Vintage

Vintage

12x12, soft pastel

I’m always drawn to color and shiny reflective objects...and I suppose I’m quite sentimental as well.  So these vintage Christmas ornaments were just the right subject matter for me.  It’s hard to keep things loosely interpreted and not go full board hyper-realistic...but for me, keeping things loose helps portray the texture (and age)  of each object.  Do you agree?  One of the things I love about art is that there’s something for everyone and everyone’s individual taste.  Love that! 

Abundance

Abundance

11x14, soft pastel

While scouting out locations to paint during the Eagle Plein Air Festival, I toured a nearby iris garden. Two small boys were also walking through the garden trailing far behind their mother.  She told them not to pick the flowers as they made their way down the pathway.  It must have been quite a vantage point to view the blooming garden at eye level, a sea of color, an abundance of life.

Table For Two - Date Night

Table For Two - Date Night

6x8, soft pastel

This is a rework of an older painting I did a couple years ago.   The nice thing about soft pastels is the ability to make changes to an older painting anytime you’d like.  This is one of several special places to go in Meridian...Grimaldi’s at The Village. 

Table For Two - Morning Coffee

Table For Two - Morning Coffee

8x6, soft pastel

No matter what’s going on in my life, a morning cup of coffee just starts the day off right.  I especially like the very early morning hours when it’s still dark outside and blue moonlight is still streaming through the window.

Dusk Along The Riverbank

Dusk Along The Riverbank

8x10, soft pastel

Much of my summer was spent at a little getaway in Cascade, Id.  We were a mile from the lake and only steps away from the Payette river.  This scene is across the Payette and is always a delight to paint whether it be in the early morning or late evening hours.

Summer Bouquet

Summer Bouquet

10x8, soft pastel

Painted this summer...and repainted larger this fall for an upcoming show.  I just loved the sunlight hitting the cement stoop in front of a local shop...especially how it cast shadows from the glowing flower bouquet.

Table For Two - Blue Stripes

Table For Two - Blue Stripes

5x7, soft pastel

A cute little scene I couldn’t help but paint...especially those gorgeous blue striped cushions.  A scene compiled from many photos and a little imagination.

Table For Two - Anticipation

Table For Two - Anticipation

8x10, soft pastel

I’m planning a series for “tables for two”.  I’ve gathered many images over the years...a place setting here, tablecloth there...some chairs occupied, some not.  This particular scene is one I’ve painted before and enlarged a bit this time.  I like to imagine who has sat here...who will come take a seat soon or even, who is the waiter approaching the table?  I love this scene...I can’t explain why.

Out Of The Depths

Out Of The Depths

9x12, soft pastel

This persistent late summer waterlily was intent on blooming one more time before the chill of fall set in.  The sun was low in the sky, peeking through the trees and highlighting the gorgeous bloom.  I suppose it was its final farewell to summer.

Hay...just catching up

I have to admit....I’m being a little lazy in order to catch up on posting this summer’s artwork.  Most of these are categorized as practice pieces...most aren’t ones I’ll even post for sale on Dailypaintworks and some already have homes.  In an effort to be thorough in showing all my work (yes, the good, the bad and the ugly), well...here you go!

Hay

6x8, soft pastel

Into The Light

12x12, soft pastel

Willows Last Light

9x12, soft pastel

Apple Orchard 1 - Van Gogh Style

6x8, soft pastel

Apple Orchard 2

6x8, soft pastel

Purple Cow

6x6, soft pastel

Cocoa

8x8, soft pastel

Sammy

8x8, soft pastel

That Was Then, This Is Now

6x6, soft pastel

Tin Roof Shed -3

8x10, soft pastel

Sunflowers

6x8, soft pastel

Summer Bouquet

Summer Bouquet

6x8, soft pastel

Wow!   It’s time to get caught up on this blog.  The reason I’m behind on posting is that my Blogger app on IOS devices stopped working (months ago) and I’m just now finding a solution that seems to work for posting to Blogspot.com.  So, I’m back.  I also didn’t participate in the 30in30 Challenge in September taking that time to travel to see family and enjoy what was left of summertime.  Now that fall is in full swing...It’s time to get back to business.

