Under the Influence

6 x6 pastel and frozen watercolor on marble dust board $100.

Once again, under Wolf Kahn's influence I painted my field. Snow makes it all very beautiful out there.

The Secret is Out

about 6 x8.5 pastel on frozen watercolor $100. plus tax
Remember that children's book I spoke about? Twilight Comes Twice. I quote,
"Twice twilight slips through that crack.
It stays only a short time
while night and day
stand whispering secrets
before they go their separate ways. "

I LOVE that!!!!!! This one is after the secret is out.
A good thing about freezing while painting. It forces me to really look, hands still in gloves and then only make that exact mark needed. Paucity of mark, again.

The Crack Between Night and Day

about 9 x12 pastel and acrylic and watercolor on marble dust board/ no price yet

I was reading this beautiful illustrated children's book called Twilight comes Twice. The full quote is "Twice each day a crack opens between night and day. Twice twilight slips through that crack."
I love that quote. It opens a whole new world inside of my head. So this painting captures the very beginning of twilight, that first glow when there is still light. I think I will make more of these at different graduating moments.
How do you make that glow when the light slips through the crack?
I am struggling right now to create that illusive vibration, the glow. To do it I used three or more colors of the same value. Meanwhile I tried to keep color harmony throughout the whole piece. AAARGH! It's a studio piece. That's the time when I fuss and perseverate on one thing.

my saviours

Potomac Gorge, unfinished work about 36 x40 pastel and oil on marble dust board

My saviors are pastels, of course. I have been researching for a pastel for my bigger works. Normally I prefer Giraults, Unisons and Terry Ludwig, but for big works I want to cover more ground faster. I do it first with paint and then the surface eats up my first layer of pastel quickly. I thought maybe La Grande from Sennelier. But my experience with Sennelier is, great color,but crumbly. I love Diane Townsends so I decided to try her terrages. I bought a small collection of neutrals from Dakota Pastel.
SO the jury is in! I love them. I want them all! The terrages work great on my marble dust board. They can keep their line and layer like crazy. Anyone else try them? What do you think?

Today is a very icy day here so I am in the studio all day. I am just hoping the power stays.

The First Snow

7 x 8.5 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board $100. plus tax

I wanted to approach this one differently so I decided to look at Wolf Kahn's work before leaving to do my work. Rather than drive I walked to the field adjacent to my house. It's a public park and the fields are for soccer and baseball. I decided to enhance the natural rather than groomed aspect.

It's our first snow....celebrate!

A Few Flakes

6.5x 10.5 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax
Looking at a much familiar place with new, loving eyes is always my goal. This time I set up the composition differently and later I was aided by the presence of a few lovely flakes falling from the sky. The sky had a grayed shade of pink that seemed to become warmer and oranger as it moved forward.

a post removed/studies glory study

Today I posted a study for my new big painting. Three hours later I removed it. Yuck! Now I feel better. Here are the two sketches, sans the painting. :-]

Glory Be (study)

7 x 8 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board $100. plus tax
This one is from the work I did in the studio today. With my plein air pieces as reference I am in the process of creating a big one.
Today I painted on the marble dust board that I normally choose when working on bigger studio pieces. It accepts the watercolor completely differently. That is why I often underpaint in oil. More studies to come as I make the big decisions.

Geese heading West

9 x10 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper, $100. plus tax
I had visualized the beautiful light and the translucent ice, but what I did not anticipate was the large groups of Canadian geese that kept flying towards me. I tried to add them without taking over the idea. It's cool that way the light actually glows as it pulls itself over the tree line. It would hit the side of the geese with a gentle light.

Jake's View

about 10 x10 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper $100.
Today the reservoir was in a blue, frozen beauty mood, a happy blue. I posted the wild underpainting to show you what my pastel worked with. Cool, eh? It was a happy accident, frozen watercolor melted by the car's heater. I was asked to say more about visualizing. I feel it helps me, even before I see the reservoir that day, to see my aim. The cold happy blue of the morning was the aim today. I am sure it helps that I know the reservoir intimately. I always get another gift when I see the way she (the reservoir I am certain is a she) looks that day.
On another note, I bet you were wondering about the title. Today a young artist, Jake, and his Mom stopped by to visit. They have passed by everyday for months and Jake , a four and a half year old (an age guess) budding artist, has felt a kinship with me. It was great to speak with him and see his light. So this is for him, my young artist friend. reach for your dreams and you can not fail.

