Happy New Year - 2017!!

2016 wasn't the best year for me - by any stretch - no matter how I look at it.  Not that there were BAD things that happened, but there certainly were life changing and sad times.  

I am looking forward to 2017 as a year to change my outlook somewhat.  I am not going to make 'pie in the sky' promises to myself - but I am going to focus on lightening up - physically and mentally, letting the wind carry my ideas and plans where it WILL. 

As I looked at another year of participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 as soon as it was announced, I wasn't much into doing year 5..but the longer I thought about it, I realized I hadn't painted since the day before my dad passed - September 17th and here it is, December 31st.  

I needed a way to channel myself back to the easel and the studio - I was finding myself using every excuse and trick to keep myself away from paint and brushes.  30 in 30 is perfect at this time, no pressure. I am foregoing a specific theme or focus and JUST PAINT.  I keep telling myself, that's why it's called a 'challenge' - duh! It will seem a challenge to GET OUT THERE for several days, but hopefully that will pass.  It is what I have always craved, that time doing art, and there is no time like now to rekindle that love..it could very well be what's causing these wandering and worthless feelings I have.  I can no longer let this 'sucky' year be the cause of not reaching out there to feed my artist's soul....SOOOOOO...

...I have made it out to the studio today, I have a cleaned off space - I have fresh brush cleaner, I have my 'source' ready, my canvas/sub straight has been pretreated ahead of time with a fun background and I have sketched out my subject in white charcoal. All I need to do now is create my music 'playlist' and I will be ready to go - DAY ONE!

(There is a little voice in the back of my mind that is telling me that I will wear down quickly and NOT finish the 30 this time, but I am pushing that voice back with trying to plan a little ahead of the game, hopefully being ready for the next day, a day ahead!! )

COME BACK TOMORROW!!  DAY ONE WILL BE POSTED AT SOME POINT IN THE DAY!!

Happiest of Holidays to YOU and YOURS

Enjoy the holidays and check back soon!

Thanksgiving Time

Remember...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Sunrise and Scenes from the Farmstead

About 2 minutes after I saw it out the window and it was already waning away in color,

but still pretty awesome.

Super Moon earlier - last week.

Mountain Ash profoundly full of fruit!

The 'morning' "moon-moon" as my granddaughter Sterling

calls it.  

Away and Back Again...

Gloomy and foggy, that's how my days have gone

this past month.

My beloved, 90 year old father passed mid September.

It was sudden, he was healthy, happy and still living on 

his own right up to that dreadful emergency visit

to the hospital.  We were all taken

by surprise.  In the days since, there has

been lots of deal with.  He lived 270 miles from 

where I live.  Many a trip I have made on Kansas

byways.  That journey is forever changed.

Frozen, and uninspired is how I feel.

Hopefully as time moves on, 

I will rekindle my 'artist's' fire.

I will miss you Dad - but know you have rejoined Mom -

in another place, and somehow we will move on without you.

My dad and his granddaughter, Jessica, 

at the motocross races

in 1976.  

Palette Knife Adventure

My "Ever After" online coursework called for a palette knife painting as

one of our assignments for 'going out of our comfort zone'.

Well, this one did just that  Out of my comfort zone but

also a lot of fun.  I used a limited palette of acrylic

paint of red, yellow and blue with white.  

Goldilocks on the Run

"Goldilocks and the Three Bears"

inspired by Cinnamon Cooney

12" x 16"

watercolor and acrylic on Arches coldpress

During this month one of the 'Ever After' lessons is Goldilocks and 

the Three Bears in a dream setting. 

 I took the liberty to 

change up the girl.  

She was painted as crying.  I didn't see her as the crying type.  

I figure she was pretty much

a brave sort of girl..so here she is after being 

awakened in Baby Bear's bed, disheveled

and on the run through the forest to get away, besides 

I LOVE painting flying hair!

