Current work on easel.....

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Here I've decided to start a painting on stretched canvas size 40"x30".  You can see to the far left a photo of a couple standing in grass in front of a canvas tent. (by the color chart)

 I took this picture at a Civil War Enactment in 2011.  They were set up near the Des Moines River in Bonaparte, IA.

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I decided to back up to get a wider shot here so you could see more of the studio space I have my easels set up.  I took down my old collage on the wall when I brought home my 4x8 insulation foarmboards  from the studio in Bentonsport.  I've covered them with canvas drop cloths.  

I mounted one here and created small shelves using foamboard propped up with large sewing pins.  I can set the 6x6 panels I paint on them to dry and view before they're framed.

This studio space has enough room for 3 people to work with plenty of space around each person......4 people max.   You can barely see Obie laying on the pulled out chair from the table that's been shoved up next to the wall and has narrow shelving on it.  I can easily fit 2 table easels there.  

 Oh boy...now he's jumped up on the computer chair watching my fingers do there thing. ...s-l-o-w-l-y he's reaching out like he wants to help.  I'm NEVER alone.

Alla Prima Paint out with Artist Reception 2-8-2014

I'm moving slow today....fighting a flu bug I think gifted from my hubby.  He was home from work last week with it...feels better himself..........now it's my turn. :(  So, below are some pictures that  my friend Jeanette Corley took of the art event "Alla Prima" paint out and the beginning of my artist reception that was held Feb. 8th 2014. 

 Showing the technique I've been using with 6x6 pastel paintings

View towards left of walking in the FMAAA Gallery door

view of my easel with a shot of me being serious.

Definitely posed here!

Connie Morris working in front of the large oil paintings that are part of this show.

Carlene Dingman Atwater working beside Connie.......

Carroll Michalek beside Carlene.....

View of 2013 and what I had completed in January for this years (2014) 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge created by artist Leslie Saeta

where some of the pictures are hanging for this month's show and.......

another view of the first artwork seen in the one person show called "Gin Lammert: After 2009" at the FMAAA Gallery in Fort Madison, IA  

The show is open to the public and will be hanging until  Feb. 27th.  Gallery location is 825 Ave G (downtown Fort Madison, IA) and hours Tues. -Sat. 10am to 5pm.

"Curled up in a ball"

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6"x6" Pastel on board

Guess I'm not done with painting images of our beloved cat Wabbles.  Here's another example of using the gouche paints as an underpainting, then finishing the picture with soft pastels.  

......And.......I'm not done yet :D  I have at least 2 more photos of Wabbles I plan to work from.  Then it's our new member of the family, Obie, that will be my next model.  He will be a challenge since he's a black & white kitty.  

"Focused"

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6"x6" Pastel on board

I Love the contrast here....Wabbles was watching a lady bug crawl across the floor ...hunter instincts kicking in, waiting to pounce. The light source is from our South facing picture window.

Again, I've used the gouche paints to establish my value range, then I block in colors with my soft pastels. I'll be sharing this technique of underpainting in a class this summer for the Villages Folk School.

Profile Pose

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6"x6"  pastel on board

I really like the affect of using gouche (opaque watercolors) to establish my value range before applying soft pastels.  I haven't tried this in a larger format yet.  I've been staying with small 6x6 to 8x8 squares lately.

I'm feeling ready to branch out to larger sizes.  We'll see what today brings.........to be continued.......

Look into my eyes......

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6"x6" Pastel on board
Good puppy! I love Labs. I had a black lab years ago and treasure the memories of her.  At the time, a lot of change was going on in my life. So much so, I was forced to find a nice couple to adopt my girl Shadow.  My daughter kept tabs on her (too painful for me to do at the time).  I did know in my heart, she was loved and that's what matters the most to me.

We can't always control the circumstances around us, only how we react to them. In stating this, I realize it's only up to me to continue pursuing my dream of being a prosperous contemporary artist/teacher (and staying healthy while creating).  I have the access to material, place to work, and TIME to devote to studio work. (and workout for the other topic I've mentioned.....good health).

I hope all that read this post today understand where I'm coming from.  We all have our own paths to follow.  I'm ever grateful for the ones I've crossed.  Too philosophical this morning.....my dance club music is playing (Paul VanDyke)....time to go workout , then hit the easel :D

"In my Comfort Zone"

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6"x6"  Pastel on board  SOLD

Here's the finished work that I created during our 1st (and maybe  an annual event?) "Alla Prima" Paint Out held yesterday at the FMAAA Gallery in Fort Madison, IA.

We had a good turn out and decent weather for Winter here in Southern Iowa.  The forecast was for 1 to 2" of snow...didn't happen.  

This picture is of our cat Wabbles taking a nap in one of her favorite spots......the back of the couch above Keith's head (my hubby).  She has  3 special places in our house where she lands for her long naps. I like the play of shadows and light in this picture.

Here you can see where my easel set up is at the far right (hadn't started sketching yet)  and close up of my good friend Anita Lee working away.  We wanted to use more of the natural light coming in the large South facing windows, so we're located in the front 3rd of this space.

Here's a closer shot of the other ladies that showed up to paint.  Connie Morris, Carlene Atwater, and Carroll Michalek.   I, unfortunately, didn't take more pictures.  I had a few friends snapping away and as soon as I get ahold of those shots, I'll post them here. Another person joined our small group of painters a little later...Jeanette Corley. 

Overall, we had a productive and fun afternoon.  I have to shout out another THANKS to the FMAAA Director and his staff for hosting both this event and my show. They put together a nice spread of snacks and drinks for the reception.

Artwork will be hanging here until the end of this month.  The gallery is located at 825 Ave. G in Fort Madison's downtown district.  Gallery hours are Tues. thru Sat.-10am to 5pm.