Friday, July 31, 2009

Like Moths to Light

9x9 pastel on Uart
underpainting
My last painting this year in La Conner. Goal: restrict and pre-select my palette. Paint with a sensitive, yet joyous hand. I felt completely saturated with the beauty of this slough in the early evening light. Longing.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

parting is such sweet sorrow


9x12 pastel on uart
christine at her easel (from 2 days ago)

my turn at the wheelbarrow on the return trip

Christine had an idea. Why don't we use the wheelbarrow to cart our stuff for the 2 miles? The plan was made: meet at the slough 5:30 AM. And off we went. The painting isn't anything special but the experience was. And it is my last day here. Whaaa.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Addicted to the Light

9x9 pastel on Uart

The goal this time was subtlety. ...hmmmm, not sure if I did that.

It's like the landscape speaks to me and my hand has no real choice about which marks it will make.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Love at First Sight

24x24 pastel on art spectrum
The slough is one of my new muses. I don't want a muse-ho...but this is so much like my river and reservoir that it was love at first sight.
The concept is the most important thing for a painting. You really have to be clear about why you are painting that particular scene. What drives you? Why are you emotional about it? If you are not clear the viewer will not be.

PS The notans posted yesterday were part of the planning for this larger piece.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Value of a Notan



Richard talks a lot about the value of the notan. From my understanding the reason you do a notan is to create a abstracted, value sketch, which is an excellent tool for creating a strong composition. Before beginning any painting get in the habit of making many notan sketches. Rather than rely on my words, hear Richard's.
Here are a few of my thumbnail sketches and notans for my field work and bigger studio piece.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Field 1 and 2

6x6 pastel on marble dust board /zing
6x6 pastel on marble dust board / neutral

One of my "ideas to think about and play with" from Richard was to paint with more neutrals and little zing, rather than my usual more zing less neutrals. So I decided to paint the same scene with the two distinctly (for me) different palettes. It's strange how I love artwork that is subtle and with a neutral palette, but my natural tendency is the zing. The top one is zing the bottom is neutral.
Which is your favorite and why?

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Dakota Pastels/Nirvana/Paint a positive picture.


If there ever was nirvana, this is it. Dakota Art Pastels. Robyn Williamson is the goddess of this nirvana. she knows and has every pastel (except one brand) in the world. Every pastel artist orders their products from her , the 2 Lisas and of course, Craig. I arrived there with a box full of tiny nubs (1/2 inch worn down pieces of pastel) Robyn could easily recognize the brand and color by touch and sight. They, of course, have every chart so that you can find them yourself, but Robyn just KNOWS. She is also responsible for La Conner Art Workshops, the place where the awesome, inspiring Richard McKinley teaches his Extreme Plein Air in July of every year.
This year Robyn began a blog of her own, Paint a Positive Picture. She did it to consciously put out positive vibes to others. It was conceived as a venue for artists working in any media to express the "positive though words and image." If you would like to contribute send her a jpeg of a current piece created in the last six months. Include a short artist statement describing the positive impact this artistic process had on you. It could be what inspired you, what happened during the process or what has happened as a result. The picture itself need not look positive. Please include your name, age, website/blog address, title of the artwork, media, size and date. The site has all the rest of the information necessary to send your contribution.
Visit the site now.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Concept/ The Blues


9x12 pastel on Uart

Every painting needs a concept, something that defines it being, its movement. For some people it's design-shapes and forms and for others its a more emotional component. Think about it, which is your driving force?
This is one of the paintings done at the thistle field. It will be the base of my studio work, my concept. I have a number of these done at different times of day. (I'll post at a different time.) This field and tree pretty much breaks down into two values. When squinting you would notice that all the flowers and grasses are the same value. Sort of Vuillard like. Check out this link. With some adjustment I will work with Vuillard on this.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Subtle View of Happiness

9x9 pastel on uart

Don't you love fog? It's the veil of blending. The dominant color becomes soooo evident. I was delighted to see this at the corner where I like to paint. Don't you think fog has overwhelming poetry without even trying?

