B ZAHN GRIFFITH

Pastel Dust is moving...

2010-12-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

With 2010 coming to a close, I am ending the year with one of the images from the series of 100 small works that is visual of what the northwest can and does look like this time of year. A few days before Christmas we had several inches of snow, only to be washed away with the rains. This is part of the world where the saying "Like our weather? Wait a minute and it will change..." must have come from.

Now, I am also closing this blog site and entering my blogs on the bonniegriffith.wordpress.com site. I have transferred all the old blogs from this one, but what I don't seem to be able to do is to transfer "followers" to the new site. Please take a moment to sign into the new site to follow the journeys painting through the 50 off the 90 series and more. I have some plans for painting in a couple of different areas this year and I am sure there will be some tales of interesting bits along the way! This landscape artist is always looking for something of interest- whether it is in the back yard, by the river, in the mountains, etc.

We traveled the 82 to the 90 to the 5 over Christmas to visit family and friends in the Seattle area and what we saw was something akin to the painting above, as well as sunshine on the west side of the pass in the Cascades to rain to fog and more sunshine. Mid mornings the clouds lifted and the sun shined on Rainier for one of those spectacular views. Driving through the Tricities and onward to Yakima was a little tense as the temperature dropped to about 27 and the rains came down. A few cars were in the ditches, but as we got further west, the temperatures increased and the rains stopped. Sometimes driving you see things that are just bizarre. We witnessed such with the adventures of a little BMW of vintage age with a less than well kept convertible top and its lone driver drive sort of oddly through the hills and valleys from Yakima to Ellensburg. He was zooming around semis and cars and then slowing up, passing again, etc. Now, as you crest the last big ridges and look over the valley where Ellensburg lies, it is a beautiful site any time of year. Snow covered on the 22nd of December, roads are clear except for some snow along the edges. As you come down the long hill into the valley, the semis are gearing down for the distance and at the bottom is where you get to make the decision to get on to I-90 east or west. 82 ends there. So this little car and his driver have now sped past everyone and we are watching as he opts for the I-90 east exit. WRONG! He really wanted west! He slams on his brakes, skids around and is just about to make it back onto the lane that takes him to I-90 West when he skids into one of the interstate sign poles. It seemed like all is good until the sign starts to sway and then falls over on the car and then bounces onto the ground creating a cloud of snow as it hits. The driver seemed unscathed however, sitting in his seat, both hands on the wheel with that look of bewilderment on his face. It was probably one of those things you had to see for yourself, but it was quite the site to see this sign give way and attack!

So it is back to getting some painting done. First thing is finish the poster for the Snow White production and work on some backdrop designs...so remember to go to the new blog site and follow from there. If you have difficulties...contact me: bzgriff@charter.net . In meantime...happy painting and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Pastel Dust

2010-11-22T00:07:00.000-08:00

I have the pleasure to be part of the Northwest Pastel Society Board. I have been seeking out galleries for future shows and I must say that I have had a great time visiting with gallery owners/managers who might host one of our shows. I have visited with several galleries throughout WA and OR - mostly the greater Seattle/Tacoma area and the Portland, OR area. One gallery owner that I met this year is Rick Kirsten of Kirsten Gallery in Seattle. His Kirsten Gallery in the University district of Seattle is great. It is a unique multilevel gallery space that is interesting and welcoming from the moment you walk in the door. I stopped in one day this summer and saw the Marine Painters show and to check the gallery space out for a NPS show. The staff was great and the ambiance of the gallery wonderful. I am looking forward to the NPS members show being at Kirsten in April of 2011.

Another gallery that I love to go to and have exhibited at is the Pendleton Center for the Arts. Overlooking downtown Pendleton, OR from it's spot next to the Umatilla River, this gallery welcomes you the minute you walk in the doors. The beautiful light filled gallery with bamboo floors and white walls show work so well. A few years ago I did a show there called "A Hundred Mile Radius". It was a show of 23 landscapes, all images of the lands within 100 miles of Pendleton. This gallery has a wonderful shop of artisan items for sale as well as a performing arts area and great workshop space and more. This art center was once a Carnegie Library and was renovated into a first class gallery.

I am prepping for our 3rd annual Open Studio Art Sale. This year I am moving it to the first weekend of December to coincide with the Winter Barrel Tasting event for the wineries in Walla Walla. We will move furniture around and out to accommodate easy access to the wall space on the main level of our house, hang lots of art, salon style, brew some good coffee and have some treats available and enjoy the two days visiting with friends and art lovers who happen to come by. I am encouraging visitors to bring something for the Food Bank as well - something nonperishable to donate to the bank in the spirit of the annual Care and Share Food Drive the Walla Walla Association of Realtors does each year. Each person that brings some food item for the drive will get to enter a drawing for one of the series of 100 paintings.
I will have a good variety of sizes and prices of art - mostly the pastels, but I may hang a few mono prints and oils as well. So if you happen to be in the Walla Walla area December 4-5, stop by 938 Mountain Park Drive and enjoy some art and conversation over a cup of hot coffee or tea!

With Thanksgiving this week, enjoy the time with friends and family and for those of you artists out there, be sure to take a little time and spend some time for yourself immersed in your art! Happy painting and Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastel dust under the lights

2010-11-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

So on the last post I was talking a little bit about how lights affect photographing paintings. Because this is so dramatic on this piece I wanted to illustrate that for my readers. The first image where the rocks appear to be golden in color was photographed indoors with both daylight bulbs and a halogen bulb in a lamp that I paint with. The other image where the rocks appear more gray was photographed in a shaded, but naturally lit area (my patio) with a neutral background. I did not manipulate the image except to resize it.

When I an standing there painting in the studio and when I look at the image of this painting, what I see is the one with the gray rocks....which is accurate. So that tells me that the lights I use in my studio work for just that...BUT to photograph them in that light changes the tones greatly.

Now if I were painting that scene from southern Nevada for instance, the color of that rock would be actually the color of the first painting. Down around Lake Mead in the Valley of Fire, you tend to see this golden to reddish color of rock. But that wasn't what I saw when I took the reference photo in SE Montana! Another BUT...if I had shot an image in the late day when the sun was close to going down...I might have gotten that sort of image! Holy Cow!! Light is a huge factor in painting and photography.

So the message is...whatever painting you are photographing, it is best to do that in natural light. Now I know that professional photographers aren't running outside on their patio to shoot their images....but I am talking about those of us who are photographing our work for either shows and/or archival needs and want a good representation of the piece of art. There have been good articles written about photographing art for shows in Artist's Magazine and Pastel Journal and one might still be able to go to their web sites and dig them up. I just wanted to illustrate simply for you how differently a painting can look under different light. And I did these with a digital camera using the automatic setting for close up work. If you read articles about photographing art, you would probably find the recommended procedure is to use a SLR camera, not automatic settings, a light meter, certain f-stops, etc. A good digital camera can give you great results as I have shown.

Another little piece is the 3rd in the series of 50 off the 90...only by about 100 miles or so...It is a 5x7 on Canson black paper looking to the east toward the Blue Mountains near Dayton, WA. Spring in that area brings out about every color of green! It is a beautiful area. Those big hills are farmed on top and down some of the sides...and beyond the fir trees there are lush fields of grain any place a plow can get to!

So, experiment with some photography of work and see the difference! As a note, the last show I attended - and I think I may be touched on this last time - some of the paintings looked quite a bit different when viewed on the monitor when compared to seeing them in real life. And the catalog print images were even different again. It's all the variables! Just something else we need to pay attention to!

Happy painting....

The journey of 50 off the 90 begins with an invitation to paint a bit of Montana

2010-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

Juniper on the rock cliff, MT

Mario V's

Bonnie's

Erica K's

A couple of posts ago I invited anyone who wanted to the paint the photo of the sandstone cliffs in southeastern Montana to send me their images and I would post them. I was happy to get one from Mario who took time away from his Soft Pastel News site to paint the cliffs and to also get an image from another blogger and artist Erica. It is fun to see the difference of interpretation between the 3 of us. I know Mario told me he did a really pretty quick sketch in about 40 minutes. I spent about an hour on mine. Erica didn't say how long she spend working on hers. I am happy to share these...thanks so much Mario and Erica!

So here is an observation if not a lesson in lighting from my perspective and I am referencing my work in this... I painted mine in the studio where I use daylight bulbs in the lights. I then photographed it in the same light. I tried a few different camera settings and in all of them, the rocks have this warm look to them. I do believe that if I take this image outside and shoot it again, the tones would be different. There was no flash with this one, but it almost has that appearance. I don't normally shoot images in the studio light, but rather go outside and shoot them in the actual daylight. However, this is November and it was about 6 p.m. when I finished this - and this time of year, in this part of the world it is quite dark outside at that time of day!

I have done paintings that when you photograph them, the color alters enough that it just is not right. I have taken the same image with 2 different cameras and gotten 2 different looks as well...in studio light and in daylight. When I photography out of doors, I usually do that with a neutral background and in a covered patio area so there is not direct sunlight, but still good light available for the shot. This usually gives me what I need.

Just last week I looked at the entries for the Northwest Paste Society International Show on line. Then on Saturday I got to see the show at the gallery. One thing that I noticed on not just one, but several was how different the images on the monitor looked when compared to what was printed in the catalog and when compared again to the actual image. It just made me think that when one is taking digital images of your work for a show, try your best to get the image you see to be as close as possible to what that painting is! Maybe enlist the help of a professional photographer if you are trying to get an image to send to a show...you really want it to be a true representation of your work.

So this is the beginning of the series 50 off the 90...as far as being off the 90...this was pretty far. It wasn't that the distance was huge, but it was on a dirt road about 50 miles from the interstate. There was no gravel on the road, just a graded dirt road that boasted a road sign that said something like "road is impassable when raining or during the winter months." I know this to be true. This dirt is "gumbo" which when wet, will gather more and more mud until you can go no further. My mother one time said she thought you could use gumbo like clay and do a sculpture with it. She tried and it worked. She fashioned some horses and some people out of the mud. They held up pretty well, never were fired - but she made her point! Her sculptures were often a topic of conversation and the consensus was that gumbo was good for something!

The second in the series is an image of a little creek in eastern Montana that probably only sees water during the spring and early summer and then dries up and sun bakes over the summer months. Even in May there were only some water holes on this creek and they were pretty shallow; not long a source of water for wildlife or beef.

There wasn't a lot of color in this particular place...it was just interesting. This image was another that I will photograph outside again, even though this is a pretty close example of the actual painting. Both of these paintings today were done on Wallis paper that I tones with orange pastel. I used mostly Sennelier and Diane Townsend pastels on these.

So with all this being said....thank you again Mario and Erica for sharing your work. My best to you all and keep painting....

Pastel Dust

2010-11-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

"Portico" pastel on Wallis

I finished a pastel that I have been working on for some time of the portico.. And when I look at this again, I see some refining points I will still do. Darken the passageway on the right and brighten the sunlit wall a little more.
I have definitely decided to do the next series of "50 off the 90". This is a pretty broad scope of opportunity since I didn't declare HOW far off of 90 I might extend my search for the places to paint! I definitely got some great reference photos from my trek out in the hills on Thursday and they will be appreciated on the upcoming cold gray days that comes with January and February! I painted outside yesterday in the balmy weather, but today that's not an option with it being drizzling and chilly.
My series will all be a similar, if not the same size...probably the 8x10 or 9x12 size. This is to be again a learning and experimenting project and I may do the same composition in a couple of different ways to keep things interesting and that of a learning experience. At times, I will ask my readers to take an image and paint it and then will post those...The lesson in that is to see different interpretations of the same subject. That's something we can all learn from....so don't be shy, send me some images of the the cliff and junipers that I posted a few days ago. Email them to me or post them on comments if you can (I don't know if that is possible)...email is bzgriff@charter.net. I will get that one done soon and post it.

Planning on my Open Studio event...this year it will be focused on just paintings and prints. We will rearrange the furnishings on the main floor of our home to be gallery like and hang lots of paintings on the walls. Hours will be 10-4 Saturday and 10-3 Sunday Nov 19th and 20th. It is a fun time that we invite people to come in and see the new work and have a cup of coffee and a treat. It is the best of time!
So, if you are in the neighborhood of Walla Walla, WA...follow the "A" boards to 938 Mountain Park Drive and stop in, sit and have a cup of Joe and look at the paintings and most of all visit!

Back to the 50 of the 90...my goal is to complete this at least by mid year. I am plotting on a car trip to New Mexico and painting there for an extended time. If that all comes to be...it would be a WHOLE 'nuther project to work through. So with that said...I am heading to the studio to paint...Happy painting!

pastel dust

2010-11-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

After returning from Montana and since my last post, I have been busy with a variety of "stuff" besides painting which can make me a little itchy. Finally this week I was able to get things in order and get out and do some painting. Our weather is still beautiful and it lends to getting out and doing some plein air work as well as going on photo expeditions for those reference photos that are so important when the fog sets in and the dampness is bone chilling.
Bambi and I went out this afternoon with the good intention of doing some plein air work, however, the colors were so incredible we agreed that it might be in our best interest to make it a "photo: day and shoot images. And that is what we did. We trekked down along some creeks and drove up remote roads in the Blues. We stayed out late enough to record some of the fabulous light that happens around 4 o'clock this time of year. We will appreciate this day come mid January and fog!
I am contemplating a new series...it will be different from the small works series where I used one composition and recreated it differently 100 times. I have decided this will be small works, but in the 8x10 or 9x12 size...what I haven't decided on is the number and if the pieces will have a relationship to each other. I am leaning toward something like "Back roads" or "Roads and Streams" or maybe "Montana On My Mind" or "The Path of Lewis and Clark". Maybe it will be "50 off the 90"...50 images of areas of interest off of Interstate 90...since I-90 begins or ends in Seattle and goes across the panhandle of ID and through MT and continuing on east to Boston. Outside of Billings you get the option of getting on I-94 which takes a northerly route through North Dakota and continuing eastward, joining I-90 at Lacrosse, WI and then veering off again toward Madison, WI, crossing 90 in the Chicago land area and ending in the Detroit area.
So with that little bit of highway geography, about any area that I wander around is near I-90 and it is diversely different between Seattle and Billings, MT.
A small bit of trivia....up until a few years ago there was one stoplight on I-90...at Wallace, ID...that went away when a new section of interstate was built that circumvented the downtown area of Wallace.
So with that rambling...I think this next body of work will be spots of interest between Seattle and Miles City, MT. They might be near I-90 (or 94 as one closes in on MC) or a hundred miles off of it. I promise them to be interesting spots, remote, probably.

Shows to look forward to include The Northwest Pastel Society International Open Show that opens the 13th at American Art Company in Tacoma, WA. This should prove to be a good show with quality work. I am anxious to see the show hanging in this beautiful gallery space. The next NPS event is the members show which will be at the Kirsten Gallery in the university district of Seattle in a wonderful multilevel gallery. that show opens in April, 2011.

I am considering going to the International Association of Pastel Societies annual convention/workshops in Albuquerque next June. That would be a prime time to take some time and spend painting in NM which is something of a desire of mine. The thought of being able to combine a trip to paint and a trip to a pastel convention which should be like a huge candy store for pastelists seems almost too good to be true. For me this could be a whole new series. The potential for a landscape artist traveling the route I would take would take me through some splendid sites like Zion, Bryce, etc. and on into CO and northern NM.

"Fall Kaleidoscope" was given an honorable mention in Jerry's Artarama's Summer Pastel Challenge using the Mungyo pastels. I had not tried them before, but like these semi-hard square sticks. They are touted to be light fast and the colors are very nice. Prices are great. I did a trial run with a box of 1/2 sticks (64) and continue to use them for burnishing and some under painting. I like these! this little piece was actually done entirely with the Mungyo's on Art Spectrum paper. I also used some on the painting at the top which was done on black Art Spectrum and is a scene along Patit Creek. I am also a big fan of Jerry's plein air frames....very good value especially when you can take advantage of a case lot and when they are on sale!

Finally, I would like to post an image and invite anyone who wants to paint it and then submit it to me to post. I think a few of these with people's different style and palette would be fun to see. You can send them to my email bzgriff@charter.net and I can post them or you can try to post them with your comments to the blog! Here is the first image:

good luck and happy painting!

the dust never settles - Montana October, 2010

2010-10-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

a Montana Sunset...with a story...

50 some miles to Miles City; 40 some to Ashland; 45 to Forsyth

Strawberry Hills Rec Area in the Pine Hills of SE Montana near Miles City

near the Tongue river south and west of Miles City

the Tongue River

Any time I can get a chance to go to Montana, I do. It means I get to see family and once again experience the "Big Sky Country for a few days! I had sent a couple of paintings to the annual art auction for the Custer County Art and Heritage Center show/auction the end of September and wanted to go to the auction event the latter part of September. It worked out and Les and I were able to go. The art center in Miles City is just one of the best around. They have an incredible gallery space that was developed in part of the old water holding tanks along the
Yellowstone River. These thick concrete walls provide a wonderfully climate controlled, unique space for this venue that holds a great permanent collection of work as well as shows that are changed out regularly. The team of employees and volunteers always seem to tip the scales with quality in their events as well. It was a pleasure to attend and to donate one painting to the cause and share the commission on another. The "River in December" topped the bidding for the auction which was a happy note for me! I had lots of good comments on the pieces that I submitted and that brings a good feeling to one's heart as well! This event is another one that gets attention from several well known western artists and it is a pleasure to be part of that.

Earlier in September John from the Discovery Pond and Loft Gallery downtown Miles City had contacted Chris and asked him if his mother would want to hang a show there. Chris asked me if I was interested and I said I was, but didn't know that I had enough work in Miles City to be considered a "show." He assured me that he, himself had plenty. Apparently my kid has been hording some work, because he was able to accommodate the gallery space well!! John set up a very nice reception and artist opening while I was there and we got to visit with quite a few folks. He also submitted an article to the local paper about my work from excerpts from the blog and website. I was very appreciative of his warm hospitality and attention to details in how he hung the art show and the reception. What a pleasure to work with people like John! One of the highlights of the reception was a visit from native American artist Joyce Lahn a longtime SE Montana native. She was interested in talking about pastels because she hadn't done much with them. The comment that she made about my work was great affirmation to me...she said "you do the best skies and they are MONTANA skies. I knew you were from here when I saw how you painted skies." She told me as a child, she moved to SE Washington with her mother and lived near the Columbia River in the town on Wallula. Her step father had worked a river project at the time. She told me about one scene that she said she has never painted but had thought she might was a scene one night as she walked home with a full moon and when she crossed the numerous railroad tracks of this town the moon's glow shimmered blue over the tracks and they were almost iridescent in the light of the moon on the dark night. Painted quite the picture in my mind, so much that the next full moon and I going to head out to some tracks and see if I see that effect! She was a delight to talk with. She paints a lot of landscapes and Native Americans with very nice effects.
Another day while we were visiting and our kids were at work, Les and I took a drive heading south of Miles City toward Broadus, then turned on the Tongue River Road and headed south and west. We followed the river for some 30 -40 miles through pastures, along the river and buttes, cedar, pine and juniper growth before we came to a fork in the road - dirt roads this far out. A sign said it was 53 miles back to Miles City, 45 to Forsyth to the north and 30 something to Ashland to the south. We had long been off the paved road and a sign indicated that if there was snow or rain these roads were impassable. I understand this growing up in "gumbo" country of north central Montana. But a day with blue sky and 80 degree temperature, it is beautiful carefree drive through some very interesting country with the buttes and sandstone cliffs, sort of rugged country with a beauty of it's own. The photo above of the road is near the fork in the road and gives you a sense of the tranquil trail through the hill sides; but in a rainstorm would be impassable as the gumbo would collect on the tires and the road would become so soft and muddy you couldn't move.

