Ombrello Rosso

Ombrello Rosso

9 x 12, pastel

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OK, I won't make you go to Google translate to get the title-----Red Umbrella. Don't know why nouns and adjectives are switched in Italian, but sometimes they are.

This is the original painting of Rainy Morning, a wonderfully damp early morning in Italy several years ago. I experienced an ah-ha moment with the painting. Originally the lower right corner was a construction site, and guess what I did----yeppers, I painted the fence, sign, etc.  My husband wanted to know why I would ruin a painting and paint what was actually in the photo. So I swallowed hard, removed the construction and ad-libbed. Not something I do with ease.

Just love the muted colors with the splashes of red throughout, brings back great memories.

North Congress Crooners

North Congress Crooners

12 x 9, pastel

Well, I finally completed the painting started for the demo at the Wimberley Fine Arts Center Artwalk Saturday last week. I learned that painting with an audience is not my forte!!

Yes, the name of this painting has been changed. Troubadour, was just too dated. These kids were singing away on a very warm afternoon in Austin. You've got to love the Music Capital of Texas.

Rainy Morning

Rainy Morning

8 x 8, pastel
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Rain in Citta Della Pieve was a welcome site while visiting there several years ago. You see south Texas had been in a drought that year and we hadn't seen rain in awhile. This is the second painting from this photo taken from my hotel window, haven't posted the first one yet.

One of my prizes for the Merit Award  from the APS was a package of black Canson pastel paper. I have been having fun exploring the use of this paper, plus the challenge of painting a rainy street scene.

Finally!!

5 Generations or The Brock-Men Tradition

16 x 20, pastel

Last fall a dear friend came to me with an idea for a painting for her husband. As she explained her idea, my mind was spinning, how in the world would I get everything in the painting that she was suggesting? I truly wanted to be able to create what she desired but was doubtful that I could. She sent me the photos she had taken on her phone and I sat on it for a few months.

In January I decided I would give it a try. The story behind the painting is that 5 generations have gotten their haircut at the Trophy Barbershop with this being the very first haircut for the baby. Great granddad and great-great granddad are no longer with us, thus their photos taped to the mirror.These were added and were not in the original photo. The barbershop has big game heads covering the walls, and even has a stuffed polar bear standing at the entrance. The suggestion of the game is on the right and in the reflection of the mirror, as well as mom and the barber. Pa, as he is called, is holding the envelope to collect the locks of hair.

After 3 months of work and trying to keep a secret, this is the finished product. The painting was given to Rusty tonight by his wife with his mother and children in attendance; and I was there too. I think he liked it.

Wimberley Fine Arts Center

Austin Troubadours

12 x 9, pastel

This weekend is Arts Fest in Wimberley, Texas at the Blue Hole. It is also 2nd Saturday Art Walk there. I have recently joined a wonderful group of artists with the Wimberley Fine Arts Center. The Center is open daily and will even be open late tomorrow night (7pm) for the Art Walk. Hope you can get by and check out the great art on display there and enjoy a bit of wine as well.

I will be working on this work in progress. One of my prizes with the Merit Award from the APS Juried Membership Exhibition was black Canson pastel paper. I had never used black paper before and am enjoying exploring the possibilities. The one thing the paper lacks is grit so that means I need to get the value and color right the first time as it will not take as many layers of pastel as sanded paper will.

Hope to see you there.

Merit Award Winner

Ain't Gonna Happen!

20 x 16, pastel

So happy to let you know that  this painting was given a Merit Award in the Austin Pastel Society Juried Exhibition. The exhibition was judged by Clayton Beck III. Well over one hundred paintings were entered and only 50 were accepted in the show. I am honored to have received an award with all the wonderful paintings entered.

If you can, get by to see the show at the Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca, in Austin. I hope you will for it is worth the effort.

On April 3, my art will be hanging in the Wimberley Fine Arts Center in Wimberley, Texas, as well as, the New Braunfels Art League gallery. Wimberley Fine Arts Center is located at 13909 Ranch Road 12. I am thrilled to join a wonderful group of artists and hope you will come by and check it out.

Gypsy in Italy Study #2

Gypsy in Italy Study #2

10 x 8, pastel
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My main subject lately has been a commission for a dear friend. I have found  that while enjoying commissions, they can be a double edged sword, at least for me. I stress so much about 'getting it right' and making the person requesting it happy, that I seem to lose the joy in painting.

