Aspens WIP...Part 3

Here is another installment of my aspens work in progress. I did a bit to the sky but spent the rest of my time building up my tree trunks. I mostly used my Girault pastels to build up many layers of color....purples, greens, peach, yellows, blues. Now I am just starting to put in the dark spots before I will finish with the lightest areas to make theses trees glow. I am debating about the dark spots. On these particular trees, there are a lot of dark areas. Many of them are scars from people carving intials in the trunks. (they are at a busy overlook in Bryce Canyon National Park) I just have to decide how much to put in! And finally I will develop the background trees some more and finish up with the snow.

Aspens ...Part Two

Here is an update on my Aspens in the Snow painting. I've added the first layer of color with my hard pastels which are a mixture of Nupastels and Polychromos. Now if I remember correctly, Albert Handell worked on his focal point bringing it up to almost a finish....then he would know how much more of the painting needed to be developed. So next I will start with my soft pastels and work on the tree trunks. I want them to be the most detailed. I will do more to the background trees and snow but not too much....or at least that's the plan!

Aspens in the Snow...a Work in Progress

I've been wanting to paint this scene for a long time. It's from a photo I took in Bryce Canyon National Park on a cold day in January. It had snowed the night before but the sky was starting to clear. The peeks of sun caused the tree trunks to cast the most wonderful shadows. This painting is 16x20 on white Wallis paper. I started by sketching in the main features with pencil. Then I did a watercolor wash...an Albert Handell approach. I'll see if I can continue with that approach as I will go in next with my harder pastels. Not sure how much I'll get to today but I'll post an update as soon as I can.

Painting Aspens in the Fall

I made some adjustments to this painting. Some of my fellow artists over at Wet Canvas suggested that the leaves needed to have that golden glow of aspens in the fall as well as hinting at their distinctive shape. The photo I was working from was taken before peak so it was much greener. Which version do you prefer??

Daily Pastel Painting...Fall in Colorado

'In the Aspen Grove' 8x10 pastel

I have an idea for a new series that I'd like to hang up in my new living room. I want to paint some aspen trees in each of the four seasons. Of course we don't have aspen trees here in georgia but they are one of my favorite trees. Here is my first painting in the series...aspens in the fall. The next one will be winter from a photo I took in the winter at Bryce Canyon National park. I plan for that one to be at least 16x20. Hopefully I'll start it tomorrow.

Arches National Park

I have not forgotten about my blog....I have been busy painting...the living room walls that is! We got new furniture last week and of course the walls needed to be painted! I have decided to give this room a southwestern flavor since I have so many SW paintings I want to display...including this one I painted last year. It has meaning for me since it is of my children on one of our trips to Arches National Park. We have another SW trip in the works and I look forward to making the plans. Hopefully I'll be back to the pastels tomorrow!

Daily Pastel Painting....More Sanibel Cottages

'Our Sanibel Retreat' 9x12 pastel

I am enjoying going through my Sanibel pictures from this past summer. I did a plein air version of this same scene but it sold. I wanted one for myself so here it is! This afternoon we head to Buckhead for an overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel. I plan on taking some pictures and ordering room service so I can get more food pictures. It is also time to restock my paper and pastels. I am tepmted to order a cityscape collection of pastels by Alan Flattmann. I really would love to paint some cityscapes and I do plan on taking lots of photos when I go to Chicago in a few weeks.

Daily Pastel Painting...Cape May Beach

'Beach Ride' 12x16 pastel

I have a stack of references photos that I keep in my art bag and bring back and forth to my pastel class. They are a mix of photos from my travels over the past few years...just scenes that appeal to me. Last night I pulled this one out. I believe it is from a trip I took to Cape May a few years back...though it could be any beach town. I find I like to take pictures of bicycles but I don't like to paint them! I don't know if I'll be posting the next couple of days. It depends on how productive I am in the kitchen tonight!

Daily Painting...Sanibel Beach Umbrellas

'Out to Lunch' 9x12 pastel

I call this one Out to Lunch because that's what we were doing! The great thing about staying in a cottage on the beach is how convenient it is. We would set up our chairs and umbrellas in the morning and after a few hours of relaxing, we would head up to the cottage for lunch. This was the scene at mid day after a sandwich and some ice cream....fortified for an afternoon of lounging!