Snow on the River

16.5 x 16.5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

On Monday afternoon my niece, Agne, and I went for a walk on the canal. I was double lucky again. First- it began to snow lightly (our first snow) and second -I had my camera. Agne helped me crawl and slide down to the steep, slick river bank to take many pictures. I could easily see the painting in my head before leaving the river. While the photos have helped, the image was already there. That brings up another point. It's important to take the time to visualize your painting. Sometimes I can see my way through; see all the layers. So when on location, see it. Verbalize your emotion, experience, the favor of the light. Olympic athletes do it before they compete. We artists see our dream, the painting, before doing a thing.

This one is almost complete. Now is the time it sits and I look, no impulsive moves.

Icy Other Side

7.5 x7.5 pastel and frozen watercolors on Uart paper $100
On this painting my focus was how few strokes of pastel can I make and still feel the beauty of that place?
There is my easel on the hill.
Happy Inauguration Day!

The Other Side of the Coin

10.5 x10.5 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper $100.

Today I was double lucky!!!! Yipee.
First lucky: Today when I arrived at the reservoir Patty, the deputy manager, drives up and asks me if I want to paint on the other side (beyond the barbed wire fence). Do I???? Yipee!!!
So this is the view. As we drive back there it began to snow. Double yipee! The view was so beautiful I painted two, even though it was so cold. (Longjohns, my secret weapon)
From this view there is a tower in the distance. I tried hard not to focus on that tower at the expense of the tress on the right. I worked on the layering of space and color. I keep noticing and trying to understand why the reflective properties of ice is so different from water. It's simply seems dense. Anyone know?

I will post the second painting tomorrow since I will be going downtown to the Obama inauguration. What a wonderful moment in time it will be!!!!
THANK YOU PATTY for allowing me back to the promised land!

Potomac River's Raspberry Ice

5.5 x 21 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper 150.00

Click on it for a better view.....
Today seemed darn right balmy compared to yesterday. At a warm 33 degrees it was much easier to paint outside. It allowed me to go to the river, far from the heat of my car. On the way down I noticed the canal was frozen solid, something that rarely happens. People were actually playing hockey on it!
My main thought today is to remember the artist is in charge. If I want your eye to go to a certain place I have the tools of edges, and contrast(value, temperature and color).
I have also been thinking about Hans Hoffman's push pull theory. More on that later.
Thanks for dropping by,
Loriann

Icy Protest Coat of Green

9x12 pastel and frozen watercolor on Wallis $100.
Ok, so it's a total woofer. Frustrated and frozen. I am a convert to Uart paper, never again to use Wallis ( at least with frozen watercolor). It's crazy how differently the Wallis paper received the icy watercolor. I found myself scratching it with the butt of the brush over and over again in frustration. Oh well...lesson learned.
What is really curious to me is, that when the water is completely frozen it is mainly a blueish- green and reflects little of the surrounding colors; instead it wears it's own coat as if in protest.

And a big welcome to all my new subscribers! Thanks for joining my blog family!

Till next time,
Loriann

PS We think we might get some snow tomorrow....keep your fingers crossed for me!

Sing the Frozen Blues

5.5 x 21 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper $200.
Ok. I wasn't sure if I could do it. The temperature was 12 and windy, so I waited till the day heated up to about 15 and headed out at 2:00pm(very late for me). It was all worth it, of course!
I must admit I like the feel of frozen watercolors. It's like they become "chunky" and do unexpected things and I like that. Today I painted on an end scrap of Uart that I would have normally cut into smaller pieces. The very long horizontal is calming.
One of the tricks to a successful painting is to only have 2 or 3 shapes. That means when you squint you eyes you only see 2 or 3 shapes, rather than a bunch of disjointed random shapes.

I want to say thank you to my friend Domi. She is a patient person, who together, with her leading, I have learned to negotiate blogging. I know I couldn't have done it without her. Thanks Domi!

Where did the Ducks Go?

7.5 x 12 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper $100.

The reservoir was frozen solid, an unusual sight for Washington DC. We simply don't get this cold...22 degrees with a harsh wind. For me, working with pastels (one hand's fingers can not be gloved...ouch) that meant is think, plan and paint fast! Sometimes that kind of challenge is the best thing...because there is no puttering around.

