Sardines

Sardines  5 x 7 pastel

Back at the easel after a long break. These sardines were a quick 20 min painting to get back my "sea legs"— fitting I chose fish to start out! 

I had a frame cut down a few years ago and asked them to make one with the scraps. I got a 3" x 15" frame that has been sitting waiting for a painting. My thought was always asparagus, but after 4 attempts I don't think it's happening. I am now thinking a row of something... plums? cherries? olives? Thoughts?

At The Table

Last night was the opening for "At The Table" in Waterbury Center, VT and there was a good crowd for a dark and cold night.

Thrilled that "Expectant Mothers" will go home with a new collector! If you are in the area (skiing at Stowe?) stop in to see the show.

Expectant Mothers  11 x 14 soft pastel

Holiday Show

I will have 3-5 paintings on display along with 25 other artists. Stop by if you are in Middlebury, VT.

Two Swiss Misses

"Two Swiss Misses"  17 x 20 soft pastel

I have had this one on my bucket list for a while. I am trying to paint to the sizes of my "oops" frames so I can get some more real estate in the garage. 

The frame doesn't always work, and then I need to buy an odd size frame— but when it does, there is a little more room in our storage world. 

Barn 8

Barn 8  6 X 6 pastel

I really enjoyed painting this small barn. We had a working VPS (Vermont Pastel Society) meeting today. We were supposed to bring in a lesson from a book or magazine that we wanted to try. I didn't do that, but decided to try to paint a barn in two different palettes. 

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Here is the first barn I tried with a cooler palette, which is usually my "go-to" palette. 

Beverage Center

"Beverage Center" framed pastel triptych (three 5 x 7 images)

I painted "Pepsi" and "Nesbits" in Feb 2017, and finished up with "Hires" yesterday. It's been on my "to-do" list for that long!

"Beverage Center" has gone home to a loyal patron and owner of the extensive collection of vintage lighters I gleaned from.  

Umbria

 Umbria  7 x 5 pastel

Umbria has safely arrived in New Mexico. This has been in the queue since early summer, then I broke my wrist. 

My sister-in-law sent me a picture of this charming espresso pot she spotted in the 16th century abbey she was staying at in Umbria. She really wanted to steal it, but decided in might be safer to commission me to paint it. It was a blast to paint and I was thrilled to surprise her with it as a gift. 

PSA NYC

"Toast" 14 x 11 pastel  SOLD

On my way to New York for the 46th Annual Pastel Society of America's Enduring Brilliance Exhibit at the National Arts Club. 

I kept "Toast" under wraps for months hoping it would be accepted into the show. Not only did it get in, it won a nice award, HK Holbein Award (a full set of pastels $500) and it sold to a collector. I will miss it, but happy it has found a new home and I get more "crayons"... 

Have a great weekend.

Day 13 Heirloom, Old German

Heirloom, Old German  6 x 6 pastel

I decided to go back to a realistic style for this one. I grew this big German variety of tomato, originally grown by the Mennonite community in Virginia. They are delicious as well as beautiful. Good thing I still have some fresh basil.

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Day 11 Warted Gourd

Warted Gourd   10 x 8 pastel

Going down the rabbit hole of trying to identify this gourd took almost as long as painting it! The closest I can come it that it is warted. Autumn in Vermont sports many wonderful, odd gourds just down the road at Happy Valley Orchard. Oh, and they have apple cider doughnuts too...

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Day 9 Barn 7B

Barn 7B  14 x 14 pastel

I know, didn't I already have a Barn 7? Yes, but I was informed that Day 6 was not a barn, and that threw things off a bit. Then I didn't paint yesterday (I cleaned the windows) so the day and barn are off more now. 

This is bigger for me, but I wanted to try a larger one. It was close to being tossed out, but I stuck with it and am happy with the result.

Not sure if tomorrow will be barns or something new. Let's see what feels right.

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Day 7 Barn 7

Barn 7  10 x 8 pastel

Day 7 — Back to barns. This was actually a much larger painting I started a year or two ago. I cropped in on it after I reworked it and like it much better at this size. 

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Day 6 Hot Pepper

Hot Pepper  7 x 5  pastel

Day 6 — Taking a break from barns for a few days. I find the greens in these dark peppers to be quite the challenge, but I limited myself to 45 minutes to do this one. I can't eat them, but I enjoy painting them.

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Day 5 Barn 5

Barn 5  6 x 6 pastel

Day 5 — It was a hot one. Took Ruby swimming in the river and then we got fresh fish (scallops) at the fish guy in Bristol. He comes from Boston every Wednesday from 1 - 6 in a parking lot. 

I might take a break from barns tomorrow, but I do want to revisit a larger painting I did a while ago and never really finished. Yep, a barn.

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Day 4 Barn 4

Barn 4  6 x 6 pastel

Day 4 and another barn. Lots going on today with a broken refrigerator, so I was very distracted. I might revisit the barns of Day 1 and 2 and change to colors. Maybe go larger.

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Day 3 Barn 3

Barn 3   6 x 6 pastel  $65

Day 3 — More structures than Day 1 and Day 2, but still barns. 

Vermont was hot today. Took Ruby for her first VT swim, then she relaxed on the new porch listening to a Bernie rally about 1/4 of a mile from us. "It's Vermont, do what you want".

Day 2/Barn 2

Barn 2  6 x 6 pastel  $65

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Day 2 — I am getting a kick out of the barns. Barn 1 sold to a new collector in Dallas, TX. Woo-Hoo!

I do want to try these larger, but for the moment will keep it small. It's a long winter, maybe I will revisit a few on a larger scale when the snow is flying.

