Serata Italiana

 Serata Italiana

10 x 8, Pastel

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 10 years since I was blessed to get to go to Italy on a painting excursion! That was a magical 10 days, a once in a lifetime experience! To get to travel to Italy and then to get to paint was a delight. At the time I only painted in watercolor, not pastel, my preferred medium now. The pastels I have created have mostly been of the people I encountered and a few of Orvieto alleyways.

This painting is from the first evening in Citta della Pieve and is the entrance to the pizzeria at the Hotel Vanucci. I just loved the light and the cast shadow created by the lamp and vines. It is available at the Gallerie at Gruene.

Cobblestone Cat

Cobblestone Cat

6"x 12", pastel

The Images of Life show at the New Braunfels Art League opened yesterday and runs through August. Cobblestone Cat is my only entry to the show. This cat resided in Orvieto, Italy. I have had the reference photo in a folder as a painting to paint for several years. When this show was on the calendar, I decided that this was a perfect 'image of life', a cat lounging in the middle of a bustling cobblestone walkway with no concern for anything but it's own comfort.

Hope you can get by and see the show, open daily till 5pm. Awards reception is August 5, 5:30 to 7pm, with awards at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there. This painting has won something!

Not an April Fool's Joke

 A Hard Life

20" x 16", pastel

 Cafe' Italiano

16" x 16", pastel

Let's Play

12" x 12", pastel

Have been waiting to make this announcement, but thought I would wait till after April Fool's Day. These paintings were my entries in the Austin Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibition. I was so thrilled to have all of my entries accepted.

Received the notice after Mike Beeman, judged the show that one of these paintings has received an award. The kicker is that I will not know which one until the reception on April 23. That is a long time to wait, but that  is what I am doing!  Which one do you think it is???? Let me know.

All of you are invited to the reception to meet the artists and winners, or drop by the venue if you are in downtown Austin. It is a wonderful show.

March 2 - May 1 2015 Weekdays 8:30 am - 6pm

Corridor of Art
700 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701

Reception Thursday, April 23, 2015 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Corridor of Art
Free parking in the garage be sure to bring your ticket in for validation at the lobby security desk or at the 9th floor building management office

A Hard Life

A Hard Life

20" x 16", pastel

Recognize this lady??? She is the gypsy woman I painted last year. I have wanted to paint this pose of her for a long time and finally got it done. This is my second entry in the Artoberfest Show at the NBAL. I loved this woman and wanted to share her with others. Received so many wonderful comments on her last night at the reception. It is so humbling when others appreciate what you have created.

If you have an opportunity, get down there in the next 6 weeks to see the show. It is a good one.

Caffè Italiano

Caffè Italiano

16 x 16, Pastel

A new show opened at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery today and the theme is, Contemporary-Anything Goes! The painting above is my entry and is featured on the postcards announcing the show! Just notified that it is an award winner, but won't find out until the reception June 6th 5:30-7:30pm!!

You may remember that I posted a study of the same subject, 5in x 5in. a while back. I decided that the subject would be better in a larger format and set out to make it happen. Thoroughly enjoyed painting this, so totally different from my usual subjects. Love the abstract shapes, shadows, reflections---I know, who is this woman?? I could almost smell the cappuccino as I painted the residue in the cup.

As told by the title, the reference photo was taken on my trip to Italy. There may be 2 more paintings there--showcasing the other cups not pictured here.

Hope you can make it by the show. It runs through the end of June.

Ombrello Rosso

Ombrello Rosso

9 x 12, pastel

Click to Bid

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.

Rainy Morning

Rainy Morning

8 x 8, pastel
Click to buy

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.

Gypsy in Italy Study #2

Gypsy in Italy Study #2

10 x 8, pastel
Click to Bid

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!!

Caffè Italiano

Caffè Italiano

5 x 5, pastel

Click to Bid

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.

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. 

You Lookin' At Me??

You Lookin' at Me??

11 x 7.5, watercolor

Click to Bid

Finally, I have paintings to post. The New Braunfels Art Gallery show for September is "For the Love of Animals". I turned in 3 paintings for this show and this was not one of them----maybe it should have been?? You just never know!!

This cat lives in Italy and is the resident cat at the hardware store on Vannucci Street in Citta Della Pieve. He had the most perturbed expression in his eyes the entire time I was getting pictures--typical cat.

The NBAL show opens tomorrow. It should be a great one. Drop by if you get a chance this month.

Weathered Beauty

Weathered Beauty

12x9, pastel

Click to Buy

This is just the first of, hopefully, many more paintings with this woman as the subject. She is a gypsy woman, who lives in Italy. I was blessed to get to see her while visiting Citta della Pieve. She played the hand organ as marionettes that were attached to her feet and legs danced. It was such a joy to behold and the small children loved it.

This is also my first attempt at a portrait of a female using pastel as the medium. I truly believe that portraits are easier in watercolor. Now there are plenty who would argue that point with me. 

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.

Italian Reflections

Italian Reflections

14x11, SOLD

This is my latest watercolor. So many great memories of Italy, wish I could paint them all. The sky reflected in the window looked unreal, it was such a brilliant blue.

Thirteenth century church reflected in a thirteenth century building window---just too cool.

Orvieto Alley

Orvieto Alley 

(24 x 18, pastel)

Wow, time really flies! I have been busy getting all the paintings framed and ready for the shows and then yesterday, I just could not stand it any longer-----I had to paint! So the blog got pushed to the back burner.

Anyway, Orvieto Alley is the third and final painting accepted in the TPS National Juried Exhibition in San Antonio. This show will be at Art Incorporated, 9401 San Pedro, the last two weeks of October. Hope you can get by to see it. I can't wait to see all the art juried in by Doug Dawson--should be great!

One Year Ago

Citta Della Pieve Farmer      (10x8, pastel)

One year ago today I was blessed to join a group of artists and travel to Italy for 10 days. It was a trip of a lifetime. If you ever have the opportunity to go--do not hesitate.

This farmer lived on the outskirts of Citta Della Pieve and he was quite a character!
















Citta Della Pieve Farmer  10 x 8 pastel