Santa Spinner

Santa Spinner

10 x 8, pastel

I know, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet. Not a fan of the early Christmas commercials either, but one has to get a step ahead if one is painting their own Christmas cards!!

Was at a total loss for what to paint this year. Was thinking about a Santa and when going through photos on the internet, saw a cute photo of a dog in a Santa hat. Well, we have just about the cutest dog I know and we have a Santa hat! Soooooooooooooo!

I have since tweaked the painting but had to get the order for cards in ASAP. And it is a gray day, not a good one to take photos of paintings---so enjoy Santa Spinner! 

Sky #11

Sky #11

6" x 6", pastel

Click to Bid

The skies were beautiful during our short trip to south Texas last week. So glad I finally got to put it down on paper.

The Texas Pastel Society if having a regional show at the Carver Center in San Antonio the month of November. The opening reception is November 6, from 6-8pm. I have 2 paintings in the show, hope you can get by and check out the show.

Also, the Artoberfest continues in New Braunfels through the middle of November.

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 #9

Sky #9

6" x 6", pastel

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Have been working on a pet commission for a couple of  days so I decided to take a break and paint another sky. Love working on this series, always subject matter to choose from. The photo reference was of a beautiful sunset from a couple of months ago.

Also, been framing art to display at the Garden Ridge Women's Club Holiday Marketplace on Saturday. Looking forward to meeting many people. If you are in the area, come on by. 

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.

No News is Good News---I Guess?????

Guadalupe Autumn

12 x 9, pastel

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Well, haven't heard a word that I needed to go to NBAL and pick up my paintings because they were not juried in today. So........... I am assuming that they were accepted into the Artoberfest Show. So no news is good news, right?

The reception is tomorrow from 5:30- 7:30 pm. Awards will be presented at 6:30pm. If you are in the area, hope you can make it by to the show. There is always wonderful art in this show that runs through the middle of November.  Hope to see you there!!.

Sky #8

Sky #8

6"x 6", pastel
Click to Bid

Life has been busy, enjoyed a fun weekend with family attending that exciting TAMU football game in Arlington. Then came back to work in the New Braunfels Art League Gallery a couple of days. Decided that I would try another sky painting while working there. So here it is.

I have been working mainly on a painting for the Artoberfest Juried Show at the NBAL gallery. It is good to finally get it out of the house, would catch myself walking by and deciding to touch it up just a bit.  Darned near ruined it on several occassions. Entries were accepted today and will be juried/judged tomorrow, so won't know until then if either of my 2 paintings were accepted. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Sky #7

Sky #7

5" x 5", pastel
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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 #6

Sky #6

6"x 6", pastel

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Besides finding the time to paint these days, the most difficult thing has been deciding which sky photo from which to paint!!(is that correct grammar?) We have been blessed with wonderful, much needed rain lately and the resulting skies have been fantastic! 

Still working on the painting for an upcoming show. Got to get it done this week, or life is going to get in the way once again!

Shady Creek

Shady Creek

6" x 6", pastel
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Needed a break from the sky studies (but not for long) and working on the complex larger painting, so I tried a landscape. The idea is to lay in major forms and then quickly define the important points, trying not to overwork the painting. I will be working on mastering that technique for years!!

Sky #5

Sky #5

6" x 6", pastel

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The sun was behind me on this day at dusk, illuminating the clouds in the back as rain clouds drifted across. We have been blessed with glorious rain lately, thank you, Lord.

Sky #4

Sky #4

6"x 6", pastel

Painted this last week but didn't like what was happening. So I have tweaked here and there. Finally, a good artist friend, who is in the middle of 30 paintings in 30 days, told me to just post and quit worrying about the final product. The growth  and improvement come with doing the work, so here it is!!!

Sky #3

Sky #3

5 x 5, pastel

Man, this sky painting was a booger-boo! The sun was behind the cloud on the left and getting that effect was challenging. But challenges are good, right-----opportunities for growth!

While working on this series, I am working on a larger piece that is quite challenging also. So "growth" is going on all the time, never mind the frustration. But you know with all that, creating art is still the most enjoyable time for me. Just turn my Pandora selection on and get in the moment. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity!

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!!

Skies, the Series

Sky #1

5 x 5.5 inches, pastel

A dear artist friend challenged me to paint a series of paintings. She further challenged me to paint 30 in 30, (30 paintings in 30 days). I had to bale on that one because life really gets in the way. For instance, found out Monday evening that I needed to run over to College Station yesterday, that's 8 hours gone.

One thing about painting skies you are never at loss for subject matter. Lately, we have had beautiful clouds, sunsets, thunderboomers. I sense the majesty of our Lord in the beauty of the clouds, to think all those billowing clouds, thunderheads originated from vapor, amazing.