So the sunset photo was one that Les took at Chris's house to the east. When I saw it, I said, "wow! that is my sky in one of the paintings that I had sent to the auction!" And when you look at the painting and then the photo, you can see the similarity of that red/pink Montana evening sky that lets you know there will most likely be wind in the morning!

I did this little painting while I was in Montana. It isn't a MT scene, but is an OR one instead. The weather was so warm (80-90 degrees) while we were there that I didn't do any fall paintings....it seemed more appropriate to paint spring and summer!! We managed a couple of other treks out with the camera and the dogs as well as visiting my all time favorite coffee and pastry shop Cafe Utza, downtown Miles City. I had the pleasure to meet Cara who is one of the owners and who had shown some of the series of 100 this spring. She indicated she wanted more work for another show, so will have to put something together for this this very cool venue. And the coffee!! A flavor of it's own...almost buttery. Love this place.
We also hung some work in a new establishment - The Main Street Grind - a new bakery and sandwich shop on Main just across from Stockman Bank where Chris and Michelle work. Some great sandwiches and baked goods there and regarding the art... the golden ochre walls show off some of the wheat field paintings well!
Another highlight was my sister and husband driving down for the weekend and spending time with us. We had a good time visiting and checking out a few establishments of Miles City.
When we left, we decided to drive the two-lane roads back to Missoula since the weather was good and for a change of scenery. We headed north from Miles City toward Jordan where, for 80 some miles there is nothing but range land and the remnants of some old towns that have ceased to exist. When you are on this road, and the day is clear, I think you can easily see a radius of about 150 miles...you are on the plains and this is the "big sky country"!

Now that I have returned, it's time to get back to some serious painting...and you??? happy painting!

pastel dust

2010-09-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

I went again to Kontos's pond and painted with my friend Bambi. In a matter of weeks there area changes in the fields and vegetation. The wheat field to the north has been harvested and the straw baled and there is more dry weeds and grasses around the pond. While we were there a big blue heron glided in and landed on the little island in the pond, but stayed hidden from us. We took a break in the midst of the paint out and walked the banks and pastures and shot bunches of images for reference. When we finished painting we stopped back at her studio and I looked at some of her pieces she has been working on. She is talented and is growing so much as a pastelist.
We always grumble a little about how much stuff we drag with us to go out and paint. I have a French easel and it works good for short hikes to set up. But I still have a box of pastels and another bag with paper and stuff that I drag along. I need to load my tray in my easel with pastels and eliminate one bag! Bambi however, has been on a quest for a better system and she found a great easel from Cheap Joe's. It is smaller than my French, but has good storage. It seems more compact, but has great features and seems a little easier to put together than the French. I believe it is Cheap Joe's own design and it is quite the ticket!
Our SE WA fair opened today and as part of fine art department staff, we demo during the hours the fair is open. Carly and I were there today for some hours and managed to complete the vertical pond pastel above and start another. There was a moderate amount of traffic and it's a great way to talk to people about pastels and for them to watch us work. My "Evening Storm Skies" nabbed the Best of Show and first in the professional division. "Velvet Underfoot" was 3rd. It's a nice reward to earn such a prize. There are some beautiful pieces of work there.
The kid's art is in the same area and last night when we were labelling them, it was great to see what uninhibited art comes from children. There are some really good stuff. My two grand daughters both had little watercolors entered; sweet little pieces they are so proud of! And our friend's son Wiley who takes oil painting lessons regularly entered an outstanding impressionistic piece. It earned a Blue in the open division and justifiably so!
So three days of demos and Friday brings "First Friday Art Walk". I will show new works at Williams Real Estate office for the month of September and I am looking forward to having a lot of the pieces framed plein air style in mahogany and gold frames, hanging on their walls!
With that, I wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend and keep painting!!

Pastel Dust on the Vines

2010-08-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

It was a plein air sort of late afternoon to spend at Patina Vineyard as part of the Hospice event we created for their auction this spring. The mastermind of the event or minds were Lori and M'Lisse. LeaAnn lended her vineyard and I brought up the pastel dust....which resulted in the above painting that the buyer of this particular auction lot also got along with a superb dinner and wines. Other members of the party got a framed coy of a small vineyard painting I had done a few years ago.
One can see I had a great little set up for my space to paint and the pre dinner wines and appetizers adorned the table under the trees twinkling with candles nestled in little cut glass tea cups. M'Lisse has just bumped one of the tea cups and waxed the back of her hair when the little tea light spilled in the collision!

Lori prepares the dining table for the meal while the guest stroll through the vineyards with LeaAnn. These two put together an incredible feast with great appetizers, soup, salad and salmon. I managed a taste of this, a plate of that and it was all top notch cuisine.

While the guest sampled wine and dined, I finished the painting. We framed it and presented it to the guests to their approval during their meal.

Roy, who is an accomplished watercolorist showed another side of his talents and provided great music for the evening with his guitar and harmonica. It was quite a pleasure to be painting on the other side of the grape vines and listen to live music!

The message in this blog? I encourage anyone who paints to get out and do some plein air painting or just get out in the yard and paint from a photo! If you have an opportunity to paint something for something like this - do it! It is fun; there isn't a time limit and if you mess up one, just be sure you have an extra sheet of paper to start again!

Happy painting...

more dust

2010-08-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the quarterly Northwest Pastel Society meeting in Gig Harbor, WA. That's across the Narrows from Tacoma in the south Puget Sound. It is a beautiful setting and typically would be a great place to some plein air painting down by the harbor, however it was mid 90's and that's a little warm to be outside painting for long!
I just am finishing the night scene of Joseph, OR above. It is sort of fun to play with "night" colors and the lack of! It was wet and lots of stormy clouds and most everything was peaceful; much different from the bustling of the daytime Main Street activities.
The vineyard is an older painting that I did some copies of and will be given to some of the guests tomorrow night at the vineyard dining and plein air experience that Lori, M'Lisse, LeaAnn and I put together for a Hospice auction item this year. I met LeaAnn one evening at her vineyard to check out where I would be painting and maybe what I might paint. She took me around through the vines and showed me the difference between Cabernet and syrah grapes and others and she was trying to be helpful in where I might set up to paint. She starts talking about me standing and working on top of a table or in a "lift" on her tractor. Man, WHOA! I don't do heights! I am good being 5'5" from the ground up. She thought that was pretty funny. But she doesn't really know me all that well. I am not extremely coordinated. I knock things over. I could envision falling off the table; spilling pastels all over the ground, crashing the easel to the dirt and more. Much better I stay grounded. Then I said I loved her grape fields! GRAPE FIELDS???? IT"S A VINEYARD!! just a technicality...I am looking forward to spending part of the evening with the diners and the rest of the crew. It will be fun and I will come up with something appropriate to paint, I am certain! without the tractor or standing on a picnic table.
Back the NPS meeting...the entries are all in for the Int'l Show and entry has now closed for that event. The entries are all done digitally and on line. This is one of the greatest things, in my book, because it simplifies the entry process so much. You don't have to take, develop and send in slides or even make a CD, it's all electronic on the computer.
Some folks were talking about preparing their images for transmittal. That's the crucial element! Every art show prospectus that comes out describes in detail what dimensions, etc is required for the entry. Some shows, if the entry isn't done correctly, merely discard the entry and the artist doesn't know any difference other than they were denied for entry by the juror. So a couple of things to make note of:
Be sure the image you are sending has nothing but the image of the painting in it...no tape showing on the edges of the painting, no frame, no mat, no light sneaking around the side of the painting, etc. The prospectus will tell you the image size should be...such as:
Images should be hi resolution (300dpi), 1200x1800 pixels -approximately 4”x 6”.
Save each of your jpg images using this convention:
“yourlastname.titleofpainting.jpg”
Use no spaces or symbols in name.
So to change your image that you have stored in our computer, you need to have access to PhotoShop or some image software. Once you go to the "resize image" you can accomplish most of this pretty easily. You want to maintain the appropriate shape of your painting, so if it happens to be a long narrow piece, you want the juror to see it as it is and not just a portion of that. So be sure the box is checked to keep proportions consistent. Then you change the longest side of your image to the longest allowed in the prospectus (in the case above - 1800 pi) Then the shorter side will proportionately change automatically. Always be sure to check and make certain the resolution is set at the required (300 dpi on this one). A note...be sure you are using a high resolution when you take your image as well. Your camera has a setting for this. If you shoot an image at 72 dpi and then try to make it be 3000 dpi when you change it, you will not be very happy because your image will not be clear and crisp...And then label the image as requested; "save as" in your documents and then upload this newly sized image in the entry. Photoshop isn't the only software that allows you to make changes of an image. I have a Canon ARCsoft program that allows and is very simplistic and easy. It is a program that is part of my scanning system and works very well. So that's some tips for preparing an entry for a juried show with digital entries. Also what I do is print out the prospectus so I have that in hand to refer to, to make certain the entry is done correctly.
Wishing all you painters great success and keep painting...

As a note: The show is hanging at Discovery Pond in Miles City and the Custer County Heritage Auction Show is ready for public view this weekend for the month before the actual auction.

pastel dust

2010-08-16T10:55:00.000-07:00

I have been doing the "other stuff" related to painting for the past couple of weeks...getting pieces into frames, taking work to galleries, picking up other work, etc. It's all the busy work that takes big chunks of time. I did go out and do some photography in a vineyard where I am going to be painting plein air during an evening dinner in this vineyard as part of an auction sale to benefit our local Hospice. Three friends - M'Lisse and Lorie are cooking and presenting some wonderful fare to the high bidders of this auction lot; LeaAnn owns the vineyard and is providing al fresco dining in the shade of beautiful old trees at the edge of the vineyard and I am painting a 9x12" piece while the party eats. The painting is part of the package as well and will be given to the diners. All in the spirit of giving back to a superb organization that provides so much for so many people.

So, I have included a couple of images of works that are part of my collection - not my work - but from family. The watercolor is a field painting done by my great uncle who, along with my Mom was probably my most inspirational person to keep me painting. This piece was probably painted in the 40's - maybe late 30's. He lived in Chicago and was an artist working the the ad business. He traveled a lot, painting and spent years roaming Europe before WWII painting. Every Christmas, his signature was to paint Christmas cards for the family. I have 7 of them that my mom saved and framed and gave me. The cards are all of somewhere that was meaningful to his family - the front stoop of the house in Chicago, the home he lived in out in northern IL, the street he lived on in Paris, etc.
The other image is a wood carving done in a wooden bowl by a young man from Chicago who my Grandmother was a nurse for. My grandmother was a nurse by training and a pioneer. She journeyed to Montana in the teens of the century and homesteaded with her brother and his best friend. She married the friend and after he died untimely, she returned to Chicago with my mom (age 13) in tow and re-upped her necessary continuing education and started nursing again. Private duty nursing was a good paying line of work and she like that. The boy that did the carving was recovering from some malaise and he and my grandmother became friends. Once he recovered he finished the wood carving and gave it to her.
Just another couple of interesting art items with a bunch of sentimental value!

I did spend 5 days in the Puget Sound doing a variety of art things. The state fair entries were due and this year their focus in the fine art department was Pastels, so I decided to take a piece there for that show. Other duties were meeting with a gallery in Seattle to host our Northwest Pastel Society show in 2011. Kirsten Gallery in the University district. Lovely gallery and look forward to working with them. And then a day with the NPS for a board meeting and general membership meeting. Finally a trip up to Bellingham to retrieve some pieces that had been shown and back to the east side of the state last night. The Puget Sound is beautiful; but I certainly appreciate the less traffic and busy that I live in daily in Walla Walla!
So...for now...keep painting...I am going to do that this week!

Pastel Skies

2010-07-29T21:34:00.000-07:00

Wind TomorrowAfterglow

I am calling the one "Wind Tomorrow" since I have heard that saying about "red sky at night; sailor's delight..." meaning there will be wind for the sails the next day...The other is the river at sundown in early December and you can probably figure out there is going to be some sort of storm from the looks of the sky..
I wanted to do something with a good rural feeling to it for the Custer County Art and Heritage Center auction in MT that takes place the latter part of September. It's a fund raiser for the center so I am hoping these will bring them a good chunk of change for their cause. They have one of the nicest art centers around and they do tons of great things for education of youth, etc.
Something to note...some of the heavy pastel papers like Wallis and Art Spectrum and Pastelbord to name a few let you rework paintings. If you hate them and you haven't totally destroyed your surface with fixatives, you can often brush, wipe and wash off the surface and repaint it. It's a good solution to last weeks "hissy fit" of being so disgusted with the piece you pitch it in the garbage can. Some times it's probably best to do that and just take your loss, but other times it can be salvaged and reworked into something good. I have used the old pastel for an underpainting of a new one, first by getting rid of excess pigment and then wetting the surface with alcohol and using that as a colored base. Of course colors needs to be something compatible with what your new painting is...and that makes it work!
I am getting ready to start working on some pieces for a show in Sandpoint, ID in November. It is an invitational show and will be at the Sandpoint Center where I showed for ArtWalk. The criteria is that the work is to be landscapes of the northern ID. I have some great reference photos to start working with of that area. It is truly beautiful in that part of the world. There is lots of water and mountains. Color isn't hard to find and it's really an artist's paradise. I am also working on pieces for September Walla Walla ArtWalk and I will be showing work at Williams Team Homes office. they have a wonderful office and good space for art. Chris has been working on another show space in MT that may come together in October as well. So I do believe that I need to keep painting!!

2010-07-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

It is good after having a major failure/melt down to have something come off the easel that you can feel ok about. I always challenge myself with water. It is one of those things that if I start to battle with it; nothing works. Waterfalls are fun and I have taken several reference photos of huge falls and small ones like this. The other challenge with something like this one is the rocks. You can put a lot of different colors in rocks because there are! I finished some of these with a quick wisp of a metallic gold. I don't think the photo does it justice; it makes them really come to life (if you can make a rock do that, that is!) and look dimensional.
I posted "The Creek" on my Facebook "Like" page and my friend Idalee who is the best ballet instructor around says "where is that? I need to take my dancers there for a photo shoot." Oh, oh...this one is basically in my brain - which is what I told her and said, I just didn't think her dancers would all fit in there! I had gotten to inspiration (as I told her) from sitting in front of my daughter's doctor's office waiting for her to finish an appointment. It's a newer southwest style architectural designed building with a nicely landscaped front including a pond, waterfall, rocks and vegetation. But I think there are places like this on the Walla Walla River and it's tributaries or Blue Creek or Mill Creek and probably would have plenty of room for all the dancers!!
I like to leave a painting hanging on the board for a few days after I deem it finished. Then keep giving it the eye every time I walk by it and make sure there is nothing I am dissatisfied with. It's much easier to change something before it is matted and framed, than after the fact!. If there is some that I can't put my finger on as to which about the work is not setting right, I will take it and hold it in front of a mirror and look at the image in the mirror. If there is a major problem, you will typically see it!
So with that bit of info, I leave you to go do some sketching and maybe a painting! Happy painting...

Pastel Daze

2010-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

It's a 103 degrees and I gotta say, standing on the patio painting, it's hot! That's our weather - we can go from a balmy 75 to 105 overnight. That was yesterday. This morning at 0530 it is beautiful out, but we are headed for another hot day.

I had some fun with some new pastels - Mungyo. They are a hard pastel and I bought this little tester set of half sticks - 60-ish colors. They are very similar to Nupastels. I used a sheet of Art Spectrum paper (Terracotta). Nearly all of this little painting was done with the Mungyo pastels. The colors are great and they work well into landscapes as I did with another piece. And they were quite inexpensive.

I am always intrigued with water and painting it - well. So there are times that it just works perfectly the way I want it and others...hmmm...my evil twin emerges and all is lost. Same thing with wheat fields...because we are surrounded by wheat fields and vineyards, they have to be represented the way I want them...not much compromised. So this you might be able to tell is going to have a train wreck somewhere in this narrative. I had taken a reference photo of some fields with a road and sort of an edgy composition. Got the back ground sky, hills, trees, hint of a house and barn all in and it's looking good. I have roughed in the road and fields with an under painting and started to work on the fields. Then I worked some more. And some more. I know what's happening, but I could not stop working on this field and let me tell you it was going no where. I am working on Wallis paper; get rid of the attempts of wheat; start again. Yes ma'am, this is a train wreck. My husband came by; didn't say a word. There you go....that spoke volumes! I know dang well this is a wreck and it's fatal! Call it what you want; heat stroke, the emerging of my evil twin, a hissy fit, whatever...I gently untaped that paper from my board and folded it up, stuffed it all the way to the bottom of the garbage can and walked into the air conditioned house and sat down with a cup of coffee and watched a movie. I considered a couple of other paths like tearing that paper to shreds, then stuffing all the little pieces of paper in the garbage but that tends to make a big mess and the pastel dust is flying. The other option was to set fire to the paper and the easel or got the chain saw out and made kindling...but that might have not worked in my favor since I don't always end up the victor with power tools and matches. I'll just say that at our house we have several heavy duty power cords that are supposed to be 50', but they are now about 46'.

So a couple of days later I can look back on this episode of discarding a piece of Wallis paper loaded with a lot of pastel as another learning experience. When you know things are not going well...DON'T keep fighting the system. Step back and go watch a movie! And of course the next morning I am out digging in the garbage looking to see if there is something salvageable. And I guess I can say that it is not often that something goes so far awry that I need to destroy it! That's the good thing!

So if you occasionally fail with a painting...it's ok...if you learned something from it! :-)

By the way...the painting of the water...it turned out.

a plein air sort of morning

2010-07-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I hit the floor about 0530 and packed my gear and headed over to a friend's house and picked her up and we drove to a spot on her farm where this lovely pond lies in the middle of a grassy meadow surrounded by a creek and bunches of different types of trees to the south and a lush, soon to be harvested wheat field that stands about 3 feet tall to the north. The colors are brilliant. The pond is growing some algae at this time of year; exposed too bright sunlight and not a lot of rain to replenish the spring fed water supply.

We were sort of lazy plein air painters, not hiking in a mile or two or more to a wonderful spot. We were able to drive to it; quickly set up and begin the process. It was nice and cool early on with a breeze, but as the time got be be mid morning, it was getting hot. Decided to pack it up about 11, but not before witnessing some wonderful sites such as a doe and two fawn meandering through the meadow, a bunch of wild turkeys foraging along the creek, wild geese eating in the pasture and taking off and flying west in formation, an osprey swooping down to the pond and catching a fish and then doubling back overhead like he was doing a fly-by, showing off his catch and heading to his nest. Great way to spend a few hours. The paintings on today's blog were a result of those 5ish hours of work. I painted the vertical piece on a sheet of Art Spectrum black paper and the horizontal one on a rust coloured sheet. Even though they are toned, I soften the black one particularly with some Sennelier #463 for shadows. It gives a little more life to a summer scene. These are great papers to work with and hold pastel quite well.