Heron's View

about 21x 21 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
This is a studio piece I have been working on for awhile. I used my painting from November 26 -Golden Wind /Riverbend Park as my reference. My notes describing my time there- the heron's flight and call and the light- helped me feel the place while in the studio. The one thing I am satisfied with is that the painting has a life of its own. But I feel unsure how to complete it..
That tells me it's time to stop, put it on the shelf so I see it each day when I arrive in the studio. The painting will tell me.

Aphrodite's Icy Dream

About 5.75x 6 pastel and frozen watercolor on Uart paper, $100.
As I drove to my favorite painting spot I was thinking about why I like this constant repetition. For someone as impulsive as I am, why do I continue to drive here almost every morning?
The answer:
The challenge of responding to the same thing differently over and over and over again touches my impulsive nature in a way that is wonderful. What will she look like tomorrow? And how will my eyes perceive her?
Is that what Monet felt?

Maryland Pastel Society/Daybreak at Hawksbill Peak

26x32 pastel and oil on marble dust board

Yesterday the Maryland Pastel Society's Members show opened at the Ratner Museum. Upon entering the museum my jaw dropped. What beautiful work! I am honored to be part of it. I decided to stay around to hear the awards announcements. I think my heart stopped when Joe Fitzgerald (the judge) called MY name! First it was to receive the Connecticut Pastel Society Award. I wanted to gush, "I'm from Connecticut!", but I was too shy in front of all people I didn't know. Then when he announced the last award-" best of show" and he said my name I think my heart stopped. CPR please. Now back to the studio. (above is the painting that won!)

PS Thank you to all my new (and old)subscribers. I appreciate that you take time from your day to view my "vitamins."

Path around Big Pool

9x12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
photo of big pool taken from the spot where I stood

I have had some requests to post the photo of the area from which I paint. This morning I waited until the black ice was gone before going out. Cold and windy.
My challenge today was the area of interest (focal point) and how its friends, the sub areas, lead the eye through the painting. I wanted to choose something that was not so obvious. This lead me to the beautiful white of the sycamore trees, the orangey path and the reflections of big pool to function as the main area. It hopefully leads to the distance and comes back to be grounded in the darker ripples of the bottom left water. (Sorry the colors of my jpeg are dulled...I am still working on that.)

Memory of the River at Dawn

10 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.

Today was rainy and cold again, a good day to play the memory painting exercise. Taking from the multitude of images I have stored in my head, create a mood and a painting. I decided to add one more challenge. Do as few strokes as possible with pastel. While listening to my Mom's favorite arias (inspiring melancholy, greatness, and awe) I painted. Music is a wonderful thing if you can't hear nature.
On another note, I must say the advantages of daily painting are so numerous. My head lives in the river. Now I may not be able to remember someone's name or a movie I saw, but I know the river.

Action Between the Lines

10 x 10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper, $100.00 plus tax and shipping
10x10 watercolor underpainting
photo of reservoir/daybreak
The nature of the day (24 degrees, clear) made the painting. What I mean is this painting done with frozen water, upon heat from my car to dry it,easily became very abstract. The edges were gone on the underpainting, thus freeing me from the tyranny of realism. The play of the action between the lines becomes easier.
Edges tell your eyes where to look...make the path. The sharper/more contrast the edge the more it demands your eye to look there first.

Between the Lines or Bridge at the Patapsco River

10 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
I have been reading deKooning's biography and he was speaking about edges. "edges are what we see. It's between the edges that's difficult. That's what Vermeer is good at. We're going to look at a Vermeer . See how he painted between the lines."
With that on my mind I chose a place, mostly in shadow, down by the Patapsco River. And yes friends, I struggled and it beat me. I tried to chose where would I make edges and where would I connect with the same value different color. Another day, another painting.

Daisies to the Sea

12 x12 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board

I am working on so many studio pieces at once right now and then this one was smiling at me from the top shelf. I looked at it and it was an "ah ha!" moment. Now I know what to do! I made some small changes and now I am satisfied.
If anyone is in the area, there is a show of the Maryland Pastel Society opening at the Ratner Museum (Bethesda) on Sunday, the 11th. I have 3 pieces in it. Come see the work by many absolutely amazing pastel painters.

Distant River and Sacred Moment (finished)

distant river:10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus ship and tax
sacred moment: 15 x 20 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper (commission)

I finished two pieces in the studio this morning. The top one is a plein air piece that I began last week on a warm afternoon at the river. The concept was grand distance; an idea that sits in my mind each day.
The bottom one I have posted before, but now I am finally satisfied.