End of the Month - More Fairy Tales

"Seven Ravens"

12" x 16"

watercolor, watercolor pencil, marker, acrylic paint, Caran d'Ache 

watercolor crayon

on Arches watercolor block

You can find the story, HERE.

I have been working on this for a couple of days, honestly the first

one didn't make it off the easel.  I figured that my human

image need to be large and the first one I tried, didn't 

come out that way and it had too many things details in it.

I feel the need to stick to more 'design' rather

than a detailed painting.

I loved the colors in this one, I originally had

her top as a WRONG color, but was

able to correct that one with acrylic paint.

I am enjoying this sooo much.

I can't seem to stop.  It has got

me in it's grips..and I don't think it

will let go for awhile.

Sunday and the Girl with the Golden Goose

"The Girl with the Golden Goose"

8" x 10"

on Canson illustration board

~ at least my rendition of it.  I decided that I wanted my goose to

look real, so I didn't make it golden.  I used an 'inspiration' gathering exercise, where

I looked around my surroundings for items to use in my painting.

I love birds, hence the bird in the sky and I love my Pampas grass

that grows outside my studio window...so I included

a plant of that.

I used a couple of layers of different mediums in this one.

I used collage and some gesso ground for the second layer and then

more paint and pencil on the top layer.

This is done in mixed media, marker, gesso, collage, paint, watercolor and watercolor 

pencils.  

Leader of the Pack

At the end of the last post, I was trying out some faces for a future piece

to go with the story Little Red Riding Hood that has been done in the online course

I am taking "Ever After".  I envisioned Red as being a great wildlife enthusiast, calming and catching the wolf to lead him off down a different path.  I know, one shouldn't mess with Mother Nature, but 

think of all the Grandma's that were saved!!?

This one measures 11" x 14" and is done on Canson bristol (my first time trying this product).  I was surprised as with all the layers of marker, paint and pencil, it did not buckle.  Yay!

  

  

Where Have I Been?

You may have checked in and wondered, what is she doing?  Well, it has not been my intention to let my blog LAG like this..sorry.  I signed up for and am taking an online class called “Ever After” from July through October.  It is a mixed media art and style development course with a fairy tale theme hosted by Tamara Laporte and 12 other popular mixed media art teachers from all over the globe.  So spending most of my time, watching, learning, trying, failing, trying again, and planning and drawing and painting and painting - along with petting and combing and playing with studio cats and organizing and cleaning studio...oy!

And~~~along with that, DH and I continue to work on things around our 112 year old farmstead that need attention.  Home maintenance, car and appliance repair are all things we tackle on our own.  Why?  Because we can.  

Here are several of the finished pieces and some of the sketches from the class and what I am attempting to make my OWN..at this point, we are encouraged to copy the content and use the same methods and supplies for the learning part, about 3 complete pieces per month.  Then tackle our own piece using what we have gleaned from the month long attempts. studying, and videos along with journaling and sketching.  It's fun!  It's refreshing!  It's full of camaraderie and interest.  

The Little Mermaid

(almost exact copy)

Tam Laporte instructor

Beauty and the Beast

(a little change on the Beast - the one to copy looked too friendly)

Andrea Gomoll, instructor

Snow White

(used my daughter Jessica as a model for this one)

Annie Hamman, instructor

Just a sketch - trying out design elements - you get the idea

Jack and the Beanstalk, (my own creation)

Some Beauty and Maleficent sketching on my own

Sleeping Beauty

(not quite exact copy)

Jane Davenport, instructor

The Handless Maiden (my OWN maiden - 

and I hadn't heard this one either, google it)

Galia Alena, instructor

Little Red and Wolfie

(almost exact copy)

Micki Wilde, instructor

working on my own sketches - modeling the faces for my own version

of Little Red...

Now comes the good part for me - leave me a comment on

which is your favorite.  I want you to know, this is really

pushing me, and it's quite a struggle - but in a good way because

I am having a really good time learning to develop a new style

in this genre.

