How to Store Finished Plein Air Pastel Paintings

'Along the Salt River'             8x10            pastel            ©Karen Margulis
sold

Pastels are perfect for Plein air painting. They are portable. Set up and clean up is a breeze. No need to worry about carrying odorless mineral spirits or dealing with wet paintings. It's just about perfect.  There is one concern....What do you do with finished pastel paintings in the field? They may not be wet but they still need to be protected against smudging.

I tired a new idea on my Arizona Paintout and I am very pleased with the results. For this trip I used  2 Art Profolio books. One was 5x7 and one was 8x10. They worked perfectly!

Storing Finished Plein Air Pastels

• Thin and Lightweight:  These portfolios are thin and compact. They have polypropylene covers and non-glare top loading pockets. The size makes them easy to slip into a backpack or bag. 

• Quality: They have heavy duty sleeves with black acid free insert papers. The cover is slick and durable.

• Fill with paper: I loaded my pages with an assortment of pastel papers in each insert. This gave me a protected place to hold the paper I would need. When I finished a painting I slipped it into an empty sleeve and removed a clean piece of paper for the next painting....efficient!

• Share your work: Since the finished pastels are protected in the clear sleeves it is easy to allow onlookers to look through your finished work without damage. Other storage solutions I have tried did not allow me to easily share my finished paintings. 

• Protection:  The clear sleeves provides great protection and it is easy to slip paintings in and out of the sleeves when needed. I did find that a bit of pastel dust would be left on the sleeve but it didn't effect the painting and it is easy to wipe the inside of the sleeve with a paper towel if needed. 

'Palo Verde in Bloom'         8x10          pastel  $95  click here

My plein air work from the Arizona Trip

These profolio books are very reasonable. I got mine through Amazon.com. Click here. I used one for 8x10 paintings and one for 5x7 paintings. Both books, fully loaded slipped easily into my back pack.

Painting Arizona ....reflections on a magical trip

'Canyons Calling'. 5x7. Pastel

I painted with wild abandon. That was my goal for this trip. On the first day we discussed what our goals were for our paintings. The answers ranged from stepping outside of the box, trying new techniques, beginning again. It was good to start with a goal.

My goal was to paint just for me. To show up at the easel and just have fun. It was a chance to play. I wanted to simply respond to the scene and see what happened. My secondary goal was to treat the paintings as studies....notes for future work. So I painted quickly and ended up with about 35 small studies. I felt like a student furiously taking notes!

Painting at Bulldog Canyon. I am on the left

Was I successful in meeting my goals? I think I was. I painted with my heart. I was completely relaxed and in the moment when I painted. At each session I found that I started out a bit conservative but with each painting I became more playful. Not every painting was successful but I enjoyed the process. The two paintings in this post were done on our last Plein air day. I can't wait to get down to my studio and see what comes of my experience!

'Blue Canyon'          5x7          pastel

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Painting Arizona...and rescuing baby quail

'Daddy Quail'. 4x4. Pastel

This trip was about more than painting. Much more. I was expecting that. We talked about art. We talked about family. We walked and watched he night sky. We ate wonderful food...too much food. We laughed. We cried. We laughed until we cried. But we never expected we would play a part in saving a life. Let me share the story of the baby quail

'Quail Babies in the Sun'. 4x4. Pastel

I was excited to see the quail running around Denise's backyard when we arrived. I have such fond memories of the quail family that visited us last summer in Sedona. I was looking forward to getting some good photos during the week.

Like clockwork the quails visited the yard early morning and late afternoon. It was always fun to watch them scurry about. Yesterday they surprised us. Momma and Daddy quail arrived on schedule this time with two tiny newly hatched babies in tow. They were about the size of golf ball and colored with stripes so they blended perfectly with the rocks. We could hear them peep but could barely see them.

