Bosco

"Bosco"
16" x 12"
Pastel on canvas

Now for something completely different.  I was commissioned to paint this dog for a friend as a surprise for his wife's Bat Mitzvah. Because I have a dog similar to this, I accepted the challenge. I knew that my squiggly marks would make Bosco come to life nicely. I made a couple of tiny changes, like white dots in the eyes, after this photo was taken, but the client and his children loved what they got.  

I shy away from painting specifics — like pet and people portraits. A sixteenth of an inch mistake can  turn Bosco into Bella. Roses and peonies don't get offended if their petals are a wee bit askance.

Carol

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Ned's Lily

"Ned's Lily"
8" x 10"
Pastel on canvas panel

I was given a photo of this lily from Friday's visit to the Garden.  It struck me as gorgeous when I saw it. I wanted to paint it immediately, but I had other subject matter in queue. So tonight when I sat down to paint, this one simply called to me. The puddle of water at the top was especially difficult to create, but I think it looks puddly, don't you?  

I appreciate when friends share their photos with me. I can't always be in the right place at the right time, but if some of us can, it helps!

Carol

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Autumnal Splendor

"Autumnal Splendor"
9" x 12"
Pastel on canvas panel 

This is another image of when the light was magical at the Garden. It was in a similar spot to the painting from yesterday. I'm so happy to have been receptive to the gift of light.  

Our autumn has been colorful, but dampened by many repeated days of gray and overcast. Lots of rain, too.  It's why I'm making such a deal about the light. It was breathtaking.

Carol

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Intensely Autumn

"Intensely Autumn"
14" x 11"
Pastel on canvas panel

I was at the garden early in the morning last week when the colors seemed to be very saturated.  Every plant and blossom fairly glowed as I strolled. The sky looked to be borrowed from a post card, then within a few minutes it all went back to normal. I'm grateful to have experienced seeing a few of my favorite places in the garden during that magical light. 

Carol

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Castlewood Canyon Bridge

"Castlewood Canyon Bridge"
12" x 12"
Pastel on canvas panel

You can drive over this part of the canyon under which Cherry Creek trickles.  The snaking ribbon of blue flowing under the starkly contemporary bridge is what attracted me to this scene. And if you know my work at all, architectural elements are seldom included. So this is a unique piece… for me. 

I would have been in this place right about now, but my friend that I visit has come here, instead. I'll go to see her in another season sometime within the coming year.

Carol

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Somewhere in Texas

"Somewhere in Texas"
8" x 8"
Pastel on canvas panel

A while ago I found a photo of this Texas landscape and kept it on my desktop. I only remember that it was in Texas. The colors, the texture, the light all drew me to this spot. I'd love to go there some day to see a place where the land is so many different colors.  

I have about four or five more panels left from the dozen or so I painted black for this landscape series. I may have to prep more, as I'm getting a lot of favorable comments on my squiggle technique.

Carol

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Trout Stream

"Trout Stream"
8" x 8"
Pastel on canvas panel

I watched a movie last night after I finished painting and posting my missive for the night.  It had some beautiful scenery in it, so I pointed my camera at the TV screen and captured half a dozen images of things I want to paint. This is one of them. 

I've seen trout streams like this in Colorado, but this one happens to have been in Oregon.  I'd love to go to Oregon some day, even if it's just to drive through and take photos. Anyone want to take me on a subject matter trip?

Carol

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Polished Knob

"Polished Knob"
7" x 5"
Pastel on canvas panel

I visited many old bars, inns and homes in Wisconsin this summer. There were doors that fascinated me, and this was one of them. Imagine my surprise when I saw how shiny the brass knob was when I got up close. Of course it would be well used — being the door to the bathroom. 

I didn't use my squiggle pattern to paint this. Oh, I tried to, but the wood just didn't look… wooden, so I put on some Neil Young and let my hand stroke back and forth to his swaying rhythm.

Carol

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Coleus Carnival

"Coleus Carnival"
24" x 20"
Pastel on black panel

Flanking the front door of the floral shoppe down the road from Mary and Dee's home where I stayed for five days last week was a barrel of coleus and ornamental sweet potato plants. The colors radiated in the sunshine, so I photographed them, hoping to be able to use the image … some day. 

