"Thinking of Spring"

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This is a still life I put together for a pastel workshop for the Villages Folk School in VanBuren County Iowa. We held it yesterday at the Township Hall in Cantril. I used

this paper that had been marked on by students........example to show how well pastel can cover up.....be forgiving so to speak, if you want to change a picture. I sort of like this just as it is, but decided to go ahead and put more detail in the piece. Scroll down to see the finished work.

almost finished......

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15 1/2" x 11 1/2" Pastel on 100% cotton paper

Here's the finished painting. Thinking of Spring planting. ...deciding what seeds to buy; what I'll be planting in our garden this year. There's a lot of work to do once the temp. gets warmer outdoors. If interested in this painting, just send me an email. ginlammert@yahoo.com

Ah! Grandpa with Alora

This is a 3x5 snap shot of my husband with our first grandchild. She's 6 years old now. Soon to be 7(next month) My how time fly's. So, I used this image to create the pastel painting below.

Afternoon Nap

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19"x13" soft pastel on BFK 100% cotton paper

Ah! Grandpa's (Papa) love!!!! I have nice memories of my grandparents.....I know my husband holds dear ones of his. I don't remember falling asleep in my Grandpa's arms though. This was definitely a kodak moment. My hubby got a kick out me giving him a little more hair on top.

For info on having a commission done of your favorite photo, just send me an email ginlammert@yahoo.com or phone 641-208-5968 . I also have some info posted on my website www.ginlammert.com click page "Purchase Info" on home page to view.

Strong & Sweet #2

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10"x9" soft pastel on LaCarte paper
Well......I think this is it for the onion paintings for awhile. I have a few onions left I haven't used for cooking. Maybe they'll make it in a still life next week. These two have made it to the crock pot for tonights supper.
Just finished doing a sketch for a figurative pastel. It will probably make the next post if I don't get distracted with another still life. I have two of fruit I started last week. They're leaning against the wall in my studio....not quite out of eyesight. Almost a teaze....saying"come on....you know you want to finish me!"
I'll have this up soon on my website. To purchase go to www.ginlammert.com click Artwork on home page, then "Latest Works" for paypal. I have a page on website dedicated to purchase info too if you're curious about details on shipping and commission work.

Out Numbered; Just as Strong!

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8 1/2" x 11 1/2" Soft Pastel on LaCarte paper

Some of the same onions I painted last time, just picked out the biggest out of the bunch. Imagined them in a duel.....funny, the little white onion is actually stronger then all three red.

I'll have it posted soon on "Latest Works" at my website. That's where to go if interested in purchase. http://www.ginlammert.com/ click ARTWORK then "Latest Works".

Remember......the colors will vary a bit from the digital image. I come really close but the original has so much more life to it.

Still life Set Up

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Thought I'd share how I set up a small still life by my easel. Right now I'm using my desk stand I use at art shows as the table. I've taken a medium size box, cut the flaps off and cut sides at an angle; lined it with white matboard. I then can either drape cloth over it or set up my still life inside to create a cozy special place for the objects I want to paint. I have a lamp to the side of the box to create a strong light source for shadows and contrasting light on objects.

I use different methods /paper when working with my soft pastels. When on the go, I usually attach paper to 1/8" foamcore. At home, I use this masonite drawing board. I like the firm surface instead of cushioning behind the paper with layers of newsprint. I'm using LaCarte Sanded pastel paper for this still life. I sometimes draw a 1/2" boarder around the edges to remind me to leave space so I can easily pick up the finished pastel without getting fingers covered with the dust. (Yes, you can still pick up some particles after using fixitve spray to set the pastels)

I prefer not to tape all the edges down (just the four corners) when I'm working with a lighter weight paper, such as MiTentes Canson paper. It sometimes "stretches" during the application of the pastels. I can easily lift a corner this way to pull and tighten the paper back down to the masonite if I need to. I've gotten in this habit, so I tend to tape all paper this way.

Below I've posted this piece in it's half finished state, and then the final piece with what the inspiration was to create it.

If you'd like to know more about my methods and products I use when painting with pastels, please don't hesitate to contact me at ginlammert@yahoo.com I'll be posting the finished piece on my website for purchase since I have paypal there.

half way there

Onion still life half way done. Following post is the finished painting with comments.

Finished Still Life

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8 1/2" x 11 1/2" soft pastel on LaCarte sanded pastel paper

The onions are from my 2009 garden. Some didn't make it thru the winter....started growing again. Guess they just didn't get dried out enough in my basement. I'm trying to use up the rest in all kinds of recipes. This day I was preparing Chili. It struck me that I needed to imortalize them first in a still life. There is so much color here; I only recorded a fraction of what I could see.

To purchase, go to my website http://www.ginlammert.com and click artwork - "Recent Works"

Finished commission

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12"x18" Soft Pastel on 100% rag paper

Just finished this commission for our neighbors. They live a few miles North of Pulaski. And Yes!......they have plenty of deer that travel thru their frontyard. We have an abundance of these creatures.....enough so, it's a challenge to drive at night without hitting one.