Twilight

My reference photo for this pastel was taken one evening on our way home from Lake Placid, New York.  We were crossing Tupper Lake and I stopped to take many photos.  The sunset was magnificent, going from pink, violet, red to yellow.  In painting this landscape, I scumbled the pastel all over, then dripped alcohol down it, deciding to leave the drips on the surface as I put the final pastel on the paper.  It was not a totally planned painting, I just went where the drips went and had fun.  I enjoyed the long format - 10x20.

10x20

Two days at the North Creek NY Fall Festival - Painting

It was a beautiful weekend, almost too hot, for Fall in the Adirondacks.  I was asked to bring some framed pastels and my easel and paint at the North Creek Fall Festival.  We had so many people and many questions about "chalk" and "how do you do that"?  I gave out lots of my bookmarks and spent time explaining the process in painting with pastel.  It was lots of fun.  I guess if I didn't enjoy people as much as I do, I might have had a huge headache at the end of the two days, but I felt invigorated and happy to share pastels with so many people who have never seen them in action!  These are the paintings I completed during the festival.

                                                               Fall Colors  9x12

Autumn on the Hudson  9x12

                                                        

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

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

Two Falls/Yosemite

The second of my Yosemite series.  I remember standing in a meadow, a glorious meadow that I intend to paint later, and looking up at these two falls.  The eye takes in the sights, but it's impossible to gage the enormity of the scene.  The distances between mountains and meadows, the breadth and fierce energy of those falls........it's inspiring, to say the least!

18x12 - $475.00

Afternoon on the Moose River Plains

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope it will turn out to be a happy and productive one for each and every one of you.   I'm hoping to spend more time painting this year, after a very busy Christmas season working part time at the ski slopes.  I'm also preparing for a solo pastel exhibit at the Widlund Gallery in North Creek, NY from January 26 to February 24.  I'll have approximately 40 paintings on display and will have a reception on February 16th.

 11x14 pastel - $150.00

I painted this a few days ago, from a photo I took late August from my kyack.  I've talked a lot about the Moose River Plains and the Cedar River Flow, of which this is the main body of water.  It's a wonderful place to canoe, picnic or camp.  The area is very large and very wild and, although it's a 20 mile drive to get there, once out in a canoe, you feel as if you are alone with nature.

Afternoon on Abanakee

 12x16 Pastel on Richeson Gater Board - $175.00 (sold)

What a beautiful day it was yesterday - 70 degrees, sunny, slight breeze.  I started a painting in my studio, did an underpainting with mineral spirits and just couldn't wait for it to dry.  I was inpatient to start painting, so I put my portable easel and supplies in the car and headed to the back of Abanakee Lake, about three miles away from my home.  People were kayaking and swimming, the loons were vocal,  cars drove by and slowed down to watch my progress.  Two hours later I needed to pack up and head for home, very happy and content.

Adirondack Road

12x18 

The weather has been very cool and so I've been relegated to painting on my patio, and running in to warm my hands every now and then! Needless to say, I've been painting from my photos and this is one done from a photo taken this January in Indian Lake, New York. This road is Route 28, going into Indian Lake, past the barn that I painted plein air last summer. It's a tranquil and beautiful spot, for a main road!

Before the Storm- Sold

This one was a plein air painting, done at Dana Point. We had walked the dogs across the bridge and I lugged all my pastels in a backpack so I could paint. The dogs were restless, but I got to do this small painting. It was done rather quickly because it did look like it would rain at some time that day and we didn't want to get caught with two dogs and a backpack. My husband is so patient with sitting and waiting for me to finish! This sold at The Cottage Gallery recently.

Road to Sedona

I have some wonderful photos of our trip across country, especially to Sedona. With the cold and snow outside, it's nice to "get away" to the west and paint Sedona. This is 12x18

Old Mill Barn- Sold

12x18 
Giclees available - $55.00

The adirondacks was cold this summer and I didn't get out to paint as much as I would have liked. One weekday when it was starting to warm up, I decided to pile the pastels in the back of the car and paint. This barn is on a main road, about two miles from my home and I don't know how many times I pass it, always saying, I have to paint that.....it's so beautiful, against those mountains, with those trees..... This time I pulled over, got out the easel and in two hours had my barn. An interesting aside, a man and woman pulled over and got out of the car. I thought I might be on their property, but no, he told me his uncle owned the barn and they were having a family reunion in October and he would let his uncle know that I had painted it!