Quick Study of a Tea Rose

"Impression of a Tea Rose"
6 x 6 Pastel on brown sanded paper (Colourfix)
Click Here to Purchase Painting

I've been working on finishing a different painting, "Vintage Bottle and Tea Roses" and one of the roses was giving me fits.  So I decided - after a good dose of Starbucks - that I would work on abstracting the light and shadow of the rose on a separate sheet of sanded paper. 

There is something about the freshness and impressionism of this piece that I like.  Flowers are not usually my subject of choice but people do love flower paintings.

JunieB has gone back to oil painting from her pastel phase...can I be far behind???

So Close, But Not Done Yet.....Day Three

"Vintage Bottle and Tea Roses"
8 x 8" pastel on brown Colourfix paper
Someone has called "dibs" on the finished painting

When I went into the studio this morning, JunieB, my studio mate, announced I was close to being done on this piece.  Just had to work some specifics in the roses and adding that last layer of dust.  Well, I worked and worked on that left rose, and alas......had to wipe it out at the end of the day.  Just as I was walking out the door I brushed a little color back in.  Will have to finish on Wednesday.

A New York friend of mine has "dibs" on the finished painting.  So, unless I really screw it up (which is possible) the painting is sold.

New Pastel Painting Begins

I love going to the local antique mall, Brass Armadillo, and looking for simple objects to use in my still life paintings.  On Monday, hubby and I went scouting for some new things.  My eyes and my short attention span focused on this blue-green tinted vintage bottle.  I knew it would be a perfect match for the red tea roses that grow (quite wildly) outside the studio.  Here are the beginnings of the 8 x 8" pastel on brown Colourfix sanded paper.  It isn't titled yet.

Blocking In

First Layers

Emma's Pansies Finished

"Emma's Pansies"
6 x 6 Pastel on Paper
SOLD

I hope my little granddaughter, Emma, approves!

More Color and a Step Up to Soft Pastels

Layering more color with soft pastels
6 x 6 Pastel on Paper
"Emma's Pansies"

Back in the studio this morning.  Worked on adding more layers and brightening the values.  Thank goodness for JunieB, my studio mate, she has a ton of good purple and blue soft pastels.  I raided, with her permission, her pastel cabinet.

Beginnings of Emma's Pansies

I started planting flowers early this spring with pansies.  They are such hardy little things. Our granddaughter, Emma, who is also a hardy little thing, loves to water them when she's here on Tuesday.

I think I've got a good start on the structure and color base.  Will be back in the studio on Wednesday to keep layering color and fine-tuning the drawing.  Hopefully it will be done by Friday as JunieB and I will be attending a pastel workshop over the weekend with Casey Klahn here in Denver.

First layers of color
Only using hard Nupastels at this point

Laying in the darks with a black Nupastel
The drawing was done with a blue pastel pencil

Having a Give-Away on my New Blog

My new blog, "What Are You Really Selling?", has launched with a bang over the last two weeks.  I'd like to thank everyone for their support by holding a give-away for this little pear painting on June 1st.  You must follow my new blog to get your name in the "hat".

I will announce the winner on my blogs and contact the winner for mailing information. 

Good Luck!

"Pear in the Shadow"
4 x 4 Oil on Gessobord
Follow my new blog Here for a chance to win on June 1st

The Diva is Done....

After a fun day with our granddaughter, Emma, it was time to face the music and finish up this painting.  I had the basic structure but needed to add lights and specifics to give it depth.

Thursday morning
Facing the music!

"The Diva"
6 x 6 Pastel on Sanded Paper
SOLD

As I have mentioned before, I love drama in my still life paintings, but not in my life.  Doesn't this strawberry look like she's about to sing the aria in an opera?

I've painted this strawberry resource in oil before but I am teaching a big pastel class in Rising Sun, IN in November and I'm trying out different resource pictures to see what I might have my students work from.  It's not going to be this one!

Developing Layers on Diva

"Diva" Work In Progress
Working On Layers
6 x 6 Pastel on Sanded Paper

It was so cold in the studio today, and we seem to blow the circuit breaker when we plug in a heater...so my little fingers just couldn't quite make much progress on the new "Diva" painting.

What I'm doing is adding layers of soft color after doing my sketch and blocking in my darks.

I have painted this before in oil and was very impressionistic.  I'm intending for this one to be more realistic, seed and all. 

It should be finished by Friday and will be listed in my Etsy shop at $60 with free US Shipping.

In other news, yesterday I sent off the second of my paintings to be included in the Missouri Valley Impressionists Society's Member show at Got Art Gallery on Third in Lee's Summit, MO.  I always get things done just under the wire, or maybe with my chin touching the wire!

Apple, Pear and Cup Finished

"Apple, Pear and Cup"
6 x 8 Pastel on Sanded Paper
SOLD

This is the finished painting that had it's beginnings here