I participated in the Eagle Plein Air Festival in June and had a great time...even though I was outside my comfort zone.  I was delighted to win a best dry media ribbon for the little plein air piece above.  I also painted the piece below at the Quick Draw competition (which was sold during the auction that followed).  The Plein Air festival was a blast and I met several new friends along the way.  

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Tin Roof - A Study

Tin Roof - A Study

6x8, pastel

This little guy is a study for a larger piece...at least, I think!   I'm going to stretch myself and participate in the Eagle Plein Air Festival in Eagle Idaho during the first week of June.  As someone who is not a landscape painter...and rarely a plein air painter...it should be a harrowing experience...at least I can say I'm preparing for it!  I love this scene not far from my home...this roof is so weathered it's purplish!  Yum!

Camille's Garden

Camille's Garden

6x8, soft pastel

I'm not sure this one is finished...but for now, I will let it rest.  This is an early morning scene of the garden at Camille Beckman's.  A peaceful place indeed!

The Walking Path

The Walking Path

6x6, soft pastel

Time to practice on landscape...and the dreaded trees!  Someday I will either abandon trees altogether or make friends...not sure which one will win out.

Seabrook - A Drawing

Seabrook

10x8, graphite

With painting in pastels and occasionally in oils, I have little time for sketching...but this little guy was a commission I had promised...so voile!  It's done.   A feisty little guy.

Spring Thaw

Spring Thaw

9x9, soft pastel

The snow melted quickly once it started and the small pond behind our getaway melted within a couple days.  You can see in this scene that the morning sunlight was just creeping into view, warming the trees and beginning the thawing process.

Along The Shoreline

Along The Shoreline

20x16, soft pastel

It's always fun for me to see someone else's work-in-process so I thought I'd post a couple of the  WIPs of the latest, "Along The Shoreline".  I painted this scene before as a 12x9 but decided to go larger this time.  This piece is 20x16 and was just as fun to paint as the first one.  I hope you enjoy!

First Light

First Light

9x9 soft pastel

I'm on hiatus in Cascade, Idaho.  Sometimes with a new pup...you just have to get away for awhile to paint.  That was the case with this painting.   First Light is an inspirational little scene I found at dawn this morning just as the sun was coming up, touching the shoreline of our little pond.  I absolutely love the pathways through the trees and meandering ponds in this area and feel very blessed to have some quiet time alone to reflect, eat, and paint.  I took a lot of photo references today and nearly froze my fingers off but the excursion at dawn was well worth it.  I hope you like it.

Saguaro Canyon Pool House

Saguaro Canyon Pool House

6x12, soft pastel

 Well, I finished the 31 Day Challenge with a challenge to myself to finish as I had started, with an early morning scene from the neighborhood.  I sketched this scene in the car with my pup Benny patiently waiting in the back seat.  He was a trooper!  I couldn't sleep so I got out really early (3:30 am)...the lighting was beautiful but I had to return a couple hours later to get the sky colors at dawn.  It's a nice little piece that goes well with one I did previously...I rather like the long rectangular size.

Happy to have completed another Challenge.  They are always very taxing...but they get a routine going and a fire under the rump....so, all in all it's well worth the effort.  I hope you enjoyed viewing my work as I trudged along!

Blooming Begonias

Blooming Begonias

6x6, soft pastel

When looking for a bunch of flowers at the grocery store to purchase for a floral scene, these begonias caught my eye.  I just love the soft yet vibrant colors!  Both of my grandmas had begonias from time to time...their sweet blooms are near and dear to my heart.  (day 30 of the #stradaeasel challenge, previously posted to Facebook on Jan. 30th)

Pitcher of Twigs

Pitcher of Twigs

8x6, soft pastel

This little pitcher of twigs is my reminder that spring is only weeks away!  I painted it as part of the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge (already shared on Facebook).  The best part for me was painting the crazy vertical light reflection on the pitcher itself.  Hope you enjoy it!

Love At First Sight

Love At First Sight

6x6, soft pastel

It's almost February and with it comes Valentines Day.  I love Valentines Day for one particular reason.   I like to paint cookies and candies especially because SOMEONE has to eat them when I'm finished....and I have a 50% chance of it being me!   The above painting is for a local (silent auction) fundraiser at the Flying M Coffee Shop in downtown Boise to benefit efforts to cure AIDS.  If you're in the local area head on down there to see some amazing artwork!!!  You'll be tempted to put in a bid or two since there are probably over a couple hundred pieces of artwork on display.

