Plein Air Daisies Studio Version

'More Daisies' 16x20

Here's yet another homework assignment. I have taken another painting I've done and painted a larger version. Again it is on the pumice gator foam. I bought some more gator foam and I plan to take pictures and post the steps when I prepare them...probably sometime next week. This painting is from a quick plein air study I did at my first workshop with Marsha Savage. It was almost time to pack up for lunch but I wanted to do another quick one...so I set up in front of this clump of daisies and painted. I always liked the painting but it was small and dark....so I thought the texture on the gator foam would allow me to keep the flowers fresh and painterly. It's fun to see this larger version!

Haybales Update

Here is an update to the hay bale painting. I added some more bales in the distant field. Do you think this works? It is hard to see the texture of the board in this photo but it really makes this more interesting in real life.
Trip News! It's time to plan for our family's summer vacation. We voted and the decision is to go to Colorado and New Mexico this June. We will fly into Denver and drive down to Santa Fe and Taos for a few days then back to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado and then to our own cabin with a private hot springs pool near Nathrop Colorado. Finally a drive over to one of our favorite places...Ouray. No trip to Colorado is complete without a stop here! I am planning to take a lot of photos and do some plein air painting. I got a great deal on air tickets this morning so the trip is official!

My Hay Bale Painting

'The Three of Us' 16x20

Here is another homework assignment....We were asked to take a painting we've completed and paint it again, changing something. I decided to redo my hay bale painting. I did the original on a plein air outing last spring with the Georgia Outdoor Painters. The original was in David's Fine Art Gallery in Murphy, NC and has since sold. How did I make one this different? I did it much larger at 16x20 and I used one of my prepared gator foam boards that I had toned orange rather than sanded paper. I thought that the texture of the board would be good for this subject.

Update.....my husband thinks it needs more haybales in the distant field...too boring as it is...so I will try that and see what happens.

Arches National Park Painting Finished!

'Under the Arches' 18x24

I worked on this off and on all weekend....which is longer than I usually spend on a painting. I am calling it finished for now but I will continue to look at it to see if I want to make any changes. I do see one thing I might change but I will reevaluate it tomorrow. This is Arches National Park in the late afternoon when the sun makes the red rock glow as if they are on fire. My goal was to capture this glow. This is Sand Dune Arch which has wonderful coral color sand all around the arches. It is a natural playground for kids!

Evening on Sanibel...ACEO SOLD

I haven't had a chance to work on the Arches painting today...taxes are calling me! But here is a little 2.5 x 3.5 inch paintng I recently did of Blind Pass on Sanibel Island. Hopefully this weekend I will have some time to paint. I need to spend some time organizing my pastels for the Margaret Dyer workshop which is next Friday! I am both excited and nervous about it....I don't know anything about painting the figure so I will be very much out of my comfort zone.

Work in Progress...Arches National Park

Here is my latest painting that I am doing as a work in progress to show the steps I usually go through when I paint. This is another one of my homework assignments...I am taking a painting I did before and doing something different, I am documenting each step and I am using different colors for me...that actually covers 3 of the assignments! I painted this same scene exactly a year ago. I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see how much I have learned this past year. This time I am doing it larger 18 x 24 and on white Wallis paper. The first thing I did after my value sketch (not shown) was to draw the major shapes with a pastel pencil. Then I took some nupastels and blocked in the darks with some blues and purples and oranges. I was tempted to do an alcohol wash but instead I just rubbed the pastel into the paper with foam pipe insulation. It kind of looked like a watercolor minus the drips. Then in step three, still using hard pastels, I reinforced the darks and added the lightest light and the most intense color (orange). The fourth step I just continued with hard pastels building up more colors. I try to make these first layers as colorful and vibrant as I can...I can always tone it down. Now I will let it sit for awhile and start another one. I have 2 or 3 big ones I want to get started on.

Painting on a Purple Toned Surface...Low Country Marsh

'Out the Window' 8x10

This is another one of my homework assignments...to paint on a toned surface using a color I usually don't paint on.....this was a purple toned piece of gator board. It is a painting done from a photo I took out the car window on my trip to the South Carolina Low Country. I loved the vast expanses of marsh and all the ribbons of greens. Unfortunately there wasn't a good place to pull over for photos!

Fantasy Trees...Our Extreme Start

'Tree-O' each 8 x 16

As promised, here is a photo of the tree paintings that Jayne, Holly and I painted this week. As you can see we all have very different styles which is one of the reasons it is so much fun to paint together. Hollys is on the left, mine in the middle and Jaynes is on the right. These are done on prepared gator board...using drips of paint for an underpainting. Last night we got together and made up more gator board supports. We made a mess but had fun and we were very productive! Now to paint on the boards!

Plein Air Daisies...ACEO Version

Just sharing another art cart/ACEO I painted on the cruise from a photo I took of some daisies. I painted a plein air version of these daisies at my very first workshop with Marsha Savage. I consider it my 'break-thru' painting because it was the one that got me hooked on pastels. It was fun doing this miniature version!

