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.

Seaside Painting

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!

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” ❤️

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. 

Cloud Study

This is about clouds so probably won’t include much of the land or the buildings 

As I go along. I’m playing with color and cloud style. Let’s see what I end up with 

In the next post!

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 later when I have a finished pieces 

framing session.

“The House On Big Beach “ 5x7 pastel on Uart 

Putting The Pieces Together

As you can tell I’ve been working on the sky and water . I’m also establishing the beach house and grasses.

Eventually I’ll work on the forgound getting that established. I often refer to the photo at this point but I 

Never plan to paint the photo. 

Here is the photo I took on an October day at the Cape:

Working to brighten the day on Cape and putting the puzzle together.

Stay tuned!

How I Rescue A Failed Painting -What’s On The Easel? Or Puzzle Painting

I was working on a pastel painting en plen air this summer and it just wasn’t coming together so I rinsed off  the  Uart sanded paper I was using, removing the pastel . I’m starting over with an easel painting from a photo . I always feel when I start a painting I’m starting a new puzzle, placing pieces in place . I’m trying to get a basic outline and shape of the puzzle painting ! Here’s a start of my puzzle painting:

Stay tuned for the next pieces in the puzzle! Looks like a jumble of lines right now!

Mini Pastel

Adirondack Mountain mini pastel. What a vista and fun to

Paint. 3”x 5”.

How I Can Never Make A Stroke And Leave It

Finally finished the painting and I’m on to the next! This just

screamed Summer! 8x10 “Beach Walk”

Make A Stroke And Leave It

I read recently one of my favorite pastel artists,Tony Alain, quote the above words and I try to tell myself to do this. Sadly, I cannot.

It is just that I keep working until I feel finished with my work. This little seascape almost or nearly finished but there are a few more

Strokes needed and then I will leave it! Stay tuned for my next post!