Sing a song of seasons

“glory” 9”x12” pastel on Uart 320

Autumn Fires

In the other gardens

And all up the vale

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail

Pleasant summer over 

And all the summer flowers

The red fire blazes

The grey smoke towers

Sing a song of seasons

Something bright in all

Flowers in the summer 

Fires in the fall!

As we approach the end of autumn, I am reminded of this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. The wind and rain have taken most of the foliage off the trees, but the burning bush is still ablaze with color.

“hallelujah”  12”x18” pastel on Uart 320

I see glimpses of autumn’s glory in passing, soon to be gone with winter approaching.

“the light is golden”. 18”x12” pastel on Uart 320

I am still having fun with exploring a more textured and under painted surface for my pastel paintings. I feel it creates more depth and excitement. I don’t want to caught up in the details of the image, but rather leave you with an impression or feeling you may connect with. 

I am always thankful for the inspiration I receive from God’s creations. 

Enjoy these last days of autumn. 

“I am surrounded by You” 18”x12” pastel on Uart 320

It has been quite some time since I have posted on my blog. My new life has created new patterns for me, but I am not giving up on my painting ! Less time for painting with a full time job..... anyway I was inspired to paint this today and made a point of taking time in my studio space. I recently went up to Blue Ridge GA and the lake was just beautiful.... the end of the summer. Soon all the leaves will be changing colors ! I’ve had a song on my mind by Michael W. Smith - Surrounded (Fight my Battles) , been singing it in my head for days and it just seemed to inspire me to do this painting. I am so very grateful for God’s grace, the beauty He created, and my gift for painting. 

Here is my  reference photo that I used for the painting.

I have been having a lot fun playing with underpainting and texture for my pastel paintings.

Here is how I started.  I like the rougher grades of pastel paper and used Uart 320 . I then toned the whole sheet with ArtGraf . It is water soluble and also works with rubbing alcohol. First I used a bristle brush and scumbled  some of the areas with pumice gel. Then I went back with rubbing alcohol  and brush and blended the rest in. The next photos are some progress shots.

Some news.... I have been working on a website! I hope to have it completed by the end of this month. I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

I hope my painting brings you joy . Blessings 

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A fondness for green

“a fondness for green” 9”x12”pastel

First post for 2019. I’m really having a fun time exploring a more textured surface for my pastel paintings. I had several sheets of Uart 500 which is a softer texture. So I decided to tone the paper with ArtGraff water soluble color and brushed it in with a fine pumice gel. 

Here is a photo of the process. The ArtGraff stick is square and flat and I just rub it lightly across the paper. You don’t need much , the color is intense. Then I take the fine pumice gel and paint it on with a a large Bristol brush , blending in the color and leaving the brushstrokes for added texture. Once that is dry , I lay in the first layers of the darkest values, then go the the sky and work my way down. 

Here are a few more of my recent pastel paintings with the added texture and toning of the Uart 500. By the way , it works well for a new surface on paintings that did not work out well, that I washed the pastel off in the sink.

A small 5”x5” quick paint on black toned 

15”x15” toned a dark brown

9”x12” toned sepia

9”x12” toned sepia

12”x18” toned sepia. 

I think this is the direction I will be heading in this year, exploring more with different papers and texture.

Comments are always welcome!

“stand sleeping in the cold” 12”x16” pastel on Pastel Premier Italian clay 320

Winter Trees/ William Carlos William

all the complicated detail 

of the attiring and

the disattiring are completed!

A liquid moon

moved gently among

the long branches.

Thus having prepared their beds

against a sure winter

the wise trees

stand sleeping in the cold.

As 2018 comes to an end, I thought I would try to get one more blog post in. So much has changed for me this year, new resolutions to be made, finding a way to put myself to rest with the approaching winter and preparing for a new year, a new path. As I am working a full time job now, there doesn’t seem to be as much time to paint. It seems more thought and heart go into each painting I have time for. Sometimes just an impression in a 20 minute quick pastel. Sometimes I wash everything off from an unsuccessful painting, repurpose the paper, toned black with clear gesso, starting with a new idea. Sometimes it’s just a feeling and I just paint what comes from inside me. Painting - so much a part of who I am - I can’t let it go. 

