Sunday, November 30, 2008

Meadow Flowers in Fading Light

9 x12 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
This week has been nuts...between all the Thanksgiving travel and being sick! As soon as I returned from my trip I was back in the studio. Happy again.
Since it was night I decided to finish working on this field painting. The rainy/foggy weather certainly set the mood today. This is a painting done from the many field paintings I did on Whidbey Island this summer. That daisy field was like a drug to me.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Tag!

This week I had the honor of being tagged by a gifted artist, Melinda, whose blog site inspires me and many other working artists. It really is great to be part of the artist/blogger community. At any time of day or night you can find inspiration and camaraderie in the thoughts and works of fellow artists. It is truly a banquet of food for the soul.

These are the rules for being tagged.

You need to:
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you. Check out my tagger Melinda's blog.
http://melinda-momentsofclarity.blogspot.com
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag up to 7 other bloggers at the end of your post and comment
on their blogs to let them know.

Here are some truths about me that some may find unusual:
1. Me and my artist friend, Barbara, were once treed by a pack of peccaries (wild boars) in Costa Rica. We were hiking to our painting site in the jungles when low and behold the stink of peccaries was surrounding us. In the next moment they were racing towards us. We dropped everything and climbed the nearest trees, in which we sat for over an hour!
2. I broke my first bone at age two when my sister decided the red high chair really was meant for one occupant. Guess who had to go?
3. I am addicted. Addicted to Starbucks soy chai. I am trying desperately to kick the habit but no luck yet. Any ideas?
4. My brother and I inspired each other to new heights. One time I convinced him to go sledding off "the rock." The rock was a very tall (about 30 ft. vertical drop) rock near our home . We had to stop when Mom noticed the bumps and holes in our flying saucers and wanted to know why?
5. My best friend in the world, Leah, moved back to Nova Scotia. I still miss her and think about her daily. Secretly I hope she will return.(or maybe that's not such a secret)
6. I love cats. Every time I see one I get all soft inside.
7. As a child I spoke with a Swedish accent and called myself Lulu Belle. Now where did that come from?

The inspirational artist/bloggers I am going to tag:
1. Karen, a talented painter, in the impressionistic style http://www.karensblog.com/
2. Brenda, a very accomplished pastel painter. http://brendaboylan.blogspot.com/
3. Gretchen,a versatile, amazing figurative painter, http://www.gretchenkellyart.blgspot.com
4. Takeyce, fantastic landscape (oil) painter, http://www.takeyceart.com/blog/
5. Elizabeth, a talented painter from Maine who uses the square as her format, http:paintsquared.com/
6. Heidi, an oil painter who uses thick luscious paint, http//hmalott.blogspot.com/
For quick links see my side bar with these artists plus many other talented artists' web and blogsites (I must confess I do not know how to embed links into text. :-)
If you have been tagged already I apologize. The game of tag keeps it going round...you're it now!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Giving Thanks

8x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
The river was still and much warmer today. Nice. Found a new spot...... then I struggled with this one. Later, back in the studio I realized that I had strayed and forgotten the "mother color."

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. What a beautiful world in which we live!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Golden Wind

10 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $200.
The golden light from the east winds matched the whipping winds from the west. Still, the painting time was mighty fine!
I love the square.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Orange- Dipped Sunrise

about18 x28 pastel on marble dust board
This particular painting has been in my studio since its inception in January. It was begun from a study of the mountainside on a particular January day in Canaan Valley, West Virgina. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't see it. I was stuck. This week when I cleaned my studio and it kept staring at me. It's as if it knew I was ready to send it to the great pastel burial place in the sky. Then it came to me! Today the ideas flowed through me. It's almost done now. Just a little more thought needed. It comes back to that saying by Gauguin..... "I close my eyes in order to see."

Critique

Recently, after going through my 342 plus small paintings, I have determined a few things. (Things I have been taught for many years, but now truly understand.)
First, the age old idea of having a dominant color in your painting really matters. It brings unity. Second, you need a small center of interest and 2 minor supporting cast members. It makes the trail that tells your eye where to go. Third, simultaneous contrast- the surrounding colors determine what color you need.( i.e. nothing in isolation) Fourth, the Munsell color system is the one upon which I rely. And last, doing a full critique/ overview is a very good thing. :-)

Monday, November 24, 2008

Rose Colored Lace

6 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax/ship
Cold, yes, even the water in my cup kept refreezing and then I noticed that I was pushing around ice crystals on the paper!
I am always infatuated with this little piece of land. I love the small trees that have the wispy, white trunk and branches, especially the way they create a kind of rose colored lace as they reach over the water.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Golden Glass/ November

10 x 10 pastel on watercolor on Uart paper, for sale at open studio
19 degrees this morning so I decided to wait until the mercury reached a balmy 40. River Bend Park was beautiful (as always). The light was low and golden with a hint of melon and the water was glassy.
The tricks to painting in the cold: long johns, car heater nearby, thermos of hot chai, and many layers of clothing. I wonder how long I can last outdoors this year ...I don't want to stop, no matter how cold I get! It seems like the light only gets better as the days get colder! Anyone want to venture a guess as to when I'll have to retire to the studio?

