What’s on the Easel

Just getting started ..painting a walking path near our home. So watch the

Progression!

Sunset Tutorial

Here is a series of photos from start to finish of a sunset from my photo of turtle beach

I used lots of hard  and soft pastels starting with nupastels for main shapes and 

An alcohol wash. Then slowly building colors. A little bit of blending and final touches.

I will frame this and post the final product.

Swiss Cows

5x7 pastel ‘Swiss Cows’ on Uart archival sanded paper. Framed 

Most paintings for sale!

Painting Still Life Landscape

Just getting started defining the veggies that will be more defined while the fields

are nearly done. Will have to check my values though so the distance is defined 

as far away. The closer fields are still being picked and they show the bounty 

yet to come. Stay tuned …still working on my beach scene too.

This was first a combo of photos then a few thumb nail sketches. Then a quick block

In of shapes some hard pastels and then an alcohol wash. Then reenforce my darks 

Still using hard pastels and starting some detail. I’m using 350 Uart so I had to use 

hard pastels to fill some tooth or my soft pastels would be eaten up! Chomp

What’s on the easel

Getting a painting ready from a photo of the beach . This is a pastel painting 

On 350 Uart over watercolor wash. I really want to transport 

 into this photo but it may satisfy my crave to feel the beach, sun and 

sand as I paint! I’ll listen to an ocean sound as I paint. 

Stay tuned.

The making of a Christmas Card

Every year I do a piece of art for my annual Christmas card ,usually a pastel. I was not inspired 

For this year’s painting

Until it snowed and so I watched the sun pour through the pines in my backyard.

I placed some 400 Uart sanded paper and preceded to look out the window 

From my studio. Also worked from a few photos. What do you call and en

Plein Air done from a window? Merry Christmas.

Kayaking On The Lake With Luke

Seaside Painting

So we are back on golf courses and outdoor events , masked or unmasked depending on your vaccine status here in UpState

Still working on this decided to spend a little more time on the foreground 

This is the 16th hole at Saratoga Spa. Course. 

I’m back with some new thoughts and ideas for 2021

I can’t believe my last post was October but I’ve been painting and enjoying all things art this long covid

Winter!

Here are some things I’ve done

I know it’s a bunch of crafty stuff and painting but a girl has to keep busy during 

A lock down!

I’m working on a new painting and my next post will be about that!

Sketching At The Clark

One of my favorite paintings is Renoir’s Onions that is part of the French Impressionist paintings at the Clark 

Renoir painted these onions on a trip to Italy and though it is a still life, he paints it with the same interest

And care as his nudes.

Sketching really familiarizes me to the composition and style of the painting. There is so much to learn.

I may try a pastel of this painting which will be another learning experience!

What’s on the Easel !?

Started this painting with a Watercolor wash and then just starting to work out the composition on 400 Uart paper, stay tuned!

Here’s a pie crust recipe tried and true

🔵Jinny's (Mom's) Pie Crust

    

I made this

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pie

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Crust for a two crust pie 

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

2 ¼ Cups Flour
¾ tsp. Salt
1 Cup Crisco
About ½ Cup of cold Orange Juice

Steps

Place flour and salt in bowl and mix thoroughly.
Cut in Crisco with a pastry cutter until the flour looks like little beads of goodness
Slowly pour in Orange Juice into flour mix  and stir till dough comes together and holds its shape
Place a large sheet of plastic wrap down on your surface and dump the dough onto the wrap
Cover and shape into a ball
Place in fridge and refrigerate at least one hour till thoroughly chilled
Assuming you have prepared your chilled or room temp filling , have it ready to fill pie,have the oven preheated to temperature for the specific type of pie you are making
Remove Thoroughly chilled  dough from the fridge
Cut half of dough ball and return other to fridge
Place dough on floured surface and roll out to desired size. Place in pie plate
Next roll out top of pie crust
Fill pie with filling(filling must be chilled or at least room temp)
Place top crust on pie and crimp edges together to seal tightly
Poke holes in top with fork or knife at least three , artfully !
Place in preheated oven till golden brown accordingly and following your filling recipe directions!

Notes

If I am making a fruit pie,I use instant tapioca and follow the directions for fruit pie on the back of box. If I am making a Quiche or Pot Pie, I use ice water instead of OJ. 
The most important thing to consider in making any pie is that all elements should be chilled before placing in preheated oven. 
Fun ideas: I often add thyme and Parmesan cheese to chicken pot pie crust 
Cheddar cheese to Apple Pie crust 
Don't add a lot just enough to give flavor and not compromise the crust! 

Sandi Graham Pastels: What’s On The Easel

Sandi Graham Pastels: What’s On The Easel: Vassar Pond 8X 10 pastel on Uart 400 Last year I took some photos while at cross country meet at Vassar College I was walking past this pond...

What’s On The Easel

Vassar Pond 8X 10 pastel on Uart 400

Last year I took some photos while at cross country meet at Vassar College

I was walking past this pond and photographed it, planning a future painting.

So here it is! 

Sketching On Vacation

Keep sketching is the thing artists either like or love. There are many opportunities and great stuff to sketch anywhere you may be.

Sitting on a beach, for example!

Bring that sketch book and a pen , go for it!

The House In Maine

The House In Maine is a small thumbnail painting and I’m hoping to paint a larger one in the future. Here’s part of my work in progress:

What’s On The Easel?

Working on this 5x7 landscape on 400 Uart paper. Love the angles and the colors . It’s not finished, I’m still thinking about some deeper colors in purples and blue in the foreground . Maybe some Terry “Eggplant” ❤️

Sandi Graham Pastels: Rescue Painting Finished.

Sandi Graham Pastels: Rescue Painting Finished.: I think I’m finished with this rescue and I’m naming it! Usually I keep it out somewhere so I can revisit before signing. Framing will come ...

Let’s try a competition !

I love Uart paper to paint on and when they had a competition 

I sent my painting Park Urn in . Never dream of winning

But fun to enter.