In Process

This is the project that is currently on my easel. It is a pitcher of hydrangeas. Right now the hydrangeas are "percolating" while I figure out how I want to render them. This is about 8x10 pastel on the new Mi-Teintes Touch paper.

Just off my easel

I just finished this painting. It is from a graphite drawing I did a few years ago. It has been percolating for a while as I decided what to do with it. It is 7x10, pastel on the new Mi-Teintes Touch paper.

Tea, Anyone?

This is a little piece that I just finished. It is about 7x7, pastel on PastelMat paper. I am going to put it in my exhibit at Linger Longer, a coffee shop in Allegany, NY, in March.

From the Toy Box

I'm trying out a new brand of pastels tonight. They are inexpensive and I wanted to see if they would be a good choice for when I am teaching a class and have to provide all of the materials like happens with conventions. I don't think I love them and I will probably stick to the brand I have been using. But I ended up with a cute little piece for my effort. I tossed a stuffed ladybug and a couple of antique or vintage building blocks on the table and painted them. This piece is 4x6 and is done on ArtSpectrum Colorfix paper.

Bailey

It cannot possibly be this long since I have posted to my blog. According to the records, it was September. I have been very busy since then and I can't imagine that I haven't posted anything. Anyway, her is a commissioned portrait that I finished right before Christmas. This little Jack Russel is bright and perky. His portrait is done in pastel and is matted to 10x10. It is done on PastelMat using a variety of brands of pastels.

Orchids

I have been working on an orchid painting. This painting is pastel on 6x12 PastelBord. I approached the painting by first doing an underpainting in Sienna tones. Once the underpainting was finished, the background was next. Then it was time to start working on the flowers. Here is a sequence of step-by-step photos. The painting isn't finished yet, but it will be soon.

Artichoke and Lemons - finished

The Artichoke and Lemons is finished. The finished size is about 9x12. This is pastel on PastelMat paper. Next, I need to get it in a frame.

A Nantucket Basket

I went to an all-day basket workshop today. The project was a traditional Nantucket basket. This little basket took a very long time to complete, but it is a lovely little elegant basket. It is just under 5" tall at the rim and about 16 inches in circumference.

ARtichokes and Lemon on my easel - phase one

I started a new pastel painting today. I am working from a photographed still life set up. The subject is an artichoke and lemons. I am working on Clairfontaine PastelMat. I am working in a little bit different way on this painting. First, I did a value-scale underpainting of the artichoke and the lemons in Sienna tones. Then I blocked in the table and the background. The next step will be to begin adding color to the objects.

Boxer Completed

I finished the boxer portrait today. She just needs to be framed and then can be delivered to my client. This painting is pastel on Clairfontaine PastelMat paper. The size is approximately 9x12.

Pinga Jar and Lemons finished

I finished the painting of the Pinga Jar and Lemons. This is about 9x12 on Pastel Mat and is worked from a photo of a setup in my studio.

A new Commission

I am working on a new pet portrait commission. This girl is a very elegant Boxer. I was given a great picture--a much better than usual photo--to work from and that makes the project a lot easier. I have a long way to go yet, but this is where I am now. This painting is pastel on Pastel Mat paper.

What's on my easel??

I am working on a new pastel painting. It isn't nearly finished yet, but this is how far I've gotten. The painting is about 9x12 on PastelMat paper.

Pastel Studies

I've been busy in the last week working on pastel studies. Here is the latest one. This is done on ArtSpectrum Suede Pastel Paper. It is about 11 inches square.

Today's project

I have been working on things for the retreat for weeks and weeks. Last week one of our scheduled teachers cancelled and I am going to teach the class instead. It is a design from Kaaren Poole's book Drawing Birds with Colored Pencil. I was able to find copies of the book for a reasonable price, so everyone in the class will get a book in addition to their regular supplies

Studies

I have been taking an on-line class with Daniel Edmondson, an oil painter from Colorado. The subject mater is all still life and, while he is an oil painter, I am doing the projects in pastel. The format of the class is that every lesson is a demonstration on DVD. It is accompanied by reference photos and additional supplementary information. After you watch the video demonstration, you paint the project and then send a picture of your work to Daniel. He then sends back a video critique of your work. It is a very beneficial program. Here is my latest project from the program.

More Baskets

I spent yesterday in Franklin making baskets. The round one is the largest of a set of 3 nesting muffin baskets. I will be making a few more trips and will make one of these on each trip until I have the full set. The one with the feet holds a little bean pot shaped bowl that can be used for dip or salsa or whatever you want to put in it.

Travel Teaching

I'm just back from teaching at a decorative painting retreat in Ohio. I taught 4 classes in colored pencil and took a basket making class. It was a very busy weekend. Once the retreat started, I was booked every class period. One of the classes I taught was called Your Pet in Colored Pencil. I had 3 students who each sent me photos of their dogs before the retreat started so that I could adjust the photos, select their pencils, prepare their packets and select some papers for them to choose from. For my demonstration/teaching piece, I chose to use one of their photos. This little Schnauzer had elements that each of the students needed to know about, so he was a pretty good demo choice. When I was selecting papers, I found a piece of purple card stock and that was what I used just to show them that you could be very creative in your choice of backgrounds as long as what you select supports the colors in your subject.

YUM!

Here is another little pastel painting. I bought this beautiful mango and then painted it before it became dessert. The pieces is about 5x5 on sanded paper. Mangos have a very satin textured skin, so there are no really strong highlights, but there were 2 soft highlights from the overhead light and the window.

Yet Another Little Toy

The toy series is a lot of fun. This little guy has been sitting on my desk for years and when the outside temperatures start the day at -16, I have to agree with him! He was sold by Avon maybe as long as 10 years ago. I can remember when Avon only sold cosmetics. Now you can get almost anything you want from your Avon representative. This little painting is about 6x9 and is done in pastel on gold pastel mat. Pastel Mat has become my favorite surface to work on. I painted him last night as a test of the possibility of teaching a lesson using Skype and a webcam. With a little tweaking, it will work quite nicely.