Saturday, December 31, 2016

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!!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Monday, November 21, 2016

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.  


Sunday, October 16, 2016

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.  





Wednesday, September 14, 2016

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.  


Friday, September 9, 2016

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!




Wednesday, August 31, 2016

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, August 28, 2016

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.  

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

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!
  

  

Thursday, August 18, 2016

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.






Saturday, July 2, 2016

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!!



Monday, June 27, 2016

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







Wednesday, May 18, 2016

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.




Sunday, May 8, 2016

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!


Friday, May 6, 2016

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
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!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Daily Painting of a Wolf in Pastel by Pattie Wall


"Alpha"
6" x 8"
 pastel on primed Gatorfoam board

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.




Saturday, April 30, 2016

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.


Thursday, April 28, 2016

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.





Wednesday, April 27, 2016

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.)

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

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










More NEW art pieces

  Lukki - watercolor 9" x 12" acrylic done from Unsplash ph ref, thanks C Deluvio!