Newport Coastline

Newport Coastline

5x7, Soft Pastel

One last Oregon scene before heading home.  The Newport coastline is gorgeous, with its lighthouse in the distance and sand dune beachfront.   I highly recommend driving along the Oregon Coast there's so much to see! 

Morning Calm

Morning Calm

6x8, Soft Pastel

Morning Calm was painted in my hotel room while visiting the Oregon Coast.  I particularly like the ocean and all things nautical...especially in the early morning or late evening hours.  Everything seems just a little more sleepy and peaceful. While painting it, I just wanted to climb up in this little dingy and take a nap.  I may paint a larger version of this one since I didn't have my best pastels with me and struggled a bit with getting just the right colors. "We'll see" (that's my new mantra).

Pear-fect!

Pear-fect!
6x6, Soft Pastel

Pear-fect!  While not actually "perfect" (it had quite a few bruises by the time I got to it),  it was sweet little pear that sat snuggly, nestled in the table cloth waiting to be painted.  Then of course I ate it.  At this point, I'm thinking I should take up painting desserts!  How fun would that be?

I Love Stella...Whoever She Is

I Love Stella...Whoever She Is

12 x 3.5, Soft Pastel

Well, I confess the painting above isn't precise...nor my best work.  At all.  But, there's a really good reason why. I made a very big mistake on this one...that is, I started it AFTER I had opened and started drinking it.  BIG mistake for someone who was really looking forward to a "cold one" after a long day of painting. 

If you know me, you know I don't drink much, at most maybe one a day (sorta like a vitamin) but I do love an ice cold Stella!  So, I was forced to paint it exceptionally fast (didn't want it to get cold you know). 

Sweet Treat

Sweet Treat

6x6, soft pastel

Most artists paint fruit.  I suppose it's because we typically have fruit in the house and they provide great color for a still life piece.  With just the right lighting, a piece (or pieces) of fruit can glow.  These seedless green grapes were doing just that...glowing from the sunlight.  I'm not particularly proficient at painting fruit...but they sure are fun to try. 

Top Shelf

Top Shelf

6x6, Soft Pastel

This is a painting I've been wanting to do for quite awhile...and I'm not sure it turned out as well as I'd like...but, that's the way it goes sometimes.  Painting it larger might help...or giving myself more time than I did (this one was done on the same day as the green grapes...so I was a bit pooped by the end of the day).  I continue to paint things halfway between Impressionism and Realism (not really sure what to call that...Cindyism I guess). 

Plump and Juicy

Plump and Juicy

6x6, soft pastel

What is it about a simple little peeled orange that seems so irresistible?  I set this still life up just like a photo I saw a couple years ago with dramatic lighting to emphasize the translucent qualities of the orange.  I knew while painting this little guy that I would eat it for breakfast...but since it was my first attempt at painting an orange, breakfast time turned into lunchtime.  It took several hours so I was very hungry the whole time. But, I knew I was finally on the right track when the painting began to be as mouthwatering as the real orange.