A Painting and It's Process

"Going In"

9 s 12

Pastel on Sabertooth Pastel Paper

Still coming out of a stagnation period but so glad to see this work come to completion.

I wanted to paint something peaceful and soothing with an non objective beginning that was all I knew when I started this this piece. I started by focusing on shapes and colors. As the painting progressed, I indulged myself by using water color pencils (dry or dipped in water), pastel pencils, Prismacolor pencils and regular pencils alternation with the pastel. I used the pencils to add curved lines and draw shapes where ever my instinct prompted me to go. Next I thumbed through a creative painting book for more inspiration which resulted in my adding a waterway to draw the eye in. From this point on I adjusted and tweeted here and there until I felt at peace with this work.  

Repeat Performances

"Fecilia's Blue Meadow"

16 x 20

Pastel on Suede Mat Board

Please bear with me while I come out of my current stagnation.  I'm beginning to feel the inspiration and motivation come back so hopefully it won't be long until I will be posting new paintings. In the meantime I've brought back some works previously shown on my blog. Those of you who are new will be seeing them for the first time and those just checking in may have missed them in the past. Hope you enjoy this little showing of mine.

"Confetti"

8 x 10

Pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes Paper

"Into My Gourds"

8.5 x 11.5

Pastel on Pastelbord

"It Started with Pink"

9 x 12

Pastel on Sanded Paper

"It started with Green"

16 x 20

Pastel on Linen Mat Board

"Dance of The Koi"

18 x 24

Pastel on Canson Paper

A Bit of Braggin

I'm thrilled .....Shown: Earth Tones Pad

Gray Tones Pad

Up to now it's been hard to keep this under my hat but now it's ok to let the news out. Canson Mi-Teintes has come up with two new pastel pads one in earth tones and one in  gray tones. They come in sizes 12" x 16"  and 9" x 12".  I'm so excited to have my artwork on these products. This is a benchmark acheivement in my career. I have used most if not all of the colors in the gray pad throughout my career. So I was very pleased with the selection of colors. I've used some of the earth tone colors before. Now I can't wait to try the rest of them. By the way, the artwork on these covers were done on one of the colors in each pad.

Work in Progress Using Pastel and Other Media

 Work in Progess- stage 1

I've done very litle basic sketching using a grey pastel stick attached to a water color brush to extend my distance from the painting. I use minimal lines to set the composition. Next I fill in the darkest areas using the broad side of the pastel stick. I use an assortment of the fatter rectangle and round shaped pastels. On this painting I'm useing mostly Terry Ludwig, Sennelier, Richeston and Unison pastels.

Stage 2

I continue filling in the canvas which is sanded pastel board.

Stage 3

More filling in.

Stage 4 - Introducing Other Media

Once the canvas is covered, I start playing by introducing liquid mediums (water and hairspray) painting before they dry. Next I added pastel,watercolor and lead prismacolor pencils. I don't know what I'll do next. I will continue in my next post. 

Just recently  my husband and I got back from a  very nice trip to San Francisco. I love the pastel buildings.  

View From the De Young Museum

Two of my favorite paintings at the De Young Museum 

'Tulip Culture'

George Hitchcock (1850 - 1913)

Oil on Canvas

''Spring Winds' 

Joseph Raphael (1859-1860)

Oil on Canvas

Farmer's market along the path to city hall.



Trudge

View from Sara Mountain

16 x 20

Pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes Pastel Board

This is an intuitive painting. It took two previous do overs on the same support to steer me on to a path that intrigued me to go further. It was a trudge at times but I knew I on a journey of discovery.

Anticipation

Open door in anticipation along the Heron Lake Trail.

My husband and I took a much missed and needed walk around Heron Lake this morning. It's been raining for most of a week now. Good news! As of today there is no rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future in fact it's going to warm up substantially. Suppose to be in the low 80s later on in the week. There's something about anticipation whether it be the outcome of a painting or the weather that makes my heart and my art sing.
I have been posting a selection of completed paintings on facebook with the word 'Spring' in the title in anticipation of the return of the warm, sunny weather I love.  I've selected a few of them to show you here.

Spring Morning Walk

8 x 10

Pastel on Linen Mat Board

Sometime in Spring

12 x 16

Pastel on Sanded Mat Board

Mariposa Spring Gold

12 x 18

Pastel on Canson Paper

High Desert Spring Fling

18 x 24

Pastel on Suede Mat Board



Completed Work

Joshua Ranch Spring

19 x 25

Pastel on Mat Board

The momentum I had came to a halt when I got sick so the painting rested while I recouperated. When I got back to the easel I found myself lacking in the level of enthusiasm I had going for me before. I continued on in spite of my negative attitude. It wasn't too long before I was back in rhythm. I brought out my Prismacolor and watercolor pencils and added them to the mix along with some watercolors and water miseable oils. I used a lot of Aquanet hair spray here and there not just to fix but as a liquid I worked in with my fingers and pencils.  In the final stage I ask some of my students for a critique. They said the background mountains were not reading well. I agreed with them and changed it before I pronounced it done.