Happy Fourth of July!!

"The SPARKLER by the BONFIRE"

9" x 12"

pastel on pumiced and toned gatorboard

All year long, the seasons approach, the holidays fall right into the 

mix of days. Sometimes I think ahead to DO a painting 

that fits the oncoming holiday - just for 'festivities sake'!

Luck be, this year sitting right on my easel when I returned from

our trip west was a photo of my cousin

long ago at a Fourth of July family reunion.

It was dusk, the bonfire had been lit, the kids were out and about

with sparklers and I caught her enjoying her 'light' there.

It has been one of my favorite photos and I always

knew I would tackle it one day.

I was recently experimenting with black toned pumice

and thought what a great beginning to an already

'dark' event.  

It worked out just the way I wanted it!

Have a Happy and safe FOURTH!!

Out and About

Just returned from our annual Spring Trek, again, out west all the way to Oregon coast from Kansas, with a few awesome stops in between (Blue Mesa in Gunnison, Co,: Yosemite Nat. Park: Susanville BLM Wild Horse Facility, California, :Idaho: etc etc..)  One month in the RV changes the 'travelers' - ya know.  It's a busy world out there full of lots of people and we often enjoy being 'people watchers', especially in campground settings - it takes all kinds and they all do it differently.  Too many stories of the road to tell here.  Our RV blew a leak in the radiator just as we were about 150 miles from Yellowstone, so we had to head home a little early.

But here are just a teensy tiny bit of the photos that were taken...

Bailey has a mobility vest on, as he needs help from time to time,

he (and we) have been fighting canine carcinoma. He has lesions

on his spine and probably in his brain.  He doesn't often walk too well, in the back end.

He can fall over easily or do the splits on slick surfaces.

We also have a back end vest for him when he needs it.

He is 12...and with help, is still maintaining a good and

happy life.  We have a 'ramp' that he uses to get in and out of the RV, 

DH has to give him a little lift at the end, thus has a bad back lately.   

His left paw is bandaged as he often

has 'hot spots' he opens and licks to the point of

bleeding and being a mess...so we covered it

almost every hour some days.

Since we are back home, he is interested in it less.

I think hot spots start bothering him 

out of pure boredom and of course, being a Weimaraner

he comes by it naturally.

Anyway, I missed my studio and the peace that it brings - but found a 

different kind of peace in other places along the way and I am reminded of a 

good one...

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Buddha

Happy NUMBER 9! number 9..number9..number9

Often times I think - 

I should update my blog.

I should blog more..

I should take down my blog..

I should migrate this blog to another weblog service just for the difference..

I should..

then I think, 

MEH, this blog is fine. 

The problem with this blog lately is ----

I think I have too many things going on in my life.  

I am so busy. 

 I am sporadic with my art lately because of this whirlwind of activity.

  

But mainly - and honestly - I JUST don't take the time. 

I am not a good planner. 

But I like to blog when I can plan it in my day.

This is my 9th blogiversary.

Thanks to all my readers and lookers!!

I appreciate that you stop by to see 

what's new from time to time.  

Do I still have something to say?  I always have something to say.

Keep tuned for further developments, I am not giving up yet. 

I will have something to say or most likely show.

Happy Mother's Day and a new Pastel Painting

"Vagabond"

6" x 6"

pastel on tinted and pumiced Gatorfoam board

SOLD

I love, love, love the new technique I learned from Rita Kirkman.

It's becoming much more comfortable and understandable with

each of these last several pastels.

Painting a value study before adding detail and color is 

just what I needed. In doing so, you get a lot

of the work done underneath which makes it 

sing when I get down to the nitty gritty of the work.

(I should never call this work, it is what I love

and it isn't work to me..it's 'total passion and enjoyment'.)

It takes me to another place.

Happy Mother's Day!

A Pastel of a Cat

"George"

(edited)

6" x 8"

pastel on Gatorfoam board

I did this painting in my Rita Kirkman class a few weeks back.

