Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting snow, icy water and reflections on black ...

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting snow, icy water and reflections on black ...: It's a challenge to paint on black and to paint an icy snowy creek partially thawed and reflecting in the melted water . I'm naming ...

Painting snow, icy water and reflections on black paper.

It's a challenge to paint on black and to paint an icy snowy creek partially thawed and reflecting in the melted water . I'm naming this December Thaw and using it for my Christmas card this year . 
Merry Christmas .

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Color Blocking (what's on the easel contd )

After blocking in and alcohol wash over Nupastel I began the application of pastel working back and forth between paintings . I'm not finished , here are two more progressions 

What's On The Easel ?

Recently a very talented pastelist suggested trying color block studies.  So choosing to do two color variation studies using the same reference , I  started with two quick color blockings on half sheets of white colorfix . I used a red - orange warm and blue cool under painting . I blocked in using a Nupastel and then used alcohol to fix the color. Though these are not finished I am having to much fun playing with color , try it , I feel I have learned a lot. 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

What's on the easel inspired by the landscapes of Degas and William Merrit Chase

The paintings below are still on the Easel and I'm still making marks . Let me know what you think ?
The pastel above is from a photo taken recently on a walk with my friend while visiting her home in Cape Cod . I loved this little path to the sea and what awaits beyond.
This painting is from a photo taken early morning when I walked down to the beach before breakfast and saw this dune and the view beyond , somewhere out there is Martha's !

What's on the easel?

I'm working on two dune paintings now .One was started a while back and I have the underpainting started with some pastel applied that you can see in a previous post . The second was started in a workshop from last Sunday that was held by Teceyce Walter at our arts center . We discussed the style of the old masters ,Degas , Cassat and my favorite , american impresionistic painter William Merrit Chase . When looking at the pastels done by these painters it is easy to see in their landscapes the amazing marks they made to achieve the painting style so beloved by pastelists and others. Here are a few examples .
The above painting was by Degas and I am amazed by this pastel as a landscape it is a wonderful piece to study for mark making and the use of using the paper as part of the painting. 
The above painting is a Chase pastel that is as you can see a beautiful coastal painting that has such depth ,perspective  and color . There is so much to learn from this piece from the sky , water , beach and figures painted to achieve the perspective in this work. 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Lakeside painting reworked and framed.

After looking at my newly finished Lakeside Farm painting on the blog , I realized that the right side of the shed was not straight and looked funny . My eye kept going there and drawing me out of the painting .i decided to fix that and and now the eye travels around and through the painting. I then framed in a barn board frame I found at Marshall's . I like this sweet little painting so much , I think I'll keep it unless it sells for a nice profit . I'm asking $200 for it , painting 5x7 in frame approx 8x10.

Friday, August 29, 2014

What's on the Easel

The photo reference for the sand dune painting taken in Falmouth Mass. This area is called the Big Beach and somewhere out there is Martha's Vineyard.

What's on the easel

Working on a sand dune from a photo taken a while back in Falmouth Mass. While visiting friends.
The painting in progress

Monday, August 25, 2014

Painting Inspirations

Sometimes the littlest thing that you see will inspire a painting. I was walking past a shed at my local farm store and I noticed that they replaced the the door on the shed with a new door . It was bright and new raw wood so I took a photo with my Iphone and here's what happened.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Sunset Regatta on Pigeon Cove

Sunsets can be brilliant and can be painted brilliantly ! As in brightly and almost unbelievable colors .How often do we as artists see a sky and think . Wow , I'd love to paint that ! This painting is meant to pair with Sails on Pigeon Cove , these are both only 6x6 studies and are fun to paint and I try to not be specific but use the color and the light to tell my story.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Remembering Helen Van Wyk and Julia Child

