Sneak Pick at What's on the Easel

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I've been doing my best to finish up the book illustration I've been commissioned to do.  I thought I'd give everyone a look at what the easel designated for pastel works (home studio) looks like while working on this project.

I have two separate areas at home that have easels set up.  Where I work with pastels is a room that I can close the door from the rest of the house.....to keep our cat "Obie" out of mischief.

He doesn't seem to mess with the easel I paint with oils on.  It's located in a general area of our home.  I can easily cover the paints there so he doesn't track through them.  Pastel sticks are a whole different issue.  I could see him take one and RUN!!!!!!

VFS Demo

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Here's the demo I did at the June 15th Villages Folk School workshop.  Yes....another PEAR !  What can I say......I think this shape and fruit is becoming my favorite subject for a "one item still life".

I wish I had written down the symbolism of the Pear a friend sent me.  Something to do with representing friendship, abundance, etc.  All positive connections.  I'll look for the message and make sure I post it here.

Meantime.....if you're interested about more information on  workshops through the folk school, go to:   http://www.villagesfolkschool.com   for all kinds of fun and inspiring things to do.

At the Rose Garden

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8"x10" Soft Pastel on board

Had the chance to paint again in the rose garden in Bentonsport on Sunday morning.  Walking around with fellow artist Carroll Michalek, we found inspiration everywhere we turned.  So, don't be surprised to see more plein air paintings created from the rose garden.

"Single & Blue"

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7"x5"  Soft Pastel on board  SOLD

Oh....so BLUE!  Cool as Ice!  Well.....I'm having fun with this oh so familiar subject matter. 

Saturday evening (June 1st) was the artist's reception at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium in Bonaparte, IA.  Seeing ones work in a gallery setting puts a whole different perspective on the art created.  This little jewel sold the night of the show opening.

Carroll Michalek http://www.carrollmichalek.blogspot.com   and Carlene Dingman Atwater http://www.dailypaintercdingman.blogspot.com  are the two other artists in this trio show titled "All Together".  The exhibit and sale of small works is open to the public during the galleries business hours 12:00noon - 6pm on Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat.  1:30pm-6pm on Tues., and closed on Sun., Weds.  Show ends June 30th.

Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium is a wonderful small business that offers specialty teas, whimsical gifts, a state-of-the-art showroom for national and local artists, and custom framing.

3 of a Kind

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7.5"x10"  Soft Pastel on board

"You said What?"  That was my first thought when setting these guys in place.  One is eavesdropping on the other two's conversation.

For these small pastels, I've been using the AS Colourfix primer on archival foamboard.  I like seeing the texture of the brush strokes showing up through the pastels applied on the surface.  

A Lovely Single Pear!

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7"x5"  Soft Pastel on board

I'm back to painting pears (did my 30 Days/30 Paintings challenge in January using this subject).  This time using Soft Pastels....(did the challenge all as 6x6 Oils.)

I am joining fellow artists Carlene Dingman Atwater and Carroll Michalek in showing small works we've done so far this year.  All will be on display/for sale the month of June at the Burns Gallery & Tea Emporium, Bonaparte, IA.



Experimenting with palette knife painting...

It was an interesting experiment having students try something out of there "comfort zone" in class last night.  The LAST picture above shows the use of a limited palette.....nothing of what the color of the actual pear set up was showing this student.  She had to focus on the "values" she saw before her and match her color scheme accordingly.

The other student for the evening (at TOP) easily became agitated  working with so much paint on her canvas....pushing things around with a knife.  Her style of painting is conservative, thin layers of color applied by brush to canvas. 

Keeping the "simple-single still life" set up allowed us to finish a work in a very short time.

Next week we're talking about how color "temperature" affects our mood in creating, along with the viewers reaction to a finished work.  The subject focus will be the Landscape!