So about the paintings...rather about the frames...The paintings are just loosely taped on the back of the frames, but what I wanted to show are the plein air frames that I got from Jerry's Artarama. (the fingers holding the frames are optional! Not really. I wanted to show as much of the frame as possible, so excuse the fingers :-)!!!) The paintings are 9x12 and that is the opening size with a tiny bit more room in the plein air frame. So these paintings were done on Art Spectrum coated paper where there is about a half an inch of uncoated paper around the periphery of the sheet. I painted the vertical piece on a sheet of Art Spectrum black paper and the horizontal one on a rust coloured sheet. Even though they are toned, I soften the black one particularly with some Sennelier #463 for shadows. It gives a little more life to a summer scene. These are great papers to work with and hold pastel quite well About a 1/2 inch will need to be trimmed if I decide to put these paintings in the plein air frame. What I wanted to illustrate is a general idea of how they look in the two finishes of frames that I got. If these were to be placed in the plein air frame, a spacer would be put behind the glass and then the painting, back board and finished. These frames come with a hanging wire and hardware and seem to be good quality. I like the simplicity of the frame and the fact that they didn't break the bank to buy them. Watch for sales...good discounts :-)

Another day we will go perhaps to the foothills of the Blues and paint and maybe to Bennington Lake area. On Saturday I met some folks who have a home in a vineyard toward Mill Creek. The view from their porch is incredible - overlooking a few wineries below them and to the west; to the east Mill Creek canyon; to the east and south the Blue Mountains in the background and across Mill Creek the foothills of Blues that are fields of soon to be harvested wheat and peas and the foreground of 5year old grape vines. The colors are wonderful...greens, golds, blues, reds. When you turn onto the lane that goes to their home you pass a tasting room for another vineyard...but the most spectacular thing is once you leave Mill Creek Road you turn onto this lane that is solidly lined on both sides with what appears to be 15 feet of lavender planted so that you get the sense of meandering up this lane of a solid wave of purple. It's another painting!

So with a great weekend of painting and photographing, it's the beginning of a new week...A couple of new pieces will be going to Sandpoint for the POAC water show and pick up some pieces from the Art Walk I.

Always be looking for something to paint; carry that camera with you so you have that reference photo!!

Happy painting!!

Evening skies

2010-07-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

I love to paint skies - storm skies, evening skies, wispy cloud skies....they say a lot and and can mean different things to different people.
When I was a kid, I liked to go out and lay down in the grass on a windy day and watch the clouds, ever changing, making cool formations as they moved with the currents of the air. Fortunately Where I lived you weren't in danger or being run over or something while you were laying there in the grass day dreaming....guess that's one of the perks to being a kid on some thousands of acres in the middle of Montana! Clouds are great. On my last trip to Montana, the skies were fabulous and I took a lot of reference photos of great skies. The skies in the three paintings today were two evening skies near Walla Walla. One evening as the sun was setting, there was this beautiful golden-pinkish glow. The large horizontal images above with the golden fields are pretty representational of that; however there is more of a pink tint to the actual paintings than is represented in the photo.

Regarding technique...I used the pastel boards from Art Spectrum for the fields with water and the hillside fields with trees in central part of painting. These are great to work with, have good tooth. I used the "elephant" colour boards....a nice purplish gray color. The other painting was done on a sanded paper from La Carte. I have not used this paper before, but it is very nice and it comes in a lot of great colors. I used an "earth" colored paper. I love Wallis, but this is great paper as well.
I used a variety of pastels, but did hone in on several of the Diane Townsend earthy colors as well as Unison and some Schmincke.  I love the Terrage' sticks Diane Townsend has. They are big and gritty and are great to add that sparkle as last minute touch to a painting...and...there are some good bold colors that I like!

Looking forward to a trip early to the farmer's market in the morning, early - to beat the heat.  Our weather has reached the 100 degree range now, so being outside midday and working in the heat is not the most pleasant, so it's better to paint early and late in the day.  But, that's summer and I do enjoy it.

I ordered some plein air frames for some paintings.   Awaiting their arrival and am anxious to see how the pastels look in them. These are about 4 inch frames that have a deep enough rabbet to accommodate a spacer between the pastel and the glass. With this system, you don't mat the painting. So the finished product has the look of an oil painting. It's is a very classy look, so we will see how this goes. Even though the framing material is a little more expensive, there is not the expense of mat and because there is no mat the overall glass size is less, so that saves something. I will post some images of framed work once I get them completed.
So in the meantime...happy painting and stay cool in the heat of the summer!!

Hunting to win???

2010-07-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hunting to win...what does that mean? Just something to get you to read this blog about entering competitions or not to enter competitions and jurying of art and such stuff.
I am competitive. I like to win. I like to do things well enough to win. Seems like that has always been that way.
As a kid, my family raised horses and cattle in central Montana. At a pretty early age, I got introduced to competitions such as horse shows and rodeos. My first horse show had my Mom fixing me up so I looked presentable - that meant your hair combed and braided, shirt tucked in your Wranglers, your pant legs over the tops of your boots and wearing a hat. Some of this just made a kid itchy, but I did it and rode my gray horse into the area for the western pleasure class. My mom had coached me to the etiquette of the event and I figured I was doing everything great. The ring steward for the events was a family friend, Owen, and with each loop around the arena he encouraged. I figured I must be doing great! then they lined the riders up and the judge walked up and down the line of riders (all under the age of 12; I am 6) and motioned for six riders to move forward. I wasn't one of them! What??? (My mom always told the story with great animation). I stand up in my stirrups and holler "Hey!! Where do I come in at???" Owen happened to be standing near me and walked up and calmly reached in his pocket and gave me a silver dollar. WHOA!!! I hit the pay! No one, even with their trophies and ribbons was a bigger winner than I was that day! Then I became an artist and entered some juried shows...Whoa! Sometimes you get accepted and sometimes you don't. I have participated in a variety of competitions from horse shows to rodeos to trap shooting and did a fair share of winning; same with juried shows. So this is my theory on juried shows...
I like to enter shows. I opt for a piece or pieces that I think are of good quality and maybe have a little edge on composition and interest; a piece that "speaks" to me. Once you do all the required things for submitting the entry you wait to hear...One thing of importance and this is speaking from working in an art center on the gallery committee and hanging shows...do what is asked in the guidelines - from the image submission to the hanger for the art. So then you wait and finally you get the notice - your piece is accepted. that's great! If it wasn't accepted...why? I think the first thing one needs to consider is that the if you have submitted a great quality painting and it didn't get into the show it 1) did not catch the eye and the like of the juror 2) it didn't fit what the juror was trying to say with his/her selection. One is not going to get every painting into every show. Maybe that juror was really partial to figurative painting, realistic and you paint abstract form...I usually check who the juror is and see what they do in their own world. I have passed up a few competitions just because I didn't think my work would jury well and since there is a fee for jury process...it's being somewhat sensible, I think. So if a piece is rejected, it may just mean it didn't fit the bill for that show.
I have a friend who does watercolors and does them well. She had tried for years to achieve signature status with her state's watercolor society and could never get a piece to make that happen. Just one of those things that you can sit around and talk about over coffee. So, you don't get accepted; not a reason for sorrow. Enter another show. When you do have a piece accepted, you're happy and that is great...THEN if you get lucky enough to have really got the juror's attention and they award you with one of the prizes for the show that's the ICING ON THE CAKE!!
I have entered the same piece in different shows; winning the best of show at one; an honorable mention at another and not making the juror's cut in another. So what's it all mean...the jurying process is an opinion of one person. Not being accepted or not winning a prize is not the end of the world or reason to feel rejection.
Recently someone said they would not want to physically go to a show that they had a piece accepted in and be there when the juror announces the winners and then not be one of the winners. WHAT??? Be proud that you had a piece accepted; go and enjoy the other art and study what won! You might learn something...and it might be just that your style wasn't what the juror picked for winning pieces. Sometimes just being there is (should be) enough! And there are jurors that I have heard say and then choose work for shock factor...that's sad, I think. But just like the juror's are but one opinion; these are my takes on entering shows. I enter because I like to see if my work will be accepted and just to get accepted into some of the higher end shows is really enough. Think I have learned some humility over the past 50 years!!! Where do I come in at? Just glad to be here!
keep painting...

It's all about color

2010-07-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

Color...lots of it. this time of year in southeastern WA the second cutting of hay is nearly done, the wheat is changing to golden in the warmest of areas and to a lighter greenish yellow in the higher altitudes and cooler areas. The lavender is in full bloom as are the annuals and perennials in the yards.

Last evening I dropped my daughter off at a meeting and headed out of town for an hour's drive and what I saw was really breathtaking. The sun was nearing the horizon and was casting a blanket of gold across the Blue Mountains and fields. As I drove a loop south and east of town the sun gradually disappeared leaving beautiful pink clouds in the eastern sky and the fiery reds and oranges in the west with a promise of wind for the next day (so they say...). And there was a cool breeze throughout the morning.

I can't pass up a comment about color, so illustrated in the photos of the plants with the lavender next to the yellow lilies and marigolds, proving that complimentary colors play so well together!

This is a beautiful time of year - there is more than just greens (which I love to see in the spring after the grays of winter) and the sunsets are usually magnificent with dust in the air and whatever makes a sunset brilliant!

This week I worked on a couple of acrylics...The purpose is to work in a different medium than usual and try some different things. I decided to contribute to the Lily Oncology on Canvas project which required a piece to be mailed to NY for their show...unframed. If you are not familiar with that project it is one that travels the country and actually I think internationally to cancer centers, hospitals, some art centers and museums. The work is done by cancer patients, family of cancer patients/survivors and caregivers. Each piece of art has a narrative that goes with it. I chose to send the "Survivor Blooms" that illustrates a few waterlilies growing in the shallow waters along the green summer fields. Like the those friends of mine who have survived the disease and recovered, the lilies persevere and grow in the marshy waters, blooming more beautiful than ever. The other piece, mountains in the background and a stream was done with mostly a palette knife and a lot of paint! Working with acrylics is a good medium for me...they are pretty immediate in as much that they dry pretty quickly and you can build up some brilliant color. I love doing clouds with the palette knife and building them with different colors. I did another piece on a piece of Yupo paper, which is a synthetic sort of paper - almost plastic feeling. I put some color on, sprayed it with water and got some cool runs. The paper is heavy and didn't seem to buckle at all (I did have it taped on a board). It's a paper I intend to play some more with...very smooth finish.

I had promised to talk a little about competitions and art shows, but am going to put that off for a day or two. I have had some interesting conversations regarding that topic recently so I do want to discuss my thoughts with you!

So keep painting, all you painters....there is color everywhere!!! and...

Happy 4th of July and celebrate our freedom!

Sandpoint Inspiration...

2010-06-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get accepted as one of the artists for the ArtWalk event in Sandpoint, ID. ArtWalk there means that you have a show at one of the downtown venues for a month during the summer. I was assigned space in the beautiful Sandpoint Financial Center which is the home to Panhandle State Bank, IMFC, Tango Cafe' etc. The building is designed to show art with a cable hanging system and great lighting. The photos above include the set up and then a shot of some of the paintings hanging for the show. I was assigned also a volunteer from the Pend Orielle Arts Council who would hang the show. I don't know if I lucked out, but had the great pleasure to meet and work with Carol Deaner who absolutely made me feel welcome and privileged to be there. She had a team of volunteers working with her and in a matter of minutes had mine and another artist's work hanging. You can tell she is experienced; she looked at all the work leaning against the wall and started moving them around in the order she thought they should hang and it was right on...expertly done! She introduced me to collectors and friends...one would have thought she was managing a well established gallery as she was busy making her artists feel comfortable as well as bringing in clients. WHAT A PLEASURE! POAC has a real gem in Carol!!

The Sandpoint area is really beautiful and is certainly a destination for lots of folks. The lake is beautiful any time of day as well as the surrounding areas. The little painting posted today is a result of the visit. There is so much to look at; the mountains, the fields, the lakes, river, etc. The town is small, but so many fun shops to visit, a farmer's market, great cafes.
So, if you get the opportunity to visit Sandpoint, do. The 2 ArtWalks happen back to back and there are lots of other events in the area. I have work there until July 25th. Then I will put some work in the POAC show "Aquatics" that will be at the Power House Building where the POAC resides and their art shows decorate the walls of this fabulous old building.
So, my message is this...respect and appreciate a good venue and the volunteers or employees of that venue. when you hang work at a lot of different places, and one is outstanding to work with, it makes you feel good just to be there! I have that a some places that I have work and I do appreciate my gallery owners and managers and employees....they sell YOU! They have the gift of selling and promoting and as an artist; I need that!! So my hat goes off to my favorite galleries and what they do...Kelly's Gallery on Main, Moccasin Mountain Gallery, Wenaha Gallery, POAC, Allied Arts...you all are wonderful to work with! Simply....thank you.
Sadly saying goodbye to Raphaels in Pendleton as they close after 25 years; but wishing them the best in their next adventure and looking forward to their promise to be back and open again in 5-ish years!!! You were great!!!
Happy painting...

quick draw in pastel

2010-06-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

I am going to talk a little about my quick draw experience and at the request of Ida, posting the 3 most recent quick draw results.
About the images...the pieces are all in the approximate size of 9"x12" or 12"x9" depending on the orientation of the paper. The vertical one of the cottonwoods along the water and farm buildings in the background was the one I completed in 30 minutes for the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Quick Draw event in May. The horizontal of the aspens along the river with the cliffs on the right was done at the 2010 Festival of the Arts in Joseph, OR in 1 and a half hours and the river in fall with lots of vegetation was done for the Wallowa Festival of the Arts as well, but in 2009. It was also a 1.5 hour limit.
So I approach the quick draw events with a plan in place. For one that allows only a 30 minute drawing/painting time, one needs to be well prepared for the party! I went to Miles City with an entirely different image in my mind to paint - hay bales - which are fun to do and I had worked up a nice sketch and also felt it was a piece that would work well and hopefully sell well for the area. I worked the trials on this several times and was really never comfortable in completing it the way I wanted in the 30 minute time frame. So I was feeling a little uneasy and finally decided to abort that plan and work up something different. I still wanted something relevant to the area to hopefully entice bidding from local collectors, so decided that the cottonwoods would be my best bet. Going back before the hay bales I had toyed with the idea of something representational of the Yellowstone River Valley - because that's where MC lies...along the river near some beautiful rugged multicolored hills covered with pines, juniper, sage etc. With a couple of mock quick draws, using my idea of the fall cottonwoods, my confidence was restored knowing I could create something that was quality in a 30 minute time. It worked! The piece was the highest selling art at over $1000. So my set up included having the paper type that I knew would work well - a sheet of black Art Spectrum paper (I wanted that black to assist me is creating depth; knowing I wouldn't have to do a very heavy coloring of my favorite deep blue for the depth I desired and that it would allow for good texture for my focal point cottonwood leaves.) and I had chosen my palette and put those pastels separate from my large color box (keep me focused on the colors I needed over that 30 minutes!). I also packed my supplied and had them all together so there wasn't any stress in getting set up. This quick draw was in a wonderful city park, so I wanted to be situated in a spot that had some shade to work in (lots of huge trees) so getting there early was important so I could pick a spot that would work for me. The artists have to bring all their props. I used my French easel and a chair to set my pastels and other supplies on. For me, keeping it simple works...The quick draws tend to gather a group of on-lookers and one thing that is fun is to be able to visit a little with the folks taking an interest in your work...with a 30 minute time frame - one needs to concentrate pretty much on your work and not visit too much...but I managed to do a little chatting while I painted. Because I had a plan and subsequently stayed with it; the piece was actually ready for it's frame at 25 minutes. So for the short time frame quick draws, I suggest a well planned piece, not an extremely intense piece, but one that still is good quality and represents ones workmanship, supplies picked ahead of time and separated. If you have practiced painting the piece and know you can complete it in the time frame; you are already ahead of the game because you have that confidence before you start the event!
As far as the quick draws that allow an hour or hour and a half...you get to work slower, compose a more complex study and visit a little more with those gathered around! I still go through the same steps...knowing that I can complete a specific work in the time frame; isolate my chosen palette, have all my supplies organized, etc.
Quick draws are fun; gets your heart rate going and the adrenalin pumping. People watching love them because they can see a piece of work materialize before their eyes.
The two quick draws in Joseph, OR are held in an old bank building. It is a very interesting log building with two floors and lots of windows. But, this quick draw is an evening event, so the windows are not a source of light and one must bring some lighting...which can add to the warming up the temperature of your work area in a hurry. This venue is a fun one to go as well. The event includes music, drinks, treats; a real event for the people buy a ticket for the event and come to watch and bid on the works.
I like both set ups and have a great time doing quick draws. It's the challenge, I guess, to get a painting done, get it done right; get it done with a time limit!
That's my take on this! Happy painting....

More dust...

2010-06-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

After spending a few days in Joseph, OR for their Festival of Arts, I thought anyone following this blog should be able to enjoy some of the scenery from there as well. This is a beautiful, lush valley next to the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon. It is rich in color and beauty. Early June seems to bring the rains and the colors of green are endless. It's a little early for much of the wild flowers to be blooming, but there is a hint of color out in the prairies to the north and east. Joseph is a destination with a history of fine bronze foundries, art galleries and recreation for many with a beautiful lake snuggled up against the mountains, lots of trails to bike and hike and ride. This has been an "art town" for quite a while. There are fabulous artists living and working there. The arts council is an active one and they sponsor an annual festival of the arts that draws artists from across the US and some international artists as well.
I started attending the event 5 years ago and look forward to it every year. I look forward to seeing friends there and participating in the events offered by the festival such as the plein air and quick draw events.
The scene of the tepee was one of the sites of the plein air paintings. The town of Joseph is relatively small, but there are good places to have a meal, some great shopping and wonderful to just walk around in. On many of the street corners there are life sized bronzes of a variety of subject - from a pioneer woman to some wolves to a bronc rider on a bucking horse, to a mare and foal and more...So if one is looking for something to do the first weekend of June...check out Joseph. The festival has a Facebook page "Wallows Valley Festival of the Arts"; the town has a website that lists the events of the year. It's a great destination! Some of my favorite spots to go...BeeCrowBee - Will makes his own lotions, oils, soaps etc. Fabulous product. Will is an artist as well and does some amazing work. The shop is great and must stop. To Zion is another fun store for clothing and great, really great jewelry. Wolf Fleece is a great store for fleece vests, shirts and more. And they have some of the nicest lines of women's wear, shoes, handbags and jewelry. Kelly's Gallery on Main is a fun gallery with tons of art and jewelry. Kelly hangs my work and has lots of great things from bronze to oil paintings to pottery to paintings of feathers.

This week I will take art to Sandpoint, Idaho for their summer artwalk. This is a long standing art show that hangs for a month in venues throughout the town. Sandpoint is another wonderful place to visit in the northern "panhandle" of Idaho. I was happy to have been accepted as one of the artists this year to participate. My work will be at the Panhandle State Bank and Tango Cafe'...I am looking forward to seeing my friend Sheila who is a fellow artist who does amazing art quilts and lives in Sandpoint area. Look forward to also seeing Al and Sharon, friends who moves to Idaho a few years ago.

PastelNews.com is my favorite site to find out information on almost anything related to pastels. Mario hosts that site from Croatia and it is a wealth of information for artists ans art lover. He just included a collage of the Series of 100 in it and he did a great job of putting somewhere around 50 of the the images together! Check it out. And if you haven't subscribed to that page on FaceBook, do. It's great info.

In the next blog I will talk about competitions and shows. And I am working on a couple of new pieces which might have images by then!

On a final note I must say good bye to a venue that has treated me very well and has produced good sales. Raphaels in Pendleton, OR is closing at the end of the month, sadly after 25 years. Raphael's is a restaurant of excellent means and have used some of their walls as sales gallery for artists. I was honored to be asked to hand work there. Rob and Raphael are entering a new chapter of their lives and seeking out adventure in a different area. There is a promise of returning in 3-5 years and re-opening one of the best restaurants. In the meantime I am honored to have one of my mono prints hanging on their walls with some of the most important Native American artists like James Lavadour. My best to Raphael and Rob and a huge thank you!
Happy painting...

The series of 100 is complete

2010-06-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

The series come to a close with the completion of 100 small works. So what did this prove?

think outside the proverbial box
one can maximize paper/pastel combinations
the same composition repeated 100 times can be totally different in appearance
color plays the important role of determining depth and temperature

I think the biggest thing for me was to persevere through 100 different paintings of the same composition and to create something different with each. I experimented with a variety of papers, using different brands of pastels. Some combinations worked better than others. I only scratched the surface of these combinations of materials however. There are so many great products to use in today's market. I really only used materials that were readily available to me and stock on hand in my studio. Because I worked in a very small format (basically 4x6 inches) I didn't employ some techniques that I might have on a larger scale.

