Spring begins to show her face

14"x14"  mostly Terry Ludwig pastel on Pastel Premier 400

I'm always excited this time of the year when Spring begins to show her face

quince

pear tree

migrating cedar waxwings

We don't get much snow down here in Georgia....practically none. So when I see all the snow paintings my artist friends are doing, I'm a little jealous. I have to get inspired with the grey's and browns. I usually go to my collection of bird nests for some inspiration. 

I pulled this one out of the box and put it on a plate in my studio

 I chose Pastel Premier sanded 400 grit paper. I did a watercolor underpainting to cover the white of the paper and then added some clear gesso for added texture. The more I work with pastels , the more I prefer the rough surface where I can build up the layers of paint and pastel. So while it is cloudy and rainy out side, I can be inspired in my studio. Enjoy! Spring is on the way!

painting some more animals

11.5"x15.5" pastel on Sennelier LaCarte sanded paper

"shaggy"

I really enjoy painting animals and birds. I try to capture their personality. Another reference photo from my trips to Connecticut. Again I drive by these cattle many times. They are Scottish Highland cattle. I love their long hair! This sanded paper is perfect for doing animals. I don't need an underpainting as there are several colors of paper to chose from. I mostly used Terry Ludwigs Box of Shades of Nature pastel plus some great American and Diane Townsend.

Here is my sketch

I have been asked to do several commission paintings of dogs and cats. If possible I try to meet the animal, photos don't always tell the truth, so I like to see the real thing!

Here's Lexxie! My neighbors cairn terrier, who I spend a lot of time around. I always start with the sketch. then go to the painting. Again I used the Sennelier sanded paper.

5"x7" pastel

sketch of Clementine and Cupcake to get familiar with the dogs. I met both of these sweet dogs.

Clementine is Cupcakes Mom.

Both paintings are 6"x6"

Meet Roxanne! A cute Tabby rescue cat. I did not get to meet Roxanne and had to work only from the photos I received from the client. I did several sketches and they decided which pose they liked.

this painting is 5"x7"

Meet Okra! this is my daughter's cat. She is part siamese and is a real sweet kitty

sketch in my sketchbook and the 8"x8" painting on black Sennelier sanded paper.

8"x8" pastel on a grey black Sennelier sanded paper

Ok last one for this blog post. If you know me , you know I am a fan of owls. Photo credit reference goes to Sagar Suresh from the OWL pages on FB. I actually did the painting first and then went back and did a sketch.

Hoot Hoot!

old....but not forgotten

5"x7" quick pastel study

Who isn't attracted to vintage buildings? I love them and am always taking photos with a future painting in mind. On a recent trip to Alabama, I took some photos of this forgotten home on the edge of a cotton field. I did some sketches to get familiar with the structure and also did the quick study above to work out some of my color ideas.

pencil sketch in my sketchbook

14"x14" pastel on mounted pastel premier 400

Here is the larger finished painting. I did a watercolor underpainting to cover up the white paper. I had a lot of fun painting in the grasses. Giclee prints will be available of this painting.

9"x12" pastel on multi media pastel paper.

I had fun with this one. The underpainting was nupastel and clear gesso to add extra texture to the paper. Then I used a little watercolor, let it dry and then put the pastel on top. 

another sketch from my sketchbook of a barn I saw on trip to Connecticut . When visiting , I drive by it all the time , so I have seen it all seasons and painted it before. I had fun with the multi media pastel paper and decided to use it again for this painting.

"winter's grey" 11"x14" pastel on multi media panel

For the underpainting, I did a  blue violet Crete color drawing and brushed it in with the clear gesso. Then I went back with some nupastel for some of the color and brushed that in with the clear gesso which left me with a lot of texture. I used Terry Ludwig and Great American pastels to finish it off. Giclee prints will be available of this painting.