Dog Pastel

Sometimes, artists need to freshen their source material archives with new and inspiring photos.  On request, I recently sent some photos of my dogs to Texas pastel artist/friend Karen Hargett.  She has done a wonderful portrait on velour of our weimaraner, Bailey.  I think this is an awesome portrait of him, don't you?  He is a handsome boy.  The title is "Elegance" - altho' if you knew Bailey, he is a diamond in the rough!  Thanks for doing such a great job Karen!  I love it!

"Elegance" by Karen Hargett

Pastel Trio on Velour

Three BIG bears in one frame form a divided triptych.  Each bear image measures 3 5/8” x 6” and are done in pastel on velour paper.  The bears at Cheyenne Mtn. Zoo were up to performing the day I had my camera ready as I rounded the hill approaching their enclosure. 
They were ready for me and not at all shy!

They are matted in black with a 8” X 16” frame with glass. 

“A Variation on Bears” 

8” x 16”

pastel on velour

A Pastel for Today

"Work Crew"

11" x 14"

pastel on velour

This is one of my demos at my class on Wednesday this week.

Today, I am presenting a short program, "Life as an Artist in Kansas"

at the annual open house at the library in town.

Looking forward to it!  It should be fun! I love talking about art!

Professional Development for Art Educators

Often, area art teachers get a special day to come to Cloud County Community College for a professional development day.  The art director, Barb Stevens, asked me to be the feature "career artist" for this event today in Concordia, Kansas, about 80 miles from here.  Eight art teachers attended.  I demonstrated a technique for them today, the "ins and outs" of using pastel on velour paper.  We had an excellent day. Interesting - that when polled, most of these teachers - DON'T get time to do their own art.  Having taught school myself, that is completely understandable.  Some of the regular class students dropped by to get a quick view of what was happening, but since this day was for the teachers, they didn't get to stay long.

I would have to say this is one of the most positive art lessons I have done in awhile.  The group was very friendly and fun!  They all dug right into the new surface.  Below is a small representation of the great work that was finished by them.  I will post my (2) demos on my next post.

You might recognize my gourds/pumpkins at the bottom of the photo.

As always, everywhere you go, you end up making some further contacts and connections. 

As they say..."What goes around....comes around."

Mini Gourds and Pumpkins

"Miniature Fall"

8" x 8"

pastel on velour
(the camera doesn't lie, since posting the edges around the gourds, etc, has been fixed, no time to repost today)
Purchase info on ETSY.

A Duck by Any Other Name

"Domestic Mallard"

10" x 12"

pastel on velour

I am not able to slow down right now.  Seems to be a painting a day, which is what I need to be doing. Lots of events this month, that will keep me out of the studio and I have two shows to get ready for. 

Never realized it until I was finished, this duck is a cross between a domestic duck and a mallard female.  Guess one has to realize when you go to a city park, you may encounter more of those than you know. She was with a bunch of white ducks, that I removed from the scene.  I just liked her, her interesting coloring and the way she was calmly contemplating jumping in, not too concerned with my daughter and I nearby.
Purchase info on ETSY.

Self Portrait

"Self Portrait"

12" x 16"

pastel on velour paper

Karen Hargett completed a recent self-portrait on her blog, that she did as participation in an art challenge found here.  It is called "Following the Masters" by Michelle Burnett. (She posts the submissions when she gets to it, so check back to see if mine was added later.)

I decided I was ready for this challenge.  I have done MANY self portraits lately - lacking correct likeness, but this one is THE ONE of TWO that really DO look like me - the other one being one I did in college many years ago.  The rimless eyeglasses were interesting, as they created some highlights on the skin from the lenses.  I did some weight loss tricks...I could stand to lose a few.  Wish it was that easy.

Now I see what I CAN look like - if (and when) I do. That's called "artistic license", right?  HA! 

Ooops, I see a little piece under the nose, that didn't get worked.  Will post the correction later.

A Gathering of the Equine Kind

"The Gathering"

9.5" x 18"

pastel on velour paper

Just finished today.  I may have a little to do on the horse on the left..the photo has shown me something I need to fix.  Other than that, it's done.  These horses can often be seen together in a field close to my house.  I love their colors!

Newborn Pastel Portrait Progress

If at first you don’t succeed, try - try again! This is number 4. I think it is a GO! I added the chair he was sitting in and it works better on that right side. I am thinking this great dark brown mat…11” x 14”. The artwork is done on velour paper. It’s funny how sometimes pastel is so forgiving. About 10 minutes before I stopped, it wasn’t coming out AT ALL!!! And now, it’s time for a break, because it finally came together. Will be working more on it but I am sighing with relief, that it has made the turn of what I consider “making it”. Does your artwork ever tickle you a little that way?

It's hard to be satisfied with commission work...it's so subjective!

A Pastel for Today

"Taking Inventory" - 3" x 5" pastel pencil on velour - NFS

So...this is how that little boy I drew a few days ago, looks today.

Amazing how art transgresses generations.