Morning Tips

"Morning Tips"
7" x 7"
Pastel on sanded paper

I photographed this scene in Rocky Mountain National Park in August a few years ago. I loved the colors and the scale of every element in the landscape. It was not far from here that I saw my first moose and her calf.  I'll never forget that moose. 

Carol

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Over Yonder

"Over Yonder"
5" x 6.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

It was more like a river than a creek, the blue ribbon that snaked between a stand of pines, running downhill from the mountains. I followed it for a few miles in my car before I lost it for good. 

This was a fun exercise in layering land masses, one in front of the other, determining the actual color of each section and replicating it with a limited array of colors.

Carol

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Dappled Road

"Dappled Road"
5" x 6.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

I came on another photo of light slicing across the center of the scene. I was intrigued with making it an autumn painting, so I did. It sparkles more in person than in this realm. 

Carol

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Garden Path

"Garden Path"
7" x 7"
Pastel on sanded paper

My friends discussed, by way of email today, the merits of copying the art of a favorite artist. Four of us had recently become infatuated with the art of Oregon artist, Romona Youngquist. Her work embodies the lessons we've learned over the past few years from our beloved instructor, Thomas Trausch. We decided to copy one of her paintings to discover how she went about creating the layers of texture, color and light. This is my first contribution to that effort. I'll gladly admit it was a blast!  I loved walking in her shoes during this painting. I'll try it again in a couple of days, but in acrylic with a palette knife next time.

Carol

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Cone/Bells

"Cone/Bells"
9" x 6"
Pastel on sanded paper

These hardy wildflowers grow in a meadow near where I live, not this time of year, of course. I photographed this image late in the summer a couple of years ago and I've painted it in watercolor, acrylic and now a quick pastel study.  

I'm learning what my innate marks are when I put pastel to paper. This revelation is so interesting to me, more so in pastel than any other medium, I think.  At least this is where I'm seeing my marks most clearly.

Carol

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Slice of Light

"Slice of Light"
5" x 9"
Pastel on sanded paper 

Here's a quick study of a photo I happened on today. I liked the light slicing across the center of the piece enough to paint it again, as a larger piece. 

I saw the Fourth Biennial National Juried Exhibition of the Chicago Pastel Painters on Friday. It was enchanting to see 100 exhibition-worthy pieces in person. I plan to attend again before the show is over on January 4th. One piece in particular, "Flowescent Lighting" by Mike Barret Kolasinsik stole the show. He makes paper sing … arias!  If you're in the Chicagoland area, the exhibit is a "must see" at The Art Center in Highland Park.

Carol

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By Any Other Name...

"By Any Other Name"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

It's been three months, well nearly, since I've painted a rose. I've dabbled with new subject matter, dipped a toe into the warm waters of another medium and generally spread my wings, but here I am, back to my roots, the place I long to be — at my easel with a rose. And yes, she smelled as sweet as ever. 

Carol  

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