Foothills

"Foothills"
8" x 20"
Pastel on watercolor board

The peaks in the distance looked like mountains to me, but the locals laughed when I referred to them as such. The big boys soar well above these, but they're also quite a distance from my friend's home. So I settle for the foothills when I visit my girlfriend in Colorado. 

I broke two pieces of my hard pastel as I began this painting. When I picked up one of the broken pieces, I squiggled its side, instead of the tip, on the board. It left a nifty mark. I did the entire painting with the sides of broken pieces.  It has an Impressionistic quality to it. And once again, the subtleties are not captured by the camera. It's pretty translucent and overlapped in reality.

Carol

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Path to the Fence

"Path to the Fence"
5" x 7"
Pastel on gessoed canvas panel

The landscape was a simple one, it was the textures that intrigued me. There were only a few elements, but they were gnarly and nubby and easily represented on this surface.  

I used the clear gesso on a previously painted and sanded down acrylic painting. The rep at the art supply store told me it would be possible, so I tried it. The underlying texture made for interesting new textures for the pastel painting.  I'm liking this medium more as I test its limits.

Carol

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Nautilus

"Nautilus"
6" x 8"
Pastel on canvas panel

A friend sent me a photo of this shell tonight. I had just finished a piece to post for January first, and felt pretty good about it, so before putting away my "toys," I pulled the colours in the shell and painted it.  

I have a nautilus shell similar to this one on a shelf in another room, but mine lacks this much colour. It's more like a standard opal than this "fire opal" kind of presentation.  It was fun to try to capture the essence of the shell.

Carol

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Heavenly Hydrangea

"Heavenly Hydrangea"
8" x 10"
Pastel on gessoed canvas panel 

The jewel tones of the hydrangeas caught my eye as I walked past buckets of them in my grocery store. I had my camera in my purse, so I clicked off a few shots. 

I've painted these beauties before, but now I'm trying my hand at capturing the essence of this closeup with pastel painted on a black canvas panel. I applied clear gesso on it then dug in.

Carol

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The Gang's All Here

"The Gang's All Here"
8" x 6"
Pastel on gessoed panel

While I was perusing my photos from the Botanic Gardens I came across this riotous scene. I happened on the colourful plantings when the shadows were deep and the blooms were at their finest. 

I'm thankful to have shot thousands of images from which to choose on days when my actual surroundings are grey, colourless and pretty much buried under layers of slush.

Carol

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Morning Behind Me

"Morning Behind Me"
4" x 4"
Pastel on hardboard

I saw this sky in my rearview mirror as I drove that morning. The opalescent colors lingered in the humid air and presented me with a rectangular gift of color for about twenty minutes. 

I tested a couple of products to achieve this texture.  I painted Liquitex clear gesso onto an aquabord panel. The gesso gave additional tooth to an already textured panel.  I didn't  sand it, just toned it, as usual, and proceeded. I'll be experimenting more as time goes on.

Carol

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Tapestry Roses

"Tapestry Roses"
4" x 4"
Pastel on gessoed hardboard

The roses in the pattern on my new scarf appealed to me — reminded me of roses I've painted in oil. Yet I wanted to depict them in the way my hand wants to paint some subject matter now. 

My paintings with this loose kind of scribble have generated a lot of comments. I'm intrigued with this style and plan to pursue it, if I can, in larger pieces.

Carol

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White Poppy

"White Poppy"
4" x 4"
Pastel on gessoed hardboard

I shot a field of poppies at the Botanic Gardens in April, including closeups of many of them. This was one of the closeups of a white whose shadows appeared to be violet.  

A spring flower appealed to me tonight while I paint all bundled up in polar fleece, a beret on my head and thick wool socks. Winter is officially upon us with temperatures in the low single digits.  

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Satiny Smooth

"Satiny Smooth"
4" x 4"
Pastel on gessoed board

I've enjoyed painting some of the iconic images of the season, so here's another gift of holiday cheer for... you. Perhaps I'll find a moment to do one or two more, but for this twenty-third day of December, I wanted to post something festive and loving. 

This was done on Aquabord with clear gesso painted AND sanded lightly. It's a great surface to paint on. I plan to do more on this surface.

Carol

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Seventeen Layers

"Seventeen Layers"
8.5" x 10.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

I fought the urge to paint a landscape today, but two hours into my hair-brained experiment, I succumbed. What started as a vertical abstract with geometric panels, to be connected with botanically accurate trees and leaves, turned, actually turned 90° to the left and morphed into this.  

