Variation #5

Variation #5

5x7, pastel

Click to buy

Hope everyone had a Blessed Christmas and hoping you have a wonderful New Year--beginning with a safe New Year's Eve!

Just finished this Variation #5. I enjoyed changing the format to horizontal, looks like a totally different picture even though it is the same old subject matter. Read Richard McKinley's blog last night about harmony in a painting. He recommended using only the number of pastels that you can hold in your hand and that's just what I did.

Lacking the time to get in my reference photos and search for a subject to paint next, so I am glad to have these variations to satisfy my need to paint.

Variation #4

Variation #4

7x5, pastel

Finding time to paint has been a chore, plus the fact that the watercolor I have been working on has hit a wall. It has been put away, just sitting on the easel until such time it tells me what to do next. This is not a problem I have much experience with, but pretty sure it is not the only time it is going to happen.

So when there was a minute to pick up the pastels, Variation #4 resulted. I truly enjoy these, no pressure, just exploring the possibilities.

This will probably be the last post for awhile. Going to enjoy my family and pray that you will be enjoying your families, also. Blessings to you this Christmas and for the New Year, too. And many thanks for your support with this endeavor.

Italian Passageway #4

Italian Passageway #4

11 x 7, watercolor

Anyone out there ever have trouble with backgrounds, besides me????  The painting I have been working on is taking way too long. It is a person and he looks great (I'm pleased, anyway) but I am at a loss for the background. The photo has a number of people in the background. The plan was to put them in loosely, but now--not so sure. It is a large painting so there is a lot of background, making the task even more daunting. All suggestions welcome.

Italian Reflections is going to live in California after Christmas--check the October post to see it. You still have time to check out the Small Works for Big Holidays show at the NBAL Gallery.

Variation #3

Variation #3

8x6, pastel

Enjoying the variation studies, trying new color combos, strokes. It is a chance to complete a painting when there is only a limited amount of time to dedicate to creating art. It really is fun; it makes me happy.

Variation #2

Variation #2

8x6, pastel

It was a busy day, but getting to paint was one of the best parts. Painting involved working on the watercolor started earlier in the week and a variation of the painting above. Marla Baggetta has done well over 100 variations of a painting, exploring color and marks. Thinking about exploring that myself, might change the size format as well.

Prayers for the those in Connecticut who experienced unspeakable horror today.

Italian Passageway #3

Italian Passageway #3

11x7, watercolor SOLD

Have not been able to paint much this week, once again life is taking priority, but that is OK.  It is good to have a child home, visit with friends, and work a little. So I am posting a painting I painted earlier this year since I haven't completed a painting this week. This painting lives in Victoria, with Italian Passageway #1.

Orvieto Gargoyle

Orvieto Gargoyle

5x7, pastel  Sold

Started a new painting today, well, really, I started it yesterday. It took me several hours to get the drawing correct yesterday. That usually is a sign it isn't going to be a loose painting, but that's OK. If I can pull this off and get this watercolor done to my satisfaction, I will be tickled pink. If that happens, then you may see it here. If not-----there is a blank canvas on the other side of the paper!!!!!!

Orvieto Gargoyle lives in San Antonio. There were gargoyles everywhere in Italy and I believe I only took one picture of them--go figure??

Also, Playing at Padre and Day at the Beach, went home to Corpus Christi yesterday. Check back to the September 9th post to see them.

Look At That!

Look At That!
7 x 5, pastel
Click to Buy



This painting was really a serendipitous affair. To be snapping pictures from a great distance and this is the only picture of this little guy with such an awesome pose, divine intervention comes to mind. It was a lesson in minimal strokes to convey the subject and realizing shadows in reality are not as dark as they show in photos. AND just how often does a little one carry Woody around----I love it!

Hope no one was offended that I called this little one a 'critter' in the previous post. When I was pregnant with my first child, my mother had all sorts of presents under the Christmas tree to  "The Little Critter".  I sure missed that when I was pregnant with my youngest. 

Backyard Glow

Backyard Glow

6 x 8, pastel

OK, so I completed a painting in an hour after painting 'Lucky' ; well, here it is. That's right, it is no masterpiece, but it is a step in the direction I am wanting to try---loose, painterly.  This isn't for everyone, my oldest doesn't like the style at all. My goal is, as I paint more, that loose strokes will suddenly appear here and there in my realistic style.

My friend tells me to "do the work" the style will come. So I am doing the work, knocked out another one this morning. I love to paint critters, both human and animal, and he is a cutie even from the great distance he was away. How fortunate to be snapping pictures and the one he was in is this awesome pose. Is your interest piqued?

Lucky

Lucky

6 x 8, Pastel

Man, it was good to get to paint yesterday! You know I have been trying to be looser, more painterly in my style---I failed royally in the loose department with this one. But now really, can a squirrel this up-close-and-personal be loose? You've got to see those whiskers, hairs, and gleam in the eye! I labored several hours on this one, thinking at one point I was going to have to get the wet rag out and wipe it off--but I didn't. Oh, the name Lucky----well, he is still running around the yard!!!

I painted a landscape after I painted Lucky, got a little closer to the style I have been striving for. It may show up in a later post.

Italian Passageway #1

Italian Passageway #1

11 X 7.5, watercolor, SOLD

This is the first in a series I started after returning from Italy. Everywhere you look in Italy there is another passageway, whether it is a road, an opening to the countryside, beautiful ancient doors, narrow winding streets, it goes on and on. If only those passageways could tell us what has gone on there throughout the centuries!

This painting lives in Victoria, Tx. along with Italian Passageway #3 (will post it another day). The owner had the opportunity to travel to Italy this past summer. Oh, to get to go back there to visit again--what a dream-come-true that would be!!!