Baby and Mama E

"Baby and Mama E"  (pastel, 14x14 inches)  sold

This was commissioned by an international client who just couldn't stay up late enough to catch the winning bid on "E is for Elephant." So I agreed to paint one just for her, and she was generous enough to go for a larger size!

I just love how the primer texture adds to the look of the elephant skin.


Take a look at video progress of this painting on my YouTube channel! Here's the full video, and here it is sped up.

Sheep Schemes

"Sheep Schemes"  (pastel, 24x36 inches) $3500

I was due another large painting to round out my art booth this weekend at the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston's Memorial Park, March 24-26, 2017. (Find me in booth 941 on Birch - turn left after coming in the main entrance!)

I've decide I really love painting sheep wool. It can be really messy and they still look good! This is my fourth large sheep painting from this incredibly photogenic herd. It's been loads of fun to rearrange individual sheep into new compositions.

See some of my playful process with the photos that developed into this one:

(click to see larger)

And the final photo composition:

The underpainting process:

And the pastel:

making sure it will look good in the frame

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R is for Roadrunner

"R is for Roadrunner"  (pastel, 10x10 inches)  $475, framed

What? I'm still on the Alphabet Series? Yeah, kinda got stuck last year after Quail. I thought I had more photos of a roadrunner, including some more angles poses, but couldn't find them. I do like the light on this one though.

Roadrunner will be with me at the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston's Memorial Park this weekend, March 24-26, 2017. Find me in booth 941 on Birch (turn left after coming in the main entrance!)

See some progress shots:

Here he is in the frame:

Newborn

"Newborn"  (pastel, 12x9 inches)  sold

Thought it was time for another young deer, in honor of the first day of spring! This one will be with me at the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston's Memorial Park next weekend, March 24-26, 2017. Find me in booth 941 on Birch (turn left after coming in the main entrance!)

Progress shots:

 And in the frame:

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Hank

"Hank" (pastel, 7x5 inches)  $195 unframed for a limited time, or $250 framed.

Finally got in some small frames to replenish my inventory. I just realized this is only the third mini I've done this year! (the others have been 6x8 or larger.) Hank will be with me at the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston's Memorial Park next weekend, March 24-26, 2017. Find me in booth 941 on Birch (turn left after coming in the main entrance!)

Here are some progress shots:

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Boo (and the videos!)

"Boo"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)  click here to bid or buy

Here he is, the star of my latest YouTube videos! (In case you haven't seen them, I've attached them below...)

Boo (short for Sir Funny Bunny Boo) is also one of the adorable bunnies from the generous and friendly members of the House Rabbit Society group on Facebook. (Thank you to Jennifer Scott for the reference photo!) 10% of the sale of this painting will be donated to the House Rabbit Society.

If the auction gets no bids by about Tuesday, I'll be ending it early so I can frame Boo and take him to the Bayou City Art Festival in Houston next weekend, March 24-26. If you're in the area, come by and enjoy the festival! See me in booth #941 in Birch (turn left after you come in!)

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Transience of Innocence

"Transience of Innocence" (pastel, 26x19 inches)  $3600

I'm thrilled to share the news that this, my latest large figurative painting, will be in two prestigious exhibits one after the other this spring and summer. Later next month she goes to the Hudson Valley Art Association' 84th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York City, returning in time to drive with me to the International Association of Pastel Societies 4th Masters Circle Exhibition in Albuquerque, NM.

Here's her itinerary:
HVAA 84th Annual, April 30 - May 5 at the Salmagundi Club Gallery, 47, 5th Ave, NYC
IAPS 4th Masters Circle, June 7-10, 2017, at the IAPS 2017 Convention, Albuquerque, N.M.


The idea for this painting started with a photo of my daughter from one of the many vacations from years past. Audrey was curled up on the hotel bed as was her habit, and (as these things usually start) I was attracted by the light and put my camera into action.

Well, this shot caught my eye again last year when digging deep for ideas in my photo files. It probably stayed buried for as long as it had because of that absolutely hideous bed spread!

Looking with fresh eyes, I realized it just needed some cropping and some new drapery. I threw a sheet across my own bed and experimented with various swags...

...and introduced some onto the photo,

until I found an arrangement I liked, then tested some color variations...

I stuck with the deep red, adjusted shadows and highlights, and stretched the fabric part of the composition to fit the frame I had in mind. When I was done composing, I liked standing-on-end egg shape and the powerful red color, which I was sure could lend some symbolism to aid in my title search. (This one didn't present me with it's title until after the painting was finished; sometimes it happens that way.)

All that was left was the painting! Starting with the underpainting:

And the pastel:

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