Sooooo, I decided to take a break from the commissioned portrait and work on another painting. Call me crazy, but I chose another portrait! I just love this lady. She has so much character, so many tales to tell. An additional challenge for this painting is that I am trying a new paper for me, Mi Tiennes. It is smooth which I find unusual, in that pastel needs to stick to the paper and smooth paper doesn't allow for many layers. Normally the substrate I use has grit, to enhance the sticking power of the pastel. This paper has forced me to get it right the first time, because additional layers of pastel do not adhere well.  Good practice, as I have a tendency to have a heavy hand anyway.

May have to create a larger piece of this study!!

Comal Spring

Comal Spring

6 x 6, pastel

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My sweet husband registered me for a Richard McKinley pastel workshop for my birthday last year. It was quite an undertaking to get me in; Richard McKinley's workshops fill instantly. I love his style, so loose and lovely, something I struggle to achieve. I don't hint at leaves on the trees, I pretty near paint every one.

So I purchased a video by Richard McKinley, in order to get my self more accustomed to his style prior to the workshop this August. Comal Spring is my first attempt in this style. I know, it looks fairly detailed but believe me, there are a ton more rocks on that path, and blades of grass and (well, you get the picture).

Just a reminder to drop by the Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca, Austin, M-F during business hours (9-5) and check out the paintings of the Austin Pastel Society Show. You can also join us March 30 from 3-5pm for the awards reception. Parking will be free on that Sunday. Just take the elevator to the lower level and you exit in the Corridor.

Ain't Gonna Happen!

Ain't Gonna Happen!

20 x 16, pastel

What a day! In the time it took to drive from New Braunfels to Austin at noon today, the temperature dropped 35 degrees!! Just another day in south Texas.

Today we hung the paintings accepted in the Austin Pastel Society Juried Membership Exhibition in the Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca, in Austin. Ain't Gonna Happen! is my second entry accepted in the show. There are 50 beautiful paintings in the Corridor. Hope you can make it by and check them out. It is only open Monday-Friday during business hours, except during the reception March 30 from 3-5pm when parking is free in the adjacent parking garage.

Study #14

Study #14

6 x 6, pastel

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Been working a great deal on a portrait commission, took a break from that to paint Up Close. I was really wanting to just put pastel to paper without it having to look like someone or a specific animal, so..... Study #14.

Up Close

Up Close

6 x 8, pastel

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Another painting of Oscar, but much more intimate. He just exudes attitude doesn't he?? Almost makes me want to become a cat person.........almost.

Austin Pastel Society Annual Juried Member Exhibition

Majesty

6 x 8, Pastel

My, my it has been a long time since I have posted anything. Once again life is just getting in the way, but it is wonderful to be able to get back in the posting groove with good news.

Some of you may recognize this painting. I did post it months ago under another name. I renamed it and submitted it in the 2014 Austin Pastel Society Annual Juried Member Exhibition. I am thrilled to report that this painting and one other has been accepted in the show, juried in by judge Clayton Beck III. The show will hang in the Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca St., Lower Level, in Austin Texas. The show is open to the public during business hours, weekdays only from March 3 to April 25, 2014. Fifty wonderful paintings will be on exhibit, hope you can get by and check them out next month.

The other accepted painting will be posted soon!

The Creek

At the Creek

5 x 7, pastel

The subject of this painting is on private property in Comal County. We were allowed to paint there while taking part in a Clive Tyler workshop a couple of years ago. It was a really lovely area, but the day was gray and drizzling. Clive saw a painting everywhere, but I didn't share his enthusiasm. I mainly saw gray and dreary. 

Blessings to all for the New Year!

No new painting unfortunately. I just wanted to send my good wishes to  those of you who have followed this blog this year. The paintings were not posted as frequently as I would have desired, but that is a goal for the coming year. Thank you for checking in periodically!

Hope that 2014 holds many blessings for all of you and your families! Looking forward to all the year holds and many more paintings.

Caffè Italiano

Caffè Italiano

5 x 5, pastel

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Another cold day in south Texas and a wonderful day to paint!! I have wanted  to paint this for two years. I showed the original photo to another artist friend and she was sort of surprised that I would take a photo of three empty coffee cups in Italy. I was enthralled by the shadows, the cappuccino residue in the cups, and shape of the cups. So today I set out to paint it.

Next door to the 13th century church that we had the opportunity to paint in, was a coffee bar with a large outdoor courtyard with tables. They were always busy. I am sure many of the world's problems were solved over those cups of coffee each afternoon.

Meet Oscar

Oscar

10 x 8, pastel

This I my first commission of a pet. Oscar lived to the ripe old age of 19 and had quite a "tude" from what I hear. I am thrilled that the owner is happy with this painting. It's a daunting task to try to create a likeness of a pet that was loved so dearly.  