St. Thomas Revisited

I didn't intend to sell this painting. Some are just like that. I actually have stacks of unframed paintings that I am attached to for one reason or another. But my Aunt & Uncle stopped by my studio today to buy some paintings and this is the one they wanted. I'm glad it stays in the family and I will be going to St. Thomas in January so I will be sure to get more reference material. I'm working on another Sanibel beach scene before I tackle the snow painting.

Daily Pastel Painting...Coconut Tree

'Up the Tree' 5x7 pastel

Imagine laying on a lounger relaxing in the sun. You feel a warm tropical breeze and hear it gently rustling the palm fronds above you. The sky is blue and the sun is soothing. You close your eyes and drift off to sleep.....another day in paradise! Wouldn't that be nice! I have to wait until January when we have a caribbean cruise planned but I was in the mood to paint a palm tree tonight. Next on my list is actuallyto paint a snow scene! Stay tuned.

This painting is available for $45. Email me at kemstudios@yahoo.com

'Morning Delight' 5x7 pastel

Here is another addition to my breakfast table series. What a treat to have someone make me some big fluffy pancakes with lots of butter and pure maple syrup with a side of home fries! Next weekend My friend & I are taking our girls to spend the night at the Intercontinental in Buckhead....just for a little getaway. I hope we order room service so I can photograph the food for my breakfast series!

Daily Pastel Painting...Up on Vance Mountain

'Up on Vance Mountain' 5x7 pastel

I just had time for a quick little one today and I was in an Autumn mood. This is a scene from Vance Mountain near Murphy, North Carolina. What an amazing view! It was being developed as a gated community last year so it's probably off limits now.

I have been hard at work on my Squidoo lens about daily painting with pastels. If you are interested in learning more about pastel painting, take a look at my lens! http://www.squidoo.com/karenmargulis

Daily Pastel Painting...Sanibel Island

'Back to Waterside Inn' 9x12 pastel

When we go to Sanibel Island we like to stay at the Waterside Inn on the Beach. It is such a treat to be able to get up early and just walk out to the beach for sunrise. This is a view of one of the cottages as seen from the beach. I took a photo of this scene as the early morning light was hitting the lounge chairs. I love Sanibel!

This painting available unframed $125 kemstudios@yahoo.com

Daily Pastel Painting...Low Country Marsh Sunset

'Another Sunset Surprise' 8x10 pastel

This painting is the second marsh sunset I've painted from my recent trip to South Carolina. I would say that this sunset ranked in my top ten sunsets. It was a combination of the perfect colors and the element of surprise as well as the wonderful company I was sharing this sunset with. I will paint more sunsets from this trip!

This painting is available unframed $95 kemstudios@yahoo.com

Atlanta Artist's Center Show

I just wanted to share a picture of the exhibit I am currently in. There's my painting on the bottom right. There were around 90 works in all mediums...several pastels which were fun to see. Here is a link to the Atlanta Artist's Center's website with the photos of the prize winning paintings. http://www.atlantaartistscenter.org/current_show.htm

Daily Pastel Painting...Painting a Candy Apple

'MMMMMM Sweet' 5x7 pastel

I adore Candy Apples and I haven't eaten one in two years because you just can't get them everywhere. So this year I decided to make my own....without a candy thermometer which is a bad idea! The syrup never got to the right stage and I was impatient. They looked good but they were gooey and the apples were mushy. A disaster! But I figured I could at least paint one so here is my candy apple which looks tastier than it really was!

Where has the year gone?

'Boardwalk Reflections' 5x7 pastel

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No time to paint this weekend so I thought it would be fun to look at last November's paintings. This little guy is still one of my favorites from last year. He was my first seagull painting and I have done several more since...I have ideas for many more too!
Travel news!!!! My friend Cindy & I are taking our daughters to Chicago before Christmas for a girl's weekend. I am so excited because I've never been to Chicago. I can't wait to visit the Art Institute Museum. And we got tickets to see 'Wicked'. I plan on taking lots of pictures because I would love to paint some 'city scenes'.