🎨Remembering Helen Van Wyk and Julia Child.
Millions recognize Helen Van Wyk as the host of PBS Television's "Welcome to my Studio" which, for many years, was a breath of fresh air on TV for artists who wanted to know more about their craft. Rather than introducing a formula for making paintings, Helen took the time to teach the reasoning behind every brush stroke and its value in reaching the goal of a finished work. I tuned in when she was on to watch her magic. I related to her painting and her casual teaching style. She kept me aquinted to painting as I went back to college while a married mom in the early 70's managing a husband ,children and career while grabbing a moment to paint and cooking with Julia Child . These were my idols  , they said I could still be creative and paint or make soup.
I could keep my love of painting and cooking while getting a degree in nursing .Many years later I learned  how important Helen and Julia would be as they taught me the painting style of Impressionism and the art of French cooking. They sustained me through those years when my life was filled with the fun of young motherhood ,marriage and career building when sometimes I dreamed of a loft full of canvases and the smell of linseed oil and turpentine . I envisioned myself with artists in some studio opening ,admiring avant garde paintings I didn't understand ,but pretended to , sipping a pink Chablis from probably a jug with Carlo Rossi imprinted on it and biting in to those scrumptious little retro canapés that were inspired by Julia.
Today I toast them both with a better wine and and my perfected bites . I'm still painting and cooking with Helen and Julia . Thanks , Ladies.


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting Small

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting Small: I recently purchased a nice pochade box , supplybox/shelf and tripod. I am planning to take it on a field trip . I have researched what supp...

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Painting Small

I recently purchased a nice pochade box , supplybox/shelf and tripod. I am planning to take it on a field trip . I have researched what supplies are needed and how to pack them .
I won't be going far , just to my local park.
I am hoping for nice light and optimal conditions, we will see. I have a fellow artist going too , she has the same set up .
Stay tuned !
Brining these pastels that fit into my new pochade box.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Painting on the Porch

Eiffel painting continues

Painting on the porch

JjNow that we actually have warm sunny days in upstate NY , I am switching mediums here to paint a large canvas with acrylics. This painting is special as the reference photo was taken while my husband and I were picnicking near the Eiffel in Paris ,France. 
I painted it a few years ago in watercolor and then decided to paint a large canvas for our bedroom .
Here is the painting in progress :

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Time for a tried and true recipe!

🍞 Recipe: Caesar salad
Ree Drummond
Ingredients
For croutons:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1/2 cup olive oil
1 loaf French bread
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
For dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 whole anchovy fillets
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon balsamic or red wine vinegar (balsamic makes it nice and rich)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Dash of salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
For salad:
2 Romaine lettuce heads
1/2 cup Parmesan shavings
Preparation
For croutons:
Preheat the oven to 250°F. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter in the olive oil. Cut the bread into 1- to 1 ½-inch cubes, then throw them into a large bowl.
Drizzle in the butter/oil mixture and toss them until they’re all coated. Stir together the Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes and sprinkle the mixture all over the bread cubes.
Toss the bread around to coat. Spread it out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, tossing twice, until the croutons are crisp with just a small amount of chewiness. Set them aside to cool completely.
For Caesar dressing:
Add the olive oil and garlic to a blender. Add the anchovies. Don’t be grossed out! You won’t even know they’re there. Next, add the Dijon, vinegar, Worcestershire, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Blend the dressing until totally smooth, then add the Parmesan and blend until smooth again.
For salad:
Cut the lettuce into bite-size pieces and throw it into a large bowl. Drizzle in three-quarters of the dressing, then toss it around. Sprinkle on the Parmesan shavings, then toss it again.
Toss in the croutons (along with all the crispy bits from the baking pan). Taste the salad to check the dressing amount; if you think it needs more, add it and toss the salad.
Serving Size
Makes 8 to 12 servings

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Thomas Cole 's Pochade Box

Thomas Cole (February 1, 1801 – February 11, 1848) was an American artist. He is regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School, an American art movement that flourished in the mid-19th century. Cole's Hudson River School, as well as his own work, was known for its realistic and detailed portrayal of American landscape and wilderness, which feature themes of romanticism.[1]


Sunday, April 20, 2014

Saratoga Geyser Painting for the benefit at my grandsons' school

So I'm so loving the mini painting and plein aire ..I'm excited about my new Sienna plein aire pochade box , arranging pastels for a lanscape trip .  I'm saving the ones I used for this painting of the Saratoga Geyser as I tend to use these greens and blues . I will add other colors as needed.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Class with Robert Carsten .

