Visit my Patreon Page for more painting instruction and Paint Along Videos!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Pine Grove in Maine

On this small painting 5x7, I tried a different underpainting technique. I used Uart paper 500 grit and did the first layer using only Sennelier pastels then did a turpenoid wash. I was very pleased that the Uart paper seemed not to buckle at all. I will try this on a larger piece of paper. I am also working on a larger painting from Cape Cod that is 18x24.
Today I spent most of the day framing for my upcoming show at the Art Place in Marietta. I don't really enjoy framing because I would rather be painting....but I am excited about the show and happy with my choices!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

A Cool Spring Day

'A Cool Spring Day' 14x11 pastel
One of our homework assignments was to do a watercolor underpainting and leave a lot of it showing. Jayne and I started to watch my Richard McKinley dvd so the timing was just right. He has such a wonderful way with his underpaintings and knowing just how much pastel he needs to apply. I definitely need to try this more often so I can get the hang of it! In the dvd Richard does an oil stain underpainting and we hope to try it ourselves this week.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Jazzpurr

'Jazzpurr' 5x7 pastel
We got the cats a new tree recently and put it by the front window. They love it! There is always a cat asleep on the top but somehow they are good about taking turns for the primo spot! Here is Jazzpurr. Next I will paint my calico Ceara.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Cloud Study

'Clouds' 14x11 pastel
We are in the middle of a long break in pastel class. Marsha has assigned us homework and I finally had a chance to work on it today. One of the assignments was to paint clouds and make the sky the focus. Since I just got a new set of Mt Vision blues this was a good one for me to try.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Chicago River View SOLD

'Chicago River View' 7x5 pastel
No this isn't the view from Corey's dorm though he has a great view. He was so afraid of getting an alley view but he faces State Street and the Chicago Theater. He will have to get me some more night photos...they are so much fun to paint.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Daisies ACEO

Today I am sharing a mini painting I did last week. This is aceo size at 3.5x2.5 inches. I will be working this week on several commissions and will do some of these aceos as well.

NEWS: Fall is looking to be a busy time for me. I just got word that one of my wildflower paintings has been accepted into the Appalachian Pastel Society's show which opens October 3rd in Hendersonville North Carolina. Also my painting 'Marsh Magic' was accepted into the 'Marvelous Light' show at Johnson Ferry Baptist church which opens September 12th.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Monday, August 25, 2008

Low Country Sunset

'Low Country Sunset' 8x10 pastel
This is a scene I have revisited several times and never tire of it. This time I was trying out some new paper and pastels. It's hard to imagine that a sunset could be any more beautiful!

At the Art Institute of Chicago

I am back home after a quick weekend to Chicago to drop my son off to SAIC, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I wish I was the student! Actually we met a man who's retired wife is a new student. They are from California and are renting an apartment in Chicago so she could fufill her dream of going to art school. How cool is that!
I have lots to do to catch up this week and hope to get back to painting and posting!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Off to Chicago! SOLD

'Chicago Nights' 7x5 pastel
We are off to bring Corey to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I am just as excited as he is. I have only been to Chicago twice but have great memories of those trips. His dorm is on State Street right in the heart of the theater district. I will have access now to city photos whenever I want! I will be taking a painting break untill I return on Monday but then I have a lot of exciting things to prepare for so please stay tuned!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Headed out West!

'Winter Storm' 5x7 pastel
Well it's official...Jayne, Holly and I will be headed out to Albuquerque next May for the IAPS convention. We sent in our choices for the classes and booked the hotel now we just need to figure out where we want to explore the week before the convention! Since I was in a Southwest mood I thought I would try my untouched set of Ludwig SW pastels.....VIPs...put these on your list!!!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Beach Rose

'Sweet Summer Scent' 5x7 pastel
I love the wonderful smell of beach roses. Not only are the beautiful and delicate...they smell heavenly! They make walking by the beach all the more enjoyable. I am excited about another trip that is in the works. My friends and I will be attending the International Association of Pastel Societies Biennial convention which will be in Albuquerque in May. We are going to extend the trip to include some exploration of the area. I love New Mexico and just can't wait!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Tennessee Field #2

'Tennessee Field #2' 8x10 pastel
Here is another version of the Tennessee field. Thank you again Paula! I was experimenting with other colors. I think this would be a great spot to do a four season series. What a great spot to live near!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Autumn Aspens

'Autumn Aspens' 12x6 pastel
I had to try out my new Mt. Vision yellow set and thought these aspens would be a good subject. I am pleased with the colors in the set and I need to set aside some time soon to redo my pastel box to fit them in.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Mountain Pond ACEO

'Mountain Pond' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel
Today's painting is an aceo/miniature. I have a couple of commissions in the works as well as packing for Chicago so I am sharing just a little one today! I am also working on organizing my reference photos so you never know what might call out to be painted!