Wishing you blessings in the New Year

"dawn's arrival"

"dawn's arrival" 6" x 18'' pastel on Uart 320

Most days I start with an early morning walk. There is something special about the early morning light. Here in Georgia with the humidity, everything seems softer in the morning. I always bring along my iPhone or camera for photos. 

 

These are photos from two different mornings of the same scene. The sky had a lovely soft pink color. This is what inspired my painting. I used the photos only as a reference and painted what I remembered feeling and seeing on my morning walk.

I decided to use the Art Graf Viarco again, this time using the red, to tone the Uart 320 sanded paper, brushing it in with rubbing alcohol. After that dried, I added some clear gesso for added texture.

The start of my painting......

The title of the painting comes from this poetry by William Lindenmuth

Say hello to the dawn's arrival

Open your eyes to a brand new day

Lift your eyes to feel the sun's blessing

The morning light will show you the way

The morning light will show you the way

Each gentle ray blesses the living

We all reach out for it's energy

It's gentle warmth will caress you

The morning light will show you the way

The morning light will show you the way

For every tree and every flower

That dances in the sun

For children playing in the daytime

And having their fun

Foe every broken heart that sees the 

Light of day

The morning light will show you the way

The morning light will show you the way

Illuminating all that it touches

Brings out the color of the world

It's warmth it gives us good feelings 

The morning light will show us the way

The morning light will show us the way

For every tree and every flower

That dances in the sun

For every childhood smile

That touches everyone

For every life that we are given

For every dream realized

The morning light will show you the way

The morning light will show you the way

Have a blessed day

"lift your eyes"

"lift your eyes " 18"x18" pastel on toned Uart 320

I usually stick with 5"x7", 9"x12", or 12"x16" sizes for my paintings. It can be costly framing a pastel painting because they need to be covered with glass. I prefer  to use museum glass, which has very minimal glare and shows true color. 

Today was an emotional day for me, with sad news of several dear friends. With emotion, I turn to the sky to express it. I pushed myself to do a larger painting - 18"x18" - my feelings called for it. It needed to be powerful. 

I used Uart 320 and toned the paper with black Art Graf Viarco . 

They are water soluble, but I chose to use rubbing alcohol with a large brush so it would dry faster. 

Here is my palette. I kept it to a minimum .  I used some reference photos I had taken of the sky at the end of a stormy day recently where I live. This is where I started.

 I worked on the painting most of the morning and decided to take a break.

 I came back to it later in the day and worked some more on it - sometimes it's difficult to know when to stop - I didn't want to over work it. Finally I got to a point where it felt complete. I actually feel tired after painting this one. I have a special connection with each painting I do..... little pieces of me.

Have a blessed day.

Hollister House Garden, Washington CT

Me....

During my visit to Connecticut in June, I went with a dear friend to the Hollister House Garden in Washington. It is an 18th century farmhouse set on 25 acres of fields, wooded landscape  and an old fashioned English garden. It was an overcast day, perfect for photos with minimal shadows and lots of inspiration for future paintings.

a few of my photos

From my reference photos , I started in my sketchbook working out some ideas.

There is a parking area, from there you walk up toward the house and out buildings. I couldn't resist painting the two red out buildings surrounded by trees and daisies. I worked out some sketches first, then painted.

sketchbook

sketchbook

12"x12"pastel on Uart dark 400

There is a stream running through the property - this is where I was most attracted. There was something so calming and I wanted to just stand there and enjoy the view and sounds. Standing in the English garden facing the hillside just past the steam.

"I lift my eyes to the hills"12"x16"pastel on Pastel Premiere Italian clay 320

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth. 

Standing on the wooden bridge that went over the stream to the field, I looked up and down the stream and painted these two scenes.

"a good land" 9"x12" pastel on Uart 320

Deuteronomy 8:7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with brooks, streams and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills.

"song for joy" 12"x16" pastel on Pastel Premiere Italian clay 320

Psalm 96:12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

I still have many more photos and memories from that day to paint from. I'm hoping to get back there this autumn to see the change of season with all it's color. 

I hope you enjoyed.