Yosemite Meadow

 











 12x18 - $275.00

My last Yosemite pastel.  Not that I don't have plenty more photos to paint, but I think I want to concentrate on my summer in the Adirondacks by painting what's around me - the lakes and forests that are right outside my door.  This meadow was right off the main road - guys were climbing straight up the cliffs on the other side of the meadow, and my dogs were so excited to be out and about in all this space!  A totally lovely place to stop, sit and enjoy the afternoon.

Yosemite

I started this pastel before we left for California and I've been messing with it, before we left, and now, after we've been home!  In the actual photograph I took, the water was running fast and wild, but in the painting, I had to tone it down a bit, quite a bit, actually.  The color value on the bank needed to be adjusted, and I took out a tree in the foreground.  All in all, I think I'm done!  I remember standing above that bank with my grandson, totally in awe of the beauty of Yosemite, and so thankful that we got the chance to visit it with him.

18x12 - $225.00

Silent Giants

I call this painting "Silent Giants" because that's what they seem to me.  As one makes the turn  towards Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Route 40, these giant mountains loom nearby.  I'm always fascinated by the shadows on them, depending on the time of day we happen to be passing through.  On this trip, it was mid-afternoon, and the shadows are clearly on the mountains in the background.  A freight train was heading off to the West as I took the photo.  The color is so amazing!  I love the Adirondacks, for all our green and forests, but there is something so mystical about these silent giants.

19x25 $1,500.00

Plein Air pastels done during IAPS/workshop with Christine Debrosky

IAPS was such a great experience.  This is the third time at this pastel conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico and I'm looking forward to going two years from now.  It's made me want to work harder at my painting, and really dedicate myself to doing more shows and growing as an artist.  The first day there I attended a plein air workshop with Christine Debrosky, who specializes in landscape and florals.  I felt this would be a good experience for me, as I don't often paint flowers outdoors.  We had gorgeous weather, warm but not too warm, sunny and the flowers in the hotel courtyard made it a very special place to set up and paint.  Christine did the start of a very nice demo - an archway with a vine of flowers growing up it.  I decided to concentrate on one corner of the courtyard, doing two paintings of the same scene, from different angles.  I hadn't painted since we'd been traveling and I was hesitant at first, but once those pastels were in my hands, I seem to get into a zone and, good or bad, I feel at home with them.

9x12 - $150.00- Albuquerque Flowers 1

9x12 - $150.00-Albuquerque Flowers 2

IAPS - Thursday - Sunday, a very Creative 5 days!

What a great five days I have just experienced!  The International Association of Pastel Societies held their convention in Albuquerque this  week and I have learned so much, been able to talk art with some of my favorite nationally known artists, and join artist friends who I haven't seen for awhile.  A great experience.  On Thursday I took a plein air floral workshop with Christine Debrosky.  I plan on posting my two paintings at a later date.  On Friday, Richard McKinley filled my head with new ideas and a very planned way to paint outdoors, also on Friday Christine Debrosky had a demo on painting the landscape.  I was surprised that she finished a very large 18x24 in three hours.  It was filled with light and incredibly vibrant.  Saturday I watched Lorenzo Chavez paint snow and streams in Colorado.  He's very personable and, since I live in an area where it snows A LOT, this was a must see for me.  I also sat through a demo Saturday afternoon with Liz Haywood Sullivan.  She uses alcohol to bring her underpainting to life.  She also painted big - an amazing cloud and sea pastel.  I will post some of these at another time.  Below is Frank Federico's demo.  He was so amazing, as he started the initial painting upside down!  He assures us that it will free us to paint a stronger painting, more creative.   He inspired me to try this method, and as soon as I hit my studio at home, I will try this method.  My head is filled with ideas and I have some wonderful photos to paint - now to get home and start!

Yosemite Reflections

Have been traveling the past three weeks.  Actually, we're still on the road, now in Flagstaff, Arizona, on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the pastel convention in a couple of days.  I wanted to post this pastel I did before we left our home in early May.  At the time, I was so into painting from photos I took of Yosemite National Park.  As we travel, I'm just so amazed at the beauty of this country.  I'm eager to start painting on Thursday, as I'm signed up for a plein air workshop -florals.

16x20-$425.00