That evening we decided to eat our dinner out in the back yard. It was a beautiful evening. We had just begun eating when we heard a persistent peeping. We joked that momma quail couldn't keep her babies quiet. But the peeping started sounding frantic. Concerned, we got up from the table to see where the peeps were coming from. We were shocked to discover the baby quails in the yard......but no sign of the parents. No wonder the babies were frantic!

We couldn't leave them out in the yard overnight especially with the neighborhood cat roaming around. We decided to take them inside and keep them warm until the morning when we could hopefully reunite them with the parents. But how to keep the safe overnight?

The Nest! That would work! I had found this big beautiful nest on one of our walks. It would serve a purpose. In the morning the babies were in the nest but they were weak. It was early and too cold to put them outside. Marsha and Wanda held them under a spot light to warm them. We gave them water and tried to getting them to eat. They soon began to respond and peep. Just what was needed! It was time to take them outside.

 

What happened next was something special. I will never forget it. The peeps of the babies attracted the attention of mamma and daddy quail. The flew up on the wall and called out to the babies. It was time to release them. Very quickly the parents found the babies. It felt like a scene out of a movie as the baby ran to the momma. Both parents quickly herded the babies into the corner of the yard in the sun. Then they took the babies under their wings. The family was reunited.

It was an amazing experience and this has been an amazing trip. More to come,

 

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Painting Arizona....The Sunset Paintings

'Beauty is Everywhere'. 5x7. Pastel

There's nothing like a good dust storm to make the sunset interesting. But it didn't really happen much to the disappointment of the channel 12 news crew. We decided to try to paint the sunset on Friday. So we picked a spot overlooking the big hayfields of the reservation. We arrived early to get set up and passed the channel 12 news van. We were planning on driving further but decided to park near the van joking that we would be in the news.

Here we are all set up. The sky wasn't looking very exciting. We were afraid that sunset might be a dud. After awhile one of the news crew walked over to see what we were doing. We explained that we were Plein air painters and that we were there to paint the sunset. He shared that the crew was there to do a news segment on dust storms....but that there was no dust that evening. We told him to do a story about the Plein air painters......he said they just might and walked away.

Meanwhile we painted away. My goal was to try to quickly capture the changing sky as the sun set. I worked furiously and managed to paint 8 studies in the hour we were there. The sunset was not spectacular. It was a bit dull but with the distant purple mountains it was still very beautiful.

As the sun sank behind the mountain the distant city lights began to twinkle. It was magical. No dust and no fiery sunset but instead a subtle and gentle beauty. We were surprised when the news guy walked back over to us and asked to snap a photo. He said he referenced us in the evening news and needed our picture. A fun way to end the day!

 

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Painting Arizona Day 2 ...Cactus Heaven!

 

I'm in Cactus Heaven! I love the desert landscape and we have been painting in some pretty awesome locations. On day 2 we got moving early and headed to Superstition Mountain. We set up at Lost Dutchman State Park. I made the picnic pavilion home base and had plenty of painting options in the comfort of the shade. I painted 6 small studies including this Saguaro Cactus.

Here is my pastel set up. The Gogh Box is working great. And I love the extension trays I rigged. My wipe pouch is fantastic! This set up makes Plein air so enjoyable.

After a delicious burger at the Lost Dutchman Mining Company we stopped at Goldfield Mining Ghost Town. We were thinking it might be interesting to paint but we ran out of time. It was the perfect spot to get up close and personal to some huge saguaros. I took some photos. I love my camera! Here is my favorite shot. This bird is taking off after a drink from the flower.

Tonight we will be painting the sunset!

 

 

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Painting Arizona 2014...Day 1

'Canyon Color'. 5x7. Plein air pastel.

It's a tough job but someone has to do it! Our Plein air adventure is off to a fantastic start. We arrived in Phoenix yesterday to a warm sunny day. After lunch at the Heard Museum we toured the Phoenix Art Museum to get an inspiration fix. Early to bed so we could be ready for our painting day.

