Small Wonders

Gossamer Pond II

I'm bringing back some small images shown on my blog this past summer so I can tell you about a show coming up in March at Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst, California called 100 Small Wonders Under $100. I am bringing these works back to show you so if you live around here or are passing through on your way to Yosemite National Park, please do stop in and take a look. They are from a collection of small works I was doing for my painting a day last summer. Many of them will be shown in this show.  Enjoy. Oh by the way every painting in the show including the framing will be under 10 inches.

Please clink on the link for more information on Timberline Gallery at

http://www.timberlineartgallery.com/

New Header Image for Now through February

Simon's Lillies

                              18 x 24                       sold

Because this painting reminds me of this month's header, I thought I would share it with you. I really love the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California not only for it fabulous collection of art but also for its wonderful gardens and lilly pond. February's header is titled Norton's Lillies ( ha ha Norton and Simon..get it). This painting also sold. I'm posting it a bit early this month because I don't know if I can blog over the weekend. If I can all the better.

I Am Honored

Pond Currents

16 x 20

Pastel on Suede Mat Borad

Some months ago I was contacted and invited to be included in the publication of  Best of America Pastel Artists Volume II  http://www.bestofartists.com/ The book is now published. It is a beautiful book containing images from pastel artists throughout the United States. They selected three of my paintings to be in the book. Pond Currents, Sunset Serenade and Marcia's Lillies.

 

Sunset Serenade

17 x 20

Pastel on Suede Mat Board

     

                           

                                                                      Marcia's Lillies

16 x 29

                  Pastel on Canson Paper            Sold

Latest Mud Pie and Back to Olive Oil

Mud Pie #20

8 x 10

Richeson Premium Pastel Paper Mounted on panel

I used a lot of liquid for this mud pie. Because foam core backing bowed on the last mud pie  that I applied a lot of liquid to, I thought I'de try mounting a sanded paper to masonite board. It appears to work. I started with saturating the paper with turpenoid then applied the pastels. With gloves on I blended, finger painted and scratched with my nails for effects. I was really getting messy and having a lot of fun. Next I dipped my fingers in garlic roasted extra virgin olive oil and smeared it aroung. I let it dry somewhat then painted  over it with Terry Lugwig pastels. What do you think?

And The Winner Is???????

Reflective Elegance

18 x 24

Pastel on Canson Paper

A very large thank you goes out to all who sent me their suggestions for the title of this painting.

See blog of Janurary 14th. The winnah goes to KAH for her lovely inciteful title. You can view her blog on http://www.blogger.com/profile/18089042680629451922 KAH Creations.

On Photo Realism

Painting in Progress

18 x 24

Pastel on Canson Paper

Of late I received one of those fw: emails entitled "These are NOT Photos. They're Paintings." which depicts scenes that look like photos. O.K. so I was once told or read that the camera sees 200 colors ( this was when digital cameras were just becoming popular quite some years ago) anyway I was also told or read that the eye sees 2000 colors. Ok, ok I may be off somewhat on the numbers, but my point being who would spend their time copying something so limiting when the mind's eye sees so much more. Why copy a leaf to perfection, a path with each tiny rock painstakingly executed when one could be expressing strokes of emotion amd reactive feelings. Why when one could be painting from the heart. So where does that put the camera in our lives. Why can't a camera be the tool to evoke and stimulate those feelings we had when we were there and saw and felt with our own minds and hearts? What do you think?

 

Photo Tel Aviv Coastline

It's Time To Get Wet First, Then Get Dressed as Mud Pie #17

Mud Pie #17

Canson Paper

8 1/2  x 11

While I've been blogging along,I've been doing my mud pies pretty faithfully. I'm up to #20. Mud pies ,for those of you just now coming to my blog,  is a project I am currently undertaking along with my students. We have committed to painting 40 pastel paintings choosing our own composition  and painting it 40 times using the same composition more or less and setting an approximate time limit. The purpose being to have fun and the freedom to try new things. Doing the perfect painting is not the goal, but no matter, I start out to have fun and do so, all the better if it becomes something substantial. On this mud pie I sprayed the paper heavily with  turpenoid then applied the pastels on the wet surface. It was fun and thrilling at the same time. It took on an almost water color look to it. Do you agree?

Note of caution ....the foamcore backing that I attached the pastel paper to bowed and the outer layers separated off due to the moisture soaking through but it was worth it.

Questions: Have you tried this technique before and what has been your results?

Mud Pies and Olive Oil

Mud Pie # 15

8 1/2 x 11

Pastel on Canson Paper

Would you believe I used roasted garlic flavored olive oil and turpenoid in this painting. I blended with shapes cut out of foam core board . I removed the outer layer of paper on both sides as shown below. These make great blenders, especially on skies.

