Wildflower Field

'The Foggy Walk' 6x4 pastel

Here is a little painting done from a photo I took on a hike in Maine. It was a foggy and dreary day but we were lucky that the rain held off until the afternoon. We got some hikes in and saw some beautiful spots. Of course the color in this field was even more intense in the overcast light. Speaking of Maine, I just found a brand new popover pan at the thrift store today so I will be trying out some Jordan Pond House popovers when Corey is home from college!

More Poppies! aceo SOLD

'Little Poppies' 3.5x2.5 pastel

Sometimes when I am working on a larger painting, before putting away my pastels I will do a mini painting using the same pastels. This little one was done after I worked on a couple of larger poppy painting. I am busy getting the studio ready for the sale next Saturday. It's amazing how things get piled up and out of order but I am back on track now!

A Cold, Clear Night

'A Cold, Clear Night' 5x7 pastel

Here is a new nightscape painting. I put this in a simple black frame and it really brings out the blue in the sky. I love doing these night scenes and as soon as I get a chance I have some ideas I am itching to try!

Sunflower

This sunflower pastel painting is 4x6. I had some scraps of paper that I wanted to use so I painted a few this size. I love to piant sunflowers and often think I would like to paint a really large one someday! I hope I get some painting time in tomorrow in between shopping and organizing the studio!

Happy Thanksgiving!

'Fiery Tree' 3.5x2.5 pastel ACEO

Here is a little aceo size painting of an Autumn tree. I want to wish all of my friends and family and faithful blog readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am spending this holiday weekend with family and getting the studio ready for our annual Studio Art Sale. It will be held this year on Saturday December 6th from 10-5. If you are in the Atlanta area, we'd love for you to stop by! Email me for more information.

New Siamese Cat Painting

'Tobi at Rest' 5x7 pastel

I am at a break in my commissions as I wait for approval before moving on. One marsh scene I am working on is very challenging because it is completely from the person's memory and we are putting in some very specific details that I need to be sure to get right. Here is a small painting of Tobi when he was still a year old. He is now a big muscular cat and much darker. I would love to paint both Tobi and Maya together some day!

Winter Color

'Winter Color' 8x10 pastel

Here is snow painting #4. As I discussed in the post below, I did an alcohol wash underpainting first. It is painted on Pastelbord and I love this support for this technique. I love the subtle colors in the winter landscape. I will be taking a break from winter for a bit as I work on two large marsh commissions.

Alcohol wash underpainting

For snow painting #4 I did a value underpainting using a dark purple Nupastel and brushing over it with alcohol. I used a Pastelbord this time since it holds up perfectly to the wetness. After it dried I started right in with soft pastels starting with the sky first and then establishing the darks and the shadow parts of the snow. I will post the finished painting next.

Snowy Morning

'Snowy Morning' 5x7 pastel

Here is snow painting #3. For this one I experimented with adding falling snow. I won't show you my secrets until after the workshop! Actually the snow doesn't show up well in this photo but in real life the snow is like little jewels due to the crystal -like pastel bits. I have so many more ideas I want to try but not enough time to do them all!

The Berghoff, Chicago Painting

I took a photo of the historic Berhoff Restaurant in Chicago this past August when we were bringing our son Corey to school. (he goes to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago) I love the city at night...especially the early evening when the lights come on but the sky still has some color. I've asked Corey to take some more night photos for me to paint. He lives right on State Street so there is plenty of opportunities for him!

This painting is 7x5 pastel.

Low Country Dunes

'A Break in the Storm' 4x6 pastel

Jayne, Holly and I are having our 2nd annual Open Studio Art Sale on Saturday December 6th and I am busy getting paintings framed and ready. I came across a few 4x6 frames and not having anything to fit in them I decided to paint some new 4x6 paintings. I painted this beach scene and a sunflower. They both look nice in their new frames! I will be sharing information about the sale this weekend and if you are in the Atlanta area I'd love to have you come by my studio on December 6th!

Poppy Field in North Carolina

'Poppy Hill' 7x5 pastel

Today's painting is a return to summer and the wonderful wildflowers that were blooming in the median on Highway 64. In this stretch of median there were red poppies and some pretty patches of yellow flowers. In the next median there were daisies. I have never seen so many daisies in one place! I will be painting them too.

