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.

Work in Progress, Spring Has Sprung

Work in Progress

The flowers are blooming. Spring has sprung. Love this early surprise. Experimenting with some new media and tools( shown here are some of them). I'm trying to keep an attitude of un preciousness as long as I can during the painting process so as to give myself permission to not fear trying something new, be daring no matter what. Working with razor blades, do dads from my hardware box. Adding liquid media now. Will tell you more about it on my next post.

Fill My Shopping Bag Please

Up Stream

18 x 24

Pastel on Pastelbord

Heron Lake sits a half mile from my house. I have come to know this lake through the seasons and different times of day in all kinds of weather. It never fails to fascinate me with its many moods and its beauty. I have painted it so many times because I never get bored with it. Of late I have been painting scenes of the lake in a more abstracted manner and with mixed media added into the mix. I use all kinds of tools to create interesting effects, among them are pallet knife, razor blade, pipe insulation, little do dads from my hardware box to mention a few. I've added water media, Pam spray, water, water color pencils, resists papers of all kinds, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, shopping bag paper, etc.. My list keeps getting longer as I think of or hear of new things.  I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm loving every moment of it. Hope you will feed me with any creative tools in your shopping bag. Please let me hear from you.

On A Creative Binge

View From Rose Mountain

16 x 20

Pastel on Canson Mi-tientes Pastel Board

Ever since I got the book "Painting the Spirit of Nature" by Maxine Masterfield" I have been on a creative journey along with my classes. We're using lots of fixative, water, alcohol, Pam spray,hardware doodads such as framing and other metal clips ( for creating shapes and tailings) sponge brush, pencils (pastel and otherwise) shipping popcorn, crushed plastic wrap and other assorted papers, even some oil pastel, etc. I'm finding that the relatively new Canson Mi-Tientes Board can withstand a tough beating so using all these tools without damaging the paper is possible. I would love to hear from you out there telling me what tools you use.

Reflections

8 x 10

Oil Pastel

It happens that once in a great while I get the urge to do an oil pastel. On this painting I used primarily Sennelier Irridescent and Metallic oil pastels because they give off such a beautiful glow.  This is a dreamscape influenced by many of the beautiful ponds I have visited.

On The Easel Unfinished and Uninviting for Too Long

It Started With Green

18 x 24

Pastel on Linen Mat Board

This painting started out as an abstract floral. I started with a large Sunflower in the upper right quadrant. Other then a few playful strokes of greens and black that's all I painted on it. It sat in my studio untouched for about 6 months when I decided the heck with it, I'm never going to finish this. Something about it was uninviting. So I wiped off as much pastel as I could using tissues, then scrubbed it with a toothbrush. Now I'm ready to start the new work. Recently I checked out a book from the Timberline Gallery lending library called "Painting the Spirit of Nature" by Maxine Masterfield. This is a book describing some of her techniques along with photos of her works as well as other's works. All I can say is WOW. I was blown away, inspired and energized, I want to say like I've never been before although I'm sure I've been this inspired before. Just can't remember when.

So this is the first painting I've done since I got the book. I'm returning it back to Timberline this week or next as I have it on order. I don't want to give it up until I get my own copy.