Days of Wine and Roses

Days of Wine and Roses

9" x 9", pastel

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This is a still life that was created as I was preparing for my demo for the Pastel Society of the Southwest earlier this year. I enjoy the challenge of recreating the illusion of glass. This was a fun challenge

Untitled
10" x 8", pastel
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Coming up with titles for paintings is tough, especially still life paintings. Animals have names, landscapes can have titles of where the area is, but a still life.......??? So there are mums, apples and pottery in this painting......other than that I've got nothing! Oh, well.

Truly loving painting the subject matter. Bringing back my watercolor days, but so much easier to get the depth of color. Plus, that highlight is the last thing added, not saved from the white of the paper! 

All About Red

All About Red

8" x 8", pastel

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Decided to continue on with still life paintings. There is a lot of red, quite the challenge, but I like it! 

Persimmons

Persimmons

8" x 8", pastel
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Early in January, I received an email asking me if I would do a demo for a pastel society meeting, and not a local society. I was floored, and immediately set about listing all the reasons to say no. My family thought I was nuts for not jumping at the chance for the opportunity. After consulting my art mentors, I decided to bite the bullet and give that first ever demo! The kicker was that it is to be a still life demo.

When watercolor was my main medium, still life paintings were my 'go to' subject. The reason being that my teacher, Angie Banta Brown, provided the most wonderful reference photos from which to paint. She was kind enough to help me in that area for this demo. Setting up a still life requires stuff, wonderful, colorful, varied objects to display in an interesting way and Angie has the most amazing props. We had such fun arranging and rearranging all those props. 

Persimmons is my first painting from that day. Decided I had better practice a little, don't think there has been a still life created since 'Caffe' Italiano'. Stay tuned for more still life paintings, as I prepare for the upcoming demo.

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

Harvest

Harvest

15 x 11, watercolor

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This is the watercolor version of Bountiful Harvest. It was painted after the pastel was completed. 

By the way, I didn't mention it but Bountiful Harvest was also juried into the Austin Pastel Society Member Show in Austin along with Italian Man. It is extremely exciting and humbling to have Terri Ford select these two paintings to be included in the 50 paintings chosen for the show.. That show opens Monday, February 25 at the Corridor of Art on Lavaca St. in Austin. There is an award reception on March 17, from 3-5 pm if you happen to be in the area.

Apples and Sunflowers

Apples and Sunflowers

15 x 11, watercolor

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Apples are another fruit that I enjoy painting, but unlike pears, I enjoy eating apples. 

Pears

Pears

6 x 6, pastel

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Real original title there! But what else could I call it?

Once again life is getting in the way of painting, I hate when that happens. But at least I am happy with the way this painting turned out, more lost edges, a little more painterly.

Sunny Apple

Sunny Apple

11 x 14, matted

 

 

Watercolor has taken a back seat to pastel lately, have you noticed? Got back in the swing this week. The last watercolor was the big one that I am still trying to decide the best background for it (back before Christmas).

 

Really enjoy painting apples, not so much, sunflowers. Really there is a love/hate thing going on. Love, love sunflowers, not so much painting them----but I will keep trying.