Friday, August 15, 2008

Water Lilies in Pastel

'Perry's Lilies' 14x 11 pastel
Here's another water lily painting. I am having fun with these. This one is done on LaCarte paper which I love for flowers. I have a Chicago commission to work on this weekend which is great timing to get me in the mood for our trip next week.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Tennessee Landscape Painting

'Mountain Meadow' 20x10 pastel
I want to thank Paula Ford, a wonderful pastel artist, for the reference photo for this painting. She is hosting a landcape challenge on Wet Canvas and I decided to try my hand at one of her beautiful photos. I added the Queen Anne's Lace since they are my favorites. I think I may have a try at her other photos. This one was fun to do!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Dragonfly Dreams

'Dragonfly Dreams' 20x10 pastel
This is my largest dragonfly painting so far. It is 20x30 so it is tall and narrow. It was interesting to paint one so large and I had to use a different approach for the wings. My new pastels arrived yesterday. I love my Mt Vision yellows! I am planning on using them in an autumn aspen tree painting. I thought that would be a good subjuct to try out yellows.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Sanibel Sea Shells

'Treasures of the Day' 14x11 pastel
Every once in awhile I like to focus in on something and paint a close up. Shells are one of my favorite subjects. I found these shells on one of my morning beach walks on Sanibel Island a couple of summers ago. I need to go back...it's been too long!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Siamese Cat Impression

I may try this pose of Tobi in a larger size. If I do I will have room to fit in more of his body. On this little painting I was playing around with colors and just getting a quick impression of a cat bathing. This one is 3.5x2.5. Today I am anxiously awaiting my order from Dakota pastels...I hope it comes soon. I ordered some new pastels and I am in the mood to try something new!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Wildflowers...Class Demo

'Wildflowers' 10x8 pastel
Here is the demo I did this afternoon for my pastel class. I used the analogous color wheel for my color choices. I had already painted a smaller version of this field that has been sold so I wanted to do a larger painting. In class we talked about using complementary colors and discords. Can you spot the discords? I also used a red-purple underpainting. This is on UArt paper 600 grit and I really enjoyed using it.

Today's Class on Color

I thought I'd share a photo from today's pastel class. We talked about the different color schemes and focused on working with the Analogous Color Wheel available from Dakota Pastels. For a warm up exercise we did mini abstract paintings based on colors choices from the analogous wheel. After painting time I finished with a demo of a field of wildflowers using color choices from the wheel. I hope everyone enjoyed the class!

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Queen Annes's Lace at the Pond

Today's ACEO /mini painting is my favorite wildflower, Queen Annes Lace. I manage to find it wherever I go. This was at the side of the pond at Perry's Water Garden. I should have been concentrating on the water lilies but as usual the Queen Annes Lace was calling me! This painting is just 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I have a couple of potential good news items in the works and will share with you next week the latest developments!


Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Friday, August 08, 2008

Nature's Treasure...nest painting

'Nature's Treasure' 16x20 pastel
Here is the finished nest painting I did for my newly updated kitchen. I have pictured a nest in that space and I love the color of robin's eggs so I think this will be just right for the space. It is always fun to paint a nest. I am trying to get some photos of the hawk family that is nesting in my yard. They seem to be very active early in the morning so I will try this weekend to be patient with my camera ready!

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Poppy Field Study

'Poppy Dance' 5x7 pastel
This is the 5x7 study I did for my recent commission. It is based on a photo I took up in North Carolina early this summer. I am working on a fun project in preparation for my mini workshop on color this Sunday. I will share with you after the class!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Maine Wildflowers Miniature

I wanted to try a miniature painting of those wonderful purple Maine wildflowers. This one is 3.5 x 2.5 and would look great matted and framed. Hopefully today I will have some time to work on my new uart paper. Yesterday was devoted to helping Corey get packed for college. We are off to Chicago in a couple of weeks where he will attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I can't wait to go!


Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Low Country Landscape

'Harbor Island Spring' 5x7 pastel
I painted this on a piece of new paper I just got....Uart sanded paper. I liked it so much that I just ordered 12 more sheets. (it's on sale) It comes in 4 grits and this was 600 which is mid to fine grit. I can't wait to try some more but I am organizing bookshelves today!

Monday, August 04, 2008

Blue Lily Study

'Blue Lily Study' 6x6 pastel
In preparation for my next class which will be an overview of the color wheel and the various color schemes, I am painting a series of lilies using the main color scemes. The first one is a momochromatic study and I chose the color blue. This was a good exercise and it will be interesting to see them all together to see the difference color choices make.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Lily Pond Road...aceo

'Lily Pond Road' 3.5 x 2.5 pastel
I call this little painting Lily Pond Road because it was a dirt road that ran through the ponds at Perrys Water Gardens in Franklin, NC. I just loved the mountain view and being surrounded by the ponds filled with beautiful flowers.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $35 USD
Or, send me an email

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Cape Cod Sea View

'Sea View' 10x20 pastel
There is a wonderful trail near the visitor's center of the Cape Cod National Seashore. It is called Fort Hill and winds through a meadow with views over Nauset Marsh. It is one of my favorite spots on Cape Cod. This painting is a different format for me but I like how it allows me to capture the view.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Water Lilies from Perry's Water Garden

'Summer Gardens' 8x10 pastel
Just outside of Franklin, NC is a wonderful spot....Perry's Water Garden sells water lilies and Lotus plants. Jayne and I spent many hours on a recent visit enjoying the gardens and taking photos. I will definitely be doing a series from these wonderful gardens.
****There seems to be some problems with some of the art blogs and I wasn't able to access mine tonight through Internet Explorer but I can with Mozilla...so if I don't get back on to post that is why. I hope it isn't going to be a problem!******