So here is the first of the series. Not sure just how many skies will make up this series, but I will keep posting as they are completed.

On another note I took on a commission today, a pet portrait. It is a surprise Christmas present, so thank you for the opportunity to paint your cherished pet!!

Awesome Workshop

Guadalupe Fall Color

12 x 6, pastel

Had the privilege of taking a workshop with Richard McKinley in Minneapolis August 20-22; learned so much. The knowledge he possesses is just amazing, plus he is so willing to share it with all who are interested, gracious to all. I would highly recommend his workshop.

This painting was begun on the second day. The base was a watercolor underpainting. I was so apprehensive prior to the workshop, worrying that I could not paint to the level of the other students. There were so many fabulous artists in the group, but I think I did OK, very pleased with the progress and knowledge gained there.

Now to put it into practice!! More to follow!

All Clean!

All Clean!

12 x 6, pastel
Click to Bid

Surprise! I really am painting, just not as productive as earlier in the summer. This heat has been a killer lately.

The birds have been living in the birdbath! We cannot keep water in the thing. Looked out there today and there were 9 sparrows in it. Caught this little guy just after his bath earlier in the summer, you can almost see the water flying off his feathers.

Waiting Patiently

Waiting Patiently

12 x 12, pastel

Click to see in Daily Paintworks

This pretty girl belongs to a friend, who decided she just had to have the painting. Thank you, Sharon. I took the reference photo a year or so ago and recently came across it. My dad had border collies, wonderful dogs, so intelligent and loving. He would give a one/two word command and they would bring the horses to the pen, amazing.

Patience and loyalty seem to exude from this painting.

Hill Country Beauty

Hill Country Beauty

40" x 20", pastel

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted a painting and here is the culprit!!! This is the first pastel larger than 16 x 20 inches that I have attempted. It took a number of days to complete, so nothing to post.

This doe was one of 25 deer in our backyard back in May. We normally have the 'maternity' ward in our backyard of about 10-12 does and yearlings. But on this particular day, the regulars were out there and I looked up and there were an additional 13-14 deer. I was snapping away trying to get some photos to use as an inspiration.

You can see this painting in person at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery Texas Show through the month of July (until it sells). It is a wonderful show with beautiful art. The reception is open to the public on July 11, 5:30-7:30pm. Hope you can make it!

Tree Hugger

Tree Hugger

8 x 6, pastel

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There is a love, hate relationship with these little critters at our house. Cute little buggers, but destructive in the flowerbed. They certainly love for the birds to flip food out of the feeders. 

They are fun to watch when they chase each other up, down, and around the oak trees. Was lucky to catch this guy on the sunny side.

Must Be Spring--Part Deux!

Must Be Spring- Part Deux!

6x6, pastel

Click to Bid

This the same cute little cardinal from Must Be Spring caught in a different position. I was so lucky to catch him with the sunshine beaming on him, just made him glow.

Hope you can get by the NBAL Contemporary show this month and the reception tomorrow evening 5:30-8 pm.

Caffè Italiano

Caffè Italiano

16 x 16, Pastel

A new show opened at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery today and the theme is, Contemporary-Anything Goes! The painting above is my entry and is featured on the postcards announcing the show! Just notified that it is an award winner, but won't find out until the reception June 6th 5:30-7:30pm!!

You may remember that I posted a study of the same subject, 5in x 5in. a while back. I decided that the subject would be better in a larger format and set out to make it happen. Thoroughly enjoyed painting this, so totally different from my usual subjects. Love the abstract shapes, shadows, reflections---I know, who is this woman?? I could almost smell the cappuccino as I painted the residue in the cup.

As told by the title, the reference photo was taken on my trip to Italy. There may be 2 more paintings there--showcasing the other cups not pictured here.

Hope you can make it by the show. It runs through the end of June.

Evening Storm

Evening Storm

8 x 10, Pastel
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I have been told that it is important to paint a number of paintings in the same theme. Have had a real challenge in deciding what that 'theme' would be. I love painting everything, particularly animals and people. However, paintings of people are rarely purchased and while that isn't the sole purpose of my painting, I would like to support my painting habit!!!

So considering painting skies, here is #2. Thinking that the photo for this painting was taken in the panhandle, big sky country!

Gull Post

Gull Post

6x8, pastel
Click to Bid

I know, the name is a little cheesy, but my son dared me-----so! Had fun painting this seagull on a post. You can almost see his feathers fluttering in the in the ocean breeze.

Sunlit Deer---Again

Sunlit Deer

8x8, pastel

I post this deer again because the original was bugging me and  couldn't put my finger on it. After putting it away for a few days, I decided it was to bright all over. The background was fighting with the deer for importance, so by graying the background, the deer has become the star.