Day 18 of 21-in-31: FuzzyMoo

 #18 of 21-in-31 - "FuzzyMoo"  (pastel, 12x12 inches) bid or buy for a limited time on DailyPaintworks

This cute fuzzy bear of a cow was pasteled during this week's Virtual Open Studio.
 

See a GIF of the process here!

Day 15 of 21-in-31: Diamanto

 

"Diamanto" (pastel, 12x12 inches) ($595 framed) is my 15th painting of my 21-in-31 challenge for May. I already had used the name "Spike" but I wanted a title to to justice to his horns, so I did a little research. Diamanto is a Greek name meaning "One which is as pure, strong and sharp as a Diamond".

Diamanto was underpainted during the May 18th VOS (which video I'll be editing next) and just finished pasteling him today. Enjoy these progress pics!

 

"Big Little Bull" (Warm Fuzzy #55) Speed Video!

 

Warm Fuzzy #55 "Big Little Bull" (pastel, 12x12 inches) $575 framed

My latest warm fuzzy from Tuesday's Virtual Open Studio day. This little bull is a miniature Hereford, he was so cute, only stood as tall as my chest!

photo

 

I hadn't done a Speed Video demo recently, so I decided to make one for "Big Little Bull."

It's just the pastel part, since I had this one underpainted from way back.

You can watch the 80-minute full-length recording of the demo for a $10 pledge on my Patreon page here.

Here's how he looks in his frame.

Day 28 - Firebrand

"Firebrand" (pastel, 12x12 inches)

Day 28 of my 31-in-31 of January 2020!

This was an old, old painting that was started years ago and never finished. I just didn't like it and I thought it was the high-noon light source.

But doing a 31-in-31 tends to clear out the excuses and when making the choice between starting a new painting from scratch or seeing what can be done with some old thing that was already underpainted, I'll pick the one that already had a head start!

Without overthinking too much, I grabbed this off the shelf saying "Let me just finish this one finally!" I did a quick critique and saw that it wasn't the light source so much, but my underpainting had not caught my values correctly. The shadows on the white fur were way too light.

old, incomplete painting, circa 2015

Especially apparent after wiping off the old pastel...

So, a quick decision had me eager to make my primary value for this composition a darker mid-tone rather than leave all that light value competing with the dark dark fur.

So, I went at it with more primers:

There also seemed to be something a bit sad and malnourished about her in the first painting, so I filled out her face a bit more.

So a lesson to all you working artists, don't stress the failures, just learn to stop when you know it's not going well, and put it aside for a while (a few years maybe?) until you can look at it with fresh eyes and finish it when your skill level has improved.

New work at the Gallery at Brookwood

"T is for Tiger" (pastel, 12x12 inches) $550

The rest of my current inventory from the year has been delivered to the Gallery at Brookwood for the winter. These are most of what I have there now. Hope you can take a visit, their gift shop and gallery are a sublime shopping experience!

Not only that, but all art sales help support the citizens of Brookwood.

"Twin Fawns II" (pastel, 18x18 inches) $975

"Shadowfire" (pastel, 24x24 inches) $2300

"Cow Lick" (pastel, 18x24 inches) $1730

"Twilight Road" (pastel, 9x12 inches) $475

"Smith" (pastel, 10x10 inches) $475

"Peggy" (pastel, 12x6 inches) $390

"Banded Archerfish" (pastel, 4x6 inches) $250

"Butterball" (pastel, 6x4 inches) $250

Later this month I'll be enjoying my first international workshop, in Montreal, Canada! I'll try to make some new posts while I'm there.

.

Ezra (and the South Dakota workshop)

"Ezra" (pastel, 12x12 inches) sold

This sun-touched donkey was my opening demo for my workshop last month at the Abbey of the Hills in South Dakota.

This was as far as the morning demo got, then I finished Ezra (named by her buyer, one of my students) later in the week.

Here's my fantastic talented group of students. It was a great time and I hope to arrange another 5-day Pastel Workshop Retreat at the Abbey again in a year or two!

Sign up for my E-news to stay informed of new workshops!

.

Cookie

"Cookie" (pastel, 12x12 inches) $460 unframed for a limited time, or $550 framed

This sweet calf put me in mind of my bakery titles, but I had already used Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Ginger, Chocolat, Vanilla, Sorbet, Sundae, Basil, Rhubarb, and several kinds of peppers. Turns out I've already used "Cookie" as well, but the first Cookie was a 5x7 from 2013, so I figured it was time for another.

This Cookie was my demo at the Johnson County Art Guild's meeting last week, just before my workshop on the weekend. I got about halfway through it during the demo, and finished today in the studio.

Here are the few progress shots I got:

How Cookie will look in her frame

Thanks for reading! Please share!

.

Reece

"Reece" (pastel, 12x12 inches) sold

In my increasingly complex title search, I learned that Hereford cattle are partially descended from a Welsh breed. Reece is a popular Welsh surname, so...

But I think she looks like a Reece. Reece will be with me at the Bayou City Art Festival March 23-25, 2018, unless she sells first.

Meanwhile, here are some progress shots:

Reece, framed

Thanks for watching! Please share!

.