...the beginning

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18"x24" oil on stretched canvas

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.......I haven't had my oils out for awhile and absolutely Love the smell of fresh paint.



This is the beginning of a commission I'm doing for a man that loves the outdoors.  He gave me a photo he took of geese flying over a patch of water and grass plain.  The ground area is almost black and is darker here then I've painted it. 

First step was to lay in a red wash over the entire canvas. After drying...I've mixed blues, white,  naples yellow, and violet in the sky.  Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, and black in the ground. 

Now it's time to let the paint set up a bit, then add the geese that are flying and blades of grass that are in the foreground.  I don't know....I may not wait :D  I love painting wet on wet and Alla Prima.  

Sigh.....I just looked at the clock and realize, there's a reason I'm s-l-o-w-i-n-g down.  Creativity really has no timeline.  My body is telling me something else.  It's used to a regular schedule of going to bed by 10pm. 



Eyes done in Pastel

~ Soft Pastel on Belgium Mist Wallis Paper ~

I thought I'd share something I'm currently working on.  The top picture shows where I've started to pay attention to the eyes on this portrait. 

The bottom picture  shows the finished touches of this part of the painting.  I tend to do the eyes early on in a portrait painting.  For me......If I can't get the eyes right, then the rest of the picture doesn't fall into place as it should.  

Mom's Christmas bulbs

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6 individual paintings on stretched canvas measuring 2 3/4" square.

I haven't painted with acrylics for quite some time.  I found this to be a bit of challenge after painting with oils.  The challenge is.....they set up fast and dry on the palette in no time at all.  I'm used to working where I can put brush or pastel stick down and go do laundry, start supper....you get the idea I hope.

My mom decided to "gift" me with some of her old glass bulbs when I had my first Christmas tree in 1974.  Yep, it's been awhile and they are still around.  I say a prayer of gratitude when I hang these on my tree every year.  I love the memories and traditions we shared so long ago.

November 16th Pastel Class

This was the first class held in the newly renovated "Stone House" in Bentonsport, IA.  There's still some work being done to the building but we had Fantastic lighting to work from and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Paintings were created by doing a watercolor underpainting and layered pastels over it. I look forward to hosting more pastel workshops at this location.

Something I've been working on......

12"x9" Soft Pastel

I thought it would be nice to share  what I've been working on lately.  Commissions....Yea :D  They support my need for visually creating  & love for buying art supplies. ( When I think "shopping" it's not for clothes...it's brushes, paint, pastels, oh my!   .....oh....can't forget Chocolate :D)

  This is #3 out of 3 in a series of pastel portraits I've been creating for a couple that live in the Central part of Iowa. 

There are still a few small tweaks (strokes - blending) that need to be done to this work before I call it finished.  Overall, I'm pleased with the likeness. 

Something on the side.....

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There's a gentleman I used to work with in the Stained Glass Industry that is an antiques collector.  He is also known as the "Bottle man"....an expert at vintage bottles and has written a couple of books about them. 

So, I was approached to do some "touch up" work on a favorite tin platter of his.  This was not meant to be a complete redo....just fill in where obvious scratches are and where the color had completely rubbed off.

I'm real pleased in how this turned out.  Even when the platter is tilted sideways (where the light reflects off the surface) it's hard to see touch up work.  Hmmmmmm maybe this will turn out to be a new sideline business for me? 

Yes.....I'm very pleased....and I think he will be too.

2013 Iowa Nouveau Poster for Tassel Ridge Winery - the Progression

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Finished Pastel is 24"x18"  
Property of Tassel Ridge Winery and posters this size will be available this fall when they introduce this years Iowa Nouveau wine. 

For more information about Tassel Ridge and the release of their wines, go to:
http://www.tasselridge.com

I loved this project and have to give a BIG THANK YOU to my model Chris.