So yesterday was the class with Robert Carsten  and. He demonstrated how he does an underpainting 
Prior to beginning his actual painting .I often underpaint but now I will do it every time the way he does.
The process satisfies the need to paint with a brush. I started by drawing shapes and blocking in solidly with opposing colors using lights and darks creating a value study and working out the composition. Then taking alcohol and a stiff bristle brush painting each area and letting seridipity take charge. Here is the underpainting .Stay tuned for the finished painting.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

My first Mini Pastel

FI had some small scraps of Wallis paper left over  and some square frames with a mat opening of 5x5
I decided to experiment with a tiny painting. It forced me to paint less detail .I enjoyed my mark making .here is the painting. I think I will donate to Wildwoostock benefit.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Monet's House in Giverny

Having a chance to take an art workshop is such a treat. I firmly believe that none of us ever graduate as painters. There's always more to learn and every experience with another artist is a chance to broaden both technically and aesthetically. I will be taking another workshop from renowned Vermont artist Robert Carsten in April. I can't wait to see what I will do in the next class.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

All About the Medium of Pastel


Caring for Pastel Artwork
   
Pastel paintings typically have more vibrant colors and crispness of image than acrylic, oil, or watercolor paintings. Many people prefer pastel artwork for this reason. Many famous Impressionists such as Degas ,Manet and Cassatt employed the medium in their signature work. Whistler used pastels in many of his works as well as many other artists through the ages.

Creating a piece of pastel artwork is more like painting than drawing, even though the medium is applied as a dry stick onto paper. There is some variety in the types of pastel and the paper used. 

The pastel painting process I use is to apply nearly pure pigment to a sanded surface specifically for pastel.By layering  pigment ,that adheres to the surface I can create the "glow"that is achieved by light reflecting off the pastel crystals.

 Because it uses very little binder (such as the oil in oil paint) this pastel coloring can be extremely permanent. While the sanded surface is waterproof, most pastel pigments are water soluble so direct contact with moisture will damage pastel artwork. It is often possible to repair.

Because of its nature, the surface of a pastel painting cannot stand physical contact which would brush the crystals off the paper. For this reason, pastel artwork must be protected under glass. 

Pastel artwork should also be protected from jarring and never be laid or carried in a face-down position because both of these actions can cause some pastel dust to dislodge from the surface. If such dust is noticed, it will not harm the image because there is so much pigment on the painting .

Properly cared for , your treasured pastel painting can be handed down and enjoyed by generations.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

This Olde Truck WIP ...pastel on sanded paper in progress



Crabbies

"CRABBIES" Crab Appetizers 
From Rick's fresh right off the boat crabs

1 small can crab meat. Or one cup of Rick's fresh caught Dungeness crab 
1 jar Kraft Old English cheese
1 T. mayonnaise
1/2 stick butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. English muffins, halved

Mix all ingredients together and spread on muffin halves. Place on cookie sheet and put in freezer 1 hour; remove from freezer and cut each muffin into quarters. Bag and refreeze or, to serve: broil til golden brown and bubbly.
Note: you can use canned chicken, ham, tuna or salmon in place of the crab meat. If the can of meat contains a lot of water, drain it off. If frozen, you can bake in the oven - 350°-375°, 15-20 minutes or til bubbly.
You can also put this mixture in philo cups.

Timeless... Painting in progress ...an olde truck and a timeless recipe!

Trying to use an analgous color scheme on This Olde Truck ...looking at light and dark for values .

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Happy New Year

I am posting one of my newer paintings of 2014 .I'm not quite finished with it but close enough to post it. This was done from a photo taken while staying at Pigeon  Cove ! Mass.
It's such a deliteful fishing village . I searched the history of that area and many homes go back as far as the 1700's. 

This painting of Piigeon Cove a 9x10 pastel on sanded paper.