I tried to paint something that wasn't in my heart and ended up with something that wormed its way to the surface.  I'm sure there are about seventeen layers of ideas and images below the surface.  I wish I had photographed the journey.

Carol

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Birthday Ornament

"Ornament"
7" x 5"
Pastel on panel

Today is my birthday — the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. My home is decorated for the holidays, so the dark and dreary of this time of year is masked by the glitter and gleam of many sparkling things.  I wish others of you who are about to celebrate special birthdays, a joyful moment with someone who loves you. 

Love,
Carol

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Lalique Blue Jay

"Lalique Blue Jay"
7" x 5"
Pastel on hardboard

The jay postured as if it were intent on gathering vital information, or watching fledgelings about to drop into the sky for the first time. Nevertheless, the artist who fashioned the figure of this glass bird captured an interesting stance. 

I painted this bird with its bulbous friend last January. Both glass birds were borrowed, but fortunately I took photos before returning them.  As I said in this space a month or so ago, I'm trying to paint in pastel some of the subjects I've painted in oil.

Carol

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Evening Shadows

"Evening Shadows"
5" x 7"
Pastel on hardboard

It had finished raining and the leaves were still wet as the sun settled into her cozy spot for the night. The color was more brilliant for it. The hills glistened, as did the tips of the trees. It was a beautiful sight to witness, and a fond memory to paint.  

And speaking of fun, this was done on a hardboard panel primed with a toothy gesso that grabs the pastel and holds it as it smears across the surface. I totally enjoyed using the panel, and the joyful part is, I have two more.

Carol

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Slender Reflections

"Slender Reflections"
7" x 2"
Pastel on paper

My view across the stream was interesting in only one slender strip. Boulders jutted into the water, slicing what beauty that was there in half. But they also added interest in the middle ground, so I included them in my little study. 

I paint many of my pastel paintings on sanded French watercolor paper scraps that I saved from when I painted only in watercolor. They sand beautifully, then I tone the paper with a magenta and a sapphire that I again sand into the paper, then brush off.

Carol

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Winding Through

"Winding Through" 
6.5" x 9.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

The stream turned a corner and wound between some trees before it widened enough to create a sandy shore on one bank. It was full of footprints the morning I saw it, none of which imprinted a branded tread or logo. 

Carol

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Tan Lines

"Tan lines"
10" x 8"
Graphite on tan paper

It's December, yet the model's tan lines were as provocative as if she had been in the south of France a week ago. Yet, the lines were only on her back. Her front was devoid of lines of any sort. Perhaps a tanning bed, but why would one wear a suit in a tanning bed?  As I drew her, I wondered if she was aware of her graphic presentation? 

I'm new to drawing the figure since spring. I'm in a group setting, but without a teacher, so it's once again, seat of the pants kind of art — just like watercolor, acrylic, oil and pastel. Why should this be any different?

Carol

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Beau Cool

"Beau Cool"
8" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel

More snow fell than was predicted, and it was warmer than it had been all week, so a celebratory romp in the pristine accumulation seemed appropriate. I gathered a scarf, hat buttons and a tangerine from the fruit bowl to dress Beau Cool. Then I fashioned a snippet of coat hanger wire into a smile. I bent the ends to poke into his sweet countenance and that single addition made my dog bark. 

I'm enjoying painting wintery themes this year. Snowmen have always been a favorite — in fact, I've sold more snowman paintings in my career, than any other subject matter. Yet, this is probably the first one to show up on my blog.

Carol

Sunset Rushing By

"Sunset Rushing By"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

The clouds fuzzed in the evening air as the sun dipped behind the tree line on the distant island.  The lake took on some of sky's colors, but was faster to concede to pending noir than the luminous air. 

It has been a while since I've painted a sky. My little pastels have taken the place of daily sky paintings. Either way, I'm making art.

Carol

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Magenta Poinsettia

"Magenta Poinsettia"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

I found a colorful poinsettia to add to my holiday cheer paintings. I like that this one is not only red, but purple and pink, as well.  

Carol

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Holly Berries

"Holly Berries"
5" x 5"
Oil on hardboard

Yes, yes they are itty bitty snowflakes in the background of this pretty little painting.  It is, after all, winter. Not quite the solstice, but definitely winter.

'Tis the season to paint holly :-)

Carol

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Ruddy Wheat

"Ruddy Wheat"
4" x 5"
Pastel on sanded paper

The field of wheat had taken on the complexion of a roasted chicken, or a marshmallow on a stick before it bursts into flame. I knew it would not be waving in this field the next week when I drove past.

