Study #11

Study #11

6x6, pastel
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I really have been painting. There have been multiple minor catastrophes in the Beard household this week, so painting has been my calming force. The good news is the college kid survived his ski trip to Taos and made it back to TAMU, the reception for the Austin Pastel Society at the Corridor of Art was great yesterday. The art will continue to hang there until April 21, so drop by if you are in the area. Also, I have been invited to hang art in the Arthritis Association in San Antonio. That will be up around the first week or two of April.

So even though this past week the bathroom heater burned out, the refrigerator died Friday and the upright freezer died last night, it's all minor. Life is good!

Study #9

Study #9

6 x 7, pastel

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When I feel myself tightening up, "painting the fleas before the dog" to quote a dear friend, I try to loosen up with one of these. I start with a blank piece of paper, lightly draw the horizon, river, and maybe a tree. I decide on the colors I want to use and then have fun deciding where to place them. I am pleased with the results of this one, hoping to carry the looseness on to the next painting.

Study #8

Study #8

6 x 6, pastel

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OK, so I finally completed a study in a color scheme way out of my comfort zone. I dutifully took out the  7-8 pastels from the box and closed it so I would not be tempted to sneak in my "go to" colors. It was a challenge, but that is what this is supposed to be, right?

Thank you, dear.

Study #7

Study #7

8x6, pastel

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Back to the studies on a landscape. The challenge for me is color choice, I know where I want to go, but keep gravitating to the same color scheme. The next one is different, the recommendation of my "most ardent supporter" to quote him!

I Finally Got to Paint!

Meander

8 x 6, pastel

I finally got to paint!!!! It was such a good feeling to pick up the pastels again. I worked on 2 pieces. The first was a variation of  the breakthrough painting I did in Marla Baggetta's workshop. It was a sunset variation, pretty fiery. It was my husband's fav. I may post it, but it is pretty wild!

This was taken from a picture I took on our first day in North Carolina. There were black and white cows off in the field to the left. That may be another picture--you know how I love to paint animals!