Black, White & Gray Pastel

'Jazzpurr' 8x10

Today's homework assignment was to paint using only black, white and gray pastels. I decided to paint my cat Jazzpurr. This is on black LaCarte paper using mostly nupastels. I found that I had a small set of gray nupastels. Now onto the next assignment!

My Pastel Homework

'Playful Forest' 8x16

This is my version of trees using a method that Holly & Jayne were playing with. It is done on an 8x16 piece of gatorfoam (love that stuff). Instead of painting the board one color, we dripped the Golden acrylic paint, sprayed the paint with water, then let it run. After the paint dried, we coated the board with a pumice mixture. The drips jump started my ideas for the painting. This went through several stages until they finally became fantasy fir trees. It was really fun to just let go and play with color and textures. Tomorrow I plan to take a picture of all three of our tree paintings and post it. Now onto another homework assignment!

Today's Painting...The $5 Tomatoes!

'Double Duty' 5x7

There's a story behind this painting. I went grocery shopping this weekend and spent way too much. (I had gotten a Rachael Ray Magazine and had a list of recipes to try) On reviewing my receipt I saw that I had paid $5 for 4 tiny tomatoes! I figured that I need to make them work for the money so besides eating them I decided to paint them too. I decided to crop my painting as it just wasn't very interesting and I like this better. Now I am going to play today.....trying a new technique that Jayne and Holly have been experimenting with. Stay tuned!

French Countryside Painting

I finally had a chance to work on this commission this weekend. It is a scene from the French Countryside and there is a wonderful story behind it. I actually have been asked to paint two of the same scene as it has a special meaning for two people. I am waiting for the go ahead to start on the second one. This one is 9x12 on Wallis paper. Today I am going over to Jaynes to paint one of my homework assignments...not sure yet what I'll be doing but I will post the results later.

Sanibel Path #2

'Sanibel Path #2 9x12'

I've painted this path before from a different angle. It's one of the many Sanibel beach paths I have photos of. One of my favorite things to do when walking the beach is to walk down the pathways to see what the view looks like. This one is near where we usually stay so I go down this path many times! This painting is on white wallis that I toned purple. I am gearing up to paint something larger...just trying to decide between a couple of choices.

My New Camera is Here!!

That was fast! I ordered it from B & H on Monday and it arrived on Thursday afternoon! I got the Canon Digital Rebel XT. I didn't get the newer xti because I was trying not to spend too much money. I had fun playing with it but I wish it was warmer so I could test it outdoors. Since I have 5 cats I took a lot of cat photos last night. Here is Angel...doesn't she have an intense look? She looks like she's the meanest, grumpiest cat but she is totally sweet. She is Caitlin's cat and she really wants me to paint her...I think I probably will get some good photos of her now! I just love how a slr camera blurs out the background!

ACEO Sanibel Island Baily Tract

Here is another art card I painted while on the cruise. It is from a photo I took this past summer on Sanibel Island. I'd like to try to do this one larger but to keep it as loose and colorful as this one. I have a big list of art homework that I forgot about so I really need to start working on those paintings. Jayne & Holly how are you doing on your homework??? Maybe we need a painting session to work on some!

Daily Painting....Low Country Sunrise

Happy Valentine's Day! I really want to paint some candy but it will have to wait until tonight. I am having a Valentine's party with the children and we have a busy day. Here is a quick one on canson paper. I haven't painted on canson in a long time and it was strange. It is good practice though. This one is 9x12.

Daily Pastel Painting...Eastern Bluebird

'A Promise of Spring' 5x7

Today's painting is another little bird. I hope to be able to attract bluebirds to my yard this year. I am starting to work on a plan to bring my gardens back to life. Years ago I spent a lot of time in my yard gardening but raising kids limited my time in the yard. This year I really want to enjoy my yard again. I have been so inspired by Jayne's beautiful yard and all of her birds. It would be wonderful to attract birds to my yard so I can take photos with my new digital slr! Yes, I decided to get a canon rebel xt so I can use all my canon lenses. I can't wait until it arrives so I can play!

A Coconut Palm Tree

'Palm Tree Breezes' 5x7

Today is a heat wave in Georgia...supposed to get into the 60's before it drops again. So I thought a nice tropical scene was in order. On my recent cruise I took a lot of photos of the tropical plants and trees. I love their colors and shapes. I have some great close-ups of trees loaded with coconuts that I'd love to paint as maybe kind of an abstract. I may work on that this week.

North Florida Salt Marsh

'Tranquility' 9x12

I love to paint salt marsh scenes and when I was going through my photos looking for something to paint, this one jumped out at me. This is a scene from north Florida on the way to St. George Island. Jayne, Michael and I stopped here on the way to the beach house last year. I thought it would be a good one to practice with after watching the Bob Rohm dvd on painting water. I am on a hunt for a new digital camera....I want a wider angle lens but now I am thinking i'd like more zoom too.....I am starting to think I might bite the bullet and get a digital slr. I have 4 canon lenes so I wouldn't need to invest in lenses. Hmmm it is something to think about!