It was fun to depict the different areas of colour in the field on this small painting. Nearly as fun as making the thin line of fence with my stick of pastel. I love this crazy medium.

Carol

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Straight From The Heart

"Straight From The Heart"
6" x 6"
Ink on paper 

I used mostly straight lines in my heart this week. I also used an ink pen with graphite for shadows. The problem with ink is there's no fixing a wiggle, or a momentary lapse of memory when using permanent black on pristine paper. So here's my offering, in keeping with my Saturday heart gig. 

Carol

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Happened Upon It

"Happened Upon It"
6.5" x 9.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

As I exited the canopy of a dense pine forest I happened upon the verdant bank of this pond. I photographed the scene for future reference and maundered back in amongst the sticky tree trunks and the needle-covered floor. 

Carol

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Icy

"Icy"
9.5" x 6.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

It's cold where I live, but not this cold, nor is it this barren. There's ice on the puddles, but they're not this expansive, nor this deep. Snow has fallen, but it won't still be here come spring. I'm thankful to live where it's appropriately wintery — not outrageous.  

The way I first finished this painting was to perfectly reflect the mountains in water with dry rocks on the shore of a body of water. It was boring. I was ready to fling it into the trash when a voice said, "Keep the mountains, blur the rest."  I did that and instead of tossing this sheet of watercolor paper, which is what I paint on, I'm pleased with its frigid iciness. 

Carol

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Colorado Moose Calf

"Colorado Moose Calf"
7" x 8.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

We had driven for two days without seeing any wildlife, then critters began appearing out of nowhere, or maybe we finally acclimated to our surroundings and could see the forest for the trees.  

This calf was on one side of the meandering stream and the cow was on the other.  Thankfully, I was not between them when the opportunity to photograph them came.

Carol

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Rock Pile

"Rock Pile"
4.5" x 5"
Pastel on sanded paper

The sky, trees, rocks and weeds intrigue me when I visit my friends in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.  The shapes and colors are so different from what we see here on the suburban prairie. 

As I have mentioned before, I am repainting some of the subject matter I've painted in oil and acrylic in pastel. I find it very satisfying.

Carol

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Long Fields

"Long Fields"
1.5" x 6.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

The Iowa landscape still resonates with me long after I visited there in July. This tiny painting reminds me how the fields looked, demarcated with trees and shrubs, like stitching between strips of fabric on a quilt. 

Carol

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Prickly II

"Prickly II"
6" x 8"
Pastel on sanded paper

In the desert building of the Chicago Botanic Gardens are some nifty cacti. Well, for a midwestern gal, they're pretty impressive. And I'm privy to them in a greenhouse setting, not out in the wild where I'd LOVE to see them, photograph and study them. This was fun to do, as it was my own photo, but I'd love to see them growing naturally.  

My experience is that the magenta and orange pastels photograph much differently than the greens and yellows as seen on the cacti. The background is intense, but not quite the way it appears here. It is about four layers of my scribbly marks, not a solid mass at all.

Carol

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You Gotta Have Heart

"You Gotta Have Heart"
6" x 6"
Graphite on paper

In keeping with my other two Zentangle drawings, here is another heart. I've used different patterns to fill in the same basic shape. I have nothing in mind when I begin, except that it will be drawn in a square format, a heart and done in a soft graphite pencil so I can smear shadows where I want them. 

Carol

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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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Rock Me

"Rock Me"
9" x 6"
Pastel on sanded paper

Rocks intrigue me — especially rounded ones. I love the way they look, sound and feel. I found these river rocks and photographed them, then immediately began humming the old Sesame Street jingle, "One of these things is not like the others…"  

It's my first attempt at painting rocks with pastels. I'll be doing THIS again. I enjoyed it thoroughly.  

Carol

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From the Peak

"From the Peak"
6" x 6"
Pastel on  sanded paper

On the way down Pikes Peak, while riding the Cog Railway, I saw how flat Colorado is to the east, once you get to the base of the mountain. Colorado Springs is the final flat before the Rockies jut into the brilliant blue sky the rest of that State. 

Here's a quick study of a piece I'll probably paint as an oil painting some day.

Carol

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Autumn Hillside

"Autumn Hillside"
6" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas

Mid-autumn, I photographed some of the same landscapes I had visited during the heat of summer. My quest was to capture colors other than green. This was one of the places I returned to, and was not disappointed with what I found.

I'm in the throes of painting an assortment of house portraits again. They come in clusters, and the turnaround time is tight for most of them.  I'll paint other things as time permits, but while I'm away, just know that I'm not loafing.

