little pieces of me

5"x7" small pastel

After doing a workshop with Karen Margulis on painting mini pastels, I had to have a go at it and have been painting them for the last week. I pulled out my scraps of pastel paper and cut them into 5"x7", 5"x5", 4"x4", and 2.5"x3.5". I thought about what I had learned - keep them SIMPLE! Paint the basic shapes and values and then add some spice.

collages of some on my small pastels

In my recent sales at the Whimsical Wares Art and Gift show, I noticed that I had sold quite a few of the 5"x7' size pastels. This is a great way for the collector to buy a piece of original art at an affordable price. I thought about the framing possibilities - grouping several together, framing them with mats and larger frames to give them more of a presentation, or just sitting them on a tiny easel in a bookcase or on a table.

 I had so much fun painting these little pieces of me. It helped me to loosen up and to look at what's really important in the photo I  used as a reference. I can use these small paintings as studies for larger paintings. I will paint more! They are all available for sale. Please go to my FB art page - Bonnie Morgan Hyde fine art - and look in the photo album marked pastels for more of me work.  You can message me there.

"autumn joy"……I had a plan

                                                "with the color of the leaves turning bright,
                                                                    To their delight.
                                                     Red and yellow with orange in sight"
                                                               (Lawrence S. Pertillar)

"autumn joy" 9"x12"

I had gone to Gibb's Garden last week with a friend. We had hit it at the perfect time - the maple trees were at their peak in autumn colors! I was so excited and felt connected to the images I was bringing home on my camera.

I had a plan - thanks to a recent workshop with Karen Margulis. I had a reference photo that I was passionate about. I did a simple thumbnail value sketch to work out the composition and values. I picked my color palette (adding a few along the way) and did a hard pastel with alcohol wash  underpainting to lay in the simple values. It was an "ah hah" moment. The painting came together. Everyone in our workshop ended up with a painting we felt good about.

I think this is my favorite of the autumn paintings I have done so far this season. It may be hard for me to part with - Those "pieces of me". I will have to paint more now that I have a plan!

 Thank you Karen Margulis! 

Autumn days…...

Red and yellow painted leaves

hang idly within the trees

They break and sail along the breeze

As fires of Autumn's time

(Wesley Mincin)

9"x12"

I'm always excited when the Autumn season comes around. Crisp days, cool nights and the changing colors of the foliage.

"country road" 9"x12"

I used  many of my Girault neutrals and friends pastel for this painting to express the stormy gray day.

I really enjoy doing a wet underpainting for my pastels and pulled out my Winsor Newton watercolors for this next one to block in the basic shapes and colors. 

watercolor underpainting

final painting

"majestic" 12"x18"

I guess pretty soon I will be looking for the blues, browns and whites of winter.