OK! The large space was on the otherside of the wall as an extension of the garage - which gives us space for garage storage.

It turned out that the person who was buying it, could not sell his house in time and it fell out of escrow 3 days before the close. The builder was very happy to sell it to us!

And that is the story - we are amazed - it WAS meant to be!

Drawing is my quiet time

2011-05-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Hollyhocks from last summer's gardeb

I was thankful to have a full day of babysitting for Baby Whit today - not only is it fun - he is a cutie, but it provided me with a day off from all the busy business of purchasing a new home.

So today while he napped, I got to slow down and have quiet time. Drawing with watersoluable colored pencils a little section at a time, then blending with water...very, very peaceful and relaxing, and I actually quieted my brain from all the details of the new house and move.

Williamsburg Colonial House and Garden - watercolor

2011-05-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

We've spent two entire days wandering around Colonial Willamsburg. There is lots to see. Here is a little 3 x 5 watercolor (thank you Ti-Igra for the little Fabriano watercolor block - as you can see, I've been using it on this trip!) of a beautiful little garden with colonial house.

Here are a few photos of the costumed actors and historical interpreters, who share historical re-enactments every day.

re-enactment of town talking about excessive taxation by British

making beer

giving tourists a ride

clerk of the House of Burgess

British officials in Williamsburg

British officers

Colonist protesting excessive taxation

discussing spinning and weaving

townswoman with pet chicken

Windows and architecture of Colonial Period

2011-05-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

We are visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia and surrounding areas. We are doing much sight-seeing and photo taking, as well as informative tours. While having a lazy morning, I did this mini watercolor from one of my photos I took, while viewing on the laptop.

This is the Cookhouse of the Berkeley Plantation. Although they built their homes out of brick they made on the plantation, the outbuildings here were plastered and painted a pink color over the bricks. Green shutters were the thing back then. They could close them during storms.

Another Pastel Show!

2011-05-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

Drive to Placerville on 49

The other day I drove to Placerville, California. It was a beautiful day and I took a few photos along the pastoral drive.

Trails to hike!

I was headed to Placerville to enter the members's Spring Show - called "Spring Brilliance" for the Sierra Pastel Society. http://www.sierrapastelsociety.net/ I saw some of my friends there. Several of these members were with me at last summer's Hope Valley workshop with Richard McKinley.

I have not been to Placerville in many years. It was fun to look around. I even went to a little nature park where I did a plein air field study in pastel. I'm a bit rusty, so I am not posting it!

Then I went back to the gallery at El Dorado Art's Council and looked through the window as they hung the show. They were officially closed, but they were kind to let me come in and view our show. It was great! Lots of talent! I have been a member for about 3 years, but this is the first time I have participated since it is a long drive.

Once I got home, a new e-mail message was waiting with the results of the judging! I won a 2nd in the Landscape category for "Willow Creek"!!!!! Whoopee! I am thrilled! (Sorry, the photo is not available right now for me to post Willow Creek - but you can search it by name in my blog and you can see it on an older post).

My friend, Thaleia, won Best of Show! I am so happy for her. She was our hostess who organized the Richard McKinley and also the Lorenzo Chavez workshops in Hope Valley. You can see her beautiful art here: http://www.thaleia.com/ .

Planning my new art studio!

2011-05-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

Great news! We found our special new home and put an offer on it tonight! Most likely it will close June 1 and we can then start moving in.

I am excited about my little room - a studio - to paint in. There is lots of natural light and windows. I will fill you in on it later.

There is a story to this house-hunting saga, but it is late tonight, and I will tell the story of it later. It is one of those "it was meant to be" stories!

The Awards Reception

2011-05-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

I went to the awards reception for the Pastels USA Open Exhibitions. I got there 1-1/2 hour early, and while the museum was still open. So I got to see this art museum for the first time, as well as our show.

Before I go into our show, I just want to mention what a lovely art museum the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California is!!!! They have many galleries with very beautiful art - some old master type, some victorian California history type, and galleries of special shows, like ours. One of the special shows that I enjoyed very much was the Fairy Tale Art - Illustrations from Children's Books. I saw some amazing and beautiful original illustrations that were submitted to publishers for books. I'll have to google them and see if they are still in print - they would be lovely to add to my small collection of children's literature books.

Back to our show - It was a beautiful show and many talented artists. I am soooo inspired! I saw several of my teachers there - two of which had entered gorgeous paintings and won awards - Kim Lordier and Terri Ford - and it was fun visiting with them. I also saw my friend, Kathryn Hall, and I am sooooo proud of her - she was awarded Signature Status!

Here are some pictures from the event:

me and my painting (lower)

Kathy & award

program

Wow - my painting in the program!

page showing those with awards - Kim's on top

awards - Terri's top left

Checking In...

2011-04-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

I made the deadline - totally moved out last week. Then I literally collapsed! I stayed in bed for 2 days! At the end, items were odd shaped and didn't fit in my boxes with lids, so they were "unstackable". So, these items ended up in our living room! Ugh! Yesterday I took these items up into the attic space in the garage (bumped my head about 5 times), so it looks more like a living room, and I have space to do yoga.

