Sunday, August 30, 2009

My Studio



I am so fortunate to live in the foothills of Yosemite National Park. When my husband and I bought our present home I would have given anything for a larger studio, not that I wasn't grateful for the 8" x 10" room I used as a studio when we lived in the high desert, I was. But one thing I knew, I wanted a bigger studio. I was thrilled when I saw the home we both liked had a half converted garage which we finished except for air and heat (that may come someday, but I've managed with the aid of two fans and a portable heater). I still paint indoors in the heat of summer. Hope you enjoy Anita's version of a virtual tour. As I've said before. I'm not high tech.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

New Painting

Heron Lake Enchantment II
                                      18 x 25                        $800   


This painting had been sitting on my easel for a week waiting to see to see if there were to be last minute changes. Yesterday my husband walked into the dining room where I was working ( too hot in my studio to work in summer) anyway, he stopped short and said "wow". Like its been there for a couple of weeks as a work in progress with no comment from him the whole time. He loved it and offered a suggestion, he said "don't add another thing". I agreed.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Pastels Sublime Gallery

Fecilia's Blue Meadow
Blue Lagoon

Sunset Serenade


The Intrigueing Landscape


Blooms on Hillside

My first day on Blogger


Hello out there. Welcome to my blog.
A little bit about myself ( more to come in future blogs) . I am a professional artist working in pastel. I am a signature member of The Pastel Society of the West Coast and Northwest Pastel Society. I started painting at the age of 50 after moving to the high desert north of Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley. The open spaces , the light, clean air, dramatic and vast skyscapes brought out of me an intensive desire to create. I could not deny the urges so I started dabbling in oils. After a year of closet painting, I worked up the guts to show my works at a local festival. I sold nothing but was invited by another artist, Glen Knowles to enroll in his watercolor classes at the local college. I did that and ended up taking his classes for a few years switching to water color as my medium. Oh heck, I don't want to go into my history. You can look it up on my website at http://www.anitastoll.com/ if you wish. By the way at the time I'm writing this it needs updating. Until I do that this blog will suffice.
I am both excited and nervous about this new venture of blogging. I hope you'll bear with me as I learn the ropes. I'm not so much a high tech person but I will achieve some degree of learning and skill. By the way, did I ever tell you I'm not a writer. Did you hear about the Panda who went into a diner. He sat at the counter, ordered and ate his meal then pulled out a gun and shot the person sitting next to him and proceeded to leave. As he was about to go out the door someone shouted out " Why did you do that?". He answered, " I'm a panda that's what I do. Look it up in the dictionary". Then he got up and left. Naturally all the people around were stunned. The owner of the diner went in the back room, came out with a dictionary and looked up panda. It said "panda : eats shoots and leaves". Well folks, I'm an artist, I paint....That's what I do. I'm not a writer.
Here's hoping you will enjoy my blog and share my adventure as I grow and learn what the heck I'm doing here.