Park Trail #21

"Park Trail #21"  (pastel over watercolor, 8x6 inches)  click here to bid

This was one of the last batch that I prepped at home right before we left.

Here's the underpainting. The yellows and oranges really helped show off the backlit glow through the leaves.

Park Trail #20

"Park Trail #20"  (pastel over watercolor, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

This was a section of trail high up in the mountains of central California - dramatic vista just around the bend! Do you feel the anticipation?

Here's the underpainting:

I also finally remembered to set up my camera on a tripod for video, and so here's my very first video 'speed-demo' that I figured out how to edit, format and upload all by myself! (Apologies for the low resolution, larger files kept giving me errors when uploading... sigh - I'll figure out this technical stuff eventually!)

Park Trail #19

"Park Trail #19"  (pastel over watercolor, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

This is from an enchantingly beautiful trail at a park from our last vacation. It was late afternoon, and the sun kept peeking through gaps in the forest.

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Park Trail #18

"Park Trail #18"  (pastel over watercolor, 2.5 x 4 inches)  click here to bid

This one's a real mini! I haven't done such a miniature in a while, and normally I don't title them, but I did this one right in the same sequence with the rest of these park trails, so decided to title it in line with the others.

Here's a shot of the underpainting:

Park Trail #17

"Park Trail #17"  (pastel over watercolor, 3x5 inches)  click here to bid

Here's a little one. I had a couple scraps of the mounted Wallis paper, so decided to make use of them.

Here's a shot after the first strokes of pastel:

Park Trail #16

"Park Trail #16"  (pastel over watercolor, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid (coming soon - meanwhile visit my DailyPaintworks Gallery)

Here's a path that's one of my favorites, from a park near where I live. I've painted it before.

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Park Trail #15

"Park Trail #15"  (pastel over watercolor, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

For our family vacation this year I decided to continue my short series of park trails, since we are big fans of nature walks and are always finding new places to get in our daily exercise.

OK, I must be honest and tell you that many of these upcoming paintings were started in the studio at home before we left. (OK, many of them were finished there too!) I know myself, and from experience I know that I'm so not likely to stop in the middle of a walk, plant myself, and tell the family "You all go on and pick me up on your way back around... I'm going to sit here and paint this gorgeous, fleeting light!" Ha.

Now, I've done just enough painting on location to have a great admiration for those dedicated plein-aire painters, and am a huge fan of countless artists who have mastered the magic of capturing atmospheric changes and ephemeral sunlight with nothing but their eyes and their medium. I've long since come to terms with the bargain I've made between myself, my camera and my subject.

Besides, I can't sit still on a walk. I'm much too impatient to see what's beyond the next bend!

Below shows the watercolor underpainting with the first layer of pastel. And this was my 'out-the-door-quick' selection of pastels that I took along to another job, so I could get some of these paintings done during the down time...

This was on Wallis museum grade paper mounted on acid-free foam board. I love Wallis for watercolor.

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Ramses at Sunset

"Ramses at Sunset"  (pastel, 6x8 inches)  click here to bid

One lucky summer evening I was passing by a field of tall golden grasses. The sun was just going down, and I spied two beautiful horned sheep play-fighting in the distance. The light was too low to capture the action well, but I got a good shot of this one in between charges. The setting sun made for dramatic light!

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Walking Out Together

"Walking Out Together"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

These two reminded me of an old fashioned couple on their second or third date. Still a bit shy and avoiding each others gaze, but unable to resist touching in some way. They'd be holding hands if they had any.

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Twilight

"Twilight"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

One more in the little bunny series. The black ones are hard to resist!

Little Mac

"Little Mac"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

This one is "Little Mac" because he's little, and he looks Scottish with all that red hair. I didn't think of the corresponding name "Big Mac" until just a few seconds after I named him. Honestly!

Here are some progression shots:

Gypsy Player

"Gypsy Player"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)  $1000, Available at The Gallery at Round Top

This one of my latest in my award-winning Renaissance portrait series is part of the "Music for the Eyes" exhibit at The Gallery at Round Top, in Round Top, Texas. July 14 - August 5, 2012.

(And since I don't get out to Round Top but twice a year or so, they'll be happy to keep "Gypsy Player" on display f0r a while longer of she doesn't sell during the show.)

Here are a few progression shots I managed to get in the early stages of the work. Forgive the changes in color tone on some of these, my camera has it's own idea of metering the white balance...

Murray

"Murray"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

After how many years of painting cows (?) I'm finally beginning to be able to identify the adult males. This one was definitely a bull (as I saw in the part I didn't paint) but also because of the wider face and ridged upper back.

I was entranced by his wooly coat and gentle look of surprise. (Or was that a "You better stay outta' my field!" look?) Still, I'd have wanted to pet this one if I could.

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McDuff

"McDuff"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

Who wouldn't kill for those eyelashes!?

Nutmeg

"Nutmeg"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid  (coming soon)

I loved the warm brown color of her coat. I really pushed the colors on this one.

Annabelle

"Annabelle"  (pastel, 7x5 inches) click here to bid

Here was the mama of the herd. I love the knowing look in her eye. You can't put anything past Annabelle!

Duncan

"Duncan" (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

I recently came across a small but handsome herd of Herefords on the way to my son's high school. It was a pleasant, sunny morning and I had my camera and an extra 10 minutes - a perfect opportunity!

I believe this is the same young calf from my recent painting "Calf Stretch"

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How to Fold a Duckling

"How to Fold a Duckling"  (pastel, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

This title came to me when I cropped this drowsy duck out of a larger photo. Despite the contortions, he looks so comfortable and self-contained and perfectly at ease that I felt he needed to be placed gently and precisely in the center of the painting.

(But hovering on the edges of my thoughts I couldn't escape the culinary imagery of flipping the little fellow into position with a spatula... shame on me?!)

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Bandit

"Bandit"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)

"Bandit" has been accepted into the prestigious Bosque Art Classic in Clifton, TX. The Exhibit starts with a Reception and Open House on the weekend of September 8, 2012, and runs through September 30.

Shadow Mama

"Shadow Mama"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

She has that knowing look in her eye, like every mama.

White and Black

"White and Black"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)  click here to bid

Like night and day, yin and yang, wrong and right. It's like black and white! (with a little green and some red and a touch of blue...)

Calf Stretch

"Calf Stretch"  (pastel, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

I think when I was 10 I was almost this flexible.

Quacking Clique

"Quacking Clique"  (pastel, 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

Ducks are such social animals, especially the young ones!

Citriona

"Citriona"  (pastel, 7x5 inches)  click here to bid

Ok, here she is, my first demo from Saturday's workshop. All touched up and ready to sell! The sunlight on her brown fur reminded me of citrus fruits, hence the name.

Here I am working on her during the workshop:

Park Trail #14

"Park Trail #14"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)  click here to bid

Here was my second demo from yesterday's workshop. Did it right after lunch. The first demo was a cow (after all this time!) and she's not quite finished; just needs a few finishing touches which I'll get to this week.

The workshop, I have to say, may have been my best yet. Or maybe I'm just getting a little bit better at this with each one. (I think it was only my fourth!) All 13 ladies - we aren't superstitious! - were already very talented, even if just a few had very little or no pastel experience.

I tried to get a shot of each with her finished or almost-finished painting, but left it too late in the day and some had already packed up. Here are a few of the ladies with their amazing results!

And here we all are, outside the charming Casa de Linda Art Center. Thank you, Linda Jacobson, for hosting us!!