I've been resting a lot all week, but reading art books and art magazines. It is helping me get in the mood and excited about painting again. Tomorrow's visit to the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California, to attend the awards reception for the Pastel USA show should REALLY get me excited to paint! I am so looking forward to seeing the show and the fantastic works by outstanding artists! (I still can't believe my little painting will be there with them!).

On Sunday we will start looking for another home - a middle-size home - with a room for me to paint! Hurray! A "studio"!!! Then we will sell our little, cramped townhouse. This time, the moving can be more gradual - without a big rush - especially since we need to have a few repairs done on the townhouse before we put it on the market.

The weather here has been a windy April month. At times, gusts up to 50 mph. This weekend it is supposed to warm up to 70 degrees. My garden is starting to grow. The dormant roses are starting to leaf out. I fear two are dead - it was a harsh winter this year. The hollyhocks are already taking off, showing promise of a good year of flowers. So, by the time we put this townhouse up for sale, we should have a pretty backyard.

Upcoming Show! Pastels USA 25th Annual International Open Exhibition

2011-04-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

As I meantioned in a previous post, my painting "Tawny Gold" was accepted in the Pastel Society of the West Coast's annual show. In between packing and moving, I dropped my painting off for this show in Stockton, California. What great timing - I saw my teacher and friend, Kim Lordier (kimfancherlordier.com), and my Hope Valley plein air workshop buddy Kathy Hall (khallart.com). Kim and Kathy were headed up to Placerville where Kim was giving a demonstration at the Sierra Pastel Society's meeting. I was sorry to not be able to attend because my hubby was waiting for me to come back and help him pack.

I am going to go to the reception. I hope to take pictures and share them here on my blog. What an experience! I feel like a happy little fish in the big, big pond!

"Time Out" but "I'll be baaack!"

2011-04-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know that I am taking some time out from art - for a very demanding reason! We got an offer on our Truckee house!!!! And they want to close in 14 DAYS! Being that my husband has a JOB, that leaves me to be the one to run up there and pack, coordinate movers, packers and storage, professional cleaners, canceling all services, etc. etc. etc. Whew! Got lots to do here!

See ya later....

"Desert Lavender" - today's pastel

2011-04-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

9 x 12 pastel on grey Canson

You may recognize this. I did it in watercolor pencil not long ago. I had a few hours today to paint and just grabbed the photo and a piece of paper....(my un-favorite paper) and figured I'd just practise. Well, I'm pretty happy with it! Maybe I'm finally making friends with this paper!

Damage control ... a disastrous start ...

2011-04-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

"Mohawk Vista Meadow" 9 x 12 pastel on sanded paper

I began this painting on white Kitty Wallis. This is about the 5th version of this painting. Each painting I changed the scene a little to make it better, and I also painted on different kinds of papers. So, after I penciled in my composition, I thought I would fix it with a workable fixative. My can was getting low, but must have dried in the nozzle, and it only came out of the base of the nozzle. So, I got a new can I have had about a year. First, I forgot to shake it up. Second, I forgot to test it out. I just started spraying and OMG! It too was clogged, but practically exploded from the base in a 360 degree fan of grey splatter! All over my white kitty wallis paper! I could not get the grey off my hands, so I knew water would not clean it off.

What the heck, I let it dry and then proceeded to do a watercolor underpainting. Here it is:

After that dried, I went on with pastel over, and especially went over the grey spots.

All is well. I still salvaged it! I guess I won't buy that brand of fixative again...

Today's Drawing - "Granite Niche"

2011-04-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

12 x 9 watercolor, watercolor pencils, wax colored pencils

On my babysitting days, I work on two things - drawings like the one above, and pencil studies of fairytale characters. The latter is because I want to illustrate a book for little baby Whit. I figure I have 3 years to do it! I have never drawn fairies, elves, giants, princesses and the like. In my research, I found books illustrated by Brian Froud. His work is fantastic and so immaginative! He has several books. I bought one called The Goblins of Labyrinth. I also checked out some books from the library and am teaching myself by copying other artist's work as best as I can. Because of copyright infringement, I will not post these drawings. Once I am comfortable with drawing these characters, I will create my own for my own book, which I will use a self-publishing software for printing books for yourself, not for sale. I have to admit, I am having FUN drawing these things!

Working from a higher vantage point

2011-04-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

I saw a picture of a plein air artist at work on the top of his car. Yes, on top of his car. He had built a special platform on the top of his car, climbs up there (he is young!), sets up his easle, and paints away!

I went to Washoe Lake with Casey today. But the view from my chair is the same - sage brush all around. So I put my chair in the bed of the truck and the view was much better! You can see the lake and the sand dunes better.

Anyway, it was a great ride up in the mountains and a lovely, warm day!

Ride n Paint!

2011-03-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today was a warm, calm day. Such a treat! I took Casey to Washoe Lake for a gentle ride (he is a little pudgy from the winter off) and let him hang out in the newly installed pipe corals. This equestrian park is so nice! Lots of groups come here for endurance races or just group rides. They have been making upgrades to the picnic area with new fire pits and barbeques.

