Sky #23

 Sky #23

6" x 6", pastel

This little creation just seemed to jump out of the pastels and create itself. Love when that happens, humbled as well!

Sky 21

 

Sky #21

6x6, pastel

Been awhile since I have painted a 6" x 6" sky, but I thought it was a good time to return to the subject. I have painted a number of larger, grander skies, but these little jewels gave me confidence when I was just starting in the medium. God never fails to give beautiful skyscapes and if you don't like it....just wait a minute and it will be totally different!!

Evening Repose

Evening Repose

16 x 12, pastel

Sitting here in the house sneezing and hating the gray/tan sky and clouds from the influx of Saharan Dust, I long to see the beautiful sunsets so predominate here. The dust is supposed to provide us with more colorful sunsets. It is just so thick right now.

Painting this subject is one of my favorites to create. I loved the clouds that almost seemed to be iridescent. This painting is available, contact me if interested.

After the Storm

After the Storm

10x20, pastel

Another painting that I had forgotten to post!!!!  Love the rays of sunshine coming from behind the clouds.....to me a reminder that God's got this. This too shall pass!!!

Most of my paintings are available for purchase should anyone be interested....just contact me.

Stay safe!!

Dynamic Sunset

Dynamic Sunset

10" x 20", pastel

We have been blessed with some beautiful evening skies lately. You know the kind that keeps you oooing and ahhhing every few minutes before the day turns to night. 

This is my latest attempt to capture the beauty that has been ours to enjoy. You may see it in person at the Gallerie at Gruene, in New Braunfels/Gruene. Drop by!!

Amarillo byMorning

Amarillo by Morning

16" x 16", pastel

This is way out of my comfort zone, but thought it was a fun and unusual subject. This painting was my entry to the Texas Show at the New Braunfels Art League show. It was a fun to try to recreate the reflections of this beautiful sky upon the surface of the car. I was rewarded with an Honorable Mention for my efforts.

Fire in the Sky

Fire in the Sky

10"x 20", pastel

The previous versions of this painting were done as studies to see if I could pull this painting off. Decided not to add water to the equation on this painting and I like it. Again the foreground was improvised as the original photo was simply a black foreground. That is really testing my comfort level as I am a 'paint what you see kind of artist'.

This painting is available through Pitzer's Fine Arts in Wimberley, Texas. Drop by to see it and other fabulous art both 2D and 3D.

Sad news, my dear friend and mentor, Angie Banta Brown, lost her hard fought battle against cancer yesterday. She has been an inspiration to so many in the art world, she will be missed. But her voice will live on through the hundreds of artists she has taught throughout her career. I constantly hear her in my head as I am painting, her words of wisdom guide me to be a better artist. She was always telling me that I see too much.....translation...."Don't paint every hair on that dog!" We shared some special times and for that I am grateful.

After the Rain

After the Rain

6" x 6", pastel

Skyscapes have been calling me lately. The sunsets have been gorgeous, when the clouds have allowed us to view them. The sky is from an actual photograph, the foreground is all imagination. Now that may not be a big thing to you, but for me it is huge! I am a 'paint what is there' sort of artist.

If you have ever taken photos of sunsets, you may know that usually the foreground is all dark, not too interesting. I was determined that would not be the case with this painting. When the photo was taken, I made a point of comparing the the foreground colors in comparison to the sunset. They were beautiful, muted, but gorgeous. There were homes in the foreground not a stream!

So 'After the Rain' is the second version of this sunset. The first version is below. I was pleased with the foreground, but decided that the square version should have an even more interesting foreground. 

Evening Reflections

6" x 12", pastel

Blue Skies

Blue Skies

8 x 10, pastel

Click to Bid

Just returned from my first IAPS convention, what a wonderful week of learning and fellowship. So many prestigious artists sharing their vast knowledge of the pastel medium. I took a demo or workshop every day. This is a painting was started in a workshop instructed by Stan Sperlak, learned so much from each artist. 

The reference photo for the painting was taken on the first sunny day following a week of rain and destruction in Texas. It was so good to see billowing clouds against that blue sky.

Sky #16

Sky #16

5" x 7", pastel
Click to Buy

It has been  a long time since I have worked on the sky series that was begun last year. There has been no shortage of subject matter, just shortage of my desire to paint skies in the series (small)! Then my husband sent me a photo of the sunset taken as he was leaving the Valero Open in San Antonio last night. It was the nudge I needed.

Such brilliant colors often look surreal, but I painted what I saw. When he sent the photo, I ran out to see it for myself------gorgeous!

Sunrise

Sunrise

10" x 20", pastel

This painting has been sitting on the floor stewing for weeks! Working to get the virga (yep, I watch the weather) just right was driving me crazy. But after letting it sit for awhile, it all came together when I got back on it.

Sunrise was delivered to Pitzer's Fine Arts today. My painting Days End sold on Wednesday, so I was thrilled to get to take another painting to the gallery!

Sky #13

Sky #13

6" x 6", pastel
Click to Bid

Finally, getting back to the sky series. It has been a long time. I have been continuing to collect photos of skies, but just couldn't get in the mood to paint them.

This sunset is a favorite and might become a larger painting  one of these days.

Sky #10

Sky #10

6"x 6", pastel
Click to Bid

My goodness, a computer virus can leave you dead in the water! At least that has been the case with me for the last week and a half. It is frustrating not to be able to get to your photos to paint, or get to your documents to take care of business.  Dead in the water-----no other way to describe it. Thanks to a great computer guy I am back! 

We have not been able to buy a cloud the last couple of days, so I went into my phone and found a photo I liked, the sun's rays shining through the gaps in the clouds. Today the clouds are back though, hope they hang around for awhile

The New Braunfels Art League Artoberfest show is still going on, hope you can get over there and see the beautiful art.

Sky #7

Sky #7

5" x 5", pastel
Click to Bid

I finally completed the complicated painting I have been working on and decided to reward myself by painting another sky!! Just can't help but feel God's majesty when gazing at the beautiful clouds in the sky, pretty humbling to try to transfer that to paper.

Sky #2

Sky #2

6.5x 6.5, pastel

Well, really wanted to post this last night but I didn't check my photo in time. It was blurry and it was too dark to get another good photo. So I really did paint 2 skies in 2 days, but no skies today. Had to get ready to host guests to watch TAMU football---priorities, you know!

I have been amazed at the beautiful clouds the last couple of days, so majestic. Can't drive down the road without pulling over to snap a pic. And the sunset last night was gorgeous---but I didn't have my camera.

The first painting was posted on Daily Paintworks the same night that I posted it here and it got a bid on it. Maybe my friend is on to something!!! Thank you!!

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!