I want to add a few of thank yous:
1. to Richard McKinley for his amazing blog-pastel pointers-see the link on my side bar. Whenever I am lost I go to that. This time his blog is helping me take better photos of my work. Thanks Richard!
2. to Casey Klahn, Rose Welty and Katherine Tyrrell all amazing artists who have recently posted great information about blog improvements (note my new format). Check out their link on my side bar as well. Someday I will learn how to insert links into text:-)

Ducks Floating on Magic

9x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.plus shipping and tax

Color needs to have friends. That means when I use that orange in the trees it needs to have its friends- melon, mauve/orange and sienna out to play. Know what I mean?

I want to say a big thank you to Patty Gamby, the deputy manager of that magical place I paint , the reservoir. She took the time from her very busy schedule to take me on a tour around the entire reservoir. What a beautiful, fascinating place it is! I even saw the marker stone measuring the boundaries of DC back in 1792! I can't wait to go back there and paint new different views of this amazing treasure. Thanks Patty!
Thanks so much Patty!

To Post or Not to Post That is the Question:Icy Potomac

about 4x7 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
I have been thinking about my "vitamins" lately. The paintings I post run the gamut from outright "dogs" to definite beauties. It's a real mixed bag. I thought about whether I should post one that's not my best. Finally I decided that it is about process, rather than product. Painting is a discipline and constant practice is part of that discipline.
So here is the discipline. The temperature was 22 and a thin coating of ice kept freezing on my paper. Ice makes it really difficult to apply pastel. Usually I have my car heater nearby, not today. I hope these don't sound too much like excuses. Plain truth, I struggled through this one.

From Chain Bridge

9.5 x 9.5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.plus tax and shipping

It's a good thing I move like a squirrel, quick and flexible, because in order to paint this one I had to climb onto a ledge underneath Chain Bridge. The Potomac River is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth and I am always looking for a new view and returning to my favorite old views. I do not think I will ever tire of it. To make the illusion of great distance on a small piece of paper you need to use shape size, color and value.
As I painted the kingfisher called almost continuously. I wonder what he/she was trying to tell me.

Icy Green with Ducks

about 10 x 10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and shipping

I am obsessed lately with the thought/hope of snow. This morning there was one again a possibility. So I left the house in darkness just hoping it might snow as I painted by the reservoir. Once again the color of the water was than greenish hue topped with the pink of the sky.
When I paint with watercolor I always think of the skeleton of the painting-what's underneath.That will then give me just the right color to play off of. Lately I have determined that winter is my favorite plein air time. The colors are exquisite, making the discomfort easier to handle (plus I can always indulge my Chai addiction afterwards).

Metamorphosis of a painting (unfinished)

15 x20 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
The river today was quiet, still - broken only by the sounds of bluebirds, woodpeckers and cardinals. After a long walk with my husband Paul, I returned to the studio with a stillness in me. So, of course, I went back in the studio. I felt that I knew what to do on this painting. Sometimes the best thing you can do as an artist is to stop and let the painting sit with you. In this painting I am aiming for peace with a little tension.The peace is in the Maxwell Parrish blue and still water. The tension is with the opposing pieces of land squeezing. It is still unfinished, but closer.
I must say I love this period of time while painting - when my only job is to listen to the painting. Forget the preparatory sketches and studies it's just the two of us!

Intentions (aka resolutions)

A big new years thank you to all my blog friends who have followed my journey this year!
I look forward to your comments, printed, emailed and spoken.Have a wonderful, healthy, happy and fun 2009!

On another note,I have decided to call my resolutions intentions rather than resolutions. I guess, to me, resolutions sounds so permanent (and demanding). Intentions seem more fluid (and forgiving). Maybe it's just words.
I intend:
1. to share more on my blog. (share the kinds of things other artists want to know)
2. to keep my plein air pastel box clean (nothing like finding a wolf in sheep's clothing when you're painting)
3. to find 10 more ways to improve my "business" of art
4.to take more risks when I paint.
Feel free to remind me if I get off target:-)
That's it....back to painting.
Loriann

Homage to the Great Wolf Kahn: Raspberry Squeeze

10 x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus shipping and tax
Inspired by Casey and his talk of Wolf Kahn I decided to work from one of my small paintings and really push it closer to the abstract. Of course the mood of the painting is still of most importance to me, so it is still very much of my style. It was freeing to stretch so far. What do you think?

Happy New Year ! May it be happy, healthy and fun!
Take a few chances........XO Loriann