One of the wonderful things about this workshop with Richard is independence and processing time. Three days are spent absorbing Richard's wisdom; then 3 days are spent on your own processing and trying to own pieces of the wisdom. I am in those processing days now with a sigh of relief. After these three processing days there are two studio days. During this time you take your small pieces and built on a concept to make a new bigger studio piece. Richard is available for questions. There is a critique at the end. Food to live off of for the year.
Dakota Pastels in Mt. Vernon, Washington sponsors it. Dakota is nirvana for a pastel artist. Every pastel you could want, more pastels than anyone in the country. Check out their link. Robyn and Craig, co-owners are awesome.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Thistle field, no.2

9x9 pastel on uart
Dominant color was my thought. Thistle field again.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Thistle Love

9x9 pastel on Uart


9x9 sketch underneath painting
the thistle field/photo

9x9 pastel on uart
I realize at this point I have two loves or muses. Fields with some wild flowers and bodies of water. The field that I dreamed about, that I painted constantly last year has been mowed down. I almost cried. But, I had to realize nothing is that precious. The muse is in me and the field feeds it. So I drove up the street and saw this.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Bedtime Lullaby for the Kingfisher (and me too)

9x12 pastel on a new surface
After a day in class, in which I painted terribly, I knew I needed another painting rather than dinner. I returned to the slough and just enjoyed color. No real goal just enjoy color. Ah...now I feel relieved and can go to bed!
Yes, I will write about Richard wisdom when time allows.
PS I posted this one last night.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Decompression

9x9 pastel on Uart
After the class was over I continued to work at the slough. It was simply a painting to decompress. Taking in information and trying to learn and change old habits is stressful. Painting to let loose was my solution. Not great, not a dog...just there.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Kingfisher's Home at Sunset

6x6 pastel and watercolor on uart
watercolor glazed on top of a one color notan study
one color pastel pencil with water grisaille
After listening to a full day for Richard's amazing wisdom and having the time for one painting (post that another time.) I was not prepared to stop. I grabbed a bite to eat and headed for one beautiful slough (long bodies of water made to bring water to crops). This year Richard is teaching a method that uses the grisaille, watercolor and then pastel. Really cool for making values correct. I am working hard at color harmony (as always) and for this one done on my time I condensed and took out the sky. I will post much more Richard wisdom when I have time. He is AMAZING! I have been fornute to work with him for many years now. He always pushes me another step and then I can go back and work in the studio for a year....re-energized
The whole time I was painting the kingfisher was calling to his mate. This is for them. I love kingfishers!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Off Mt. Constitution



12 x18 pastel and watercolor on Uart
Here I am up on Mount Constitution again. Today my goal was to eliminate the foreground trees and only make distance with large, small shapes, value and color.

A lovely couple, Jim and Lynn, came by and Jim took my picture. Here I am. Thanks Jim.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Grass Like a Soft Lullaby

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Late afternoon and the light is low, it was beginning to cast its long shadows. I began this painting with the goal of making the grasses soft and the sweet peas a little more subdued. If you allow those sweet peas they will become total divas. It was the grass's turn to sing.
It's a challenge not to get wrapped up in the strands of grass. Color notes is all you need.
(Notice I took the sky out again...back to my old tricks.)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Pizza Islands Galore (or view off Mt. Constitution)


12 x18 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
After painting my field this morning I decided to drive up to the top of Mt. Constitution to see what I could see. Even at 11:30 am this view was glowing. I may have to come back and paint it again in the magic hours.
Color harmony and grand distance were the goals.
The weather is really nice here, albeit a little cold for us southern gals.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Sweet Pea Bliss

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

I am posting two today just because I am so excited to be here. After a full day of travel; flight from DC, rental car drive, ferry ride and more driving , I made it to my little nirvana. I am not exaggerating when I say I have dreamed about this field since I was here last. At five o'clock I finally was able to set up my easel and begin! The goal of this painting was just PURE ENJOYMENT! Work will begin tomorrow.

