Orange steps forward

Now orange takes the floor but works beautifully with magenta. Notice to keep both in check I need a little bit of cool color for which I chose a blue-green.
FYI Coming up soon is the Waverly Street Gallery's RED show for the holidays. About 15 of my orange and magenta pieces will be on display. The Waverly Street Gallery is in Bethesda Maryland, 2 miles outside the DC line on the metro. Please come if you can. The show runs December 8-January 3.

paint with intention

pastel 6x6

 
-->When painting it is always important to begin your work with an intention.What are you trying to say with this painting? If the message is not clear to the you, how will the viewer be able to understand?In addition, your focal point  should be clearly identifiable. Ask yourself, does your choice of focal point support your message?  Does it draw the viewer into the painting? Does it make the viewer want to look more closely?

This painting is from one of my favorite fields near my home. I walk and run this lake many times a week. I see her in every outfit she has. Clearly I love this lake and field. Painting is about relationships. To have a special relationship with the place, rather than painting pretty pictures,  will show in your work.

a new infatuation

about 10x14 pastel on watercolor

about 12x14 pastel on watercolor

about 4x6 pastel on watercolor

Yes, that's right, I have found a new love. I am trying to woo my new love to love me back...we will see what happens. I am using watercolor paper, sanded at different times in the process. a different variety of watercolor underpainting is used in each of these. I am playing with the variables within the same context.  Just searching.

Winter Trees at Riverbend

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

Vibrant color in the underpainting makes me take more risks. The finished painting is actually with stronger color; the jpegs are dulled. (gotta work on that)
This painting is from yesterday at noon. The winds started to whip up and this morning they are wild. For a pastel painter that can mean another risk-a toppled easel with hundreds of dollars of perfectly-selected pastels broken and on the ground:-( Therefore the indoor studio calls.

The Watchful Eye

9x9, pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $150.
This painting has been sitting in my head for a few days now. There is a line of trees in front of the reservoir and lately they have been catching my eye. It's interesting to me because, in the past, I tended not to choose foreground importance in a painting. Today I felt bold. I even intentionally broke the " don't but your main object in the center" rule. I think it works because my actual area of interest is above center. What do you think?

July 14, 2008 Speak to Me

9x12, pastel and watercolor on wallis board
Out by Deception Pass is this magnificent hill with the waltzing tree. What color!!!!!

July 13, 2008 The Field

about 9x9 pastel on wallis board
I liked the ways the trees in the distance were so lyrical. Another wonderful day spent painting in La Conner.