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

Watercolor of a Kitten

"Meeka"

8" x 11"

watercolor on Arches

Watercolor is NOT my forte - but I have decided 

I need to change my feelings about it.

Yes, it is a 

'put it down and there is NO correcting it' 

kind of medium

and I think that is what gets to me about it.

With oil and pastel and even acrylic - 

the 'correction gods' are forgiving.

However, I have lots of paper, 

lots of paint, 

just need the patience to 

keep on painting and not worrying

that it doesn't turn out

exactly like I want.

This one I am satisfied with...the end of the nose

didn't come out exactly like she looks

but it's close!

I have been collecting ideas on Pinterest

on making 'smash journals' - 

you can check it out by googling that one.

Made myself an "inspiration journal"

in which I can collect ideas, sketch,

paint, plan, doodle. It's kind of 

a personalized sketchbook at least

that's how I will use it.

I will share it soon.  

It has been fun ~ sort of 

breaking away from the norm with making this journal

for the last few days.

Day 22 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Happy"

5 1/2" x 7 3/4"

oil on Arches (Oleo)

SOLD

This is Paula Ann Ford's kitten, Happy.  I asked her permission to paint her.

She just appealed to me, so innocent, feisty and curious looking.

Number 22 - OMG - I can't believe it...now I know I can paint at least 22 days in a row..because I have!