Carol

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My Heart's Desire

"My Heart's Desire"
6" x 6"
Graphite on paper

I took time today to draw another Zentangle heart. Special people in my life are ailing. Some need more than a hug, so I spent prayerful time making meaningful marks on their behalf. This heart's for you. You know who you are.

Love,
Carol

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Sweetheart Cabbage

"Sweetheart Cabbage"
40" x 30"
Oil on wrapped canvas

While at the Botanic Gardens in October, I came across a variety of cabbage that lacked the traditional round head. It was a pointed and looser variety than I'm accustomed to. The veins in every leaf were arranged differently, and the color ranged from yellow-green to blue-green in the span of one beautiful plant. I photographed this sweetheart from several different directions and decided this angle best showed her intrinsic beauty.  

I had to paint this piece in a large format in order to capture the veins and shadows that made her so interesting. I would love to start another cabbage, but other colors are calling to me.

Carol

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Further Along the Way

"Further Along the Way"
5" x 7"
Pastel on sanded paper

As I continued on my imaginary journey, I came to a place along the Snake River where mountains stacked against one another in a variety of shapes and colors.  

Here's another offering in pastel as I work on my huge sweetheart cabbage painting. She will be ready in a few days.

Carol

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Along the Way

"Along the Way"
7" x 5"
Pastel on sanded paper

I looked out the window when I wakened from a nap and saw that the landscape had changed drastically. The trees had dropped their leaves, the roadside pebbles had turned into sheer cliffs, the plains had erupted into mountains and the moon was dotting an imaginary letter i.  

I'm on an imaginary trip tonight. I saw this image and had to try to paint it.

Carol

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Prickly Pear Night

"Prickly Pear Night"
8.5" x 5.5"
Pastel on sanded paper

The Botanic Gardens has a desert garden with a variety of cacti inside where it's cozy, dry and warm. I photographed some of their beautiful succulent plants while there the other day. Here's a stand of prickly pears that had such luscious dar foliage behind it that it appeared to be night time.  

I sprayed this piece with a matte fixative and it darkened the colors a bit. I was told not to, but I just wanted to see what would happen. I have so much to learn. 

Carol 

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In My Heart of Hearts

"In My Heart of Hearts"
6" x 6"
Graphite on paper

I had time to draw — Zentangle— today and this is what poured forth.  A heart. Imagine that.  The shape fit in a square of paper with interesting negative space, and I opted to fill that space with organic shapes. Shapes like fingers reaching for the heart. 

If you haven't tried it, or know nothing about it, check Zentangle or Google it and search the images to see some pretty amazing stuff.  With a pen, or pencil in this case, and a piece of paper, one can channel anxious moments into productive positive energy.

Carol

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Sundown Tonight

"Sundown Tonight"
6" x 6"
Oil on hardboard

The sun set over the land tonight with a radiant splendor, like the smiles on the faces of lovers after the hoopla has been put to rest. 

Here is a sky offering while I'm working on another large dahlia painting.

Carol

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Reflecting

"Reflecting"
5" x 7"
Oil on canvas panel

The photo of this scene was laid out in front of me and I jumped on the opportunity to paint it.  I liked how the sun reflected in the water of the reservoir without revealing its spherical self in the sky. I'd love to see incredible things like this with my own eyes.  Maybe someday...

Carol

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Dahlia Delight

"Dahlia Delight"
30" x 40"
Oil on wrapped canvas

Dahlias were in bloom outside the Walled Garden when I was at the Botanic Gardens last month.  I found this one swaying in the breeze and had to sync my body to her rhythmic dance to photograph her. Fortunately, we coincided on a few of them and I got a terrific reference photo for this painting.  

Amazingly, the background took more time to paint than the gazillion petals of this bloom.  I'm delighted with the finished piece, and hope you dahlia lovers enjoy her, too.

Carol

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Slathered Honey

"Slathered Honey"
8" x 11"
Pastel on sanded paper

That evening, the sky slathered honey across the tips of the trees and down the shafts of their sturdy trunks, warming all who witnessed the overt act.  

I love the fleeting colors of autumn and am thankful for this seasonal gift of brilliance.

Carol

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Sagebrush

"Sagebrush"
4" x 7"
Pastel on sanded paper

Somewhere on the western plains is a landscape that looks a lot like this. I saw an image of it and remembered it for this tiny piece.

Here's a mid-range value study. Compared to yesterday's high contrast painting, this one is quite different, although still Western.  I'm hooked. 

Carol

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