The Sentinel

The Sentinel

8 x 8, pastel

Snapped a photo of the subject on my last trip to Phoenix, so regal atop of the seguaro cactus. There is not much more that I can say about this painting, other than it is my new favorite!

Floral

Floral

12 x 9, pastel

Rarely, do I paint florals. Not sure why, just not a genre that I gravitate to, perhaps because I do not possess a green thumb so they are rarely around!!! I had been working on several animal and people paintings and just wanted to loosen up. Giving the impression of petals bursting forth in a flower lends itself to, 'loosening up'.  

The Grandparents

The Grandparents

8x10, pastel

A recently commissioned piece and I love it! It says so much about the grandparents' love for each other and how they are loved by their family! The photo reference was taken in the northeast on an apparently misty day. This is my first attempt in recreating a misty shore scene, enjoyed the challenge.

8 Point

8 Point

20" x 10", pastel

They are in velvet now, but when the 'big boys' visit in the early mornings they are still a sight to behold. Many does and fawns visit our yard through out the year, often choosing to stay hours to chill. But the bucks make themselves scarce this time of year. We have seen 5-6 at a time if we are up early enough.....awesome.

This painting was created from a photo from last winter. The 'big boys' were frequent visitors then. Looking forward to seeing more of them!

Hill Country Creek

Hill Country Creek

12 x 24, pastel

As stated in the previous post, I have been involved with a commission for awhile. But prior to beginning it, I decided that I might better bone up on painting a landscape. This painting gave me the opportunity to paint a landscape but to also, improvise and create what is not actually included in the photo.

I have a bad habit of being tied to the photo in my paintings. Trying to expand and add what the painting might need to be more interesting is a goal of mine. The actual photo was of a creek with maybe a foot wide trickle of water in it at any one point. This was fun!

Purrrfect II

Purrrfect II

8" x 6", pastel

My last couple of months have been filled with work on a commission. I, occasionally, do commissions, usually 8 x 10 or 9 x 12, my largest being 16 x 12, that is up until now!

This wonderfully trusting couple asked me to create for them a painting of a place they dearly love. They had not met me, only seen my work at the Gallerie at Gruene and online, yet trusted me to create this painting. I am forever in their debt. Because of them, I think I shall not fear the painting challenges that I face from now on. The painting was created, they are pleased, and it is soon to be hanging in their home. 

So.......having completed the commission, I painted something different. I was ready to paint a critter! Now, I am not a fan of cats, but they are great subject matter! You can feel his disdain for the human taking his photo!!!!! LOL!

Oh, did I mention, the commission was 4ft x 6ft!

A Dream Come True--IAPS 2019

34th  Juried Exhibition/ 2019
International Association of Pastel Societies

Four years ago I attended the my first IAPS convention and was overwhelmed with the beautiful art on exhibit in the 32nd Exhibition. I stood and studied the fabulous paintings each day I was there. At no time did I ever imagine that my art would be included in an IAPS exhibition.

Fast forward 4 years and there in the corner is my painting, Scenes from Above--Cyclist, among more than 100 paintings hung in this years show! I am beyond thrilled, there were over 1000 entries from around the world. Many thanks to the jurors of selection and awards, Andrew McDermott, Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Aline Ordman, and Sally Strand!!

I returned last night but the activities continue through tomorrow. I took a fabulous 2 day workshop and saw 2 demos, taking away valuable knowledge that I hope to apply and improve my paintings!

Horsemint and Indian Blankets

Horsemint and Indian Blankets

6" x 4", pastel

This year has been phenomenal as far as the wildflowers are concerned! I have had bluebonnets in the yard since the first week of March and still have a few hanging on. But the most dazzling display right now is the heavy showing of Horsemint, an unusual purple towering plant. They are thick on the sides of the highways.

Hope you get a chance to see some wonderful wild flowers!!

Whitetail Toddlers revisited

Whitetail Toddlers

10 x 20, pastel

Sometimes paintings sort of talk to you. Not real loud, just kind of under its breath, "Seriously, this isn't right; psssst, fix this; boring". That was the case with this one. Love, love the subject! We have so many babies born here and they are about to begin again. But there was something just not right about the original, so I revisited it. I will be brave and leave the original on my blog so you can see for yourself the changes that I made.

Maybe not a smart move, but something about the original was bothering me and now it is not! What is that saying, Art is in the eye of the beholder!!

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!!

Rainy Reflections

Rainy Reflections

8" x 8", pastel

Contrary to popular belief, art does not always flow easily. A case in point is the painting that was attempted prior to the one pictured above. I had this awesome idea and photo reference.......or so I thought. No matter what I did, it just would not come together. It has been taken to the sink and washed off........yes, you can do that with pastels with a quality substrate. Second try, same story! 

Then there was this photo, so different from anything I have attempted. I was so bummed, I thought "Why Not" give it a whirl. Different substrate, different subject, and maybe most importantly, no preconceived idea of the outcome........just paint for the joy of it.

Well, low and behold, this painting just flowed and seemed to be done in no time at all! That's why I keep going back to the easel!

Spectacular Sunset

Spectacular Sunset

8" x 8", pastel

We were blessed with gorgeous sunsets in February. Certainly prefer them to the gray, damp days we have had in March thus far. I loved the challenge of recreating the vibrant colors of those beautiful sunsets. 