Seashell on St. George Island

'The Morning Tide' 6x6

Here is a warm painting for a cold day! It brings back double 'warm' memories for me. I painted it on my recent cruise...sitting in a lounge chair by the pool...feeling the warm sun. it is from a photo I took on a trip to St. George Island in Florida. Jayne and I would go out every morning at sunrise and look for treasure on the beach. That was a great time!

Seashell on St. George Island

About This Painting:
I use the finest soft pastels on archival papers. Paintings are shipped unframed and securely packaged with glassine and foamcore.

Media: Pastel
Size: 6 in X 6 in (15.2 cm X 15.2 cm)
Price: $45

How to Purchase:

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $45 plus $5 s/h
Or, send me an email

Daily Painting...Hibiscus Flower

I had a chance to finish the hibiscus painting. This one is just 5x7 but I am thinking that a hibiscus would make a wonderful large painting. My son Corey who is an art major has been after me to paint larger. We went to the art store last weekend and he convinced me to buy a huge piece of canson board. He is working with pastels now in his drawing class so I let him use some of my nicer pastels...the Terry Ludwigs, Great Americans, Schminkes....his teacher liked his project and wondered what kind of pastels he was using. He responded that he was using his mom's 'Fancy' pastels! I had to laugh at that one! Now I really need to work on my commissions so back to the easel!

Painting a Great White Egret

'Who's Next?' 9x12

I started this one in pastel class last night and finished today. It's a Great White Egret and I got the reference photo from the Wet canvas Image librbay...thank you to the wonderful photographer! Last night, Marsha did a wonderful demo of a Florida scene with scrubby pines and sand dunes from St. George Island. Jayne , Holly and I discussed going to St George Island for our spring painting trip. We have customers with a wonderful house right on the beach... I have to work on that plan! Marsha also gave us a lot of homework to do while she is teaching down in Florida...so on the blog you will see my assignments. I actually love homework! This will be fun!!

Hibiscus Painting...work in progress

I haven't posted a work in progress for awhile and I thought it might be fun to show how I have been working lately. I have been painting a lot of 5x7 paintings becuase they are easy to fit in during naptimes and evenings. My favorite set up for these is to use LaCarte paper on foam core and sit at my desk with my pastels and a towel...another towel on my lap and it works out great. For this hibiscus painting, I did the initial sketch with a pastel pencil. Then I went in and blocked in my painting with a mix of nupastels and polychromos. My goal is to try to keep the freshness of the underpainting and not over work the flower. Stay tuned for an update.

Another ACEO from the Caribbean

I still have more art cards that I painted on my recent cruise that I want to share. They are all 2.5 x 3.5 painted on location. This one happens to be one of my favorites. It was done as I sat on my lounger on the ship looking down at the beach on Grand Turk. We were getting ready to sail so I just made a very quick, loose impression of the scene. This is looser than I usually paint but It really captures the mood for me.

Painting Moving Water

'On the Rocks' 9x12

Today I had a wonderful day with Jayne and Holly. We got an early start and watched the new Bob Rohm dvd on painting water. We watched two chapters...water with ripples and moving water. We also had a wonderful lunch and we managed to paint some. Holly finished a beautiful sunset scene with rippled water. Jayne is working on a large scene with rocks. I worked on this one of moving water. It's from a reference photo I took at the Albert Handell workshop I attended last May. I should have a look at his interpretaion of the scene. I forget what his looked like. I'll have to paint more water...I'd love to do a harbor scene with boats like Bob Rohm did in his dvd.

This painting is available for $85 which includes S&H. Please email me at kemstudios@yahoo.com

Daily Pastel Painting....Cherries and More Cherries

'Temptation' 5x7

I've been wanting to paint cherries and when I saw this photo I thought I'd give it a try. It was fun to do and looking at it I can think of many more cherry arrangements to paint. I have a lot planned for the weekend and upcoming week. I have two commissions to work on and I have set up a few more paintings....I prepared the paper, did my thumbnails so I am ready to go! This Sunday Jayne, Holly and I are getting together to watch the new Bob Rohm dvd on painting water and then we will paint. I'd like to host next weekend and maybe rewatch Ann Templeton and paint some Southwest scenes. Since our pastel class has the month off, we need to make sure we get together and keep painting! Watch for my water painting on Monday!

This painting is available for $50 which includes S&H. Email me at kemstudios@yahoo.com

Daily Painting...Little Bird in the Snow SOLD

'First Snow' 5x7

Today it is cold and rainy here in Georgia though the North Georgia mountains got some snow. We weren't so lucky. If it is going to be cold and rainy, we might as well have some snow to enjoy for a day. I decided to paint a snow scene of sorts. This little bird huddled against the snow caught my fancy. Jayne, if you can identify this little guy please let me know! Now onto warmer subjects...I think I'll paint something from the cruise next!