Daily Pastel Painting...Salt & Pepper

'Just the Two of Us' 5x7 pastel

It was the way the light was coming in the window that inspired me to set up all kinds of things to paint. So my breakfast sat there and got cold while I arranged my coffee cup and the condiments to my liking. I ended up with a lot of photos and this is the second in the series. The more I work on this LaCarte paper the more I like it! Jayne & Holly you have to try some more! This weekend I think I will do some more Gatorboard surfaces. I have another 16x20 piece left. Oh and my husband went to pick up the 2 paintings I submitted to the Atlanta Artist's Center show that didn't make it in the show and they told him my Sunflower people painting was very close to making it...the judge had a tough time but in the end there wasn't enough space. I am very happy with having one make it. There were 300 entires and 85 accepted so I am very pleased!

Daily Pastel Painting...Morning Coffee

'The Morning Ritual' 5x7 pastel

I've been wanting to paint this scene for awhile so today seemed a good day to try. It was a nice break before I tackle something larger. I have a few ideas in my head so we'll see which one prevails.

Daily Paintings...Time for Minis

Today I had time to paint a few mini paintings. These are each just 2.5 x 3.5 inches. They are based in larger paintings that I recently finished. It's fun trying to translate the ideas onto such a small piece of paper! These will be listed in my Ebay store. I need to start something new tomorrow. I'm not happy with the painting I am working on from pastel class. I am using white art spectrum paper and I am not enjoying it very much so I think I'll set it aside for a bit.

Good News!

I just found out that my painting 'Sunny Days' was accepted into the Atlanta Artists Center's juried show 'Synchronicity'. I am looking forward to attending the reception on Saturday and seeing the other work. If you are in the Atlanta area...come check out the exhibit!

Another Sunflower for a Gloomy Day

'Cheers' 4x4 pastel

It's another rainy, gloomy day in Georgia and I only had a small window of time to paint today so here is something cheerful. I could paint sunflowers everyday! I really like this small 4x4 format. It was fun for a quick study. Looking forward to pastel class tonight.

Painting a Great Blue Heron

'Sunrise Sentinel' 9x12 pastel

I had a small window of time to paint today and this Heron called out to be painted. I have another Southwest painting I am getting ready. I will bring it tomorrow to work on in class so stay tuned for that. Fun news...I had my first visitor to my studio purchase a painting today. She bought a sunflower for a wedding gift. Thank you Cindy & Lucy, that was fun!

Daily Pastel Painting...Shell & Bubbles

'Swept Away' 5x7 pastel

Another shell from me today! I like the way the sand turned out in this one. I put down my usual first layer of colors and then I decided to leave it as it was. It's a very 'pastel' pastel painting but that's ok sometimes! Today we went to the Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, Georgia. What an impressive museum! I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and hopefully tomorrow I will find time to paint something 'southwest'! We topped off the morning with a very nice lunch out. It was a great day!

In a Southwest Mood

'El Rancho de las Golondrinas' 12x16 pastel

I was in a bit of a Southwest mood today. Tomorrow Jayne, Holly and I are going to the Booth Museum of Western Art to see an exhibit on New Mexico landscapes. I know once I see the exhibit I will be fired up to try my hand at adobe buildings and SW scenery....but I thought I'd try one before I went just to get me in the frame of mind. Just by chance, A project on Wet Canvas is using this photo of an adobe building just south of Santa Fe....just what I needed! This is my interpretation of the photo.

Daily Pastel Painting...Sea Gull Feather & Shells

'Atlantic Ocean Still Life' 5x7

I love painting these arrangements of shells and beach treasures. It is very relaxing somehow since I tend to paint at a nice slow pace and there is none of the urgency I feel when doing something plein air. I have lots of photos now in my collection. Some are more interesting than others but all of them are just as I found them on the beach...just as nature had left them for me to discover.

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Daily Painting....Painting Clouds

'Sunny Days' 12x16 pastel

I wanted to try painting some clouds. I have added clouds to my paintings here and there but never have they been the focus of the painting. These clouds were so striking against the blue sky so I thought they'd be perfect to paint. I did this on white Wallis paper. I first blocked it in with my hard pastels which I rubbed in with pipe insulation. Then I finished up with the softer pastels working over the whole painting at once. This was fun to paint and I have a few other reference photos from the same scene that I might try.