Sweet Peas at Dinner time

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
So here I am ..in paradise. I am on Orcas Island, a destination that has been on my mind ever since I painted this field 3 years ago. Sweet peas everywhere...and that color...like no other.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Cosmos too

9x12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Focus - value, edges and simultaneous contrast
watercolor underpainting, focus - color harmony
Many times I have been asked to show my process. So first is the photo of the strip of cosmos of the road in Virginia.... See how hard it is to even see their beauty in a photo... another reason never to rely on photos. The value between the cosmos and the grass is very close.

Another note; Domi helped me finish publishing my website. Brand new (since I lost the other website this June. Check it out- new website
Thank you Domi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Other Cosmos

about 9x13 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Yesterday I had to drive to Virginia in order to visit my sister. I passed this awesome median strip covered in pink cosmos. Since then I thought about that strip for the entire day and night. So this morning, before leaving on my short trip with Leah, I knew that had to return and paint there. I love fields...especially with flowers. It's funny how you have to accentuate the color changes in the flowers or else there would not be a feeling of distance.

I close with this quote from Carl Sagan....the other cosmos. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
And now here's a link to cosmos, the flower.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Riverbend, Early Morning

6x6 pastel and watercolor on uart paper

Today I was so busy preparing for back to back trips. That's another way of saying that this is one of my "illegal spares" (a painting done ahead of time posted on a different day.) Tomorrow I will be off for a 2 day pleasure trip with my best friend in the world, Leah. And then Tuesday I am off for 2 wonderful, inspiring weeks painting on Orcas Island and in Washington state. The light there is so special. I will also get to spend time absorbing the wisdom from the god-like Richard Mckinley. (can't wait!) More about everything later!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Untitled- Green Study

8x5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
In order to finish the Green Turn on the River (below) I needed to do this smaller painting to warm up and figure out what was really bugging me about the other one. In addition I purposely left the sky out in this one.

Green Turn on the River -finished

14x14 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
I went back to Madiera and made some changes to this painting. Now I am satisfied.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Green Turn on the River

about 14x14 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Green, green. and more green! New view, this time I painted it from Madeira School. A group of singers serenaded me with a Gregorian lullaby while I painted. Cool. Thank you Andre for making it possible!


On another note, my friend Domi helped me create a new website today. Remember when Ilost mine (long story) a few weeks ago. Yes, the old version still comes up on the internet...but soon a new wonderful version will be there. I'll let you know when. Thanks Domi..you're a genius!

PS I am still not sure if this is done yet....

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Song of Green and Blue

about 10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

Dang! That sky just snuck its way into the painting...I just couldn't resist this time! Maybe tomorrow I will go back and resist.
Dude of the Universe-chillin' on the porch...for Jala
Isn't he adorable?

Monday, July 6, 2009

Edge of Green

about 6.5 x6.5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

The green/ no sky challenge continues. Different composition and light. I love the way light bounces around in water as it feeds off of all the influencing factors: the sky, the bottom of the water, the water color, the air color (humidity) and the surrounding land. (Did I forget anything?)
Painting in the summer makes me wish it was summer all the time:-)

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Secure

about 7x7 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

The challenges were the same. First challenge:greens. Second challenge, show the light through the reflection in the water. Can you feel the light?

Friday, July 3, 2009

Lush Green River

8x 12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Another green one, done off the Chain bridge (that wonderful construction zone/sans the snapping turtle.) Now they have even added cement barricades for a landscape painter's safety! How wonderful!
The green challenge continues.

Now to 4th of July festivities.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Soft Greens

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper

This was a double challenge. First, there is the "green" challenge (see yesterday's post) and second, initiated by Donna's question, to leave the sky out and let the water tell the story. The overlying desire was to keep it abstract, but yet real.
So where else would I go?????.....of course, the reservoir in summer.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Green All Over

about 9x11 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Riverbend, yesterday. I am now obsessed with greens. Pulled out the box of Terry Ludwig greens (the 90 green set). What a wonderful selection of neutral greens! Check them out, order and enjoy! There is also a nice set of Maggie Price neutral grays...so yummy. I will have to get them soon.
I finally received my new computer with photoshop cs3; so now I just need to set up everything. How exciting! The new Photoshop is easy to use, just like my old Photoshop 7. Hopefully the photos will show that.