Amber Pitcher on Orange

Here's a heavy quote you might enjoy and one I hope to achieve.

“Art flies around truth, but with the definite intention of not getting burnt. Its capacity lies in finding in the dark void a place where the beam of light can be intensely caught, without this having been perceptible before.”
― Franz Kafka, Blue Octavo Notebooks
 

Sable

Sable came sniffing by me as I painted in Jackson's Garden last weekend. There was a lot to explore and as I tried to take a picture of him he had already turned away towards his next destination. As Sable is someone's pet and I don't have one, I'm submitting his image to this week's DPW challenge.

Jackson's Garden

Here are my Unison Pastels. I went out today and used them for the first time. They are soft and beautiful, but I'm covered in dust. I have pastel dust on my face, hands and clothes. In painting, I did what other pastel painters have told me they do. I started with both Nupastels and my small set of Rembrandt's and finished it off with a layer of Unisons.

I think this painting should be called My Pastel Journey since it is the first of many in a progression of more learned pastel paintings. I painted today in Jackson's Garden at Union College, a beautiful spot.

Amber Pitcher and Limes

I have to admit I really like painting on these 8 x 8 panels. I can use larger brushes to help me stay loose. I started out with #6 bright and ended with a #2. I'm probably better off putting away that #2 until I use up all my panels. That will be my next goal.

Purple Coneflower in White Tin Cup

I'm happy to say I have lots of coneflowers in my garden. They're bold, colorful and sculptural, just the kind of flower I like to paint. On another note, I ordered 8 x 8 gessoboard panels and they've arrived today. I'm wanting to paint bigger. I found a large amber pitcher and I'm planning to paint it tomorrow. I just have to figure out the set-up.

Amber Glass on Blue

It's been five days since I've painted but it feels longer. Again I have to go through those phases of getting back into the zone where the paintings flow and I'm happy.  My husband talks about writers to me and one quote struck me as true. You can tell more about a person from what they can't do than from what they can. If I can't get that painting perfect am I still a good painter?

Saratoga's Art in the Park

 

Saratoga Art in the Park

I'll be participating in Art in the Park tomorrow. Should be a fun day.

Watermelon Pieces

Painting still lifes gives me the opportunity to choose colors, shadows, and compositions. The challenge today was in choosing the right colors. Much of the watermelon is reflected light and the shadow areas of the flesh are more saturated.  I spent a lot of time making adjustments in both color and temperature.

Jethro

This little Corgi is a companion to Charlie and was also a commission sent to me by email.  I tried to capture his sweet smile and light coloring.

 

Here's the painting on a small plate easel. I think Charlie and Jethro will make a nice pair either on these small easels or framed on the wall.

My Weekly Pastel Painting

Nupastels

The top was painted a couple of months ago using a box of 96 Nupastels.

Rembrandt pastels

The Bottom was painted with a box of 15 Rembrandt pastels.  I had to layer colors to create the ones that I wanted and learned to use a lighter touch. You may ask why I'm comparing the two and my answer is because they feel like two very different mediums.

Both are a copy of a Kevin Macpherson painting from his book Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light and Color. 

I've purchased a 72 piece landscape set of Unison pastels from Dakota Art Pastels. I have lots of question about how will they work. Will I figure them out and find my style?

Amber Glass and Apple

I bought this tall amber glass at a garage sale last weekend. It had a retro feel with an elongated wave pattern and I knew it would break up the light nicely. I love it when glass has an abstract quality and I can paint the break-up of colors and shadows.