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Quiet and Still, Winter at Sycamore Island

about 8x 12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
The beauty of Sycamore Island is really something else. In the early morning light, the quiet and stillness is exceptionally strong.. Three mallards swam by as I painted. You can see their small light gliding streaks in the land's reflection (left). Winter has the most gorgeous subtle colors.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Possibility of Snow

about 8 x10 pastel on watercolor on Uart paper $150.
Today is the coldest so far. I was happy to be close to my car so that I could warm my frozen, achy fingers. The light was spectacular, well worth any small discomfort.
My friends, the guards, introduced me to the deputy of the Washington Aqueduct/ the reservoir. Her name is Patty and she offered to take me around the reservoir (which is behind barbed wire fencing) and allow me to paint in new areas. Now, how cool is THAT!!??! I am so excited!
On another note, my new car, the Honda Fit, is at the dealer -ready. I will pick it up tomorrow. WOW!
Let it snow! It's good for the landscape!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Waiting for Summer

about 10 x10, pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $200
I was so excited to be going to Sycamore Island that I woke up at 4:oo am! Today I headed to the same side of the island and quickly set up my easel in the winter-like chill. (38 degrees) The little raft out in the middle of the still river caught my attention. How lonely and melancholy it appeared! . Yet there is always still hope for next summer. I tried to show those two, somewhat conflicted, feelings in this painting.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Autumn's Mirror

about 8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
This is another of those "illegal spares" that I saved from my last magical trip to Sycamore Island. I have been spending an enormous amount of time preparing for the open studio. I had no idea how long it would take to mount 75 plus paintings (I am at 82 now.)
Tomorrow, in the below freezing temperatures, I will venture another trip to Sycamore Island. I can't wait. I am trying new methods for keeping my fingers warm and nimble. Unlike oil painters, pastelists can't wear full coverage gloves. I wear halfzies and my fingers can quickly become frozen. More on the solutions later.
Today I received notification that all three of my paintings made it into a show at the Ratner Museum. Hooray!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Open Studio

Today I am working in the studio. I needed to spend time mounting the paintings I will be selling at my open studio. It's funny how I have just had piles of these small paintings filling my shelves. I guess when you create at least one (sometimes two or three paintings a day) they can really add up. I had forgotten about so many of them. What a nice surprise: it's like seeing old friends! I am purging the ones I deem unworthy (the dogs) so only the best will be at my open studio.
I have sent email invites, if you did not receive one please let me know. Snail mail invites are being printed right now. If you would like a hard copy please let me know that as well. Hugs to all my readers!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Late November Beauty

9 x10.5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax/ship
The beauty of early winter is phenomenal. It sure makes it worth freezing my fingers. One good thing to say about freezing is it makes me respond quickly to the color and light without over-thinking.
Thank you to my friends the reservoir guards who look after me each day I am out on the hill painting their treasure.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Silver Song of Many Coots

10x10 pastel on acrylic and watercolor $100. plus tax/shipping
I deleted yesterday's post because I didn't even want to look at it. Then I spent most of the rest of the day and night preparing for my upcoming open studio.
Today I was out at Riverbend and in just one day the landscape has changed tremendously. It is winter. The light is silver and the gold understory has blown away. I met a couple and we shared the moment of watching about 125 coots. The birds seemed to be resting and fueling up as they continue their migration south. I struggled to paint this new light. How do you make a silvery light...without using silver? (and with cold hands?)
As a sideline, I looked up coot in the dictionary and it has two definitions. It's either an aquatic bird (which these were) or an old unreasonable stubborn person. How did they get those two very different definitions? Go figure!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Pea Soup in November

8.5 x11 (I think) pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $200.00 plus tax and shipping
I must admit I get all excited when I see fog outside. I can't wait to paint! Today the fog was so thick it was as if it was raining. Due to the nature of pastels I painted from inside my car (en plein car). The light key of a fog painting like this is really high...but if you go to a one or two you can't get interesting color (in my opinion). So I tend to pick it up a notch..if you know what I mean. Someone might have described the landscape as white. So what is the color of white?
Don't you just love how this reservoir changes each day!!!!!?!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Towards Swain's Lock

8.5 x 11 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping SOLD

The other day I was at the canal. I had completed the watercolor portion of my painting, but didn't have the time to do the juicy part, the pastel. Today I finished that in the studio.