So what I have learned in color is how different the same colors of pastel appear on different papers; how some papers react to different fixatives in the process of applying color; how not to think about “shouldn’t” and “can’t” in the process, but instead step outside the box of conventional technique. Because I now have come up with at least 100 variations; I got bold with color and combinations and as I tacked these on the wall, it turned into a huge mosaic of little paintings, each individual and unique, but also a broad body of work that allowed me concentrate on a significant project and yet not spend a large of amount of time on each study. It is a lesson of tenacity, of pushing the limits and keeping things interesting and it’s about satisfaction…knowing that you can push yourself confidently to achieve a desired goal.

So, many of these little paintings are in shows, some have sold. They look great hanging in a grouping - they are similar, but so different. The next question is what to do with the paintings not framed; I think they will get put in a flat file inter leafed with glassine - for a time.

I encourage others to do this experiment in their chosen medium. You will learn. I don't think you have to do 100. 50 would be a good number. It is a fun process and you will learn from it!

More pastel dust...

2010-05-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

I can see the finish line from here! With the completion of these paintings, the number is now at 95.

I have varied my size of the images a little, using scraps of paper and form board. The top two were done on Wallis and the snow, the dark and the autumn with black undertone were all done on black Canson paper. The pastels were mostly Unison and Diane Townsend. With the Canson paper I also used some Nu pastels after the softer Unison and D. Townsend ones. I like to create texture with using the hard pastels in a burnishing manner in certain areas of the painting and then leaving some of the color of the paper coming thru to give a sense of a path or trail. The DT pastels work well with the Canson paper, particularly the Terrage' ones because of their grit. I've said this before, but worth repeating because it makes using the Canson paper easier and the results are interesting and easy to come up with.

The end of the month brings the Willow show to a close. It was a good show and some things sold. A fabulous artist, Katherine Treffinger from Cove, OR will be part of the mix of June-July artists at Willow and I encourage people to stop in and see the show.

The middle of next week I go to Joseph, OR to the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts and take part in the plein air event, the quick draw and the juried show. It is a favorite show. One hopes for great weather because of the plein air events, but it will be what it is and regardless of the weather, it will be a great time!

Tomorrow I am going to paint on some pastelbord. I haven't painted on it before, but my friend Denise swears by it, so I am giving it a try...

I am planning by the end of the weekend to have finished the series of 100....that's my goal, anyway! So in the meantime...happy painting!

Sheep markers...WHAT???

2010-05-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Sheep markers...what is THAT and WHAT do they have to do with painting??? Well...here is a little back ground and what has promoted this topic! When I lived in central Montana growing up, I remember an artist who lived in a near community, raised sheep, had lived in Paris and studied art, was married to a French woman he met in WWII, and was an author as well. His art was abstract to impressionistic; certainly not the Charlie Russell/Frederic Remmington type of painting that was so popular among the western art lovers.
I remember his work and thinking it was really interesting...that he was going out on a limb with his work and could only assume that he was painting for what he believed and loved. Bill Stockton was a colorful figure - he was raised in Fergus County, MT but after WWII chose to go art schools in the midwest and Paris. He exhibited nationally and his work is now part of the permanent collection at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings for one. As an author he wrote a book, called "Today I Baled Some Hay to Feed the Sheep the Coyotes Eat." I have not read it, but am on the quest to find a copy of it and read it.
One can google his name and read more details about Bill. He lived in central Montana until his death in 2002. A quote from Donna Forbes a former director of YAM sums up Mr. Stockton, " An outdoor man who loved his sheep, his gruffness belied a tender heart and exquisite sensitivity to the visual world. His sense of humor was apt to burst forth unexpectedly with a sharp bark of laughter at the silliness of life, particularly the "dudes" he would see traveling the western countryside looking for some authentic cowboys. Life was too hard for a small sheep rancher to tolerate phoniness of any kind."

A few years ago I did a solo show at the Lewistown Art Center and there were a few pieces of Bill's illustrations of lambs and ewes and some of his other sketches and paintings. Some of the paintings were done with SHEEP MARKER!! I had never known what "sheep marker" really was. I had seen sheep with markings on them, identifying them in some form to their owner and it looked like a paint of some sort. Occasionally you would see numbers drawn on horses and cattle at a livestock auction as well. A few months ago, I came across some work in a gallery that was done by an artist and they were interesting, abstract renditions and were accomplished with SHEEP MARKER!
I decided that I needed to give this medium a test drive and called the local farm/ranch supply store a call asking for sheep marker. Nobody knew what I was talking about. Well, I didn't either. I wasn't even sure how this stuff was supplied (or how you applied it to cattle, sheep or canvas)! So I put it on the back burner until last week when I was in eastern Montana. There's a Murdock's Store there and they are an "everything" store from sporting goods to clothes, boots, hats, pet supplies, everything you might need if you are a rancher from fencing supplies to branding irons to...When I got to the isle where the branding irons were I knew I would find sheep markers! Well, they are called "Livestock Markers" and they are sticks of colored oil paint in very basic colors. I don't think there is much in the line of quality control with color because there were several shades of green all with the same item number! But here they were and less than $2 a stick and the sticks appeared to hold quite a bit of paint! So, I bought several colors and brought them home. On the stick it says to cut the tip off of the stick to expose the fresh paint...that's the instruction. OK...so last night I got out a couple of smaller canvases, cut the tips off some of the paints, grabbed a knife and started putting some color to the canvas. The above images are the results. It was fun! I put the stick directly on the canvas and used the knife and a piece of a plastic card as well to manuveur the paint. I left them outside overnight and this morning they were dry. Also of note...they are nontoxic. Have no idea of their archival quality, but they are fun to work with and I think I might like to show some and put on the label of the painting: "livestock marker on canvas"!!

More Dust...

2010-05-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

With the completion of these images, I have reached 90 small works. I intend to complete the 100 by the end of the month and I do think it will happen! I had some fun playing with some really strong colors of oranges and yellows. I also had a couple tiny frames that could use little paintings in them, so worked the really bright one in that horizontal format. But the most fun was doing the twilight painting with some stars flickering in the sky. How that one came about...I am sitting with my son and family in their living room in Miles City, MT and my spot faces a west window. We were visiting and watching a movie about 930pm and I happen to look out the window at the last light of the day. It was incredible! The gradations of color in the sky could not be captured with a simple digital camera, but the image was imprinted on my brain. At the horizon there was a pale greenish-yellow that gradually turned to a gray-blue and then almost a teal higher in the atmosphere. A few stars twinkled and there was a sliver of a moon near the horizon.This little painting is close to what I saw, but the teal is not quite the same. They call MT the "big sky country" and when you are out there in the plains, you can see forever and sometimes the night skies are really dramatic. I always love to go out and look at the Milky Way when I go there because the intensity of it is so much greater than what I see in SE WA. I am sure elevation plays a big part, but also the clearness of the air, I think.
All these little ones were done on the Wallis sanded paper and I used mostly the Diane Townsend pastels which are really brilliant. I like these pastels because of the grit in them and their ability to to be layered fairly easily.
The next blog will take a detour from the series of 100 to a new experiment...watch for it!!!
happy painting...

Montana Trail of Pastel Dust...

2010-05-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

The dust has settled - for a moment - that is. After spending a great week in Miles City with stops in Lewistown and Billings on either end of the trip, we are back in eastern WA with a bunch of great photos for reference and some great memories of a time spent with family and friends and getting quite a bit of art completed.

The Quick Draw photos are included in this blog. I can't say enough good about that event. It is well organized, efficient and most of all the people who work hard to make this a highlight of the weekend are some of the nicest, friendliest people around. The artist posts were set up at various points in the Park by the water tower which offered some good shade for the artists. Big old trees also provided good spots for shade. The art was auctioned from the flatbed trailer where the iron "cowboy quick draw figure" stood.

The view of the hills is out in the Strawberry Hills area - a recreation area that Chris and his buddies ride their mountain bikes through. It's beautiful in a rugged way with lots of cliffs, rocks, steel hills and trails with really interesting strata in the land. It varies from a light tan to red to some black in the soil. The roads are interesting. I took my pastels out there and set up and painted for a while. I only started getting a little nervous when Chris and Les were still out hiking around when the dark stormy clouds started rolling up over the hills from the northeast. These roads are not anywhere near considered "all-weather"! As it turned out, the clouds were merely a great show of drama and color for me because not hardly a drop of rain happened. This was a good thing! It's a bit of a hike back to MC!!!

I had thought that I might get some more of the series of 100 finished on the trip, but that didn't happen. I was having too much fun hanging out with Michelle, Chris and Sam!! So this week the series should continue!

A bit about the quick draw techniques...One doesn't go to a quick draw event without a solid plan for your piece of work. Completing a piece in 30 minutes or even an hour takes good planning and some dry runs of drawing or painting the subject. I did change my mind a couple of days before on the subject matter basically because I was fighting with the details of the initial idea. That can't happen. I knew I needed to change my plan and be confident with my subject and materials.

I chose, and then isolated the pastels that I would need to complete the painting so there would be no hunting through a hundred or more colors or the right sticks. I decided to paint it on a black primed paper...allowing the black to work for me in depth. I typically don't like solid black so tinted the water area of the image with a very dark blue and under painted the trees with a purple - overlaying the yellows and oranges of the fall leaves. The purple added depth as well...why? Because of the play of the opposite colors on the color wheel - the yellows and purple working their magic. I chose my type of pastels carefully...using ones in the trees specifically that had a lot of grit which would allow more layers to be added...the Diane Townsend Terrages as well as some light spritz of workable fixative to assist with tooth in the paper and get a good layered look. The colored paper made the painting go faster because I did not have to add much depth color. Then the biggest thing...know when to stop painting! (and not the timer telling you when to stop!) I also did not use a reference photo...sometimes I can get too "pinched" - too detailed when I use a perfect photo...I have heard other artists say the same thing...it is like it the painting is wanting to be the replica of the photo in minute detail. So with events like this, know your subject, know you can create what you want in the time frame allowed, pick your colors before hand, have your set up ready before the start and this will give you the confidence to create something great! So with that said....happy painting!

Montana Pastel Dust

2010-05-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Being back in Montana in the springtime is always a treat. There is that sense of new with the new growth from the grasses to the wildlife. There is a relief that the winter season is in the past (hopefully).
So driving to Miles City via Helena, Great Falls, Lewistown, Jordan and Cohagen was a pleasant journey of new growth, young greens, a hint of an early spring snow storm. We stopped in Lewistown only briefly to drop off some new work at Moccasin Mountain Gallery and visit with Jayson, Debbie and JoAnn. That gallery is feast for an art lover and western artifact with original work, great prints, horsehair items, a great frame shop lots more. It's a place to definitely plan a stop at when one goes to or through Lewistown. Also visited with Betty and Al for a bit before heading east toward Miles City. Les says to me, "where do I have to turn to go to Miles City in case you are asleep?" I said, "keep going east on this road til you can't go any further; then turn right." And that's about it. You drive through interesting country - badlands like -, rolling hills of the grasslands, some farm land, past some of the largest ranches in eastern and central Montana and not so many people. There aren't many services between Lewistown and Jordan and likewise from Jordan to Miles City.
Chris, Michelle and Sam live in MC and we are anxious to see them and to go to the festivities of the weekend with the art events, the horse races, bucking horse sale that all are part of the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale weekend - much akin to the Pendleton Roundup I hadd decided to enter the Quick Draw event which has been a part of the weekend for 20+ years and is a fund raiser for the Custer Country Art and Heritage Center (a must see venue in MC for art lovers). One half hour to complete a piece of art and another 10 minutes to frame. I had been practicing and timing what I could realistically do in a 30 minute time frame. I painted "Fall Colors" an 8 1/2 x11 inch piece of cottonwoods by a stream. Once I started the piece, I felt it was going to go well...it's a sense you get...it's the one you want!!! Finished in 25 minutes and then to auction. There is always a bit of a fear that your piece might not sell for it's value; but this one did. Highest bidded and sold piece at $1100. Wow! The art center and artist both share in the sale. Couldn't have turned out better. This morning the art center hosted a brunch at the center which was fabulous with great food, music and drop dead gorgeous art show...Clyde Aspvig was one of the artists and I am a big fan of his incredible oils.
What a weekend!
Maybe later today or tomorrow I will work on the tail end of the series of 100. I will post photos when I get home. In the meantime, happy painting...

the dust doesn't settle!

2010-05-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

So I am posting the images 77, 78 and 83 in the series and a test on a tiny piece of pastelboard. The first images are about 5x7. I took some Wallis over to John Knapp's studio a few days ago and joined the group of Wednesday night painters. It's an enjoyable time; I just don't get there very often! Since I was "traveling" I decided to take a limited bunch of pastels with me. I a recently gotten some Diane Townsend pastels and had my landscape set of Richeson's that I wanted to show John and Carlyrae. I found the Richeson seemed to work well and not quite as messy as the Townsend's - probably because the Townsend pastels are pretty "gritty". Oh they are beautiful color tho!!! So I opted for less mess since I was visiting John's studio and stick with the Richesons. They are nice and soft and blend well as I worked on my "Charlie Russell sky" as Carly called it. It was here I decided to do my next experiment with the Townsends on a less toothy paper like Canson...and they worked well.
So no, fast forward to this weekend and we are now in Mt. Vernon, WA for the NPS meeting. Les and the dee-o-gees went with so while I am skulking around the isles of Dakota Art Pastels, opening drawers, looking at hundreds of pastels, papers and hopefully not drooling noticeably, they headed off to Anacortes and surrounds. (What a candy store for pastelists DA is!)
The meeting was great. Denise Champion who is a masterful artist, did an over-the-top presentation that took some hours of prep. She had gotten some samples of pastelboard and each attendee was given one. (Robyn from DA had also given each of us a sample of the new PastelMat - a competitor for Wallis. So this was enough for me to hit the studio and give them a test drive. I love the idea of the pastelboard because it is rigid and doesn't have to have a foam core backing; it can stand a wash with alcohol for an underpainting or a good scrubbing if you really muck up the piece. Might try more of that. The PastelMat paper was nice! It doesn't appear to have a lot of tooth, but remarkably does. so on that tiny little piece of paper I made #83 in the series. I changed up my talelest trees some and may do that for some variety with the next 17. The paper performed well and I liked it! I used only Diane Townsend pastels on both of these tests and they worked beautifully. Her colors are outstanding; so brilliant and wonderful!
So now it's to MT to do the Quick Draw for the Custer Co Art Center and drop of new things at Moccasin Mountain Gallery in Lewistown. With any luck the snow is gone and I can paint in the quick draw without mittens!
Happy painting...and try some Diane Townsend's pastels...2 different types of pastels..some with a little grit and the Tarage's (sp) with more grit. Great products!!

the chalk dust trail...

2010-05-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

The images if 77 and 78 are not yet posted; these are 79-82. And I actually had an "Aha!" moment with that started with the images 77 and 78. Using Richeson pastels and some Diane Townsend on Wallis, I found the Richeson liked the toothy paper best...so when I started to paint 79 I decided to try the Townsend pastels on Canson paper because those pastels are quite "gritty", if you will, compared to Richeson, Sennelier, Schmincke, etc. With the Canson paper being pretty light and not much tooth, I thought the perfect combination might be the Townsend pastels with the Canson paper. Aha! They work well together! I put together some maybe strange color combinations; but the pastel went on the paper well and I think more layers could be added without filling the tooth of the paper. I don't have a large number of the townsend pastels, but I certainly liked how they and the Canson paper worked together. I will try some Unison exclusively on Canson next and see how they work.
I have not used an exclusive brand of pastels since the infancy of my pastel experience and when using the Canson paper, was always just very careful to not overload the paper with pigment. I am not advocating just piling on any pastel; but when you find what works well together, you do feel good about the process and not be dissatisfied with the results or the process to complete the painting. All the brands of pastels have a bit of a different feel and why not figure out which pastel works the best with which paper. We all have our favorites and for the most part we all use a combination of pastels in a painting because some brands just don't have a certain color that some other brand does. Anyway, try it! It's a good match!
Happy painting...

Another chalk line...

2010-04-27T00:23:00.001-07:00

The series of 100 reached #76 with the completion of these images. These were all done on the Wallis paper and random brands of pastels. I will try o finish up the next 24 within the month - hopefully before I leave for MT. Moccasin Mountain Gallery wants some of the minis for their wall and I will take some more to Miles City with me. At the moment I am tacking the minis to a large foam core sheet, but not sure what I will do with the ones I don't mat and frame. Maybe they will become a patchwork collage of little landscapes under one frame.
At the moment I am working on my idea for the Quick Draw events; doing some sketching and drawing to see what I can fit into the designated time frames. It's a challenge to complete a piece of work with a time frame as the guide. It requires planning and practice. Not my usual style which sometimes entails spending some time painting, then going and making a pot of coffee, wait til it brews enough for a couple of cups and then pour out a hot, pretty concentrated rich cup of coffee...THEN go back and contemplate the paper on the easel! One must have already consumed their cup of brew before you start the Quick Draw and be ready to paint when the bell rings or the gun is shot...whatever the "start your painting" signal is!
the Northwest Pastel Society member's show opening was last Friday at Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham. It was a nicely hung show with more than 100 pieces on the walls. Abstract was the preferred style of the judge and the piece "BC Chess" by Bill McEnroe was the best of show winner. It was a great piece to which Bill penned a poem as well. This painting as well as the other winning artists are listed on the Facebook Fan page Northwest Pastel Society and on the web site.
This Facebook page is also a source for artists looking for pastel events in the Northwest - paint outs, competitions, meetings, etc. Good place to check where pastel shows are if you are a lover of the arts as well.
Next weekend in Walla Walla is Spring Release for the wine industry. It creates quite a bit of energy with lots of people coming in to taste the wines of the valley. For artists, many of the wineries offer hanging space for art. These are generally lovely spaces and fun to hang your work in. I am considered a residence artist at Whitman Cellars, always having art hanging there and this year also have some pieces at the new Grantwood Winery. It is fun weekend to visit some of the wineries and taste some of the new releases and check out the art. with 140+ wineries, there are lots of opportunities to taste and view some art! So with that, I shall say happy painting....

looking through the dust...pastel dust, that is...

2010-04-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

Completing these 4 images brings me to 72 small works. These were all completed on the Wallis paper with a variety of soft pastels and some Nupastels for detail.
I attended the Northwest Pastel Society member's show on Friday at the Blue Horse Gallery in Bellingham. The show was great - excellent variety and style to make an interesting show. Details of the show will be able to seen after the first part of May on the NPS fan page on Facebook and on the NPS website. Our board is now working on the International Pastel Show that we host - this year Nov-Dec at the Schack Art Center in Everett. The online entries are due by the 9th of August. The Schack Center (new)is being built now and this show should be the first in the new building! Encouraging pastelists from near and far to submit to this show as this will be a premier event, it is certain to draw lots of attendees from the Northwest.
We are going to Montana in a few weeks and I will participate in a Quick Draw event. It is a very quick draw...1/2 hour to complete. I need to practice! I have in my mind what I am going to paint; now I need to perfect it...in a half an hour time! That's a goal today - work on my "time trial"!
I am going to try to have the series of 100 finished by the middle of May. I think it is achieveable now that I have rounded the corner of 70! keep an eye out the final drawings and happy painting...

as the dust settles...