Winter Creek

'Winter Creek 1' 5x7 pastel

I am experimenting with winter scenes. This one is on Wallis Belgium mist paper. I blocked in all the darks first then some blues under the snow in shadow. I then used fixative to lock in the darker colors and give an icy texture to the snow. I used pale yellow and peach for the sunlit snow. I didn't use white at all. Trying to capture the feeling of cold which works for me on this cold day in Georgia!

Winter Light

I still have more Autumn paintings to post but here is a change of pace for today.....a winter scene. I need to find the photos I took a fewyears ago on a visit to the Southwest. We had had snow at Bryce Canyon and got snowed in at the Grand Canyon. I got some great snow photos on the trip! This painting is 8x10. I will be experimenting with different ways to paint snow in the landscape. This is just soft pastel on UArt paper with no underpainting.

Cat in the Sun

'Cat in the Sun' 5x7 pastel

As I was setting up for my workshop Saturday, my cat Jazzpurr made himself comfortable on the back of the big easy chair in my studio. The sun was in and out all day but came out briefly while Jazz was lounging. I managed to get a few photos while the sun was out. I knew I wanted to paint him. This is typical 'Jazz' ...mellow and relaxed.

Yellow Tree

No Time to paint today....family functions and shopping. I will get back to the easel tomorrow. I have a great idea for a new series but I have to get out at the right time of day for the reference photos. Hopefully I can try my ideas later this week. Here is another one of my Autumn trees...this time a yellow tree! It is 5x7 on Wallis paper. Oh and I just got a new guitar. I used to play when I was in middle school and I was surprised that I remembered a few chords....it will interesting but a fun diversion to learn how to play again!

Three Red Trees

'Just the Three of Us' 8x10 pastel

I loved how these three small trees stood alone on the hill. They seemed very poetic somehow. I have many more tree paintings to share but now I will be shifting gears soon to paint some winter scenes.

Today's Workshop on Painting Autumn

We had a great time at today's workshop. Here is a photo of some of my paintings and information I put together. I like to begin each class with a lesson/lecture and demo and today we talked about how to paint the illusion of light on a subject. We learned tricks to get fall foliage to look as bright and intense as it does in real life. We had fun learning and painting and everyone did a wonderful job. I'm looking forward to December's workshop on winter color.

My Autumn Palette

I have been painting a lot of Autumn scenes lately inspired by the beautiful fall we've been having. This is the selection of pastels I have been using for most of the Autumn scenes I've posted. I put them together to do the demos for today's mini workshop on painting the colors of Autumn. They are a mixture of Terry Ludwig and Great American pastels, my two favorites.

Painting the Autumn Landscape

'A Peek of Red' 8x10 pastel

Tomorrow I am teaching a mini workshop on painting the colors of Autumn and I am looking forward to a fun day of art. Our fall colors have been great this year and just last week we took a drive to the mountains and I came home with 350 photos! I have lots to share with my students and will report back on the workshop later this weekend.

Check out the post below for more information about my Daily Painting Sale which is on until November 30th.

Daily Painting Small Works Sale

It's time to make room in my studio for new work so I am offering a selection of my daily pastel paintings from 2008 at a discounted price. It is my wish that my work be displayed and enjoyed by others. Treat yourself or your friends and family to the gift of original art this year. All paintings are 5x7 unframed pastels and will be shipped to you securely packaged. Paintings are priced at $40 each or 2 for $70. Shipping is a flat rate of $5 in US or $10 international.

For a closer look at the available work take a look at my web album. Email me at kemstudios@yahoo.com with any questions or to make a purchase. I accept Paypal or checks. Sale ends November 30.

Caribbean Plein Air Painting

'View From the Lounge Chair' 5x7 pastel

I came across this little painting I did on my cruise last January. I had packed a small pastel kit and painted from the lounger while drinking banana daiquiris! Now that is plein air painting at it's best! My husband and I will be cruising again this January. The deals are very good right now. I have to perfect my plein air kit though for this trip. I want to pare down my supplies even more.

Late October Marsh

'Late October Marsh' 8x10 pastel

Keeping in the Autumn mood, today's painting is a marsh scene in late October colors. I never tire of painting the many moods of a marsh/wetlands. Tonight in class Jayne and I are presenting a trip report from our recent Fall Adventure. It should be a fun class.

San Sano, Tuscany Commission

'Flowered Alley of San Sano' 11x14 pastel

One of the great things about doing a commission is to get a chance to meet my collectors. It is gratifying to paint something that has meaning for someone else and to hear their stories. I have been to Italy but not to San Sano. It looks like a place I'd love to visit some day.

