BeforeThat First Stroke

 

"Into The Light, 19 x 25, pastel on Mi-Tientes Touch board.

 

I don't just select a photograph from my collection and start painting simply because I think it looks nice.There are lots of questions I have to ask myself about the scene before I'm ready to commit to painting it. Here are some:

What do I want to bring out in the painting?

What do I want to convey to the viewer?

What is my focus all about?

What is it I felt when first looking at the scene in real life?

Where do I want the eye to travel in the scene?

What support, pastels and other media do I want to use for the painting ( what paper, board, brand, color )?

How large do I want the painting to be?

What method and process do I use? 

These are just a few, but I think you get the idea. Some paintings take a lot of forethought and planning, while for others the answers come almost instantly without decisions to make ( I love to paint these kinds, but it doesn't happen too often).

The painting "Heron Lake Loop Trail II" was one of those that the photo of the scene sat around for a while first as something intriguing but passed over. It was several months before my decision was made. I knew I was inspired by the morning light,  shadows and pallet of the scene. When I knew what my ingredients were for the painting, I was committed and ready to start. Was or is this particular recipe a success?  Now.... that depends on the viewer.

Don't leave

 

"Heron Lake Loop Trail II, 18 x 24, pastel on Mi-Tientes Touch board.

Go Take a Walk

 

"Heron Lake Loop Trail II", 12 x 15, pastel on Canson paper.

 

I feel sometimes that I'm boring you to death with Heron Lake but it's a big part of my life living here in the foothills of Yosemite. Wasn't it Monet who painted the same scenes in all kinds of weather, light and seasons? I'm not by any means comparing myself to him but I keep coming back to the lake because it's so intriguing, delightful and beautiful, always beckoning me to observe and explore its hidden secrets. It inspires me to paint what new things it reveals to me. While no one can predict the future, I'm feeling this will be a lifelong pursuit of mine as long as I live here. What I learn through this experience expands my creativity and for an artist that's priceless. It's like an open air art class I can attend anytime I want. You probably have one just outside your door. What action you must take is to go out and observe and things will be revealed . Now it's back to the studio for me. Oh, by the way, I already took my walk around the lake this morning.

I've Changed My Cover

 

"Sun Washed", 18 x 24, pastel on pastelbord.

 

 I've decided to change my cover image to a painting that was a featured in International Artist's magazine's landscape contest a while back.

My mood and energy level was on high intensity when I painted this because I was so inspired by the magical light in the scene at our local lake. Hubby and I usually walk in the morning but on this day it was around noon when I came upon this area of lake shore. I was struck by the brilliant, magical light. I started painting this in my studio soon after I took the photographs so my inspiration and memory was still fresh.

I decided it was a good time to bring it back and share it with you.

 

 

Whatever Works

"Heron Lake Loop Trail, 18 x 24, pastel on Mi-Tenets Touch board.

 

I posted this painting on face book the other day and someone asked "What kind of  pastels did I use? Sticks or pencils?" The answer to that question opened up a topic I would  like to talk about. A few years ago, I was inspired to break away from the traditional confined way of painting with pastels as I knew it. I started adding all kinds of mediums I hadn't used before such as Prismacolor pencils, vegetable oil right from my kitchen, hairspray, alcohol, water color and probably some other ingredients all applied with my fingers or a brush or whatever. My students at the time and I committed to paint this way experimenting as I was doing each in their own way experimenting as they saw fit. No limits and no restrictions. Here are a few of my works resulting from this experimentation.

 

"Sometime in Spring", 12 x 16, pastel on sanded mat board.

 

"It Started With Pink", 9 x 12, pastel on sanded paper.

 

"Into My Gourds", 8 x 11, pastel on pastelbord.

 

In reflection, I have to say that this was a turning point for me. It opened up boundaries and set me free and it changed my way of thinking and my painting process. I haven't looked back since.

By the way, in answer to the question asked me on face book about whether I used sticks or pencils. I answered in part with this photo I took of what I used on this painting.

 

 

 

 





 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

Studio Intrepidation

 

"Heart Song", 16 x 20, pastel on Pastelboard

 

 

I know I'm repeating myself but I'll say it anyway. It's been a while since my last post. That's because since my heart attack I came down with the flu, followed by food poisoning and then pneumonia. The good news is I've recovered and feel great. I started back slowly when I felt I could go back to my studio. Frankly, I was wondering if I would ever paint again. Just the thought of pastel dust near me and standing on my feet for stretches gave me nightmares. Then sometime in April I began feeling better. The tables turned. Somewhere deep within I found my self inspired to paint again .I walked back into the studio and found it to be like a welcoming friend I hadn't seen for a while. I was so glad to be there! I started playing around in the studio for short periods of time. I did a little more work on a painting I thought was finished. I retitled it "Heart Song" because I felt my heart singing out after all my ordeals starting with the heart attack. Within a week or two I was ready to do a quick painting and then another not so quick..... I'll post these soon. It's great to be back!

A Blue Bird Flew By

 

"Winter Solitude", 8 x 11, pastel on Canson paper.

 

It's been a while since my last blog. I've been easing back life, into a somewhat changed work ethic since my heart attack. I've been looking at what changes have been taking place and what my attitude is toward these changes. Now I weigh myself and take my blood pressure on a daily basis and pay attention to it and do what's necessary to keep it good and consistent. I enjoy each day like never before. I tell my husband what he means to  me everyday and at times during the day. I don't only think them, I verbalize. I verbalize my appreciation of things and the beautiful qualities of my surroundings. I know it sounds hokey but each day is precious to me. Life is good. Now, about how I look at my art. I'm not as hard on myself to produce a masterpiece with each painting, rather enjoying the experience of creating. I enjoy my class more than ever. I'm letting go of extraneous things I use to do that really didn't mean anything except that I might do some day. I'm living in today pretty much, not in the future. Oh is that a mountain blue bird that just flow by my window . Have to go and look. Bye for now.