Below, are a few pieces completed during the past week for the Strada Easel 31 Day Challenge that I posted to Facebook separately from my blog posts...thought I'd get them included in the blog with this post.  I've recently taken up pen and ink sketching to practice drawing more often...I'm having so much fun with it.    

Have a terrific weekend!!!

A Nap In The Studio

pen and ink

Abandoned But Beautiful

pen and ink

Above The Treeline

pen and ink

Moscow Mule Mug

pen and ink

My Side

6x6, soft pastel

TC and Friends "Fun Times In Idaho"

TC and Friends 

"Fun Times In Idaho"

8x6, soft pastel

TC and her two friends arrived in Idaho a couple days ago.  As soon as they unpacked they were raring to go! They wanted to see the sights in and around Boise.  First on their list was hitting the slopes at the local ski hill, Bogus Basin.  Actually, it was Senor Azul who was most adamant about skiing. He crowed all the way to the top of the mountain.  TC was mildly amused and hen kept peering over the side of the chairlift, certain her chicks would meet an untimely demise.  They all returned to my art studio safe and sound and in one piece (well, ok...three pieces).

TC (aka the Traveling Chicken) is a small ceramic chicken that has traveled the globe since 2012.  She picked up a couple friends along the way and together they visit hosting artists in their studios.  Each artist agrees to create a painting of one or all of them and then pass them on to the next artist.  It was a fun day painting these three goof balls!

Follow TC’s adventures at http://travel-chicken.blogspot.com The painting above is available for sale ($125) on Dailypaintworks at https://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/Cindy-Gillett-5073/

A Little Sketch

The sketch below is a little project I'm working on...while it's a bit corny, there's certainly more to the back story that I'll reveal tomorrow, assuming I'm able to convert this sketch into an actual painting.  See you tomorrow?

If Vincent Had A Rocker

If Vincent Had A Rocker

6x6, soft pastel

This rocker has been in the family since my youngest brother was small...a good 45+ years ago...so I thought I'd paint it similar to Vincent Van Gogh's chair painting...just for fun.  I included his pipe and tobacco which were in his original painting (even though it seems a bit inappropriate given that my painting is of a child's chair).   Oh well.

A Walk To The River

A Walk To The River

6x6, soft pastel

Some paintings just don't work out and for me, this one didn't...holding back on color is like trying to jump rope with one hand free.  In any event, this one is a scene from Cascade along the Payette River.  If I get the inclination I'll revisit it later and calm it down...for now, it's "finished".   It was daVinci who said "art is never finished, only abandoned"....he was talking about this piece....lol.


For the #stradaeasel 31 Day Challenge I sketched this little abandoned farmhouse below.  The Challenge is a big stretch for me...even though I paint every day, I don't alway sketch in detail from life.  I typically complete a thumbnail sketch and then jump right in and paint.  So I'm tempted to sketch more often...I'm actually finding some value in making a detailed sketch.

Abandoned

Harry Needed To Chill Out

Harry Needed To Chill Out

8x6, soft pastel

This was a painting completed from life ahead of time since I'll be out of town and internet will be spotty.  A scene from our neighborhood.  Even though I live in Idaho...our subdivision was developed with a desert theme....many of the original cacti have died (no surprise there)...but the Joshua Trees keep hanging on. The fact that they survived last year's epic snowfall is amazing.  I call this little guy Harry.  He was a bit frosty this particular morning but still very beautiful.  I love the light green section at the top...as though he's ready to sprout new growth...you go Harry!

While traveling, I also completed this crazy little painting below of garlic.  Not my favorite painting for sure, but some days painting from life is like pulling teeth.  Day 15 of the #stradaeasel 31 Day Challenge.

Garlic

6x6, soft pastel

Cascade Fishing Spot

Cascade Fishing Spot

6x6, soft pastel

This is one of my favorite coves on Lake Cascade where we head each morning to fish during the summertime.  I love the way the sunlight hits the tips of the evergreens early in the day.   It's a painting from memory...can't wait for summer!

I did the painting above ahead of time since I am traveling and from memory but the image for the #stradaeasel 31 Day Challenge for today is below.  A one hour study while waiting for my grandson to finish basketball practice.  Wow, what a busy month!

Odessa, Washington