Blue is New

"Blue is New"  10 x 8 pastel  $125

I remember when Mars introduced the blue M&M, but in case you don't, here is the chart that chronicles all the years since 1940. I certainly long for the 1940s and that violet.

Red candies were eliminated in 1976 because of health concerns over the Red #2, which was a suspected carcinogen, and were replaced with orange-colored candies. This was done despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye; the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers. Red candies were reintroduced ten years later, but they also kept the orange colored M&M's.

Catch of the Day

"Catch of the Day" 10 x 8 pastel   SOLD

This is one of the first paintings I did on "Ronnie board", the gatorboard that magically appears from my friend Ronnie. The free board gave me permission to loosen up and have fun.

I will be away all weekend in Connecticut delivering a painting to CPS (Ct Pastel Society) for the annual member show and then visiting with a pastel friend and maybe meeting my nephew and great nephew at IKEA. I know, the Swedish meatballs have horsemeat in them...

Yellow Pearl

"Yellow Pearl"  7 x 5 pastel   SOLD

This was a commission for the holidays. Now I am really jonesin' to paint that platter of "O's"
we got from the neighbor.

My husband named this painting, and I did not realize the owner— upon receiving it— told me she had titled it "One If By Land, Two If By Sea".  Which title do you like?

Too Many Oysters?

I didn't think it was possible, but my food writer neighbor called today and said she had
TOO MANY OYSTERS!!!  Tonight this was delivered... we live on a great street!

Yes, I plan to paint this someday.

Addiction II

Addiction II    10 x 8 pastel    SOLD

Why "II" you might ask? Someone wanted the first one but it had just sold, so I painted another.

This might be perfect reward for another day of shoveling, though maybe hot cocoa
instead of cold milk? Your call.

Thundersnow

 The work

 The Return

Not much painting going on on Hamilton Avenue these days, but lots of shoveling. Now we are having a thundersnow! Lightning and thunder, with rain that is supposed to bring us 3-8 more inches of snow.

Here is an older painting that sold over the summer—right now we need a bit of summer:

 

Lithuanian Asparagus  19 x 10  pastel

Hitchhiker's Dream

Hitchhiker's Dream  14 x 11 pastel    SOLD

It's been a while since I have posted. I am working on paintings for upcoming shows and not posting them until they are juried in (or not).

It's a balancing act of what goes where, delivery dates, openings, pick up dates. You need a chart, or a cool Excel spreadsheet to keep track of it all. No complaints, just sayin' it takes a lot time away from creating the work!

My cousin, Judy Albright, a very accomplished pastel artist (http://www.judyalbrightart.com), posted this on Facebook today and I thought it was appropriate given this recent sale.

Rock Clementine Snow

"Rock Clementine Snow"  6 x 6 pastel on gatorboard  $100

I have had a nice few days off, did a lot of art related things— visited the Hopper House in Nyack, went to an opening on Saturday night for Tim Duch at the Irvington Library. Met a bunch of local artists and then went to a party at Tim's house. Fun!

I am still doing the small paintings. This one came about while I was walking Ursa a few days ago, eating said clementine and decided the orange and the snow was electric together, and found the rock as a table.

It's been a day of shoveling, cooking and now probably hot tub while it's still a little light out.

Here's a little media piece about the show at Cathryn's Tuscan Grill in Cold Spring, NY:

After the Challenge

It was a great month. I sold some, some were commissions and some were slated for juried shows or are already in shows. I now have close to 30 new paintings. Without the challenge I would have had about 10, maybe. And I have new friends from all across the States, UK and Australia.

What did I learn?

• not every painting is good
• not every surface is the same, they all produce quite a different look
• a play on words does not always work ("Bananas" for "Bandanas"), but it does get attention
• fast is good, slow is good— but even a half an hour is enough time to do something
• periwinkle still rules, but red is tiptoeing in to my life
• if you are not selling paintings, it's usually because no one knows about you — get it out there!

Yes, I will keep the blog going about 3 times a week... if life is fair.