2010-04-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

My apologies for posting a photo image twice. don't know how it happened or how to remove it :-(.
Some experimenting with black canson paper...found that the best pastels are the harder of the soft varieties like Rembrandt or the hard pastels like Nupastels. I used some limited palettes to create these. Using some workable fix in between layers helps build color on the Canson. It is interesting to see how the blue/red combination almost is looking like a photographic negative. When you use a dark paper, one of the cool things is that the paper color adds a little texture when you let a hint of it peek through the pastel.
The little vertical piece was done on a scrap of Wallis about 3x4 inches and was a very quick little study with about 3 pastels. It is a good lesson to limit pastels to 3-5 sticks and see what you can do with that.
If you haven't checked out Facebook - it's worthwhile. You can make it what you want...but it is an efficient way to network with art and artists. I have a fan page you can follow - Bonnie Griffith Landscape Artist and also manage the Northwest Pastel Society page. These will post events for artists and arts and have some interesting images posted occasionally. NPS is always looking for new members and the FB page is another tool to use. There are some really good groups one can join as well, that have discussion groups and really good information. They are hosted by Sandy Askey-Adams on Facebook. Once you join you can post images on those sites. And then of course is PastelNews.com the absolute BEST site out there for pastel artists. Mario spends a lot of time making it great and being a source of valuable information to the pastelist. So check out these sites! And...happy painting...

Western Art events calendar - Auctions, Showings, Festivals

2010-04-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Western Art events calendar - Auctions, Showings, Festivals

I have just uploaded images on the Western Art and Architecture web site. This is a wonderful magazine for the reader who is interested in fine craft, art and architecture. Always good articles - focused mostly on western US life/art etc. There online site offers artists a place to showcase work and list their galleries and events. The art is not all western - nice variety of realism, abstract and impressionistic...and lots of different mediums. Check it out.

More on the series of 100 small works later...happy painting

atmosphere and pastel dust

2010-04-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like the spring skies when the days are hot and then late in the day the storm clouds come in. Here the storms come from the west typically and you can see them coming a long way away...from the Pendleton Blues the sky grows darker and darker. so a lot of painitngs I do of the Blue Mountains with stormy skies, you can see the storm coming from the west...And that was the name of a painting I did for the Pendleton Center for the Arts show a couple of years ago. One painting posted today, of the highway heading toward the mountains is the old Immigrant Road that takes you to to St Andrews Mission and then circuitously up the mountains to the top of Cabbage Hill on I-84. It's a great spot next to the mountains where the mission sits. The mission school is now the Crow Shadow Institute of the Arts where some absolutely incredible print making takes place under the direction of Frank Jenzen...it's where I learned about monoprints and some basic printing skills.
A day yesterday was spent at Bennington Lake, painting with Carlyrae, John, Jeff and Mark - bunch of pastelists who share the love of plein air painting and just getting out and having some good conversation and painting.
Today will get me out in outdoors again to paint and maybe late afternoon a quick trip around the area for some reference shots. No camera yesterday at the lake...
more work on the small series of 100 today...
happy painting and enjoying the beautiful spring!

pastel dust

2010-04-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

One more in the series of 100 is added using a lot of reds and purple. I did one more tiny sketch on a scrap piece of Wallis that is about 3x4 inches; maybe smaller...very simple just trees with the purples, reds and orange hues. I liked it enough to put it in a tiny little frame. No image of it yet.
I am workingon some pieces to go to Big Fish in Bellingham the end of next week and ones for Kelly's in Joseph as well. I have a couple of larger ones completed - photos on the next post. I grumble a little at myself - when I am working small it is so much easier to be nice and loose with the pastel; but when I work large, the painting takes on a more realistic appearance. Maybe I need to work with my left hand only!

I included a couple of shots of the Willow show on this post. It was a very nice evening and just looking at them again brings good memories of a very fun show with all the variety of 5 different artists! The 60-something mini is posted as well as a new piece that I am pretty happy with. I used a reference photo from my trip to the Oregon coast in mid March.
The Cafe Utza show is hanging. If anyone ventures into southeastern Montana into the burg of Miles City, a must do is having coffee and pastry at Cafe' Utza. You get a dynamite, bold brew and some wonderful pastry of the day and then on their rich red walls they hang art from cables. Several of the minis and some larger landscapes are hanging there for next couple of months. My son Chris is a banker in Miles City and found this little gem of a coffee house and since he is the self proclaimed "art marketer", he set up the show! Next month we will go to MC to do an art event sponsored by the Art and Heritage Center there...a quick draw...and it is the quickest of quick draws. One half an hour to complete a painting/drawing and another 10 minutes to frame it. I love a challenge! Trust me that my paper will be no larger than 9x12 inches!
If you haven't already, check out the fan page "Bonnie Griffith Landscape Artist" on Facebook...also another fan page is the Northwest Pastel Society page...that's one that will post shows, meetings, events, etc for the NWPS. Anyone interested in and working in pastels might find this page worth a book mark as well.
More minis are brewing...the pastel dust is accumulating!

Kicking up some dust...

2010-04-09T10:44:00.001-07:00

The pastel dust is alive and well at my studio! I however, have not been working on my series of 100 in the last week or so. There were some other time challenged issues that needed attention, so the series got put on the back burner!
I am working on pieces to go to several galleries. The two I posted will probably to to opposite ends of the state!
First of all, the Willow Gallery opening was great. The evening was a blustery, rainy and cold one, but it did not seem to deter art fans from getting out. I loved seeing some of my former, fellow board members from the Carnegie Art Center - Sheila, Cheryl, Molly; as well as Charles Potts a respected poet/writer; a lot of friends as well...The show is diverse and interesting; worth a trip in to see! I loved Candace Rose's assemblages - most unique and interesting and Kathy Wildermuth's watercolors are stellar...(Les bought one and it will look great with the one of Kathy's that I already have!). Susuan How one of the photographers exhibited her work that were all of the Bennington Lake area. I have loved that area and it has been the source of several trips of mine with my camera. Anyway, that was an inspiration to go through those photos of mine and do some pastels of that area. The ones attached to this post are of the trails by the lake. I will do more; it is a most interesting landscape.
New work went to Wenaha Gallery yesterday and new work will go to Whitman Cellars today. The Feast Walla Walla is tomorrow and I will have a display area for art, as I did last year. Some of the small series of 100 will go there along with other small work and a few larger pieces, notecards and some giclee prints. So with all the scurrying around coming to an end at least for a few days, maybe I can get back to the task of completing a few for small works! In the meantime....happy painting...

More dust

2010-04-03T22:21:00.000-07:00

When work has a time line associated with it, other projects get to go into a holding pattern, so to speak. I had a deadline of April 4 to complete my work for the Whitman College Dance production "The Ancients". I love to do sets and posters for Idalee and her productions, so I never say no I don't have time. And this production sounded so fun to work on. I was right...the work bridges ancient history of Greek mythology and the Anasazi Indians. The poster illustrated both Muses of Apollo and a dancer of Native American heritage. It's printed with a black boarder that feathers into the illustration. My next task was to do a backdrop scene from ancient Greece. Got that done; also one of Native American cliff dwellings. Next,the sets...6 feet tall half cylinders, each 24 inches wide...nine...each to be a "statue" of one of the Muses of Apollo. They were fun to create; each with their own personality. As each was finished I stood them up in the garage so that when you walked out into the garage you had to walk amongst the Muses! The production is April 9-10 and I am anxious to see how my Muses look on stage as they come out in darkness with only spotlights and then each Muse comes to life and a dancer emerges and does a routine...
Come to the show!!\
My series of 100 progresses with 4 more images completed now numbering 63. 10 of these are in the Willow show which opened last night. Several have gone to the galleries in Newport and Yachats and to Cafe Utza in Miles City for a show. some have sold. Someone said they want all the ones in MC...we will see.
These latest ones were done with a variety of pastels. My last trip to Dakota Arts gifted me some new pastels that I had not tried before...Great Americans and a landscape set of diane townsend. Like them both. I should have some more completed yet this weekend. I can see 100 getting completed fairly soon. good thing...I have a lot of obligations to meet; new work to Kelly's in Joseph; 6-7 pieces to Big Fish in Bellingham, things for Grantwood Winery for spring release. and a few more of the small works will go to some of these places...
Easter tomorrow and if the weather is good I want to take a drive to Palouse Falls and shoot some reference photos. I want to paint the falls and also down river from the falls of the canyon...so for now...happy painting!

more pastel dust

2010-03-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

number 56,57,58,59. As I had promised, I toned Wallis paper with pastel and alcohol wash and then layered that with the pan pastels. The result is better than previous experience, but I did highlight some with some Sennelier as a finish. I noticed that the Pans looked beautiful on smooth newsprint though, when cleaning the applicator! I do like some of the brilliant color...the blue is intense. I do like the softness they give.
In addition to putting some of the small studies in the Willow Show in Walla Walla and the Cafe Utza show in Miles City, I will have some framed for the Feast of Walla Walla event on April 10. I was happy that Jennifer invited me again to participate in that event.
I started painting the "statues" for The Ancients production that is Idalee Hutson Fish"s brainchild and is directing. The statues are 24" cylinders cut 6 feet in lenth and then I am painting "Muses" (the 9 Muses of Apollo likensses) on them. 3 are done and are gracing my studio. It's sort of cool to walk thru the upright 6 foot half cylinders all painted black, awaiting their own Muse to appear. I have some of the muses sketched out on the cylinders awaitng the paint application and long with the 3 that are painted...So now, I must attend my Muses and leave some time to at least get #60 done in the series of small landscapes...
happy painting!

The dust hasn't settled yet...

2010-03-22T22:35:00.000-07:00

Getting back to Walla Walla from the Oregon coast on March 14th evening and then racing into the week with projects that needed to be completed before leaving for Nevada on Friday morning. All things worked out and all planned tasks were completed. I met with Colleen Sargen the curator for the Willow Show and we selected the work that will hang in that show. I will also have some work at the new winery of Joe Grant and Doris Wood - Grantwood Winery - on Hwy 12 near Gose St. for the spring release.
Happily got a call from Laura at North Star Winery requesting work to hang there. I am hoping for a late fall time. Hopefully Idaho Beauty can bring some quilt work to the winery this spring.
I am ready to begin the work on the 9 Muses of Apollo "statues" for the Whitman Dance performance. 6' tall "half cylinders" that will be painted to the likes of grayish statues resembling the 9 muses.
And tomorrow I should have some new work for the series of 100 ready to be photographed and on the website and blog. 10 of the already completed ones are in frames and ready to hang at the Willow show! Six will go to Miles City for Chris to hang at Cafe' Utza show.
Thursday I will join the other board members of the Northwest Pastel Society for a meeting in Bellingham and then maybe a short stay in Seattle and back to work on more Muses.
The photos are from the OR coastal area...a diverse and interesting area. I am itching to get back out and start painting after being away for a few days...so I am leaving you with happy painting thoughts and some photos of Oregon!
Happy painting...

Art of the Oregon Coast

2010-03-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

This past week was frantic getting the paintings ready to go to Earthworks Gallery in Newport and Yachats, OR. Steve has beautiful galleries in these two popular coastal towns and shows art well. I was happy to be asked to bring work to the galleries after he saw my page in the Northwest Artists Gallery magazine. (if anyone is interested in being on the mailing list for this publication respond to my blog or email me and I will add your name. It is a publication that is charged for...and shows the work of several very god artists in the mid-Columbia region.
Les, the dogs and I came down to Newport yesterday, dropped off the art, wandered around the bayfront in Newport and ended up having dinner at Saffron Salmon...an excellent restaurant behind Earthworks Newport Art gallery. Absolutely a fabulous dinner.
Spent a good part of Saturday scouting the area and taking a lot of reference photos that I am anxious to get loaded on my desktop and use hopefully for future painting reference.
Oh by the way, several of the Series of 100 were left at the Earthworks Gallery and the comment from Steve was great colors! More will be hanging at the Willow Show in Walla Walla April and May. The opening for that group artist show is April 2nd, 5-8 pm.
Daylight saving time is upon us...clocks move ahead; check your smoke alarm batteries...and in my world...
happy painting...

The Dust Hasn't Settled

2010-03-07T17:57:00.001-08:00

The dust doesn't settle quickly in a pastel world! I finished the poster for Whitman dance production and sent it on to the director...now on to two images for a backdrop...
In the meantime I am wrapping up the inventory for the Willow show and deciding what to take to the gallery on the Oregon coast. (Lincoln City visitors look for work in Earthworks gallery there) The two above are most likely going to the Willow show. I selected 12 of the Series of 100 also for that show. I am wavering between 8 and 12 of them for the moment.
Maybe later tonight I will go back out and do some more of the series of 100...I want to do some with an actual underpainting (wet) with Pan Pastels on top of that...
The weather thas been so nice and I am painting everyday with the doors wide open! Love this time of year!
I can reaffirm my preference for a couple of types of paper...Wallis and ColorFix...Also tried a few sticks of Art Spectrum pastels...I liked them...good strong color and pretty soft; easily blends...

More Pastel Dust

2010-03-06T10:52:00.001-08:00

I have been working on the Whitman College Dance Production poster and finished it yesterday "The Muses of Apollo and She Who Remembers" production. I am certain this production will transcend beautifully from accient Greek mythology to the Anastazi culture...I have heard bits of the music and it is fantastic!

The piece that I finished yesterday - one that will most likely go to the Willow Show at month end is posted. I wanted to give the viewer the sense of space, the differences of one side of a stream to another; one harvested, the other wild and a fence that meanders.
The other piece with the road is a demo that I did on a piece of Canson paper at the Pendleton workshop. It requires talking and working on a piece when you demo. That adds a element of challenge. I don't think about talking when I am working in my studio, alone with music or not...So I try to lay out my thoughts in words to teach when I demo and work through a painting.
The weather is incredible...I may be moving to plein air sooner than later...I have all the doors wide open now to enjoy the warmth of the sunny days.
With that said, it's time to go to the studio and do some work...
happy painting!

More chalk dust

2010-03-03T22:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it really isn't "chalk", but it is dusty!
I finished #55 this morning early and decided to move most of the series to a piece of foamcore - really just to be able to photograph a large number of the paintings in a single frame. Part of these will go to Willow; perhaps some will go to Feast of Walla Walla in April, hopefully a couple to the NWPS show and maybe another show in Seattle as well in later April.
Tomorrow, before the sun comes up I will be working on the art for the Whitman's dance production...first the poster...I have some good ideas to get on paper...
happy painting!

More pastel minis in the series of 100

2010-03-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

The weekend workshop in Pendleton finished up on Sunday afternoon with each student producing some great work. There is certainly rewards to working with students and sharing with them...to see their work evolve because of what you have shared...
I finished up 4 more in the series Monday and they are posted today. Some luminous color combinations - an interesting development with the light blue sky with some whitish-blue on top of it...it creates a sort of cloud effect on its own. I am not certain that the photos illustrate that well, but in real time it looks good. Part of the effect is the Wallis paper, I believe.
I read some more on the pan pastels and have decided to try another technique with them. I am most anxious to make them work because of their low dust, wonderful colors, etc.
I am in the midst of getting the body of work ready for the Willow show. Next huge project is coming to the aid of one of the best dance instructors in the northwest Idalee Hutson-Fish. She teachs at Whitman College as well as at her private studio and has lead several dancers into their professional world of dance. I have, in the past and now again, illustrated a poster for the productions. The Whitman production will be early in May and promises to be wonderful. I will post the stage set work I am doing once the production happens...I promises to be quite "the ride"....I love a challenge...so in the meantime...
happy painting!

The midpoint has been reached #50

2010-02-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

48,49,50......................................................half way and it is still an interesting journey.

On # 49 and 50 I got out the Pan Pastels. 49 has the pink hint of field flowers and is done on a pale yellow Colourfix paper. I used a couple of different applicators with the Pans and didn't get beyond the underpainting on this paper. The Pans didn't seem to like to stay on the paper very well. It was slightly better with the Wallis paper because, I am certain, the sanded finish. You don't seen to get a great cover with these, even as brilliant as they seem. I didn't do anything beyond the base underpainting on either because of that. The golden fields with purplish sky was the one on Wallis. I think I will try some with a wet technique and see how that works with them on sanded paper. Steve Hill did his demo at the NPS meeting with them - underpainting, again for the most part on LaCarte paper. Haven't tried that. I am hoping I find something better with them as I like the visual appearance of the landscape set as you see it in their containers...but I need to get that value on my paper and so far haven't gotten that. Neither of these would have looked like they do without painting over them with some Schmincke sticks.

This is a project to learn by and I will try them again.

This weekend I am going to Pendleton to do a workshop for pastel students. Looking forward to that two day commitment. I am always energized to work with students; I teach but I learn and its most rewarding to have someone let you know that they learned something from your efforts! So for a couple of days...

happy painting...

more hills and trees and skies

2010-02-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Little pictures of the hillside number 48. Will take a bit of a break from the series to work on some work for the Willow show that hangs the end of March and for the NWPS show that I need to get my entries in VERY SOON.

Hay bales is a new miniature for the NWPS show. I have done other hay bale ones in miniature and I am liking them better as I do them. These are 4x6- or will fit in a 4x6 frame, so they are little drawings!

I am reminded of a post from Diana - she says she wants to live in my Series of 100. That's a huge compliment to know someone would like to live in place you are painting. I need to also post her last comments to the blog site, which I have neglected to do.

New work schedule...no more retail banking! I will do mortgages again and paint more. I really am jumping up and down about this! Took me a long time to make the decision, but I did and it is good!

Next, I am going to try some Pan Pastels on Wallis paper. If that goes well, may try some on the Art Sprectrum Colorfix paper. Someone asked who makes the Pan Pastels...I am not certain, but they are called Pan Pastels and there is a website which I think is panpastels.com...I have them linked to Facebook and see demos frequently - very nice one. They really look like eye shadow - they come in a screw top plastic container and are solid appearing - like eye shadows - and a series of these containers all screw together (I have the landscape set) so you have a stack of what appears to be a tall tube. You use an applicator - like a make-up sponge to apply the pigment to the paper. More later on this subject....and

happy painting

45 and 46 in the series

2010-02-22T00:36:00.000-08:00

The most recent in the series. Now that I am closing in on 50 images, I am thinking I really will be able to get to 100! I have moments of doubting, sometimes!

Spent the weekend in Seattle; visited Daniel Smith Art Supply. It is truly a candy store for artists and staff is very willing to assist and share experiences with a variety of products. Great place.

The main focus of the Seattle trip was to go to the Northwest Pastel Society meeting and demo of Steve Hill's using Pan Pastels. I have always been happy with my membership in the NWPS with an informative and updated website, their use of digital images for their show entries, the great venues they have had for member's shows and when they host an International Show. So this year there was some lack of participants for new board members and I decided to take that step and say that I would commit to the first Vice President's job. And as of the meeting today, all seats are filled and it seems to be an energetic group to work with.

Steve Hill did a demo using Pan Pastels - mostly as his underpainting. He used a LaCarte paper (sanded) and they seemed to work well for him. I had not tried them on a sanded paper yet, so will do that. I can see a group of my Series of 100 being done with the Pans on Wallis and Art Spectrum paper! So give them a try...and happy painting...

little paintings...

2010-02-19T23:20:00.000-08:00

Number 43 and 44 emerged; 45 and 46 nearly ready. It's almost like hatching chickens as two or three or four of these get completed and taped up on the wall...all hanging there waiting...which ones will go to the Willow Show; which ones will go to Miles City to Cafe Utza; which ones will never get a mat and frame...The fun of doing these is to see how the colors play; to see what you can visually get away with and still be pleasing to the eye.