It was a full day that was perfect despite the dead battery in a remote canyon. AAA to the rescue and we were on our way. The extra time in Bulldog Canyon was fine with me. It was a gorgeous spot full of Saguaro Cacti. I had never seen them outside of a botanical garden so it was thrilling to see them in bloom!

I'm in love with colors and textures in the desert. The Palo Verde trees are in bloom and if you look closely there are all kinds of desert shrubs in bloom. I was drawn to this little shrub covered in tiny white flowers.

I am looking forward to another ful day tomorrow!!

 

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I'm on the Cover of Pastel Journal!

My Painting 'Summer Reprise' on the cover of the May/June Issue of Pastel Journal

 I have to pinch myself to make sure it is real!  I was thrilled to get the news that my painting was chosen for the cover of the May/June issue of Pastel Journal.  It was icing on the cake.  I was already excited to have my wildflower paintings featured in an article and now the cover!  I can't wait to get my magazine in the mail!

I discovered a passion for painting the often overlooked 'weeds' as my husband calls them.  It is a subject that I am drawn to no matter where I am.  I always paint the 'big' view then settle down to find the wildflowers.  They speak to me.  I hope that you enjoy reading the article. If you don't get Pastel Journal (put it on your list!) you can purchase the issue here.

a peek at the article

 To celebrate the cover and article I have listed a new group of my wildflower paintings in my Etsy Shop.  I would like to offer my blog readers and collectors a 10% savings on any wildflower painting. Visit my Etsy shop here and use coupon code PJW 10

If you would like to see my process for painting wildflowers consider my pdf demo How to Paint Daisies. Click here for more information.

'Down in the Meadow'     9x12       pastel        $165 click here to purchase

'Into the Lace'         8x10      pastel   click here to purchase $145

I am honored to be asked to present two programs at IAPS 2015 June in Albuquerque. I will be doing a demo on How to Paint Wildflowers and a seminar on Art Blogging. Make plans to come to this fantastic convention!

The Secret to Painting Wildflowers

'A Special Place'         8x10          pastel  on textured board         ©Karen Margulis
available for purchase $145

What is the secret?  I admit that I don't have all the answers but I do know what has worked for me. The secret for painting wildflowers for me is that I paint them often and with passion.  Paint what you love. Paint your truth. I have heard this advice many times.  I've blogged about it recently. Figure out what it is you are drawn to. What makes your heart race? What compels you to capture it on canvas or paper? 

As much as I love painting landscapes and wide open spaces, I always return to the wildflower. Queen Anne's Lace is probably my favorite.  When I see them bobbing by the roadside my heart sings. When I paint them I try to paint them with the same excitement and passion. If you can paint something with passion and love than this will show in your work. Enjoy today's pictorial step by step demo and the tips I share for painting with passion. (be sure to click on the photo to see them larger)

My secret for painting any subject well:

• Paint what you love. Sure, you need to stretch and paint other things to help you learn and grow as an artist. But always make time to return to your favorite subjects.
• Paint what you know....or really get to know your favorite subject. Study it and paint it over and over. I can't tell you how many variations on this same field of Queen Anne's Lace I have painted. I vary the technique,color palette, composition....and with each painting I get to know the flower even better. I never tire of painting them because they move me
• Plan and then paint with Passion!  When I paint a field of Queen Anne's Lace I start with a plan so  that when I paint I can paint with passion and just intuitively respond to my painting. I don't want anything to slow me down like choosing colors and making composition decisions. 

What subject makes your heart sing?  How many times have you painted it? The more you paint it, the more you will make it your own and your own unique style will emerge. I think I will go paint some more Queen Anne's Lace!

