Back in the studio....

So, it's been a while....since I've written as well as since I've painted anything. I've been so busy with new year cleaning and organizing projects that I just haven't had the time, or should I say haven't had the mood, to get back in the studio. But this week I am sick with a killer head cold and don't have the energy for housework, but I got the painting bug back.

This painting I simply title "Haiti". It was inspired by a photo I saw of a child whose parents were killed in the earthquake. It's not finished yet. I like to almost finish a painting and then put it away for a while to look at it with a fresh eye later. I already see things I'll change, ( I mean, that ear is just a mess!) but I am going to wait. I've been known to overwork a painting and waiting helps me not do that.


I'm thinking of taking a portrait painting workshop in April. It's a 2 day event with portrait artist extraordinaire Alain Picard. As much as I try to get excited about a still life or a landscape, it's portraits and figures that really get me inspired. Take a look at his work on his website. It' s just beautiful.
I am basically self taught. I don't have formal training in pastel painting.....or any kind of painting actually....so taking his workshop will really help me in learning technique. I can read lots of books and look at videos, but to have a live model and an instructor who does the type of work I would like to do...well that's an opportunity I don't want to pass up. So, I hope it's not full!

A New Year

Happy New Year!
I don't usually do resolutions, but I do like to look ahead and set new goals. I tend to do that any time of the year I feel like I need to refocus, but the beginning of a new year just seems like a great opportunity to reevaluate. One of my goals is to spend more time in the studio...that's kind of an ongoing goal, but I think I have to step up the effort to try to do some painting every day. There will be a lot of distractions coming up......getting ready for my son's wedding in June, to name one.
But, I want to focus on trying new techniques and find out what my 'style' is. I only began pastel painting this past March, and I think I've made a lot of progress.....but I want to experiment with more impressionistic styles and see if it's a good fit with me. I'm basically self taught and I want to continue to use the many resources out there online, in dvd's and books, to experiment. I love browsing through other artist's websites. I find it very inspiring.
So starting Monday, I'm putting pastel to paper again.....and they happen to be the new 96 piece Sennelier Paris pastel set that my hubby got me for Christmas...thanks honey!....
Drop by in a couple of weeks to see the new work!

A special lady....

Ruth
11x14, pastel
work in progress

When I attended Charlotte Wharton's workshop in September, Charlotte arranged for me to stay with her at Ruth's home in Rockport. Ruth was a stranger to me, but now I consider her to be a good friend. We spent three days together, laughing and talking in the evenings. I wanted to do this for her. Ruth is a beautiful woman, 80 years old going on 30. She has a love of art and life. I've had a hard time getting that mirthful look she has, but I think I'm close.

Painting a Memory

As promised, I got back into the studio today. This is one I started back in the summer.....what better time to paint a happy summer scene than a cold, icy day in December? This is my son and his friend at our neighborhood pond, probably about 20 years ago. I purposely included the dark pine branches hanging down because the beach is surrounded by them and its shadows hold the scene, my memory, almost like an embrace. I didn't use a photo, this one came from a memory in my head. I'm a sentimental old gal and I love painting favorite memories.

The Boys at Greenland Pond
8x10, pastel

Busy,Busy

I know, it's been almost a month since I've posted, but it's been almost a month since I've worked on a painting! And I'm feeling it! I definitely need to get back to it.
I did work on my website though and it is up and running finally, so please go take a look.
I am promising myself that tomorrow I'll spend a good part of the day in the studio.

Almost finished

Pastel
12x17

Overall I'm pleased with it. I'm going to put it away and look at it again in a few days before finishing it. Maybe by then I'll think up a good title.

A Work in Progress....

This is about 3 hours into it. I was looking around for some photos of figures with musical instruments and remembered that these local musicians are friends of my son so I swiped a photo from their Face book pages. I loved the composition and the light. So far, I like how it's coming. I changed some things . The photo was taken in a recording studio so I left out the big mike hanging over them and the headphones and I darkened up the lighter, cluttered background. I started with the darks but I added other elements right away because I like to see how everything is working together and where the energy is going before getting too far into it. I put in a few highlights early on to help me visualize the whole thing.
I took this photo of the painting so far and put it on the computer and played around with it.....with the contrast, saturation, etc. I find that helps me figure out the next steps I'll take with a painting ....and it allows me to see it from a different perspective too.

I think I will download a couple of songs from their website to listen to while I finish painting it.....how cool is that?

At Greenland Pond

At Greenland Pond
9x12
Pastel

Finished! I'm dedicating this one to my two boys who live far away now from this pond in our neighborhood where they spent so many days catching turtles, jumping off the raft ( Ma, watch me! No, watch ME!) and just being little boys.

Dressage

Dressage
9x12
pastel

Not quite finished with the background and a few other things here, but I am finding that I really love painting horses. I find photographing the painting and looking at it online helps me see it in a new way so I can decide on changes or additional work I may want to do on it.
My first horse painting was The Final Turn, below,which won an award at a gallery show.

Horses have such majesty, grace and power, no wonder I love to paint them!

Work in Progress

This is a scene from a photo I took last weekend at Greenland Pond. The colors with the afternoon sun on them were just magnificent! This is how it looks after about 2 hours of work. I think I have about another 2 hours to go. I still have to add some more darks and highlights, tone down a few places and bring up others. I'll be adding some fallen leaves to the water and I've just started the tree trunk. So check back at the end of the week to see the finished painting.

At Greenland Pond
9x12
pastel
work in progress

Two Works in Progress

I haven't posted any paintings in a while so here are two that aren't quite done, works in progress.....

This first one is 9x15 on velour paper. This paper feels kind of like suede. I've only used it once before on "The Reader" but I am coming to love it! It is a totally different experience than the other surfaces I use. You have to layer the color, you can't really mix them together very well because of the way the surface holds the pigment. But I love the softness that results. And there is less pastel dust, which is always a good thing.

Leaf in a puddle

Snowbird

I just started this one. I used a photo that my sister took. This is also on the velour paper.

I don't know when I'll get back to it, but I like the way it's coming along. If you enlarge the photo, you can see the texture of the surface.

Welcome to Autumn

Since Fall is upon us, I decided to put some of that Beautiful color into my work. I created this today. It only took a few hours and after all the detail of Brandon's Portrait and the hours (days) that went with it, it was nice to just kind of let go, be more expressive and get into the color!
Seeing it in the photo, I think I'll darken it up a bit here and there....then it will be done.

Around the Bog

12x16

pastel

Tomatoes!

Tomatoes

pastel

8x10

I'm picking the last tomatoes of the season, so I decided to use them as the subject of my first still life. Being the last on the plant, they aren't as perfect or pretty as mid season tomatoes,but I think it gives them character! This was just a quick little study I did in a couple of hours this afternoon. I set them up on a table by the window so I'd get a good cast light on the left. They are in a hand made ceramic bowl, which was fun to do too. I think I'll continue with it later and try to make them even more realistic!

Juried Show

Two of my paintings have been accepted for The All New England Juried Exhibit at the Cape Cod Art Association....Dune Walk and Marsh Glow... Dune Walk

Marsh Glow

Getting accepted into a juried show is like winning an award! These two paintings are now hanging on the wall at Le Petite Day Spa in Chatham. They are still for sale, but not available till after the show in October.

Reflections

Bear Lake
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
11x17
pastel

I took the photo that I used for reference when we were hiking in the park. It's a beautiful place!