When I saw the image on my computer screen I knew they would be my first large, three day painting in my squiggle style of pastel painting.  I'm very pleased with the results. And I can hardly wait to begin my next large pastel painting. I've become … braver.

Carol

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Downtown Blues and Greens

"Downtown Blues and Greens"
9" x 12"
Pastel on canvas panel

This is the last of the LaCrosse paintings. I had done the ones in warm colors and decided to make one to go in a silver plein air frame I brought with me.  I didn't like it as much as three other pieces, so it stayed behind. 

What has surprised me and some of my followers is that the squiggly marks I make with my pastel also works for non-organic subject matter such as buildings. I'm not as fond of it, used this way, but I rose to the challenge and did what I set out to do.

Carol

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Fourth and Main

"Fourth and Main"
8" x 10"
Pastel on canvas panel

The second painting I submitted for the plein air competition was also a pastel of downtown LaCrosse. Of course, LaCrosse is seldom seen in these colors, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.  

Carol

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Fifth and Main

"Fifth and Main"
8" x 8"
Pastel on canvas panel 

This is one of the three pieces I submitted to the plein air competition this past week in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on the Mississippi. It's in my favorite style of painting with pastel, alas, it did not win any awards.

I made new friends and met up with a couple of recently-made new friends in my travels. I enjoyed being a part of this event, and hope to participate again.

Carol

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Headboard or Gate?

"Headboard or Gate?"
5" x 7"
Oil on canvas panel

I, of course, know which it is, but the more I looked at it after it was painted, the more it looked like what it wasn't. 

No matter how we try, our intentions are never quite clear, are they?

Carol

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Main After Rain

"Main After Rain"
5" x 7"
Pastel on canvas panel

This is the last of my downtown paintings. I may do more cityscapes, but not necessarily LaCrosse. I get the hang of it now. 

I like using pastels for this purpose.  They're forgiving and seem to speak the essence of old city… especially the way I use pastels.

Carol

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Japanese Painted Fern

"Japanese Painted Fern"
12" x 16"
Pastel on canvas panel

I photographed these ferns last year and forgot about them. But when I got my pastels out again, I realized this would be the perfect subject matter.  

Carol

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"Geraniums"

"Geraniums"
6" x 6"
Pastel on canvas 

This is a quick study of the pot of geraniums I painted yesterday.  I had a small canvas with me and decided to make good use of it to figure out my colors.

Carol

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Anita's Hat

"Anita's Hat"
12" x 16"
Pastel on canvas panel

I painted with friends today. We each brought something to add to the still life. The bird was mine. I hadn't painted with pastels in a couple of months, so this was a freeing and exciting day for me. I didn't even think about whether or not it would be difficult. I just jumped in with both feet — like I live my life. 

I'm going to a pastel workshop in a week to learn to make my own pastels. I'll be with my new friends in the Chicago Pastel Painters group. We met for the first time and they put me on a committee already.  "…both feet," as I said above.

Carol

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A Select Assortment

"A Select Assortment"
12" x 16"
Pastel on canvas panel 

There was no occasion to put them out, but I did it anyway; a dozen or so select pieces of chocolate placed randomly on a plate. 

I'm learning to paint with my little chunks of pastel with gloves on. I plan to use up at least one box of a hundred blue gloves before I decide if it's for me or not. 

Carol

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Yellow Rose

"Yellow Rose"
16" x 12"
Pastel on black canvas

"She's the sweetest little rosebud 
That Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds,
They sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine,
And sing of Rosalee,
But the Yellow Rose of Texas 
Is the only girl for me."

I noticed that many of my cohorts are painting roses this time of year. I wonder what that's about?

Carol

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A Prickly Pear View

"A Prickly Pear View"
6" x 8"
Pastel on black canvas

I love the shape and texture of prickly pear cacti. They're so round and bristly and surprisingly moist inside. Some people eat them. And they come in such an interesting array of colors. I don't know in what season they turn to shades of mauve and greyed greens, but those are my favourites. 

I'd like to do this one in a larger format. At least the plant part of it. Okay, I admit it, I keep painting small panels black, because I'm afraid to expand to the larger format. Will I be able to make a large painting with these same marks?  Gulp.

Carol

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