I am going to Seattle in the morning to attend the NWPS meeting and election on Sunday. My hope is to go to the Pike Street Market tomorrow, do a little shopping, have dinner maybe at the Crab Pot. Taking my dee-o -gees along. They know something is in the air; my bag is out; so are their sweaters...they seem to know they will be included (they almost always are) and that they are special buddies. They don't know they are dogs...they are dee-o-gees!

I finished the large piece I was working on; am satisfied with it.

Next weekend is the workshop at the Pendleton Center for the Arts that I am scheduled to do...

I found another interesting web site...Illustration Friday...artists can submit work to represent a word of the week on the site. Some great stuff on it.

As part of the NWPS meeting on Sunday, someone will be demonstrating Pan Pastels. I am excited to see how they use them and their results! More on that later. So with that all said.....the weekend is upon us; enjoy it and most of all...keep painting...

2010-02-16T14:51:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is piece is about 20x20 inches. Has a great deal of the small imagery in it. It proved pretty easy to convert my small works technique to the much larger one. I purposefully made the painting pretty loose and we'll see how I feel about it in a couple of days...it might be a piece to go or be entered into some shows. I beef up my foreground tho. Haven't decided...

enjoy...

happy painting...

More Chalk Dust and something new...

2010-02-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

I don't do flowers often, but yesterday I decided to give it a shot. I have a favorite ceramic piece, a light ochre glaze with the red moon on it.. So I decided to incorporate it into a still life with some flowers that one of Kate's friends gave her for Valentine's Day. So if you are tired of looking at 40 some little fields...here's something different. I used Wallis paper, mostly Richeson pastels with some Sennelier and a few Schmincke. One thing I have learned is that you can't rely on just one brand of pastel; you need to have a variety, just because not all colors are the same for each company. Now I am sure if you have a 1200 piece set of one company, you might be just fine! Broke is what I would be! Have you ever heard of Roche pastels?? Supposed to be the absolute best ever...best ever priced at somewhere near $20 a stick...but I have heard they are remarkable...I just want to get my hands on a couple of them :-)
I then went on to do a larger 20x30 inches, piece of a landscape and employed some of my findings with doing the mini's. It's almost completed and will post it probably tomorrow...so far so good and if it continues to behave, it may be a piece that I use for competitions. I've probably hexed it, now that I verbalized that statement...but who's superstitious!! ;-D. So with that, I will say ciao! happy painting...

Chalk Dust

2010-02-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

One thing for sure, I create a lot of dust. That's why I like to work plein air. No one has to follow you around with a vacuum or a dust mop.

So the Series of 100 is up to 42 now...I have just taped these to a wall in the garage; now I need more wall - or a ladder. I'll get the ladder! The photo of the "wall" is only a portion of what's painted thus far. And so, I am heading out to paint this morning...hoping to have something of note later today or tomorrow.

happy painting...

all in a day's work

2010-02-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

The paintings came pretty easy today, so I just kept painting. Some interesting color combinations resulted. I am a little obsessed with snow scenes. Liked this one ok. Want to do one that is foggy. We know this should be easy because of the many days of foggy weather here every winter. And that dram might just be best played out with a camera and not a stick or two of pastel.

On Facebook today there was an ad for Jerry's Artorama. That a good place to buy supplies and they give some additional discounts to buyers who are on line with Facebook.

The paintings number to 42 now. So I should have close to if not the complete 100 by the time of the Willow show in Walla Walla and therefore plenty to chose from!

As a side note...Sommerset Studio publishes interesting magazines for artists...some are more fine craft in nature, some are for fabric art, stamping/scrapbook art, etc. Not too long ago they started publishing "Artful Blogging" a very interesting work that is dedicated to artists who blog and represent their art on their blog sites. It's generally a good read and helpful for art blogs. So with that said, I am going to sit down, watch a little of the Olympics and do a little "Artful Blogging"!

Happy painting...

Sunsets on the landscape

2010-02-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

Probably one of my favorite times of day to paint is a sunset, just to be able to express that warm toned color onto paper gives me a good feeling. This is pretty dramatically golden, but I am working in some unusual, not necessarily realistic color....but for a sunset...it works, I think.

At the Willow show in Walla Walla this April/May, I will show a collection of these little works...so yesterday I bought a bunch of small (5x7"), black frames for them. With a small neutral mat, I think they will look good. I am going to try my best to get the full 100 done before then, as I want to photograph them all together on the wall, unframed, just 100 little pictures, all hanging, just the same (!)...Then I will select maybe 10 or so for this show. So with that being said, I better get to painting!

Check out the PastelNews.com site....Mario is sharing, with the author's blessing, a chapter by chapter in their entirety, of a pastel technique publication. Go to the website and roam around in it and then thank Mario for all the time and energy he puts into this site. It's awesome. so with that said....

happy painting!

the journey continues...

2010-02-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is a journey! Every time I sit down to work on one of these I have to THINK about color and what I can do to make this one a little different from the last one and maybe learn something in the process. This one took some work. It took some workable fixative. It took some creativity. I wanted to achieve that twilight in the snow look, which I think I did ok. I have another twilight snow scene in my mind to work on...maybe more cooler colors. This does have that frosty look which I liked. There is a lot of pastel on this little piece of Wallis paper! It look some work to get the trees to look like I wanted them.

The new edition of the NW Gallery Publication is out and in the mail. It is a beautiful publication and represents the artists well. I got an email from a Oregon coast gallery interested in representing my work as a result of the publication being sent to them. That's what we want!

If you are interested in getting NWGallery of Artists let me know and I will get you added to the list.

Happy painting...This is a long weekend for some of us...so make the most of it and PAINT!!!

...and they all (don't) look the same...little pictures...

2010-02-11T23:43:00.000-08:00

This is why I like purples. It adds such a depth and intensity to a painting. I don't remember without going out and looking at the number of this one...but it's a Unison purple...I think from the "dark" collection. It is a definite shadow color. then lay it next to some oranges and goldens and you have that complimentary thing going on.

So I have an invite, thanks to my Chris who is always looking out for his Mom and some place to show her work, at the quick draw event at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale in May. This is a huge event for this eastern Montana town. It's like the Pendleton roundup in Pendleton, OR...The visitors for the event greatly outnumber the residents of these towns. Anyway, he knows somebody who knows somebody who made the invite to me. This is a big challenge. I love doing quick draws...but this one is one half an hour to complete! Many that I do are a hour in time to complete the painting. Well, it won't be 24x30 in size! After drawing is complete, you have 10 minutes to put the paintings in a frame and it's then ready for the auction! Looking forward to this!

Happy painting!

It continues....more little pictures...

2010-02-10T01:54:00.000-08:00

I visited with my friend Bambi who is a very creative person and a fine artist, whether she thinks so or not. She graciously offered up her studio for one of my workshops a while ago and we had a fine time painting there. I told her I had gotten 35 of the little works completed and she asked if I had learned anything....???...well yes...and so I told her about the paper and different pastels and my fear that I might run out of ideas before I reached 100. We talked about color a little and how some colors make the distant hills look like mountains in the far distance or some, like these two, appear to be hills just on the other side of that creek which is beyond the trees. Did you know there was a creek there?? We talked a little about her project for her son's wedding - a "family tree" that all the guests stamp and sign...I hope to see the finished work and will post it if she will let me.

I read more of the articles on Mario's PastelNews website. Loved the snow scenes he has currently posted. Check it out if you haven't already.

So with this said, I am not too afraid that I can't get to finish 100 little paintings...what I am wondering is what and how I am storing them in!

Happy painting!

More little pictures...

2010-02-07T22:22:00.000-08:00

The quest continues, inching toward the 100 number. I had a moment of panic, thinking I can't possibly get to 100 of these. But then I rationalised that 30+ are completed and they seemed to get finished without a lot of stress! For these I continued to use the Richeson pastels with the exception of the Sennelier #463. I like the Richeson pastels, how they lay down on the paper and their color. I have a small set of only 24, I believe, so there certainly may be more options with this brand than I am aware of. Again, with the Wallis paper, they work well.

There is a new post from PastelNews.com...good articles in it. Do check it out...well done...hats off to Mario and his site.

I read a good article on composition and using the "golden mean" in painting. It was on a blog or a web site of a pastelist. I will share details at another time. In the meantime....happy painting...

little pictures of the hillside; little pictures all the same...

2010-02-06T16:18:00.001-08:00

the title of this blog makes no sense unless you perhaps watched the first couple of seasons of Weeds on Showtime. The goofy, off-key song was about little houses in suburbia, CA, all the same only different colors...so go figure...my Series of 100...little pictures, all the same except in color. :-/

I worked these images with a new pastel brand...Richeson pastels. They offered a nice set of landscape pastels through Dakota Art Pastels (my favorite pastel store in the world), so decided to try them. The set is a quite pastelish set...what I would call "pretty" colors in a lot of pastel shades...pinks and blues, blue greens, warm browns, yellows and brilliant greens and lavenders. So I did one in really just blue, cream and pink. My least favorite. I do like however, how the pastel works on the Wallis paper. The colors are rich and I only wished for some killer blues like 463- Sennelier - so dark it is almost black. This little study is my least favorite as I was scanning the series so far. I might go back, add some workable fix to the blue trees and make it frosty. the next one that I did #31 was a study with a mix of different pastel brands and using the favorite 463 blue for the distant hills and background for brush and trees. I can't get past it's richness and how it causes the image to "pop". I will use the Richeson pastels, however along with the others that are favorites. I hope to get to some place that has open stock of these pastels, because I am certain that there is darker darks etc to be had!

So as the fog settles in today; I ignored it painting. Was not even a bother. I was however, thinking of the beautiful day we had yesterday with the sun bright in the sky; the mountains dark and the sky a wonderful blue!

We are off to the Hospice Annual Event to raise money for this organization. Looking forward to visiting with friends and sitting through the live auction. "Cottonwoods" was my donation to the event and hopefully it will garner a nice sum of money for this worthy cause!

happy painting...

More Color

2010-02-04T01:26:00.000-08:00

The series goes on. Limiting the palette on these little images seems to work. I am using maybe 6 colors of pastel. Keeps things interesting to work thru the process.

Interested in submitting images to a juried competition?

The NWPS member show submission deadline is coming up this month as well as Allied Arts of Richland for those of you interested in submitting images for the juror. The website of the NWPS lists possible competitions and links to competitions. So does PastelNews.com I believe. Lots of opportunities out there for shows.

I am posting this way late at night; I am tired and am heading off to bed. But as I continue on with the series...my words of wisdom...happy painting!

color fields

2010-02-01T21:58:00.000-08:00

These are colored fields. Unfortunately the digital image isn't as detailed as the actual image with the green gently overlaying the red in the foreground and the suttle changes of reds in the trees. One of those technical issues with the quick snap of a digital camera. The lesson...when photographing dramatic colors, a great deal of care needs to be made in exposure, lighting, etc. Definitely natural light is preferred. There have been numerous articles written about photographing art work and it pays well to heed the words of the experts! This was a fun project to bring the reds and bright green together on paper. It definitely "pops". Reminds me of the sumac trees in fall (in color, that is).

I was online today and found the website for the CrossRoads Carnegie Art Center in Baker City, OR. I have not visited the center since they moved from their old Main St. location; but from the website, it looks like they have done magnificent things with their "Carnegie". They are hosting a juried show in April themed "agriculture". I can envision this will be a grand show with all there is to paint around Baker City. Email them for a prospectus.

happy painting!

Color Fields

2010-01-31T20:06:00.001-08:00

Color fields was the name of a group show that I did one time; but certainly is appropriate for the Series of 100. One hundred little fields; thirty are finished, two of which have not yet been posted. I digitally manipulated the icy one in another view and may post it for fun...amazing what can be done with digital engineering! With the snowy one, I have seen that heavy frost that is so beautiful and dense on the trees - probably causing significant distress to the plant, but so pleasing to the eye. I achieved that by putting a dark purplish-brown down first, then giving it a mist of workable fix, on top of which the lighter colors were added. The beauty of Wallis paper with it's tooth and the fix allows you to get that 3 dimensional effect that just pops!

The blue one...what can I say...just working monochromatically...gives a sense of twilight on snow.

My great uncle who was an accomplished watercolorist, did a winter scene of his home in the woods of Northern IL in the evening. It is all shades of blue with the \yellow glow emanating from the windows. It was done when I was a kid; was his Christmas card image and I have been in awe of that painting ever since I first saw it! I became the caretaker of his artwork after my mother passed away and it hangs in my home prominently in it's original little frame and along with several other of his works. His work has served as an inspiration to me from early on.

happy painting...

The Northwest Gallery Collection

2010-01-30T20:51:00.000-08:00

The Northwest Gallery Collection

Click on the link above to see the publication. If you wish to get a hard copy let me know or contact NQGC directly. Enjoy the magazine!

Its about color!

2010-01-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

It is about color. I am really liking doing this series for what it teaches you about color and details...and more. I am working quite small...3x5 about. So I have a minute space to say what I want to! #24 and 25 are completed. Also finished a hay bales. I am intrigued with the big round bales. Where I live you see the round bales of straw from the harvested wheat fields; in parts of OR and MT I see them in hay - so when the field is freshly cut, the bales are still the beautiful green as is the clipped alfalfa or grass. Put that together with evening colors in the sky and you can literally get a feel for the smell of the freshing cut hay; sense the warm summer evening and view another killer sunset that rises to immense beauty with the dusty air. That's my goal with this painting - get those senses going crazy in that vast openness of a MT hay field with one of the Square Butte ranges in the background absorbing the late afternoon warmth.

enjoy the paintings...and at a milestone with the series...#25!

Remedy for a foggy day...

2010-01-30T08:53:00.000-08:00

The best remedy for a foggy day is to get out of it! Get out of the fog!! So one can typically get in the car and drive toward Pendleton or Dayton and be out of the fog in 20 minutes or so...or you can head to the studio and paint greener pastures!

Before I moved to SE WA, fog was a novelty. When the fog rolled in, it was mysterious, eerie...but when one lives some place where the fog can be an everyday occurrence in the winter...not so much a novelty. Fortunately, we have not had too much this winter and it seems to lift midday, unlike the first year I lived here and there were 28 days of serious fog. Wow. It is a good day to paint!

I was online yesterday and went to the pastelnews.com site. Graciously, they have included an image of mine on their site - thank you very much...BUT...the real reason to bring this site up again is to AGAIN tell you this is a wonderful site....there is a ton of info there, plus inspiration and on and on. It is the best. It has learning tools; link to books, and on and on.

More painting today.

Another note - the local Hospice fund raiser is next week. I just about always donate a piece to that and this year as well. The September Trees (above) will be auctioned this year and we hope it will garner a significant amount for the good of the order. Also will work with M'Lisse and Lauri on their auction item...a vineyard dinner and a plein air demo and subsequent quick draw painting that I will do while the recipients dine in a local, private vineyard on some delectable treats prepared by Lauri and M'Lisse.

Happy painting....

the series continues...

2010-01-27T22:17:00.000-08:00

Two more images in the series of _ _ _ ?100??? The gold tones was fun to do and it radiates with the warmth of the colors. When I did the red and yellow, I felt like I was maybe looking thru some sort of filter...almost a negative in a sense. The monochromatic golds I liked the best. I am thinking of what I will do next and for the Willow show where I will hang a collection of these. And how many... I am thinking 12...in 5x7 inch frames and images of 3x5.

A new blog that may show some of the works....pastelnews.com. It is a GREAT site with a ton of reference and postings of wonderful art biased toward the pastel painting folks! Lots of links, etc. Check it out.

I was looking at Idaho Beauty's blog and reading some I hadn't read before...seeing some postcards made of fabric...wonderful work - art. I am the proud owner of one and it sits on my desk at work to be complimented on by visitors. Fabric art is quite wonderful. Allied Arts in TriCities had a quilt show in January that looked stunning. I am afraid to step into those quilting stores...I sense it could be a whole new addition in the art world!!

So for now I will concentrate on my landscape series and begin working on some larger pieces for the Willow show in April/May and others beyond.

happy painting....

a beautiful thing is never perfect....

2010-01-25T22:55:00.000-08:00

...or so says some Egyptian proverb...so with that said there are two more in the Series 100. Again I used Wallis paper. It is so great to work with and will continue with it unless I want a strong pre-finished under-color of black Canson or Art Spectrum paper.

The seemingly monochromatic image on the right actually has a touch of blue and lavender in it. Working monochromatically is a good exercise in tonal study.

My son Chris is a great guy...he lives in Montana and keeps an eye out for his Mom in the art market there, as well as delivers and retrieves paintings from shows. He asks can he hang some of these in his office...well yeah, and can one of his associates hang one in her office...why not...market on...Now I can ask...will you check out this quick draw event for me? will you check out this gallery? quid pro quo I guess it is...

Check out Neil Young's work on Imagekind.com...fabulous graphite work...

happy paintings and happy Monday!

A pastel a day...

2010-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

It is very easy to get out and paint...but its a little harder to get things in print. So I do the best I can with that! This week I got some good painting in. I decided to use the Wallis paper. It is a dream to work on. I also decided to use exclusive Sennilier pastels for this weeks work. I used the landscape plein aire series of pastels. Man, these are fabulous colors to work with. You have a great selction of earth and green tones, good blues, and more...I used some workable fix in places, especially the big tree to create some depth. I like how it looks when pastel is applied to the fixed area while it is just a tad wet. It creates a a nearly 3D look when the undercoat is a dark color... great for leaves.

The NorthWestGalleryCollection publication is soon to released and mailed. I submitted a page to it and was pleased with the results. This publication has a large database of addresses throughout several states. Anyone wanting info about this, shoot me an email or contact Dani at nwgallerycollection.org. I believe this could be a great marketing tool.

For now...happy painting to all you artists; happy looking to all you art lovers!

A beautiful thing is never perfect...

2010-01-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

So goes the story of the 100 small paintings...they may not be perfect, but they are a learning process; some are nice little landscapes and some are interesting landscapes and some - I am not sure...Some interesting notes...Some colors really look wonderful together that I hadn't really used before...there is a burgandy that I layed over a cerelian blue and blended it...added a little lavender...it's a wonderful color...you see it in one of the skies. I am posting three images today which brings me to 15. That's a good number to have completed...on the way to 30, then 45, then...it's a do-able project!

I used some Wallis paper and some black Canson and then I had some paper that was already painted on and I decided to crop the painting. I chopped off a good part of the sky and have enough of that left to be used as I can with this project. So the former sky becomes an underpainting...it's on Moonstone Canson paper, so there isn't a huge amount of pastel that I can lay on the paper...but why not see what that comes to be! This sky with the burgandy is quite interesting...I have a couple of ideas for future paintings as a result of this one. Also to note is how the mountains or hills in the background take a different "distance" to their look with the utilization of a different color. The green hills appear quite close behind the trees while the dense blue mountains really look to be off in the distance.

I have put some of my work on Imagekind.com. It seems to be a well organized and user friendly site for artists to promote their work. Imagekind allows buyers to select an image, make it the size they want, select their frame and mat and voila! their painting is ready to be paid for and shipped. It's all print work- both paper and canvas are available as well as greeting cards. My site is bonniegriffith.imagekind.com. Simple enough and lots of options for buyers if they are interested in print art. I have seen some of the work from this site and it appears to be good quality.

Twilight

2010-01-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

So the painting today is the meadow at twilight. There is that magical time of day when the colors are sort of surreal and mysterious and when you add a few trees and mountains, etc you can pretty soon conjure up a story in your mind that can actually scare you....what's in the trees? did you hear that? what was that? Make you turn your tail and run for your secure safe place wherever that is! Reminds me as a kid on our ranch...the darkness held some degree of fear and to have to walk to the barns and corrals from the house which was probably about 3 blocks or so in urban terms...took about all the nerve a kid could muster up. And always there was something, usually on the way back to the house that caused the adrenalin to kick into high gear and I could sprint to the house in record time. whew! I am sure there was Nothing there and the idea that "something" was out there and about to chase me and who knows what was the result of my great imagination ! Now I enjoy being out in the late evening and see what happens to color and thus far nothing has jumped out and nabbed me and chewed off my left arm!

