"One Red Rose" a pastel plein air painting

I finished it.  Whew!  I made the deadline.  Now it is off to the City to deliver my proposal.

Work-in-Progress Pastel Painting

I believe I can finish this painting tomorrow! 

"Corner of the Garden" pastel painting plein air

My most recent visit to the garden.  I have one more day to visit the garden and paint.  Then I will have enough of this series to apply to exhibit in a City of Reno Office Building.

"Along the Garden Path" a pastel plein air painting

I finished this yesterday.  It is 9 x 12 pastel on La Carte.  We have had thunder and lighting and downpours and large hail!  So I worked inside doing the finishing touches on this painting that was started on location.

"Little Stone Bridge" pastel painting - AND a bonus story about a Pow Wow

I finished this little bridge today.  Now I want to walk over it!

And now ... some pictures from a Pow Wow.  It was a hot, hot day out in the Nevada desert.  But the host tribe (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) had plenty of shade around the arena.  Mom and I started with an Indian Taco made from Indian Fry Bread.  Yum!  Then at noon the Grand Entry - all the different tribal dancers and singers parading in to drums and singers.  The ceremonial dress ranged from colorful and shiny contemporary fabrics and materials, to traditional leather, beads, feathers and bells.  I have never been to one of these, and my Mom, who is from the San Francisco Bay Area was really amazed.  Due to the heat, we did not stay for the competitions in singing and dancing.  But it was an event my Mom will be telling all her friends about.

Two works in progress

These two were done on location.  After about 1-1/2 hours I stop and take them home because the light changed anyway.  So in that 1-1/2 hour I try to block in all the lights and darks, the shapes and color notes (warm or cool, bright or greyed down).  The pastels I choose to work with I keep in a box top that serves as a little tray.  I take this tray home intact so I can continue with the same palette at home.

I may not get to work on these for a day or so.  I have a busy couple of days lined up - an outdoor concert with my husband, and going to a Pow-Wow with my mom!  More on that later!

"High Sierra Lilypond" a pastel plein air painting

This was the third painting I did while visiting Hope Valley with other artists from Sierra Pastel Society.  Before you get to Blue Lakes, there is this beautiful lilypond.  That day there were so many beautiful things to paint - but I was very pleased I got three paintings done!

"View From The Top" a plein air pastel painting

Here is the second painting I did while on the paint-out at Hope Valley.  After the first place, we drove up the mountain towards Blue Lakes.  Way up at the top is this great view.  I only spent 45 minutes on this one, so I just used pastel paper (white) .  Today at home I just did more coverage of the paper, using my first layer as a guide.  Although I took photos, I felt I knew what I wanted to do anyway, so I never referred to them.

"Hope Valley Morning" a pastel plein air painting

The other day I joined some other pastel painters up in the high Sierra Mountains for a paint-out in Hope Valley, California, elevation 8-9,000 feet.  In July it is spring there, the wildflowers were out, and it was about 85 degrees, which was a lovely cool break from the high 90's in the valleys below.  This was my first painting.  I spent 1-1/2 hours on it on location, then about 25 minutes this morning doing the final touches.  This is on La Carte pastel card in the color light grey.  It is really more like a greenish-grey, which is always a good color for a landscape.

I have two more paintings I did that day to show, but before I touch them up, I must go ride my horse before it reaches 99 degrees!

Garden Bird Feeder - a pastel painting

I finished this today.  This was done on peach colored La Carte Pastel Card.  I really love this paper.  If I could do a bird on the feeder, I would, but I was afraid I would botch it up!

My Own Garden - pastel plein air on a hot day!

My new way of working these days is to wear a swimsuit, go for a swim, wrap a towel around me, walk back to my yard, and paint while soaking wet!  Even under the shade of my pop-up canopy, it is nearly 100 degrees.  This is a start on a new painting - with a bird feeder and my hollyhocks in the background.

Quick Plein Air Paintings in Pastel

I've been riding my horse in the mornings to beat the summer heat.  There are two trails nearby that wander up shady canyons alongside creeks.  One is Whites Creek and has a lot of evergreen trees, the other is Thomas Creek which has a lot of aspen trees.  Both creeks are full and rushing from the snow melt of Mount Rose.  It is cool along the creeks and the sound of the stream is lovely.  After one ride, I tied Casey up to the hitch and brought my chair and paints out from the trailer and did a quick plein air of him. 

My husband and I had a fun weekend.  One day we went northwest to my spinning and weaving meeting at the home of one of the members.  She lives out in the forest in a redwood house.  Gorgeous meadow they live in!  Gorgeous house too.  After the meeting we drove to Graegle - and then on to the lakes nearby.  We had a picnic at Gold Lake and then drove to the next little lake (don't know the name) which was quiet and peaceful.  No motor boats there - just kayakers.  While Stan read his book, I did this little plein air.

"Nona's Greenhouse" - a pastel plein air painting

I finished it!  It was quite fun to do.  My husband thought it looked like a Hobbit garden.  Actually, the garden really is a great garden for fairies, hobbits and sprites.  Maybe that's why she called it "The Enchanted Garden".

Plein Air Painting in the Enchanted Garden - in Pastel

Note:  this work is in-progress!  I have never done a greenhouse before.  And this one was too cute to not paint.  In the foreground is a rustic little bridge that needs more of "my" work.  Hopefully it won't be too busy and your eye will lead you over the bridge, down the walkway to the greenhouse.

Garden Lampost - pastel

I finished this today. 

I've been doing "art business" - like, getting applications for a business license, fixing up the new e-mail that I didn't set up right the first time, ordering materials...this kind of work is essential, but sure cuts into the painting time!

A Garden Scene - pastel painting

This is a work-in-progress painting.  I started it today en plein air at this beautiful little private garden.  I am now working on it at home.

This garden home property has a history!  Below are some pictures of their commemorative plaque that was dedicated by several organizations including the Nevada Historical Society and Reno Historical Presevation Society on the 4th of July this year.

It reads:  "Site of Ricks Roadhouse Resort, circa 1906.  Jack Johnson established his training quarters here for the July 4, 1910 'Fight of the Century' against Jim Jefferies, 'The Great White Hope'.  In terms of race relations, this was one of the most important events worldwide.  In 1922, the property became 'The Willows', a famous speakeasy and gaming house, where the rich and fashionable flocked to this location to flaunt social convention.  The willows met its fiery end in 1932.

Hollyhocks and Fourth of July!

Happy 4th of July!  America has another birthday.  Too bad firework shows are now not allowed in our town starting this year.  The exploding flowers of shimmering sparkles are so breathtaking.  So, here are my own little bursts of flowers, going up and up sky high.  My hollyhocks are just popping.  I just had to do a quick little watercolor sketch in my sketchbook.  Later, I will do something more refined on watercolor paper. 

We had a quick visit from one of our families - with one of our little grandsons.  (The second grandson is very much on the way and kicking to get out of his mother's belly).  They came over for a little cooling swim in the neighborhood pool. 

We were invited to a 4th of July BBQ, but it had to be postponed until tomorrow night.  So, that frees up our afternoon.  We will make a run to Kentucky Fried Chicken, and then cook our own corn on the cob from the farmers market, and then have some cooling watermelon.  Fun day!

The Rose Trellis Gate - pastel painting

Today I finished this painting.  Now I'm all excited about doing my own garden - the hollyhocks are popping out into bloom along the fence!