I sat in the picnic area and did a little pastel field study of Slide Mountain. That patch of blue is Washoe Lake peeking out between the sand dunes. Just a little one-hour sketch (on that paper I still don't like) on a nice relaxing day.

Looking forward to spring!

2011-03-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

9 x 12 watercolor, watercolor pencil, traditional colored pencil

(this is a little lavender farm near my home)

Up here in the high desert, lavender blooms early July. But isn't amazing that we even have it here? I think so. I always think of mediterranean or Southern France when people talk of lavender fields.

All that snow melted in our Truckee Meadows, and today we sat outside on our patio (the umbrellas are still in storage) and began to perspire in the hot sun! We watched as the daffodil buds started to turn from green to yellow! I think that if I look out the window in one hour, they may have popped out of their bud covers.

It is snowing again and I want to paint spring flowers!

2011-03-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

9 x 12 pastel over watercolor underpainting

on white Canson paper

Last spring my spinning and weaving guild met at a member's log cabin in the high Sierras. This was the view from her cabin! They had planted all these beautiful blue, pink and white wildflowers on the slope, and this is the neighbor's barn in the background. What a beautiful spot!

My good friend Ida told me that Canson holds up to watercolor underpainting. So, I gave it a try here. It didn't buckle too much, but it was a little bumpy to pastel on (I'm too lazy to stretch the paper like Ida does!). Anyway, it passed my test. I am also doing the same test painting on Strathmore Pastel Paper, but it is still in the works.

Goodness - the snow is piling up outside!

Creating art while babysitting...

2011-03-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

9 x 12 "Barrel Cactus

watercolor, watercolor pencils, traditional color pencils

While Baby Whit naps or plays in his gym, I worked in my sketchbook. First I did watercolor. Then I lifted out the white needles with a damp brush and then blotted with paper towel. Then I used a waxy white pencil to protect the white of the needles. Then I used watersoluable colored pencils. In some areas I blended with water, in areas of texture I left dry.

Here's Baby Whit!

"The Passage" pastel painting

2011-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

14 x 11 pastel on board

Happy Dance! This came out pretty much the way I wanted it to!

Letting the underpainting guide me

2011-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Third stage

I decided to try again at the granite rock scene, but on a PastelBord with a watercolor underpainting. I tried a new thing to control the "out of control" spreading and bleeding of the watery paint on this clay board and I think it worked.

First I wet the board with a wide brush. Then I used a cheap squirrel brush (from a children's paint box) and brushed watercolor with a lot of pigment on to depict the sky, tree area and rock area. Before the colors spread out, I used a hairdryer on warm, slow setting. As the paint dried, while still holding the hairdryer, I dipped the children's brush in water and dabbed the excess out, and then brushed in strokes for the trees and textures in the rocks. This left some neat looking ghost shapes. Some areas needed more dark (like the rock crevaces) and I drybushed these in.

Here are the first two stages:

watercolor only

first applications of pastel

Since I did this scene already, I am not following the photo this time. Instead, I'm letting the underpainting guide me where the rocks and crevaces are. This is actually more fun than the other way!

Practising on the paper I love to hate!

2011-03-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

12 x 9 pastel "Granite Study"

I will be taking a workshop this summer from an artist who does fantastic alpine landscapes on this paper. So, not only am I practising granite rock studies, but I am practising on this Canson paper. Grrr! I can see I need more practise!

"Once There Was a Rainbow" a sketch from Bodie, California

2011-03-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patricks Day! I imagine this spot was the end of the rainbow and a pot of gold for the gold rush miners. This is where the Bodie Bank stood. In 1916 the bank was robbed by four men who got away with $4,000 in money and jewelry. The bank was destroyed by fire in 1932. All that remains today is this vault.

"Afternoon Cholla" pastel painting

2011-03-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

This is a little study from a photo I took in Palm Desert. This was one of those paintings that I labored over.

I feel real bad about the disasters in Japan. Years ago I was a summer exchange student there. Not in the areas that are talked about in the news, but sometimes I wonder if the hosting families I stayed with have relatives there.

The weather here has been rainy, gloomy and windy and cold. A jackhammer has been hammering away across the street for 3 full days now. I try to be creative with all of this - but it is harder, I admit it.

The good news is that I'm done preparing taxes for our CPA! One big cloud over my head is gone!!!!!

Field Study - plein air pastel painting

2011-03-10T16:00:00.000-08:00

9 x 6 pastel

When the weather becomes mild temperatures and no wind - you have to seize the moment! That is what I did here. I packed my mini pastel box and loaded my horse in the trailer and we went to Washoe Lake. There was still patchy snow on the desert hills, and we went up there, following a dirt road. After a while, the snow got deeper and I decided to lead him back down. Don't want him to slip on slushy snow with me on his back. I had my insulated snow-riding boots on - with tread - so I was fine sloshing through the snow. When we got back to the trailer he was happy to "nap" there while I did this little pastel field study from the picnic benches.