This painting was again done on a small piece of Wallis paper...absolutely essential for good dramatic skies and all that to let your imagination go wild!

A Room With A View...or should I say A Field...

2010-01-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

I am getting the paintings done, but not always imaged and something penned on the blog each day. For the time being I am tacking the little pastel series up on the wall in the studio aka the garage and it is getting to be the room with a view of all those little fields and mountains in a different light.

So today I decided to use the best ever paper for pastels - Wallis. Sometimes I wonder why one even works with other paper, but then I go back to the reason of - occasionally one wants a different effect than can be created with Wallis. It is my most favored paper - the pastels always look crisp and rich and brilliant. My next favorite paper is the Art Spectrum Colorfix paper. I love the colors they are primed with. Although the amount of abuse one can inflict on that paper is not nearly the same that Wallis can withstand. Abuse, I say...well, lots of layers, some workable fix here and there and the building of some texture to the painting....that where Wallis shines.

A Painting a Day Keeps....

2010-01-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

What??? Keeps one thinking about what the heck to be painting! This was the second day that I put some Pan Pastels to the test. Not really thrilled with the results of the first one, I decided to try a totally different paper, so I dug around my studio and found some card stock. It has a pretty smooth surface without much tooth, if any. I was thinking about the sunset that I watched manifest out my window at work last night. It was one of those that was the brilliant orange and gold - absolutely drop dead incredible. So I thought that would be a good blend on the smooth paper, which it was. Interestingly enough, the pastels seemed to glide onto the smooth paper better than that with grit and tooth. Is it the applicator??? The color is not as brillilant still...this may be the result of the applicators I am using. These came with the pastels and look like makeup sponges and eyeshadow applicators. I will try more papers and different application methods. Maybe a wash/underpainting first?

On the way to a record # of little fields rendered in pastel!

Are you painting your series - you who have promised to do so??? I am finding myself thinking about them during the day and what I might do for that day's painting. Its becoming part of my routine :-) ...

FIELDS OF DREAMS

2010-01-13T20:33:00.001-08:00

well, I don't know about that, but the last couple of paintings have been experiments on paper and with "Pan Pastels". I acquired a nice set of pan pastels a while ago and they sat all pristine and polished in their box for a few months. Decided the other day they should come out and expose themselves to the world and show me what they could do! Did a little landscape on a piece of Arches w/c paper and wasn't too thrilled with the results. I have found that w/c paper does seem to dull the color so let it go at that.

Tried them again with my 100 series. This time on a piece of Art Spectrum colorfix paper - a pale yellow one. You seem to have to use an applicator with these pastels because of the fact that they come in a "pan" or something that could be mixed up with you eyeshadow round containers. It seems like more pastel comes off the paper than adheres...still not particularly vibrant color. Lights over darks work ok, however. This is a pretty primative little piece, but an experiment....that's what the 100 is about - different paper, technique, color combinations, pastels, etc.

a daily dose

2010-01-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

Another daily dose of a variation of the landscape. Not particularly a favorite; but a color combination nonetheless. I love to look at the variations of the skies that Albert Handell and Elizabeth Mawry do. Bold, unusual...oh, but I have seen those colors!!

Looking into the art walk in Sand Point for 2010-at least I have done as much as requested an application...which is the biggest step!

I am also including in this blog one of the demo pieces I did at the workshop this weekend. A couple of the students had purchased prints of Ochre Fields and were wanting to understand how that painting was accomplished. So...we painted some trees and brushy fields with a hint of snow not yet melted.

Life is good when there is art in it, I must say :-)

painting from the heart

2010-01-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

Day two of the workshop and I am always happy to see positive results from students. We had great results, a lot of laughs and things learned from everyone. What a way to spend a weekend! Painting with and helping friends develop their own styles and techniques of pastel painting!

I managed to stay on track and get my painting-a-day completed. I think I even sreated some interest in the workshop group to do something like that....maybe not for 100 days or even 30 days, but for a few days. They know, I know and you probably know that by painting every day you enhance your skill level.....

I am going to post the three days of paintings that I just photographed tonight on this blog...best wishes and happy painting to your fellow painters!

a painterly weekend...

2010-01-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today new paintings have emerged from the series I am doing....but no digital images yet.

I am spending the weekend teaching a workshop on pastel technique to an incredible great bunch of ladies. They are a wonderful group to work with 0 receptive, energetic, great senses of humor and on and on. With any luck I will have convinced them to do the series of paintings as well! I love to teach - it makes me work hard at doing good demos and to put forth information to individuals who want to learn new things is a very rewarding experience. The studio at Bambi's is wonderful...it sits out near fields and ponds and creeks with wild turkeys (well not so wild, I think, because Bambi feeds them, I am pretty sure!) meandering all over the yard and fields. I am looking forward to returning there tomorrow and work again in that surround.

Today's image is not one of the series, but one that I did repeatedly on 5 kinds of paper to demonstrate the different look with each paper. And when I step back and look at them, I think the best look was on the Wallis paper. I did not do this little painting, however, on the ColorFix paper...I think it would have looks nearly the same as the Wallis. So I am thinking that the white Wallis paper really lends itself to clean and crisp paintings.

More tomorrow...

A Painting a Day for better or worse

2010-01-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

from left to right : pan pastel test; daily landscape III; Storms Come From the West

It's a gray, high fog day and one that is god to beside working on projects and not really knowing what it looks like outside. Some good music going and a little creating in the studio...

Number III of the landscape series is done - a little different in all tones of reds...BUT I do have some news about work published on the Artistsnetwork.com. You can go to pastelblog.artistnetwork.com and see "Storms Come From the West" in their fall landscape section.

I tried some of the new Pan Pastels for fun. Worked on a little landscape with some cows (attached) on a piece of 400# Arches watercolour paper. Using the blending tools was a new concept as opposed to my finger, but my general impression is that these are a fun medium. They are less dusty it seems than the sticks and I am now going to try them on a piece of Art Spectrum paper that is more smooth, but has a tooth that is great for pastels. I may actually do my next "daily landscape" with the pans. I have heard the the pan pastels can be used successfully going from light to dark as well as the conventional dark to light and not end up with a muddy appearance. More on that later.

Turning over a new leaf or HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

Seeing 2009 in the rear view mirror is a positive thing and I welcome 2010! Even though I have an issue writing it as a date. I want to put the "10" down first! Habit...it will take a while, about 3 weeks to change that!

Good things have started happening - some sales at two galleries already in the new year; two workshops scheduled for January and February AND most importantly or at least equally important - I am getting back into the studio space and painting. It seemed with the open house in early November, then the series of holidays and company, etc., no painting got accomplished.

Did you see the movie Julia and Julie about the young lady who decided to cook every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook in a year? Well, a pastel artist did something similar- at least similar in a time consuming project that took probably 3 months or so to complete...

So I have started working on a project similar to one I read about where this artist took one image and painted it 100 different ways. I can't commit to 100, but I am in the process of daily paintings in the 5x7 inch size of one subject and multiple color schemes for at least a month. My goal is to post them on the blog site and Facebook. And the idea is to think outside of the box and use a variety of color that perhaps are not the norm. :-)

On a more conventional note, I am doing a workshop at the Pendleton Center for the Arts Feb 27-28, 9-4 each day. They have great classroom space. The info is on their website. It's $150 for both days. It will focus on landscapes in pastel (soft) and using different types of paper. Contact the Center if you might be interested in the workshop.

STUDIO OPEN HOUSE

2009-11-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

the studio open house was a good success the past weekend. We had even a better attendance than last year. The Walla Walla UB did a great article in the Thursday Marquee magazine and I am sure that assisted in getting people in. It was fun to prep for the event. I love to do small paintings...they are a challenge in that you have a small space to say a lot. I did some experimenting with some sort of dark tempestuous skies and I was happy with the results. Several students from my October workshop came over from the Tri Cities and it was fun to have them stop in and find a treasure to take back with them and talk about what they were now painting and techniques.

Bambi Kontos came by and we started visiting about workshops and she has been championing a Walla Walla workshop that I would teach in January. When she sets her mind to something; it is going to happen!!! That's why she is one of the valued, dedicated souls on the Habitat for Humanity team. She can get something done. So...there will be a workshop; exactly where and when - to be determined! But I am betting for January 2010!

Some of us again talked about the painting a day, doing the same painting for 30-100 days (a small, perhaps 10x10 inch piece) using a variety of color combinations...It will happen...

I am anxious to see Carolyn for a couple of weeks when she flies into Portland to spend the holiday with us. I may get her out in the dust of the work space and get her creating in pastel!

Looking forward to the artist opening at Nicholas Cole Cellars December 4th 5-8 pm. Regretfully, the lighting is less than optimal in the evening, but certainly fine during the day. I have toyed with taking a few pieces out so that the light is perfect at all hours...probably more visitors will be there during daylight hours, so will probably leave well enough alone.

2nd annual studio house

2009-11-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

My neglected blog...I do have an excuse...but you've heard it...so onward.

We are preparing for the 2nd annual studio open house this weekend. I have been working some long hours creating some small pieces that will make nice holiday gifts (in pastel), putting together some gift baskets - coffee themed with cups, coffee, treats and coasters. We will have some note cards with some new images on them and a few handmade Christmas cards.

I am sure we will get the inevitable person who comes to the door and says "I thought this was a HOLIDAY SALE!" Well, yes ma'am it is...I just don't have any clothes pin Christmas ornaments and knitted pot holders...

So come and enjoy the Studio Open House for what it is...art..
Near the end of October I taught a two day pastel (landscape) workshop at Allied Arts in Richland. It was a good success and the participants came away with good pieces utilizing some new techniques. I am apparently a teacher at heart because it was a good stimulus to make me really get busy and work on some pieces. I guess I revert back to the many years I flew the friendly skies of the world doing medical equipment installations and subsequent teaching staff the operation of the equipment.

So something that I read about...doing a 100 (or even 30) paintings of the same thing, using different color schemes. Small works about 8x10". Intriguing. I talked about that the workshop and think I sparked some interest. I have started. It teaches you something...color, thinking outside the proverbial box...

Last week we also set up the solo show at Nicholas Cole Winery. 12 pieces - mostly new and some fun ones! The artist open will be Dec4 - Friday 5-8. that's barrel tasting weekend in the valley and hopefully lots of traffic!!

A letter came in the mail last Monday from the CM Russell Art Auction in MT...They had accepted a painting of mine for the show and sale. WOW! I was surprised and pretty happy. I am hopeful to go to the event in March.

Ok, back out to the work area and crate something! Happy painting...

pastel skies in the big sky country

2009-10-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

What a better time than the crisp (and I do mean crisp ) days of fall to be out doing some photographs that will eventually be the reference for some paintings! A long weekend and a couple of extra days vacation is in progress in eastern MT visiting Chris, Michelle and Sam and doing lots of photos for future paintings.
There are snow skifts from Butte through to Miles City and the temperatures are a smart 11 degrees in Livingston to 19 in Miles City. We drove to Missoula late Friday night and then on to Miles City on Saturday with stops in Billings and Livingston.
I brought a couple of miniatures and might even get a couple more done for the Art Center show in November in Miles.
I am going Tuesday morning to the Art Center to see the quilt and landscape show and maybe to the Range Rider' Museum. The art center is a unique building being part of the water holding tanks in the early days of MC...it is partially unnderground and some 2-3 foot thick concrete walls...It is great show space!
So, we will be in the big sky country of MT til Wednesday and then back to WW!

Pastel Class and ramblings

2009-09-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

Lots of activity in my world. Not necessarily in an art related way...but activity! And mostly good as well.
We had Martha and Phil Mollison Cooper visit for a few days the first part of the month and enjoyed their stay as we always do. We went to the Whitman Mission site one afternoon and I renewed my interest, from an artist's perspective, that area, as I stood out on the site of the mission next to the damn that was originally built by the Whitman's. The wild rye grass must be at least 3 feet tall and imagined what that would have been like in the mid 1800's - untouched terrain and that tall grass everywhere.
A couple of new paintings did get completed and I am working on a larger piece now. I am also revising my syllabus for the pastel workshop. The workshop will be Oct 24-5 at Allied Arts of Richland. I am hopeful for a good turnout of students - 4 is the minimum and 12 is the max for the class due to space restrictions. The class will cover various papers and the use of different techniques that I use for pastel paintings. There are a ton of different ways to accomplish something and painting is not an exception! So if you know anyone interested in the workshop, contact the Allied Arts Center in Richland http://www.alliedartsrichland.org/. they have the form and supply list for the class.
Community Bank corp recently purchased 3 different images that we printed for 5 of their banks! thank you Keith and Leah!

artists and travelers

2009-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming to a close with the Labor Day weekend - so they say. I think I will still wear my white flip flops and capris though and conform to the "after Labor Day you don't wear white" rule. It shouldn't matter, I believe.
Friends Martha and Phil were here last weekend as they set out on their "FunnyMoon" through the Palouse, up WA 95 enroute to Banf and Jasper and back to Victoria/Vancouver and other points. what a great pair of friends and joy to hang around with. Martha brought a travel diary from a 1971 car trip that she and I did, camping across America. I produced a couple of photos to substantiate her tales! We bought gas for about $3-4 a day, camping fees about $1-2/night and milk somewhere was 61 cents. As she and Phil drove away on their camping trip Monday morning, they will expect to put about $75 in their gas tank once it nears empty.
My good friend Margaret (http://magpies2.blogspot.com) has moved to Germany for a year. She is amazing in the arts and life and I wish her a wonderful year abroad. My hopes are to sneak over and visit sometime before she returns to the US.
Beginning to work on new works for some upcoming shows. Les and Justin are leaving Friday for Montana to take some pieces to Moccasin Mtn Gallery and maybe buzz on over to Miles City to see Chris, Michelle and "No" Sam. I am working on paintings for the Nicholas Cole gallery/winery in Walla Walla for winter barrel tasting and some miniatures for a show in MT in November.
Just watched a netflix documentary "the Hobart Shakespearians". It is a great story of someone who goes beyond the scope of his job and the difference it has made for his students in an inner city LA middle school. Well worth the time to watch it.

pastel artist on a road trip

2009-08-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

Glacier Park Mtn. goat, Storm clouds of the cloud burst
Strawberry Hills, Miles City, MT I and II

The end of vacation is always a mixed emotion time - you are a little sad to have a great time end, but by the same token it's great to be back home and ready to face the work week. We had a great time visiting eastern MT and our son and family. I am attaching some photos of the Miles City area...there is this beauty to the sparse hills that are magnificent in their color and shapes.
After we left the kids on Thursday, we headed for Glacier Park. We experienced a first class, you can't see to drive and have to get off the road, cloud burst of a magnitude that I haven't seen for a long time...Les was amazed, never having witnessed a MT cloud burst. Kalispell and Glacier were beautiful. I had forgotten that the mountains are really in full bloom this time of year - how late the season is at 6000 feet. The Going to the Sun hwy is a masterpiece of work. Currently there is some repairs being done which restricted traffic to one lane. A treat it was atop Logan Pass 6000+ ft elevation to see 5 mountain goats - 3 kids and 2 adults.
Next week it's back to the grind...I have a wealth of reference photos new from the trip!

art and the pastel hills of eastern Montana

2009-08-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Driving from Walla Walla to Miles City, MT is a 13.25 hour trip with minimal stops. Oh lordy are you glad to get out of the car at your destination! But when you are going to see your kids - you just want to "get there" and hang out with them. The drive takes ou through vastly different landscape....the wheat fields of the hills of eastern WA into the Spokane valley and the mountains of northern Idaho to the top of the Continental divide and "welcome to Montana" and down into the beautiful Missoula area, on I-90 through Drummond, Deer Lodge, Butte and Bozeman - some of the most beautiful valleys in the greater Rocky Mountain range. Once you get to Bozeman you head east on 90 through Livingston and basically follow the Yellowstone River valley all the way to MC. There are the wonderful sandstone rims along the river, the dry land wheat and grains and then to the badlands look of parts of eastern MT. I have been taking a bunch of photos - the Strawberry hills east of MC are badland-like, These buttes all together with great colors of strata are a palette to behold. So many colors in the soil and the interestesting shapes of these buttes. There is plenty of erosion as well, making them very interesting landscape.
Our plan on the return to eastern WA hasn't finalized - we will either go up north to MT-2 and across to Glacier or south to Cody and over to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. Les hasn't been north, so that's probably the route of choice...so if that happens we want to stop in SandPoint and see some of the Art Walk which I believe is hanging now. So Sheila, if you see this...you may get a phone call to come and have coffee in SP!! Probably Saturday :-)....
I am going to the Art Center here today. There are not many galleries here...but there are some very good artists in this area. The art center is a regional center and hosts a variety of shows throughout the year. There is a lot of history in MC...it is well established in western history from the site of an early fort to a destination if not stop on a famous cattle drive trail (I don't remember which). There is a famous saddlery here...the Miles City Saddlery, well known for their hand crafted saddles and leather. There is a new mayor here...an article about him in Montana magazine says that he thinks MC could and will be the "Taos of MT". I can see tht potential...it's a historical site and as I said before some of the most unique and varied landscape.

And the real reason to go to Miles City is to see the kids...They moved here a year ago and we are missing seeing them regularly. I am skipping visiting friends along the way to selfishly spend vacation time with these guys and get to know their surrounds. I miss not having Chris,Michelle and Sam just a couple of hours away, but am happy that they have located in a great spot with friendly folks and the big blue skies. This is one of those "great places to raise a family" places.
.I brought with me, "Going to Summer Pasture" and "Scenic Loop". Thought that Chris should get the painting of his Grandmother moving cattle to the summer pasture and then the Scenic Loop to remind them of the beauty of eastern WA and the surrounds of the Blue Mountains.
I will post some images soon of the trip...I am off to explore the town...

pastels, passports and driver's license photos

2009-07-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have procrastinated a little in getting to the DMV for my driver's license renewal and subsequent photo. Over the years I have really never had a photo from the DMV that I was satisfied with. This year's is no disappointment in that arena. Now in the state of WA they request that you remove you corrective lens regardless to the fact that you DRIVE with them on your face so you don't crash into telephone poles and drive over pedestrians. I'm near sighted; I need my glasses to see and when I am photographed without them, I get this pinched look on my face like I am seeking a safe harbor in a fog. well???? I think it might be a nice idea that if one is an artist, you could submit your own rendering of your DL picture. I KNOW I could do better than what I ended up with. My last DL photo represented what I considered a not so good hair cut and I thought I looked like my mother (not that my mother is a bad looking person...it's that I looked middle aged). hmmm. But this new one - now I have only seen the temporary paper version - is a sight...that pinched searching for the light look and still middle aged. Oh, the hair cut is quite chic...my kid the stylist cut it all sort of spiky and cute. I think the DL photos are just meant to not be very flattering. Les had his done the same day and looks sort of mole-ish....never have I seen that expression on his face in 20+ years...MAYBE, the DL just likes to do photos that give the vendors and all who ask for your ID a challenge. Is she really her or is it not...And maybe that's what I really look like!!
Maybe there could be a quick draw at the DMV for those wanting a quality pic! Maybe?
And there is my passport photo that needs to be redone and renewed. Oh my, and I was able to get out of the middle east with THAT photo! Just proves they really hardly look at the photo.

Painting at Wenaha Gallery, Shows and Advice...