The garden is exploding, sad that it is such a short time for the tomatoes. 

Day1/Barn 1

Barn 1 6 x 6 pastel  $65

Yep, another 30 Paintings in 30 Days. September is the toughest month for me to do this, but it's been SO long since I have been at the easel that I thought I better challenge myself. 

June 18 was the start of our renovation. July 26 I fractured my left wrist — non dominate but still titanium plate and screws — my first surgery! Then 5 Days in NYC late Aug for the PSA Annual show. 

I have been photographing a lot of barns this summer, so this challenge may be barn related, or not. Gotta paint what makes you happy that day.

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PSA-MP

I am back from 5 days in NYC receiving and hanging the annual show for Pastel Society of America. Long days and hard work, but it's worth it— the show is spectacular.

After the awards judge finishes, our president Jimmy Wright starts calling the winners. With $43,000 in awards it takes a while. We were putting up labels and cleaning glass. One persons phone rang— and she won a big award. About an hour went by and MY PHONE RANG!!!  Jimmy could have yelled down from the office upstairs, but what a nice touch to get a personal call. I won the Holbein Award which gave me my third and final point toward becoming a Master Pastelist.

We are asked not to post our paintings until the show opens — I will share with you on Sept 4!

If you are in NYC Sept 4-29, stop by the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South.
M-F 9-11 am, 3-5 pm; Sat 9 am -5 pm

Iris

Iris  12 x 12 pastel

Another ewe from my friend Jed's farm. I named her Iris because of the purple highlights. 

Best Still Life

"Button, Button, Who's Got The Button?" 16 x 19 pastel

Just got word that I won Best Still Life in the Ivory and Lead first online show. This painting has won a number of awards and I had "retired" it to our living room wall, but then decided to give it one more chance. 

"Button, Button, Who's Got The Button?" was created from a collection of buttons from the legendary Sew What's New shop in Nyack, NY.  Every box was a painting in itself, each holding a different story. The saddest story beign when I lost my beloved dog Ursa during the process. There is a button dedicated to her, can you find it? (hint: she was black with silver highlights).

Richard McKinley had some comments at the 2016 International Association of Pastel Societies juried show at Salmagundi in NYC.

Friday

Friday  7 x 5 pastel

Today is the last day of the 20 minute challenge, but I think I will keep doing them.  Not every day, but when I need to loosen up. It was a great exercise in decision making, restraint and thinking fast on your feet. 

One of my favorite lines is: "Don't take yourself so seriously, nobody else does." This challenge is the perfect way to achieve this! 

Have a great weekend— I am going to a Kentucky Derby Party. Can you say "Mint Julep"?

Backward Glance

Backward Glance  7 x 5 pastel

Day 4 of the 20 Minute Challenge. These are so much fun that I might not go back to "regular" painting... Put in a few more seconds on this one, mostly erasing some schmutz on the background. 

Frizzled Serama Pullet

Frizzled  Serama Pullet  7 x 5 pastel

20:04. I think these exotic chickens lend themselves to this challenge. They are forgiving in the drawing department, and seem to be happy as long as you tart them up with some bright colors.

The Serama breed originated in Malaysia and is the result of the selective cross breeding of many breeds of chickens. Their chesty, regal and confident beauty is a joy to behold and they have been described as the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dolly Parton of the Bantam chicken kingdom.

Here is my palette, which I have learned to select before the clock starts!

Tuesday

Tuesday  7 x 5 pastel

I am having a blast with this 20 minute challenge. I actually stopped at 17:28 for this one. You may wonder about the title— I couldn't think of one and then remembered today is Tuesday. Can't wait until Wednesday!

Molly 1

Molly  7 x 5 pastel

I am doing a challenge— a 20 min painting a day for 5 days. This one was 20:23.

It's really fun to do these kinds of challenges. Honestly, this painting was "good" at 16 mins, but the alarm had not gone off yet, so I fussed with it. I look forward to trying this again, maybe with a simpler object, like the ubiquitous pear. 

Spring Awakening

Spring Awakening  12 x 9 pastel

This was FUN! Our hub of the Vermont Pastel Society met yesterday. We watched a few videos and then painted a spring bouquet— either from life or a photo. I chose an image from a calendar of famous floral paintings. I don't remember what famous painting this was copied from. It certainly doesn't look like the original. 

I hope it's spring where you are, we have snow flurries... 

Sienna

Sienna  12 x 12 pastel

This gal was a bit of a struggle. She had a full head of curls that got wiped out the first time. I would love to do another cow‚ all purpley and cool. I wish I had stopped at the purple stage and saved it for a future painting and just started over for this one. That happens — a lot.

Cornwall

Cornwall 21 x 18 pastel

This gal came from far off in the field as I was taking pictures of her pals by the fence. She was clearly interested in being part of the photoshoot and was vogueing for me. 

This painting is larger than I usually paint, but she demanded to be upsized — and I had the perfect frame if she turned out well. 

If you are wondering about her name, she was in a field on West Street, Cornwall, Vermont. 

Progress shots:

And Cornwall in her frame

Time Out

Time Out  5 x 7 pastel

More from the Open Barn Day. The next open barn is baby goats, aka kids. Heaven help me if they are in pajamas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfxUt9UM0nc

I only managed one progress shot at the very beginning.

Trouble

Trouble 12 x 12 pastel

Reference from another Open Barn Day a few weeks ago. This lovely lad was outside, away from the ewes in the barn. I think that is a good thing because he looks like he has something on his mind and it's probably trouble.

I managed to remember to take some progress shots, enjoy!