1st Place!

A Hard Life

20 x 16, pastel

What a wonderful surprise I received tonight! The Seguin Art League had the reception for their Summer Showcase show that is hanging in the Selig Room of the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center. 'A Hard Life' was the first place winner!

The show runs through August 8 and is open M-F from 10am to 4pm. It is a great show. Hope you can get by to see it.

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.

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!!

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.