Taking Time to Cut Paper...The Key to Being a Better Artist

'Searching for Beauty'            5x7       plein air pastel         ©Karen Margulis
available for purchase $50

 The desert is calling me.  I must listen and go.  It is time to cut paper.  If I want to be the best artist possible I need to put everything aside and travel. It is my paper cutting time.  I have been reading similar advice lately and a recent article by Jack White on sharpening one's axe really resonated with me.  The article was about the importance of taking time out to smell the roses or do whatever you need to to recharge...or sharpen your axe.  If you are constantly working without a break, you may get a lot done but the axe will be dull. How much easier it would be with a sharper axe. (read Jack White's post here)

So for me I remind myself to take a break every once in awhile and just cut paper or go for a walk, throw the ball to Heidi....little things to get up from the easel or computer.  Every once in awhile I need a bit more....a change of scenery. I need to travel. New sights, smells, sounds....something to refresh my spirit.  I may paint like a madwoman on a trip but it is different. It is all new.

I am fortunate to have many special artist friends. They love to travel as much as I do. I will be visiting one such friend in Arizona along with two other artist friends. I can't wait.  We will be doing a lot of axe sharpening and paper cutting!

My Southwest Inspiration Book

 I made a little inspiration book for the trip. I have pasted in pictures of SW art that inspires me along with some thoughts. There is plenty of room for notes and sketches.  I'll share more about the book after the trip. I do plan on blogging from the road if internet and ipad cooperate.

The Easter I was Famous

'Time for Spring'         6x6       pastel      ©Karen Margulis
available for purchase $45

'Time for Change'          6x6        pastel      $45

A Story from the Archives:  I was 13 years old and on top of the world.  I had just opened up the local newspaper to check on the winners of the egg decorating contest.  The headlines shouted "Sisters tie for 1st Place in egg contest" That would be me!!!  And ........me.  Oops!  You see I couldn't decide which of my egg designs I liked best so I entered both of them with one in my sister's name.  I didn't think either one would win so it was a surprise to read that both tied for first place!  

No my parents didn't know I used my sister's name to enter and of course looking back it wasn't the right thing to do. But at the time it seemed like the best way to enter both of my eggs. Was my sister upset?  No, I shared my prizes with her!  But really the best prize for a 13 year old budding artist was to have my work published in the newspaper!

The contest winners announced!

These days I still like to paint eggs only I put them in nests and use pastels!  Today's nest paintings are done on Strathmore Black Artagain paper and are 6x6.

I have three more nest paintings on auction at DailyPaintworks.com ending soon! See them here 

A Useful Tip for Packing Plein Air Gear

'Afternoon at the Pond'              8x10           pastel          ©Karen Margulis
sold

It's a work in progress.  My plein air set up undergoes adjustments every time I use it. I am always trying to come up with ways to streamline and manage my supplies.  I have already downsized my pastels by switching to the Gogh Box. This box is great but like any box or easel you choose you are still bound to have a lot of extra little things.  Things that you need!   Clips and rubberbands and tape. Sketchbook, business cards, underpainting supplies, wipes....the list goes on.

I needed a way to keep up with the extra stuff....I found the perfect answer...little stuff sacks.

My Gogh Box set up with my pastels

The box all packed and ready to travel

These little nylon drawstring bags are perfect to corral all of the little things I need. It makes packing my box or backpack easy. Best of all it makes set up quick and easy. Before I discovered these little bags I would have to find a place to keep the little things I needed. I wanted them handy but not in my way. I would have to unload them from the box....but had no where to put them! 

With the stuff sacks, not only is everything contained,  I can even hang the bags from my tripod while I paint so that they are in reach. The photos below show the supplies I am taking.

business cards, sketchbook, microfiber towel,mini bungees and rubber bands 

Bankers clips and bulldog clips needed to set up backing board and attach paper

underpainting supplies and extra rubberbands will stay in my backpack until needed

I will be taking this set up on my painting trip to Arizona next week. Having my supplies organized and contained and not lost in the bottom of my backpack will make painting much more enjoyable!

Today's painting is 8x10 on Multimedia Artboard panel. I began with a drawing with pastel pencil which I sealed with clear gesso. I then did a watercolor underpainting over the dry gesso before adding pastel.