Iron and Wool

Iron and Wool

12x12, soft pastel

This is a second still life painting of the old cast iron kettle and wool rug I recently purchased.  I just love all the textures and placed them on a wooden table in my living room against a textured wall.  I'm enjoying this little series.  It reminds me of the resilience of items from the past. These things weren't "throw away" household items but stood up to all kinds of use and abuse over the years. Resilient and strong...reminding me of the pioneering spirit of days gone by.

Cast Shadow

Cast Shadow

12x12, soft pastel

Painting realism can look like tedious work...but, I find it mesmerizing.  Focusing on the details to express a realistic image sends me into "the zone".  On this piece I loved expressing the texture of the cast iron and subtle reflections on the side of it from the rug it sits on and the challenge of depicting the shadow it cast. I loved painting the textures in the rug with all its imperfections and I'm reminded of how beautiful we all are, imperfections and all.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club

12x12, soft pastel

Every two years pastel artists from around the world gather in Albuquerque, NM at the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS).  The first year I attended, in 2017, I snapped a photo of these ladies catching up at breakfast. They seemed so excited for the upcoming events (as was I). A perfect time to reconnecting with old friends and make new ones.  What a delightful, colorful group of artists!

Oh Hummingbird!

Oh Hummingbird!

7.5 x 12, soft pastel

Rarely do I paint plein air (outdoors) but I couldn't resist trying to capture this guy (in a painting that is).  He visited me quite often with his friends during the summer months in Cascade.  I always plant these particular flowers to encourage hummingbirds to hang around my patio...and they really do the trick!  I do confess, I had to take a few photos to see what he really looked like since he didn't want to sit still for me.   Anyway, thankfully I didn't scare him away....especially since I was singing "Oh Hummingbird" the whole time.  (the neighbors must have thought I was a bit looney)

Oh Hummingbird! - Seals and Crofts, 1972

Study - The Three Amigos

Study - The Three Amigos

6x6, soft pastel

These guys were just hanging around in the studio...the last remnants of a bouquet of flowers.  I almost threw them out but together they were sorta cute...so, I painted them.  Why not right?

Study - Vase of Sunflowers

Study - Vase of Sunflowers

8x6, soft pastel

One of my goals is to sell affordable original artwork. Sometimes that's a big challenge when a painting can take quite a few hours to complete. Such is the case with my "realism" pieces, where one painting can take days, weeks, or months to complete. But others that are more "impressionistic" are more easily created and (once in awhile) just more fun to create.  And thankfully, more affordable to just about anyone.  Hope you enjoy this little vignette.

Eat Your Veggies

Eat Your Veggies

14x11, soft pastel

What can I say, when kids or grandkids go off to college we all want to impart cautionary wisdom. Don't party too much, don't drink and drive, study hard, make good decisions, keep an eye on your goals and your grades.  But in the end, all I can come up with is: "stay healthy and eat your veggies".