The Brauntex

The Brauntex

7" x 5", watercolor 

Thought it was time to get the watercolors back out! This old movie theater has been renovated and hosts a number of concerts through out the year. This is the view from the New Braunfels Art League.......without the cars!

January Visitor

January Visitor

6" x 6", pastel

This is another painting of the little hummer that visited our feeder January 2018 during the freezing days. It was so puffed up trying to keep warm. Can't you just feel the chill in his little bones?

The Lookout

The Lookout

10 x 8, pastel

Almost named this The Perch, but that sounded like a fish! Really, this is a favorite perch for the squirrels to sit on during the day. Not a real fan of this critter, but they are fun to paint.

Just a Sip...

 

Just a Sip...

6 x 8, pastel

Such a treat to have the camera at hand when the sun and the cardinals hit the bird bath at the same time! A very rare occurrence. 

This painting is one of three paintings hanging at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery through this month. The venue is the Artist of the Year Show. I am pleased to have received the Honorable Mention #1 for my entries. Very nice comments from the judge, thank you!

Shhhhhhhhh......... Merry Christmas!!

Shhhhhh....

10 x 8, pastel

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

Third in a series of Christmas Santas, but the first pastel. This painting is my Christmas card and came about after a wonderful workshop in beautiful, rural, Junction, Texas with fabulous artist, Margaret Evans.

I am notorious for having a detailed drawing before I begin a painting.......not this time, no drawing. Following the block-in with pastel, as Margaret uses, this painting just flowed. That rarely happens, but so thrilled with the results of this one!! Thank you, Margaret!!!

Scene from Above--Distracted

Scene from Above--Distracted

12 x 6, pastel

Another in the series of capturing a moment in time from an unusual perspective. Distracted... could be any one of us at any given time.

I am thrilled that this painting is in the possession of a very talented artist. I was the recipient of one of his fabulous pieces of art as well! This artist taught himself to paint using his non-dominant hand following a stroke that robbed him of the use of his right side, his voice, and his ability to continue his practice in medicine. I had the pleasure of getting to know both he and his wife (who is also an artist in needlework) in Waco at the Brazos Fine Art show a couple of weeks ago. Gary Bachers  creates his art with Prismacolor pencils and the result is beautiful. Check him out at garybachers.com .

Scene from Above--Stroller

Scene from Above--Stroller

12 x 12, pastel

Another from the Scene from Above series. I just love that little one looking out from the stroller cover and the little toes and rolls of the baby, pure innocence!  

There are a few more of these to come and those yet to be painted!

Wonderful Memory

Scene from Above--Cyclist

12 x 16, Pastel

It is hard to believe that it has been over a month since we were in NYC to see my painting hanging in the National Arts Club as part of the Pastel Society of America, 46th Enduring Brilliance juried show. The painting returned home today and it is good to have it back.

My goal is to create paintings that others would want to have in their home. But every once in awhile I create one that holds a special place in my heart because of the subject or, as in this case, the awards and memories that go along with it. I was humbled to see this painting in the same gallery with pieces of those from the who's who in the pastel world. Never in a million years would I have believed that would have happened.

So, yeah, welcome back, Cyclist!!

Sky #18

Sky #18

6" x 6", pastel

Bid Here

Here is another installment in the recently renewed Sky series. Wishing we could see the blue skies, been raining for days!

Preening

Preening

12" x 9", pastel

Another painting that will be with me in Boerne tomorrow and Saturday. This guy just had to get spruced up for the ladies!!

Golden Dusk

Golden Dusk

6" x 6", pastel

There is just nothing more beautiful than a lovely sunset. I just love to try to recreate their beauty. I fall way short but I still try!

This painting and others will be with me this Friday and Saturday in Boerne, Texas at a benefit art show. The Patrick Heath Library will be the site of the event, 2-7pm on Friday and 10-7 on Saturday. This year it benefits the Vault Fostering Community. Come by and pick up a piece (or 2) of art and benefit families at the same time! Hope to see you there!!!

Sky Series----Revisited

Sky Series

A wise sage (aka: Rita Kirkman) once said, "Denise, you need to paint a series!" So I did as was suggested and began painting small sky paintings......now that was several years ago. Think I painted almost 20 small sky paintings. From that beginning I received a request for a large sky commission. All that was so wonderful, but as is my problem, I became a little bored with the series. 

I did not give up painting skies all together, just the small series. Sunsets have been a favorite subject. The opportunity to try to capture the grandeur of God's creation is humbling. As I was working on a 12" x 12" painting of the sun breaking through the clouds, yesterday, I received notification that 3 of my small sky paintings from the original series had sold on Daily Paintworks. I was blown away!

Serendipitous..... don't think so, because today God provided the most beautiful cloud filled sky to photograph. Expect more small skies in the near future!

Whitetail Toddlers

Whitetail Toddlers

10" x 20", pastel

We just love having all the wild life here......critters that is! Captured one photo last week of 9 fawns, 4 does, and 1 buck all resting in the yard. Even had 2 juvenile axis bucks sparring with the water buckets last Sunday! Now that was something to watch!