   This one is of a special cat who belonged to my

online friend Danni. She has a great blog

 "On the Way to Critter Farm" HERE.  

You should visit it.  I love where she lives (in Oregon)

and the antics of all her critters on her farm.

George was a stray - who lived with her for awhile and then

met with an untimely death (3 years ago).

I have always admired the photo I used for this portrait.

I also needed to reference the photo one more time and work

a little on the post he is sitting on, it didn't read right, but

I think it does now.

This painting is on it's way to Danni next week.

Thanks again Danni!

Daily Painting of a Wolf in Pastel by Pattie Wall

"Alpha"

6" x 8"

 pastel on primed Gatorfoam board

Purchase INFO HERE

Today, I primed a white Gatorfoam board in 

Aubergine colored pumice by Art Spectrum.

I didn't do a prior value study..I just 'went for it'.

It went really fast, maybe because I have been

so busy with acreage care, landscaping and mowing

that I just couldn't wait to get at it, and

knew I had a short amount of time.

Daily Painting in Pastel - of Two Calves

"237 and Friend"

6" x 8"

pastel on primed Gatorfoam board

Purchase INFO HERE

The colors didn't come out right on my photo,

that foreground is a nicer green than shown, 

but - got one done today.

These calves live right across the road, among many others

and I like it that they are friendly.

A Pastel of a Yearling and a Mare

"The Nudge"

6" x 6"

pastel on pumice primed and tinted Gatorboard

 

More in the ballpark today.  I feel 'luck' striked a

homerun on this one.

Here is a photo of the value study I did to start.

A Pastel of a Moose

"Moose 2"

6" x 8"

pastel on primed Gatorboard

Purchase INFO HERE

Here are a couple of the first steps, but I forgot

to take more as I progressed.

I was really into this painting today.

This is the Quinacradone Azo Gold surface with some added primed areas.

Adding more tinted pumice gel, this one is Mars Black.

This moose was in the Colorado high country where we were camping a few years ago.

I loved the photo and wanted to add some MORE light.  I actually like this second step the best (even better than the finished piece - I think it's the simplicity and that it says everything I wanted the finished piece to say.)

Priming and Sorting

I finally finished my pastel sort.  I don't have a Heilman box (a great wooden carrier for pastels)..but I am saving my pennies to get one.  I have used SOOO many other things to organize my pastels. What works for now are these great plastic drawer organizers I found at IKEA (I have used wooden trays, boxes that I cut apart and compartmentalized, trays, etc.)  Since I have always left the wrappers on my pastels, I needed to catalog what colors I had and make a color chart with name, manufacturers and sample - first, then (ooo, this slays me) break them into half or less in some cases. Here is a photo of all that I have been up to along with priming the gatorboard with Golden acrylic Quinacradone Azo Yellow Gold mixed into Golden's  Fine Pumice Gel.

Next a close-up of my pastels by value and then temperature.

This was a daunting task, but I learned alot by looking more closely at the

pigments, getting to know each brand better, since I would no longer

have their label to go by...

While I am at it - I would like to share 2 of the 4 works that I did at Rita's workshop

two weekends ago.

This is Danni's cat in Oregon. He is no longer with us, and his photo

I have had for some time, I could no longer resist.

"George"

6" x 8"

pastel on primed Gatorboard

This is my cat, Meeka.

"Meeka"

6" x 6"

pastel on primed Gatorboard

And lastly - I always hope to collect paintings 

from those I learn from. I LOVE this painting

that Rita demo'd on the first day of class.

I named him "BOSCO"

"Bosco"

5" x 7"

pastel on primed Gatorboard

by RITA KIRKMAN

Honestly, I never thought I would ever meet

Rita, much less take a class with her.

It was quite a boost for me, I hope to see

it after much practice on her technique.

P.S. Several people have asked where I purchase the Gatorboard.

FoamboardSource.com