Section of Foam Core Board

My Latest Lily Pond Painting Is Hungry For A Title.....Please Help

                                                                            

                                     

  Untitled

18 x 24

Pastel on Canson Paper

                      

I discovered knew soon after I started this work that what I thought was Canson paper was in fact Strathmore paper, but I liked what was happening so I stuck with it. I find that Strathmore paper does not accept the pastels as well as Canson, especially after a build up of layers. But labor on I did. Sometime after working on the piece I hit a wall so I put it in my closet for finishing at a later date. That date was one year later when the solution popped into my head (where it came from I don't know) but there it was so out of the closet it came.the painting. That was some weeks ago. Since then I've brought it almost up to completion playing with it here and there trying to get the paper to accept the last layer of  nuisances and highlights using the softest pastels,,these being Schmeinke and some Terry Lugwig. I love Schmeinke, it's like painting with butter and I love the subtle colors of Terry Ludwig. So here it is finally done.

 Now I'm have a problem coming up with the title, it's just not happening.  I've come up with an idea but I need your help by suggesting a title. In return, I would love to bestow upon the winner the title of ......

The Anita Stoll Perfect Title Suggester Award

Please let me hear from you.  I will announce my selection on January 26th.

Another Painting in My Lillie Pond Series

Koi Lillies

Pastel on Canson Paper

                                   18 x 24                     $800

Lily pond painting for today. My inspiration was the delightful pond at The Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, California where I did a solo show sometime ago. The park is a miniature take on gardens around the world. Very delightful place to visit.

My Endless Fascination with Lilly Ponds Goes on

Purple Lily Yellow Pads

Pastel on Colorfix Sanded Paper

17 x 26

Lily Pond at The Norton Simon Museum

                             Oil    15 x 30              available

Is there a typo here, did it read oil. Yes, you read correctly. I have been know to dabble in oils and acrylic. Since I've put in one of my lily pond paintings as my header on the blog, I've decided to feature some of my lily pond paintings to go with it. Hope you enjoy. Have to sign off and go get ready to meet with my Sisters To The Seventh Power meeting. We are a wonderful eclectic  group of artists who inspire each other and brain storm together once a month. I will write more about us on future posts. Bye for now.

Sierra Sky

A couple of days ago around 5:00 pm I was doing some work at  the computer when I looked up out my window. The sky had a most beautiful glow to it. I couldn't help but to get up and go outside to check it out. To my amazement I saw the most beautiful sky scene before me and depending on what part of the sky I was looking at the colors changed . It was awe inspiring. There was even a pale rainbow across part of it. Too bad my camera couldn't pick it up.This is some of what I saw

My husband said this is called a sierra wave. We live in the foothills of Yosemite National Park about 45 miles from the southern entrance so this makes sense.  Anyway, I thought you might enjoy these photos. I hope to paint one of them soon. For now, I have too many works in progress going on but look for them in  future posts.

My Blog Gets A New Header

Otherwise known as Variety is The Spice of Life. Don't you just get bored of seeing the same old, same old not that the old is bad to the contrary old can be wonderful, but sometimes I need a kick in the pants to put a little spark in me., get me going and motivated to face this actually wonderful day.
The painting is pastel on suede mat board. My inspiration came from a scene in the lovely gardens at The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California.  I have done many paintings of this elegant lily pond garden over  time and continue to do more. This painting was displayed at the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in New York City several years ago as part of a national exhibition. I haven't shown it very much probably because of it's dimensions (12 x 29). When I spotted it in my inventory my mood changed from ho-hum to aaahhhh. I thought you might enjoy it. I plan to replace my works in the header of my blog from time to time . Hope you enjoy them.

Please let me know what you think. Do you enjoy this added feature?

All is not Lost.Completion of a work in progress from Post of December 7, 2009

Photo of painting from earlier post.

Completed Painting

8 1/2 x 11 on Canson Paper

Untitled as yet, ( suggestions for a title would be welcomed).

 What started out on Canson 19 x 25 paper ended up as a small painting because the paper buckled when I applied an alcohol wash to the underpainting.. When I finished  I noticed that the bucked paper wasn't so noticeable in the area I cut it down to. and I was, therefore able to salvage it. I plan on using the scene to the right of the cut out as part of another painting. I will show you how that turns out in a future post.

The Pond Series continues

The Pond #4

Pastel on Canson Paper

                                  8 x 10                   available

I'm taking a break from the mud pies today even though I painted another one because I want to. So, I've chosen to show another of my pond series paintings. I love painting our pond. It's an ongoing series with me. The pond, Heron Pond to be exact is about half a mile from out house. It has a delightful one mile loop trail around it. It's inhabited by a variety of birds, some permant, some migratory. We have egrets, swallows, herons of course, and a variety of ducks. I never tire of painting it.  I will post one every now and then so stay tuned.

                                       

The Pond #5

Pastel on Canson Paper

                                  8 x 10                 available

Question: Do you have a place you paint that you frequent often  that you are doing a series on?.If so, why do you keep painting it. Please let me know also any thoughts and descriptions about your special place.  Why is that you keep returning there?