2009-07-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

visit to Dayton's Wenaha Gallery on Saturday to participate in their Christmas in July event. It's a little unusual to be listening to Christmas carols while standing at an easel in a gallery in 100 degree weather painting! But that what we did. The gallery owners and staff decided to have some fun and do a special day of Christmas in July, inviting three artists to come to the gallery and work on a piece or just "be" there. I set up my easel and painted a couple of small landscapes of the Joseph, OR area that I have been wanting to complete. Although it was pretty warm, we enjoyed the conversations with the other artists and customers coming to the gallery. I had a nice conversation with a couple from the TriCities. Both painted; both want to get into galleries, but it sounds like they have been rejected or have not had any luck at showing their work. Now I have no idea what sort of work they do, but I just have to say this...everyone needs encouragement in their art...we are all busy, busy...but it just doesn't take much time to give some encouragement or direct someone to a show space that might hang their work or be frank and suggest some classes. My words of wisdom were...keep painting...take some classes that interest you and learn some good solid technique and if you feel you have work good enough to show some place, here are some suggestions. I shared that you do have to have some callous because rejection is a big thing in the art world. I never enter a juried show with a pre-conceived idea that I have the "best of show" piece...I shared my recent story of rejection...I had two decent paintings accepted into the NW Pastel Society show in April. It was a good strong show and I was happy that these particular ones were accepted. So another regional show comes along and I think these pieces would be worthy of that show. Well, NEITHER was accepted! So there you go. We had a little chuckle out of it and I took the rejects" home. One has since sold. It's about a subjective opinion for shows and for galleries. Just because a gallery or venue doesn't accept your work is not necessarily that it is poor of quality; maybe it just doesn't fit their style...So I hopefully answered the above couple's pastel questions in a helpful way that encouraged rather than discouraged.
And the two pieces I was working on...they turned out fine. I believe them to be saleable and solid pieces...if they never sell; be watching what's under your Christmas tree :-)

pastels, peacocks and and another day in paradise

2009-07-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

It is a sort of paradise here...in it's own way. The weather is wonderful, hot; skies are blue and there is energy throughout the town. This morning started as any other until I heard the deeogees barking like mad dogs. Out in the front yard are two of the three neighborhood peacocks. Then they decided (even with the snarling and barking from within the safe haven of the house) to fly into the front entry that's fenced. These peacocks are vagrants so to speak; owned by no one, but living in the trees somewhere in our subdivision. Mac and Morrie were going nuts and not seeming to bother the birds in the least. Finally they flew on top of the roof....and that caused some concern for the deeogees as well. I pulled all the shades to eliminate some anxiety for the boys and proceeded to get ready for work. Just before I was leaving, I see the birds out on the back patio. I opened the door to "shoo" them away and Morrie exited stage left and initially didn't see the birds. Of course when he did, he chased them and they loudly flew to the neighbors roof. Don't know if the birds will visit again at this rowdy household, but they are quite pretty and fun to see - occasionally. Couldn't find the camera to substantiate my story, however.

Our quick trip to Tacoma for the opening reception for the International Pastel Show was fun. We got there in time to relax in our hotel a bit and then on to the area of the gallery. Found the perfect parking spot in the shade (for the deeogee's comfort) near the gallery and a little restaurant. Our timing was perfect for some happy hour treats and then on to the show. This show was expertly hung and the work was really first class. 63 pieces were in the show. The gallery is wonderful show space and directors most gracious. We spent a couple of hours visiting with friends at the show and enjoying the work. Got up the next morning about 4 and headed back to WW. As promised, with minimal stops were were in town around 9. Whirlwind trip...but...what a good time!

Cheat Grass Hills in Tacoma

2009-07-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

I am reading my emails over my lunch break today and see one from someone affiliated with the International Pastel show at the American Art Co in Tacoma. Well, I had just dropped off Cheat Grass Hills there on Saturday for the show...The email was an announcement that it has been awarded the "Director's Award" and my presence is expected at the opening Thursday night! Holy cow! That's WAY awesome - 1) that my piece gets an award (I was happy it was included in the show :-/ ) and 2) THAT'S TOMORROW!!! So I have made arrangements to get myself together, work a few hours in the early morning; pick up Les and the deeogee's and head to Tacoma. The goal is to be back at work, reasonably rested; definitely alert Friday by 9. It can happen!

viruses, pastels, blog sites, life and art

2009-07-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

So you know there is a major problem with your computer when you innocently log on and go to one of the major newsy sites like msn.com and immediately upon getting onto the site it disappears and is replaced by rapidly changing pornography sites. Really. Virus. So the computer got shut down and taken to the repair shop, where I hoped they would be able to salvage my programs and not loose my photos and my blog would still be intact. A week later...new system and most everything intact. Seems like the only loss was my Facebook and that may be a blessing in disguise. It seemed to be a little much, but by the same token, a good way to communicate with people.
So onward.
Last weekend we took Cheat Grass Hills to the International Pastel show in Tacoma at the Tacoma Art Company. Beautiful gallery near the convention center, downtown T. Les and the deeogees went along. Mac and Morrie live to go on car trips and they are fun to take. Especially when she are disguised and thought to be "show dogs" by unsuspecting humans we come across. If one were to closely (not even) look at these two, you would know they are not show dogs....show off dogs maybe.
I am being a little lazy in the painting arena. I have work now at the Wenaha Gallery for the Christmas in July show this month. And at the Whitman Hotel for month long shows.
I will be in Dayton on the 25th for their festivities for Christmas in July and most likely painting on site. I am working on some miniatures for a Montana show later this year. It's a challenge to make a quality painting in 25 square inches or less.
Back to the Tacoma Art Co...their last show was a quilt show...now I have seen some beautiful quilts, but the ones in that show were incredible. They are on the Art Co's web site. I see the wonderful quilt art that my friend Sheila does in Idaho and thought of her work as I was looking at the work in the Art Co.

yard sale weekend in WW - old paintings and drawings & a WW wine

2009-06-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

So what do you do with old paintings and drawings? Hopefully one's skill level has grown and your current work is a vast improvement of what you did 15+ years ago! So some of these old paintings aren't half bad...maybe not half good...:-) but someone once told you that was a nice piece. So, I have procrastinated for about a month at doing a yard sale. The goal was to do a yard sale to alleviate the need for a rental unit. Ok...so we eliminated the storage unit the end of May and have been gradually getting things in order for the yard sale. This weekend was "d" Day. And so the yard sale was done. We managed to get rid of a lot of stuff. So the old paintings came out and were sitting around...prices were very reasonable and 4 larger ones sold. And they were decent paintings. Now I still have a about 8 left that are framed in nice metal frames and I am wondering...what to do with the rest. Most are watercolors...I could do some collage with some, could enhance some with pastel...I am open to thoughts of others...
We just hung a little show at the Marcus Whitman Hotel. They have opened a nice gift shop area with local high end wines, jewelry, books...nice things. Wall space is available to invited artists and I was asked. I have 9 pieces there...mostly in the 9x12" image size; a couple slightly larger. They look nice there mixed with the beautiful handmade jewelry items and more.
Back to the yard sale...Some things left will go to needy; some tossed.
But what the yard sale did was allow me to get rid of "stuff" like some old desks that I had cluttering a work room for crafts and other non-dusty art form endeavors. So it will be considered a successful sale...even if I still have some old art...

Summer Nights

2009-06-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

Monday was a little rainy and cold until later in the afternoon when the sun came out and warmed the earth. Just in time for M'Lisse's annual party. This solsice event is one I never want to miss. You leave your men and your panyhose at home and gather at her lovely home and yard for an evening of reflecting, seeing old friends and meeting new. It is always a treat to see who shows up at party. She always has a new theme for the event - this year - "Change" - bring your change, decide to made a change, go thru the change, don't change something good, etc. The :change" benefitted the HelpLine and the YWCA shelter. I added to the change with some clothes and toiletries as did most. We wrote the usual cards to ourselves to be opened next year; something we wouldn't change and something we would change. We ate fresh raspberries and ice cream, had some wine and sparkling water and made smores and visited. All the time she put into the event...thank you...So I wouldn't want to change my sense of humor, but I have a few things I can change - for the better :-)
There's no art today and maybe for the week...the Yard Sale/Art Sale is a commitment for the weekend...I am changing...some of my clutter will go :-) !!!

reflections

2009-06-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

As promised, the day is a little rainy and cool. We have the pleasure to celebrate Father's Day honoring Les and letting him be the kind ogt he hill for the day and reflect on my dad who has passed some 20 years ago... Les, Kate and I enjoyed a breakfast at the Stone Hut (one of the best WW breakfast spots) and then a little drive in the country and a visit to Hastings. Justin came over early afternoon and will stay for dinner. Les and Justin are enjoying some TV sports and relaxation for the afternoon. Kate and I are about ready to make a chicken artichoke and mushroom baked dish and top it off with strawberries and cake. Klicker strawberries are fresh now and there are none better.
Not much art stuff happening today...however...next weekend is the "SALE"....yard sale, art sale...good prices on framed and unframed originals - watercolor and pastels, monoprints, giclee prints...some old and some new...It will be Sat/Sun June 27-8th starting at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Emails will go out....as well as notice in UB...may hae some unused art supplies as well. I am toying with getting rid of some watercolor paper - Arches - because I just don't use a whole lot of it.

Art and Pastels and Father's Day weekend

2009-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful weekend thus far in Wallyworld...I am waiting to visit with Raphael when she comes to pick up some new pieces for her walls in her restaurant in Pendleton. If there is an opportunity for a wonderful evening meal on a journey to/thru Pendleton....Raphael's is a must. Chef Rob does an all star menu and lots of good things. They are on 4th St, just off Court. Rob does a lot of dishes with huckleberries including Huckleberry martinis and daquiries...Raphael is, and has been a long time volunteer and support of the Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts. Anyway, Raphael hangs my art along with some fabulous Native American contemporary artists - one being James Lavadour...The restaurant is in the old Raley house and it is a treat to just go there to see what the Hoffman's have done with the property...wonderfully rich painted walls, fireplaces, large dining spaces, small dining spaces, quaint bar area with lots of personality...all wonderfully appointed with both their collection of art and art for sale. Check out her web site and be sure to have dinner there sometime...you will be pleased you did!
So Raphael took some larger pieces...and they will look good in her business. There's A Place, The Walla Walla at Pepper Bridge, a small Bennington Trail and 3 from plein aire painting in the Joseph area - one was a juror's win for the plein aire event last year..."Oregon Water"
The rest of the day I am devoting to the love of my life, celebrating Father's day weekend...No list of chores for Les this weekend, just doing what he wants to do...I bet there is fishing involved...some drives in the country for sure...

pastel artist notes for the day

2009-06-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

I have had a great time visiting with daughterinlaw Michelle and grandson Sam while they were in town for a month long visit. Sam has gotten to spend time with his goofy grandma B who makes weird noises for him and rough houses with him. Can't wait for him to get into an art phase..:-). So they leave today for Miles City, meeting Chris (dad) somewhere in MT for the rest of the trip home. Grandma P is driving them to a rendezvous point in Butte.

I am looking around my living room, which has taken the look, once again of a storage room for an artist. I am going to do an art sale along with the yard sale the last weekend of the month. I brought out from the archives of the basement some older pastels and some watercolors...some framed some not. bargains, I tell you!

Kelly's Gallery on Main will be the site for a show sometime in September - I am guessing it will be the weekend after Labor Day...Also I will have art at the Christmas in July show at Wenaha in Dayton. I will be on site July 25. And some small works will go into the Marcus Whitman shop during the month of July. They currently have a couple of paintings hanging for sale along with note cards...

pastel art in these times in Walla Walla

2009-06-13T16:06:00.001-07:00

quick draw painting

afternoon storm Joseph

the view from Buckhorn Overlook

June 13 and a beautiful day in WW...I had the pleasure to sit for nearly 2 hours and visit with Sheila about art, quilting, shows, exhibits, etc. I am a big fan of her work...check it out on her blog "Idaho Beauty..." - the link is on my blog...We manged to get in the Saturday afternoon lunch line at Merchants and have a tasty lunch they are known for.

As promised I wanted to talk about the trip to Joseph last week...Because Kelly's Gallery (a must stop for art/collectibles, etc) really wants "local" paintings, I decided to spend a good amount of time photographing the area...Les and the deeogi's and I took the time to drive to the Buckhorn Overlook - road 46 north and east of Joseph and Enterprise about 40 miles. The overlook gives you the view of the confluence of the Hell's Canyon and Imnaha canyons in their rugged glory. I did one plen aire piece not far from there with the canyons in the distance. It is beautiful country. Also stopped numerous places throughout the Zumwalt Prairie to snap photos...watching a big rain storm travel around the Wallowa Mountains and then come to meet us across the prairie. It poured and I am only thankful to be on a good solid gravel road that at times was nothing more than a river of water. Once we got to the blacktop, it was even more relaxing to be on an even more solid ground, as the rain continued for sometime. The colors on the prairie were quite striking with the wold flowers blooming and the velvety green from all the rains. Took another short drive east of Joseph and did a quick little painting of some cows grazing in tall grass. This is the time of year this valley is incredible in color. It's almost too intense.

We met M'Lisse and Charlie and Dan and Lorie one night for dinner at Caldera's. It's a favorite spot for a nice dinner and to browse through their art pieces for sale.

Joseph is a wonderful place to explore small shops with great merchandise. Beecrowbee is one of those. They make the best lotions and potions around. To Zion is another great shop for all your wants in the jewelry line...great prices and very cool stuff.

art, art and more art

2009-06-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

I have neglected this blog for a time...not for lack of interest, just a lot of things going on. BUT...this past weekend (starting on last Thursday, actually) Les, the deogees (dogs) and I went down to Joseph for the Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts. It's the 4th year we have gone and it's always a wonderful gettaway. This art show is growing every year and this was proof in the number of entries, visitors, etc. There was an added feature this year - a quick draw on Saturday night. Huge success! I have lots of inspirational photos to work from of Wallowa County. Spent a lot of time out in sunshine painting in the field. The two plen aire pieces were taken by Kelly's Gallery on Main to hang along with 8 other pieces of mine. Later, I will recall the 4 days of adventure in the blog; hopefully with some photos and maybe as early as this evening!

walla walla artist on the loose

2009-05-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday, sunny, balloons floating over the house in the early morning, making the dogs crazy - apparently afraid of some alien invasion happening in their world. 2nd day of Balloon Stampede and lots of balloons were able to fly. Morrie really is frightened by the "whooshing noise" - but tolerates as long as he is held. Mac is pretty "whatever" to the whole scene. Similar reactions to fireworks.
We left the house about 9 and went to the farmer's market. WOW! what a difference a year makes...so many new vendors! Lots of stuff! Met my friend Sandy Lizut and we talked art, education, print making and book making over a WW Sweet Onion sausage dog. Nice to connect. Visited with my friend and vendor Antoinette and picked up some of her really good hummus, berries and breads.
Now it's back to the basement and the rest of the clearing of the desks,etc in preparation of the yard sale next weeekend. And it is my full attempt to get a little painting in on this fine weekend. I really wanted to just spend a bunch of time visiting garden centers and focus on new plants and landscaping....but the yard sale HAS to happen!
I just looked at an artist's site and blog from NE Oregon...Katherine Treffinger...really nice things...I am going to add her blog site t0 my list...

pastel art walla walla miniatures

2009-05-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

I promised images of the miniatures...each is less than 4x6 inches. I painted these on the Wallis paper which is the really toothy pastel paper...my favorite, because it will hold a ton of pigment! Not only that, but it is a good rigid surface without working on a board. Great for blending.

I am working on pieces for the Joseph show...not a thing to show yet...Looking forward to the journey there anf 4 day stay. We stay at a guest house out in the county. It's a house/barn divided by a laundry room and tack room. It is a wonderful little 1 bedroom accommodation and the owners welcome Mac and Morrie.

Les and I are working diligently on a yard sale. Wow! Another good weekend of prep and we should be ready for the sale the weekend of the 16th!

I am getting the yen to do some jewelry. I am loving all the great southwest chunky turquoise and silver pieces I am seeing and I have some starter material....hmmm.

walla walla art pastel

2009-05-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, the weekend came and went in a hurry. I didn't use much of my creative skills today unless getting things orgnzied for a yard sale fit that bill! The good thing is I have been spending time in my studio going thru a lot of stuff and accumulation. I had yet to go t hru my Mom's stuff that I have had sitting in boxes for the past 3 years.
I found some really great penand ink renditions by Ben Burnett. They were mostly Christmas cards that my Mom had saved, but also some from his monthly cartoon in a magazine. He did these really interesting cartoonish drawings - always animals, usually horses and cattle and there was always some wry humor associated. I have not decided what to do with them...whether to put them in a scrap book format or what. Something collectable for a former MT kid. His drawings I think, are his alter ego when there is a guy on a horse in them...I see a resemblance to Ben anyway, in the drawings!
I did not take anything to the show in Pendleton for the month of May. There was a little overlap with the Joseph show, so just decided to focus on Joseph and not get in a dither and have to ask someone to pick stuff up at Pendleton when I'm in Joseph, etc.
Think I will take CheatGrass Hills to the Joseph show...don't know what else.
Spent last evening and dinner with Jeff and Judy Schlicher. Jeff brewed up some really god Manhattens along with his pasta carbonera and spinach salad. We cheated and picked up dessert at La Patisserie. Effortless, but worthwhile!
Richeson Co has started manufacturing new pastels...They are reputed to soft and compared to Unison. Dakota Arts is offering them with a special price, so may have to give them a test drive!
Make it a great week...I will post the last 4 miniatures early inthe week.

state of the art in Walla Walla

2009-05-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have been neglectful in my blog - but I have my excuses :-)!

A week ago the showdogs Mac and Morrie and I drove to Bellingham, met the bf - aka Les there. He had been in Blaine for the week at the Spring Conference for WA Realtors. I drove up so we could attend the Blue Horse Gallery opening for the Northwest Pastel Society show. My two pieces looked fine and dandy amongst 125 really good paintings. Interested parties can go to http://www.nwps.org/ and see some of the pieces. It was a great gallery space. The weather was wonderful and we were in the Skagit valley in time to see the tulips in bloom. What a sight to see acres of color! We really viewed the fields on the fly...it is pretty congested with visitors and we just wanted to get out and be in the green and sort of sunny NW! Drove Whidbey Island on the way back to Seattle.

I hung new work at Whitman Cellars last week - Fields of Green...8 pieces there in their tasting room...Also got a call from Ceil Blaine who now is managing the 1928 gift shop at the Marcus Whitman Hotel. She asked if I would bring work there in July and I agreed. Did take her some note cards and two smaller paintings to introduce "Upcoming shows". As one might guess, if you know Ceil...she has her expert twist on this little space with really wonderful items. And she has an espresso set up and makes superb coffees! It's a must stop for WW visits and outings. And you can wander thru the beautiful restored hotel lobbies as well!

It's Spring Release for the wine industry...Oh,and it is raining hard today...was hoping it would be sunny and warm...But there is some fun in walking in the rain in and out of tasting rooms, having a great time with friends. Kate and I will maybe go out tomorrow for a little while and see how we fare!

I finished some miniature paintings this past week. I have not decided if they will go into 4x6 frames unmatted or 8x10 matted. image size is about 4x6. Also finished another image of Scenic Loop.

My focus now is the show in Joseph 5-7 June and working on a commissioned piece.

One more thing...I am working with the social worker for the local cancer center to offer art classes to people who are patients and want to learn or work on a particular medium. M'Lisse Moerk, Laurie Borer, CarlyRae Hiphauf have expressed interest in doing some classes. I think it will be a rewarding endeavor and look forward to getting it off the ground - providing an outlet for people experiencing a difficult time in their lives.