If you get a chance, the Small Works for a Big Christmas is still going on at the gallery. A number of paintings/photos have sold, but there is still a large selection to go view and maybe, take one home.

Living a Fairytale

Italian Farmer

10 x 8, pastel

Some of you who have been following my blog since the beginning may recognize this guy. He was formerly titled, Citta Della Pieve Farmer. I entered him and 3 other paintings in the Small Works for Big Holidays show at the NBAL gallery, and that title was too long.

I have a bad habit of tweaking paintings and then NOT taking an updated photo of them, such is the case with this painting. Oh, well, on to the fairy tale. This painting received 1st place in the show!!!  The judge was, Vi Dunn-Harr, a fabulous artist (Google her). She was very encouraging with her comments. She spent several minutes sharing her wisdom with me. I just feel so blessed to have great artists, Angie Banta Brown, Rita Kirkman and now Vi Dunn-Harr willing to guide me in my quest to be a better artist.

Fall Study

Fall Study

5 x 7, pastel

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Thought I was using less vivid colors------well, maybe not.  I am happy, it was another wonderful, crisp day!! Plus, I got to play pickleball!!!!---Google it.

Guadalupe Color

Guadalupe Color

12 x 9, pastel

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You just know you are a photo realist painter when your smart camera says you are taking a landscape photo while zooming in on your landscape painting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, well, it is what it is.

It is fall and the weather finally feels like it (some days) here in south central Texas. I just cannot seem to paint enough fall paintings. We get so little fall color here, in fact this was last year's color, but that's OK!

More Biltmore

Autumn Stroll

8 x 10, pastel

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Here is the original painting that I took Strolling at the Biltmore from (split participle there, I believe!) Really like this painting, too, but Rita was correct about the other being more intimate. I am so blessed to be able to have Rita Kirkman as a friend. I have learned so much from her.

This Saturday is Market Days at the CRRC on Mabel Dr. just below Canyon Dam. The other times I have participated I have felt like I did not have enough paintings to hang----not so this time!!  There will be live music, food and numerous booths to explore. Hope you can drop by and visit with me.

Basset

Basset

7 x 5, pastel
Click to Bid

This is a smaller version of an earlier post. It was started as a demo while working at the NBAL gallery months ago. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my reference photo--bummer. So I painted it from the photo I had on my Blackberry's tiny screen. Think it turned out OK though.

100th Blog Post!!

New Braunfels Art League Flyer

Above is a flyer produced by the New Braunfels Art League has been distributed around town to acquaint visitors to the gallery. I am excited to have Cow Dog in the upper right corner for all the visitors to see!!

Also, I was notified last week that Cow Dog was awarded Honorable Mention in the Mungyo Gallery Pastels 2013 Summer Contest offered by Jerry's Artarama. The contest was open to anyone who used Gallery pastels to complete their painting, any one in the country. You can check out all the winners here:

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/galleries/2013/mungyo-pastel-contest.html

Strolling at the Biltmore

Strolling at the Biltmore

9 x 12, pastel

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Really thought I had posted this painting. (It is heck to get old!) There are two versions. The first has 2 couples on this path as the original photo showed. The photo was taken last November at the Biltmore Winery on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

One of my very talented artist friends, Rita Kirkman, was over and said it would have more intimacy if I reduced it to one couple. I immediately decided to paint it again, something I would never do years ago. Of course she was right, much more intimate, plus I simplified the foliage and increased the size of the painting.
Still pleased with the original and will post it another time.

Gypsy in Italy

Gypsy in Italy

12 x 9, pastel

Well, folks this is the final painting accepted into the Artoberfest Show and it is a 1st place winner! This painting won the pastel division. I was so thrilled, excited, speechless, but it gets even better. My good friend and long time art teacher, Angie B Brown, purchased it. Angie is a fabulous artist, winning many awards. In fact she won the oil/acrylic division tonight. To have her purchase one of my paintings, is very humbling.

I had traveled to Italy with Angie, where we saw this woman standing against a building in the street in Citta Della Pieve playing her hand organ. But there is more to the story than I have painted here. She had wooden marionettes attached to her feet and legs. As she played the the organ, she moved her knees/feet and had the marionettes dancing to the music. It was amazing. So I can see her being the subject of more paintings down the road.

If you have the opportunity to visit the gallery this month and the first 2 weeks of November, please do so. There are some lovely paintings. The show will run through Wurstfest.

Orvieto Alley

Orvieto Alley

24 x 18, Pastel

I know you have seen this painting before, but it is one of the 3 paintings accepted in the Artoberfest show. Last fall it was accepted in the Texas Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition. I am thrilled that it was accepted in the Artoberfest show.