News to Share

New Gallery Representation!
I am very pleased to announce that I am now represented by Inspirosity in Beaver Pennsylvannia. Check out their website or stop by if you are in the Pittsburgh area! I am looking forward to working with them.

Dick Blick Ad
My painting 'Wildwood Nights' was chosen to illustrate the ad for Nupastels in the Dick Blick Fall catalog. I haven't seen the actual copy yet but I am very pleased to have them notice my work.

Appalachian Pastel Society Workshop
I have been asked to offer a presentation and workshop on painting the winter landscape for the Appalachian Pastel Society. It will be held in January and I will announce more information as it becomes available. I am working on my plans to make this a fun and informative workshop.

Distant Lights...Night Scene aceo

I am having fun with painting night scenes and even more fun is noticing the night sky now. There is more to it then I ever imagined! This is an ACEO sized painting measuring 3.5 x 2.5 inches. The Terry Ludwig Darks are great for painting the night sky!

The Aspen Grove

'The Aspen Grove' 16x20 pastel

I wish aspens grew here in North Georgia. They are my favorite trees and I have painted them in every season. After painting several small trees I thought it would be fun to go larger. For this painting I wasn't completely pleased with my first attempt. The trees were just too warm looking for this overcast day. So out came my can of fixative and I sprayed the trees and came back over them with more pastel. I like the texture I was able to get from the fixative.

If you live in the Atlanta area, mark your calendars for our second annual Open Studio Sale. It will be held this year at my studio on Saturday December 6th. My friends and I will have original art in all sizes, subjects and price ranges. Original art makes a great gift for friends and family!

Red Tree on the Hill

'Red Tree on the Hill' 4x6 pastel

Sometimes you get lucky and get a cool shot from the car. You never know what you might get as the car speeds down the highway. Here is another in my Highway Trees series. We are taking a drive this Sunday up to the mountains so I hope to get more photos. I am working on my plans for a mini workshop on November 15th on painting the colors of Autumn so I have been in the mood for fall colors!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $45 USD
Or, send me an email

Highway Trees

'Highway Trees I & II' 5x7 pastel

I had one of those days when nothing seemed to be working. I was in the mood to paint some Fall trees and chose a photo I took of trees on a hillside I saw on a recent road trip. I just wasn't happy with my results. The trees were just too fussy looking. I put it aside and decided to paint a mini with the pastels I had used for the painting. Well I liked the way the little painting came out...loose and fun. So I went back to my bigger painting and wiped out and repainted the trees. I liked them better but still something was bothering me. It was the composition now. I really had two paintings. So I cut them into two 5x7's and called it a day! Whew!

Koi Pastel Painting ACEO

'Cape Koi' 2.5 x 3.5 pastel

I have always wanted to paint some Koi but never had a reference photo. I finally came across a koi pond in my travels and so here is my first little koi painting. This is a mini sized just 2.5 x 3.5. I definitely want to try it larger!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $39 USD
Or, send me an email

Amazon Parrot...Tribute to Barbara

Today the Daily Painter's are painting in memory of one our collectors who recently passed away. She was an avid collector of our work and we all will miss sharing with her. She enjoyed collecting my birds and dragonflies but her favorite was the painting she commissioned of her amazon parrots. Here is another Amazon in Barbara's memory. This one is 5x7 pastel on LaCarte card.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $95 USD
Or, send me an email

Marsh Sunset

'Marsh Sunset' 10x20 pastel

We started our hike just before sundown. We hoped to get through the woods to the viewing platform at the marsh edge in time for sunset. We made it just in time to see the sun sink below the horizon. It was cold and very clear and we could easily see the colors of the rainbow in the sunset....red, orange, yellow then green, blue indigo and violet. It was truly a magical sight!

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $165 USD
Or, send me an email

Seagull Painting

'Waiting for the Ship to Come in' 11x14 pastel

Today in class we talked about using color in our paintings and I thought it would be fun to demonstrate my technique by painting a bird. This seagull is my demo painting. I love to watch seagulls and they are so much fun to paint! I showed my students how to get interesting colors by layering and keeping the values in the darks, mid tones and light areas the same. We had fun painting birds and everyone had a nice painting at the end of class.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $175 USD
Or, send me an email

Autumn Grasses

'Autumn Grasses' 11x14 pastel

I enjoyed painting these muted colors in this field. It was late afternoon and the pinks and golds were a nice soft color and the distant trees were a mellow purple with touches of gold.

Buy this painting on PayPal
Price: $175 USD
Or, send me an email