November/December art from the easel

 Thanks for stopping by - I am sporadically filling in my months (at least) - on this blog - but I have had lots of studio time so far this winter.  Trying some new stuff and revisiting my 'loves' - really liking GOUACHE - it's kinda like watercolor, but not.  Also loving Strathmore tan-colored paper (have some moss colored coming soon).  It takes to gouache and colored pencil very well!  The fox in acrylic (more abstract) is one of my practice pieces in a workshop group I belong to - investigating "intuitive painting". (See May 18)

"A Fenceful Hello"

gouache and watercolor 

on Fluid 100/300 lb. watercolor paper

Unititled  -as I am still looking at this one for any more ideas...

acrylic on cradled Ampersand

watermedia board

"Masked Avenger II"

colored pencil on tan-colored Strathmore paper

SOLD

"Just F.O.X."

SOLD

gouache on tan colored Strathmore paper

(I also had fun making notecards out of this image.)

"Effie"

Pastel on Kitty Wallis sanded pastel paper

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back soon!

Copyright © 2024 Dust Off the Butterfly and Pattie Wall/All Rights Reserved

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!

Art of the Season

"Newtsie"

9' x 10 1/2 " matted size 12" x 14"

pastel on velour

This pastel is for sale. If interested please email me.

Tiger Swallowtail

"Tiger Swallowtail" - matted size 16" x 20", pastel on Strathmore pastel paper


I must say - doing these last two - butterflies - has been a lot of fun! I love the colors and the shapes I find in their wings. The translucent appearance is also tricky.
This pastel paper is so thin. I will have to store it very soon in the file I created for thin paper pieces of art, to keep them from buckling once it turns humid. I am thinking of using spray adhesive and mounting it to a board. (I never have a lot of luck with that, but keep trying.) And gee...if the wind would ever stop, I could probably do "just that" outside. They say it has been about 25 - 35 MPH, but I think some gusts are about 50 mph. Of all the weather we have, this is the one I just loathe. Don't mean to complain...but give us a break!
Oh ya, the credit for the photo goes to my friend, once again!
$150.00, unframed
Free shipping and handling

The Gentlemen's Club

"The Gentlemen's Club" - pastel on Strathmore, 11" x 14" matted

See, I took those great animal photos yesterday and just had to play around a little with a few of the roosters. Gentlemen? They aren't!
It is a quick one, done in pastel on Strathmore. I am getting so I don't enjoy using pastel papers with "tooth". I am just too accustomed to Wallis sanded pastel paper.

Off the Easel

There comes a point, where you can work a piece to death and lose all the freshness and likeness that occurred. I almost did that. I have come to the conclusion that including more than one person in a portrait is very difficult. This was my challenge and I think for the most part it came out OK. The figure furthest to the left got her eyes redone, and now I notice they are a little askew. That is what I often observe on other artist's portraits, and it bugs me really bad...but I am done with this one for now. This was purely practice, it's in a mat, on the "art rail" in the studio, for me to continue to self-critique. It was my challenge for the week!

"Katie, Ryan and Leslie" image size 16" x 20" pastel on sandpaper

Day Two Portrait of Three

Day two of my three person portrait is going fairly well, still have lots to do on it, like the clothes. From far away, the colors aren't working for me, either. Tomorrow will be spent walking clear across the studio and back again to tweak some things I am not pleased with. You can see how a face starts out like a "deviant puppet", that's because I have undertones I want to lay down and I need to adjust the placement of features as I go.

Deviant Puppet - Leslie, ha!

Working in more color and shapes.

Coming along.

I love the part where I get to add the make-up on women! Ha!

This is where I ended today. BTW Leslie has a pierce in her bottom lip and EMO red streaks in her hair, if you are wondering. Gotta paint it like ya see it somedays, although I could take it out, but that isn't telling you 'who' she is. It has been a challenge, and I am not happy with any of them except for the one I did today. Stay tuned. Of course, hubster is my best critic, cause they are his kids.

P.S. My issue of STUDIOS from Cloth, Paper, Scissors came today! It has some very cool ideas in it for your studio! I can't wait to peruse it!

