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

Once Upon a Cow...

"Cow" - 11" x 14" frame size, pastel on dark burgundy Canson paper

"Different Strokes from Different Folks" challenge this week is a cow.

See the original photo here, clear at the bottom of all the submissions.

For Sale

unframed in a 11" x 14" mat

$95.00

shipping in US and Canada is included in price

email pattiewall@hotmail.com

Hey Good Lookin'

"Hey Good Lookin'" 6" x 6" oil on canvasboard

This is actually the subject I am most comfortable with - animals! Cows are interesting looking critters, don't you think???? I had a great photo of this one, although I can walk across the road and look at them - anytime. I often do...and if you stand near where they are fed, they will get REEEAALLL close to you and stare you in the face with their big dark eyes (snot rolling out of their noses and mouths). Ha! This one is ready for a big kiss!