Thanks to Richard Curtain for creating this video highlighting my recent art at CatchLight Art Gallery in Alpine, Texas. … [Read more...]
Pastel Painting Video
Many thanks to Jim Bones, a photographer at our CatchLight Art Gallery in Alpine, Texas, who spent his time putting together this video of me at work. You will see me at work on a cactus patch pastel painting and a fun painting of a alpaca. I discuss my career trajectory, pastel techniques and my artistic processes. … [Read more...]
A Lesson Learned
We all know that entering artwork into a show or competition for judging by a complete stranger can be a very emotional experience. After all, artwork is extremely personal and you are opening yourself up to the judge and that judge’s individual preferences. Judges are only human after all and we know humans do make mistakes. Many times I have told artists that if they don’t win in one show they should not give up on that piece they poured their heart into – go enter it in another show and see … [Read more...]
Pastel Fix
The other day I learned something new – how to fix a rain ruined pastel painting! I donated a painting, Ruffles, to a local art organization fund raiser. Ruffles was a painting done of a female clown at a circus that came through a nearby town. Clowns can be a bit creepy and Ruffles leans that way. I haven’t seen many female clowns so this particularly bright one caught my eye. A few days after the painting was picked up I received a call from the hysterical volunteer. Evidently, she had … [Read more...]
Plein Air Pleasantries
One comment I haven’t heard yet is “plein air painting is a great excuse for shopping!” The goal is to accumulate as much high tech gear as you can, go trekking outdoors to some God forsaken place, set everything up and then discover you forgot the bug spray! I’ve been a bit skeptical of plein air painting. I mean, really, who can paint a great painting outdoors when the shadows and weather are constantly changing? It’s a drill in how fast can you paint before the rain pours or the sun … [Read more...]
Volunteering vs. Painting
Time has a habit of sifting through my fingers and before I know it my day, week, month and year has disappeared and I am left wondering “what have I accomplished?” These last few months I have not been spending much time at the easel even though I know I should. Perhaps committing to a daily painting would re-energize and re-direct me but I doubt it. I do spend a lot of my time volunteering for art organizations that I enjoy. This year I was going to pull back on a few of my volunteer … [Read more...]
Only the Noses Nose
It’s been quite a while since I painted a portrait, years actually, so I approached this commission with a bit of caution and a lot of worry. I picked the best photo out of the pictures that were sent to me and started to draw. This particular photo was not a high-resolution photo so it was a bit difficult to actually see into it (you pastel artists will know what I mean). It was a picture of two beautiful little girls – both with smirky little grins on their faces and a tumble of arms and hair … [Read more...]
Workshops Can Be Motivators
Workshops can be wonderful motivators as afterward they inevitably leave you feeling invigorated and inspired. This past weekend The Rockport Center for the Arts held a two-day Enid Wood pastel workshop which was wonderfully stimulating. It was a weekend of many “firsts” for most of her students – first time to paint on highly colored backgrounds, first time to use (and fall in love with) pan pastels, first time using vine charcoal as a problem solver, first time to successfully paint water … [Read more...]
Christmas in the Heart
“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” ~ W.T. Ellis Well, it’s that time of the year again and my how time does fly! I have meant to blog a bit more but life does manage to derail my best intentions. Two of my art leagues have a Christmas Luncheon and “painting swap” and I worry about these painting swaps for weeks ahead of time. I often think “is my painting going to be good enough to fit in with all the other wonderful artistic endeavors, will I be happy that I … [Read more...]
The Beauty of Pastel
“Bright colours or dark ones, sparkling clarity or misty atmosphere, landscape, still life, portrait – I haven’t met a subject, style or mood yet that can’t be portrayed beautifully in pastel“. ~ Dave Beckett The Fall Show at the Gates Fine Art Center in Rosenberg was judged by Mark Stewart, renowned watercolor artist. Stewart presented first place award in the Professional Division to Carolyn Hancock for her skyscape appropriately titled A Technicolor Day. The rim lit horse in Late Afternoon … [Read more...]