White on White - A Pastel Painting for Today

"White on White" - pastel on Ampersand pastelboard, 12" x 16"

Started this pastel yesterday. It was fun, as I set up a still life in my northlight window and I used a spotlight on the other side of it, to see different colors in the shadows and highlights. It's done on pastelboard by Ampersand. I have said it before, but I love that stuff! You can load on the pastel and after that, it still takes pastel, most regular pastel papers won't do that. Then when you tap it over the trashcan to "dust" it, very little comes off. It's ultra cool to use!!

Time to take the dogs for a walk on the north 40, it isn't so windy today and it shouldn't be too muddy!

Where I Stand Sunday and A Painting Today

With my best "studio" helper (Chaco) in tow, here I stand getting the heater going. Ran out of propane last night (thanks so much Midway - for showing up so soon after we called!). We had to hook up to a small propane bottle from an extra in the RV. Have two more, so I hope that propane guy shows up tomorrow. It's cold today.
Today I finished the pastel, below. It is done on Pastelboard, which is absolutely wonderful stuff! Wish my benefactor would buy me a case of the largest size they make and ship it to me! Ha!

La nina timida - The Shy Girl - pastel on Pastelboard, 11" x 14"
SOLD - collection in Wyoming

Hiking Trail

Finally finished! When I lived in Conifer, Co., I used the Jefferson County Open Space for exercise/walking/hiking. It is a lovely place! You could use the trails for the ultimate climb; walk, run or mountain bike or just a casual nature walk. The Aspen trees were my favorite! I used to live only a few minutes from here. Sometimes, I would approach the trails with a little apprehension, as 'bears' were a possible threat. One time a teaching colleague set up a 'before school starts' picnic for her students and their parents, and DID see a bear. Had to greet those arriving at the base of the park, in the parking lot and turn them around. A little hairy for 2nd graders! But, yes, I miss it and it's beauty. From the top of the trails (extremely invigorating but worth it), you can sit and look down on Aspen Park.

Meyers Ranch Park Trail, Conifer, Co.
pastel on sandpaper, 14 x 19

Day 3 Artwork

"Belgian One" pastel on sandpaper, 16" x 20"

I absolutely love working in pastel! It is my medium of choice. As I said a few blogs ago, I was going to do several works revolving around the Belgian horses viewed on a farm nearby. This is the first one. It's not quite done, but I now have some time to complete it, and will post the finished piece at a later time, so here is the "almost finished" version. You can see that the area around the horse is still in "draft" stage. As I worked, I realized the enormity of their legs and musculature. They really are a lot bigger than pleasure horses. They are a working machine! I have been interested in drawing horses since I was little. I remember using Marguerite Henry's "Album of Horses" to learn to draw my favorite animals. (So if your kids like to draw horses, this book is a great inspiration!) It's always nice to revisit horses as a subject! Thanks for looking!

Happy Bird Day!

Finally a day in the studio. 8 x 10 "Bailey" weimeraner, in pastel
Look at Peepers. He is looking like an adult bird. What a difference 10 days makes! He is using his talons like a BIG BIRD! Flying lessons tomorrow or Wednesday!

Jasmine

This is a pastel drawing I did for my neighbor's grandaughter who graduated from H. S. this weekend. She got this horse about a month ago. It has been an interesting venture for the girl. One day the horse jumped over the fence and out of the pasture, my husband saw it as it ran past him on the road at the mailbox. Knowing that the highway is only 1/2 mile away, we panicked and called everyone at work, also knowing that the horse wouldn't let us catch it, luckily the neighbor was pulling into his driveway for lunch. Funny how that worked out.
BTW, baby bird is still hanging in there. Mealworms are supposed to be here USPS today or tomorrow. He now lives in a dog crate, where he can get some muscles in those little legs, by hopping in and out of his bowl/nest. It is stormy here for the next few days. I wonder if he will be ready to fly soon? Probably in the next week.

DAY 1

Hello all! Well, I am attempting to "amp up" my computer skills and abilities with a blog where I can display works that have been completed and maybe even some that are "in THE process". "Eclectic" describes the state of my "art" these days.
Having the time to experiment, leads me to explore new mediums and improve on old ones.
From time to time, I may refer to my studio by name, "Studio 165".