Meanwhile I continue to work on the fog painting.
When working on a studio piece, now is the time I let the painting sit in my living room, pass it many times during the day till I now what to do. This is one of the reasons I no longer rent studio space. Lucky for me and thankfully to my amazing husband, Paul, I have the large master bedroom, with north light for my studio. :-)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Fog /painting in the works

big one, studio piece in the works, not for sale yet
I have been studying the master of light, Claude Monet. It is amazing to see how many colors he used to create visual blending into a different much richer color. I am trying to learn from him while keeping in mind I need a dominant color, rather than the amazing variety one sees when you look at the landscape.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

November Morning

9x11ishpastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.00 plus tax and shipping
Each day the reservoir is a completely different place. I am so excited to turn the corner and see what new treasure is on display.
Last night I lined up a number of my reservoir paintings to compare the light and color. The progression from September 14 to October 7 to today so cool. Check it out in my back pages. I can't wait to see it in snow!!!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Topaz Serenity

20x20 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper contact me for price
As soon as I finished Wednesday's small painting I went directly to the studio to expand the idea into a big piece. The mood was so much a part of me. I could see the painting in everything I did. Today I finished in the studio. Ahhhhhhhhhh. Sometimes it works. (Sometimes it doesn't.)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

The Fog comes in on Little (pink) Cat Feet

9 x12 ish pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping
I painted this one on Sycamore Island and finished it today (in the studio). The light was so magnificent that day that I greedily tried to get it all. Therefore I started 3 paintings, two of which needed work in the studio. As long as the color masses are accurate the painting can be completed elsewhere.
I will be having an open studio during the first weekend in December. At least 75 of these small gems will be for sale then. More later!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Quiet Light, Bronze Beauty

about 8x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $200. plus tax and shipping
Subdued light helps make the most interesting neutrals that are rich in color. Early this morning I ran out to the reservoir, my haunt. I wanted to catch the light as the rain began to stop. Autumn is spectacular isn't it?

Friday, November 7, 2008

Silent Song

about 7x10 pastel on wallis board $150. plus tax and shipping
This morning was a blessing. Thanks to Joe H. I was allowed to go out to Sycamore Island and paint. Magical would be the only word to truly describe it. Painting there was like being intoxicated by light and color. Wow! What a way to go! Thanks Joe!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Autumn Water

21 x21 watercolor on Uart paper NFS, yet
I'll start by saying that I am not a watercolorist......but I often use watercolor to underpaint. It's rare that I look at the underpainting and feel it is a painting before I continue with pastel (the creme de la creme). This is one. It is a studio piece done from my many small paintings.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Bronze, Gold and Plum Reflection

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping
The reservoir gets more beautiful by the minute. Autumn colors are at their peak: bronze, gold, orange, and plum. As I painted this morning I couldn't help but watch the young buck that was pacing inside the reservoir fence. I am not sure how he slipped in, but my friend the guard said she was certain he would be able to find his way out.

Since the light was so cool I underpainted in warm colors. I like the way the two extremes play off each other. I am beginning to think that I like overcast days the best.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Early November at Riverbend

about 7x11 pastel and watercolor on uart paper $100. Sold
This is another try at the same Riverbend/Potomac river scene I painted on Sunday. I changed to format and realized that I think I prefer the square.
Remember to vote... it's important!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Kingfisher's Haven

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping Sold
The quiet was only broken by the call of the kingfisher as he flew by, low to the water.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Calm Water, Autumn Light

about 9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.00 plus tax and shipping
The square format normally has tension: it's not a horizontal or a vertical. So what happens when you paint the calmest, most tranquil landscape you can on it? Hmmmmm. I love the square!
.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

High Noon at Sky Meadow

about 7x7 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping
Today I took a trip out to the mountains. Funny, new place, but the same things still call to me: fields and rivers. This park, Sky Meadows is a treasure. Located near Paris, Virginia, it's not anywhere as crowded as the Shenandoah National Park at"leaf peeper" time (now).
I painted at high noon, therefore the light key is very high. I wonder if it would have helped to simply lower the key in the entire painting. Next time.