Daybreak Upper Bear Creek

Daybreak, Upper Bear Creek
Pastel, 24 x 18

Here is a new pastel inspired by the smaller one done several weeks ago. It started in a plein air class about two years ago when we were outside along Bear Creek during the summer. I never finished the smaller painting and had put it into storage while building my new art studio. When I took it out this spring, I decided that it needed a little something! So I changed it from full daylight into a sunset. It's fun to take out an old painting and feel free to experiment. After changing that painting into a low key, sunset painting, I thought it would be fun to try it again in a larger size. So the smaller painting inspired this larger painting! I changed my viewpoint so that I my horizon line moved up, and I changed my palette and key to sunrise instead of sunset. It was great fun to use the older painting as in inspiration and I think I will now take this painting as the inspiration for another version! I wonder how far I can take it?

Peonies on Red

Peonies on Red
Oil on Canvas
20 x 24

I haven't posted or painted in over a week! I've had company and have been getting ready for the Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market which takes place next weekend (June 14th & 15th). I have a booth with two friends. This is the first painting I've had time to do in over a week. I tried to use the same techniques that I learned from the dvd by Robert Johnson (see my previous post). It was harder to do without the aid of the dvd, but I did try to use the same order of blocking in, painting in the dark background, establishing the darks and lights and using the fresh thick paint for my flowers. I'm pretty happy with the painting although it could use some refinement. There's a lot going on with all the flowers and leaves and the rug and I got a little overwhelmed at the end trying to finish it, so I think I better live with it for a while and then maybe I'll know what it needs. But it's been exciting to discover this wonderful painter and his book and dvds!

Dahlias in Silver

Dahlias in a silver pitcher on an oriental rug. I never finished painting the rug because I had to return the dvd... This is my second painting done with a dvd by Robert Johnson. This was pretty hard but I had a good time painting it and learned a lot from the dvd. He has a great process and I like the way he applies thick paint. I wanted to set up my own still life but my dahlias never opened up enough, so I painted along with the video which I don't recommend. It's much better to have your own still life to work with. I don't know if I can paint the same way without watching the video, but it will be good to try it on my own and see if I can duplicate his process and impasto!

Pansies in a Teacup

Pansies in a Teacup

8x10 - Oil on Canvas Board

Here is a little painting of more pansies! I'm still in my "pansy period" I guess. Anyway, the teacup is supposed to have a floral design on it but I'm not sure I'm going to add it. Maybe that's too fussy? The teacup has violets painted on it. I may glaze them on...

Pansies on Red Rug

Pansies on Red Rug
Oil on Canvas - 16 x 20

Here was my set up for the pansies on the red rug. I had rented a dvd called Painting Pansies by Robert Johnson and my friend Debbie and I decided to paint along with the dvd. I set up a similar still life to the one he does on the dvd. He makes it look so easy! But after a while I had too much paint - especially on my background - and it was turning into goo. So I thought I better scrape it off and let it set up a little. I came back to it yesterday and finished it and I like it but the technique I was trying for didn't quite come into fruition. BUT, with that said, the dvd was really good and I'm going to try it again. Watching him put in the pansies was great and I was doing pretty well with that, it was just laying in the background color that hosed me because it didn't stay light and airy as I had wanted.

I'm going out of town for a week so this will be my last post for a little while!

Pansy Study

Pansy Study - Pastel
12 x 16
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This was my first attempt at pansies - did it before the painting below but forgot to post it! This is a lot looser and sketchier than the still life painting. I'm having so much fun painting pansies that I even did one more in oil that I will post later today. Will go over to the studio and take a picture of it.

Pansies

Pansy Still Life

Pastel - 18 x 24

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Boy am I ready for spring. Today is May 2nd and it was cold and windy and yesterday we had snow. But in my studio it's spring! Yippee!

Cinnabar and Dragon

Cinnabar and Dragon
Pastel - 12 x 18

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This is a fairly large vase from the Humphrey Museum, from about the 18th Century. It sits in the parlor on top of the piano at the museum. Next to it is a Japanese bowl decorated with a dragon. This was a study for a larger painting that is in progress. It may be in progress for a long time since I'm not all that crazy about it, but I'm very happy with this study.

What a struggle!

Acoma Pot - In progress - Maybe will never be done!

This was a huge struggle. I couldn't work from life and my photo was dark, the image was distorted and I didn't know how to paint a pot with a lot of decoration, so I kep painting it out and trying to put it back in again. Then I realized the pot is too blue anyway. Since I took this pic it has changed again and may never be done because I just don't know how to do this. I think the next time I will paint a very plain pot. But, it was fun to try and I learned a lot - what NOT to do! The painting looks strained to me - I know how hard I worked on it and although it kind of nice, all I see is the struggle.

Bright Pink Peony

Bright Pink Peony
Pastel - 12 x 12
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Just having some fun with soft pastel and flowers!