#14 of 21-in-31 "Rooster Mini"

 

"Rooster Mini" (pastel 4x4 inches) bid or buy

Oh what a day! Today was the last day of Pastel Live and I decided to actually paint along to 4 of the demos... Karen Margulis, Richard Wilson, Brenda Boylan and Lyn Dieffenbach... Whew, I'm exhausted and pumped up! (I wanted to paint with Albert Handell too, but it was way too late and simply watching was wonderfully inspiring.)

I think I probably want to tweak most of those in the next few days (having only one hour each to work on them 🤪) so here's the last mini from Tuesday's VOS... (Which Muses and Buddies on Patreon can watch me pastel in real time in Episode 115)

Enjoy this quick speed video of the whole process. I just love backlit rooster combs!

#13 of 21-in-31 "Hereford Mini"

 

Day #13 of 21-in-31: "Hereford Mini" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy

What a month! Only 8 more days of my challenge left, and I still have the Rooster Mini to post tomorrow. Pastel Live is almost over. I missed most of today by having to go Costco shopping (yeah the boring normal life of an artist mom...) and since our nearest Costco is 35 minutes away, it's really an all day trip.

But... we had Rana Tagliatelle Grilled White Chicken with Portobello Mushroom, and imported French cheese bread for dinner. 😋 A good trade off.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I hope to get back out to the studio, watch some more Pastel Live demos with half a brain while working on the Donkeys (yes, finally!!) Or maybe I'll be brave instead, put the Donkeys off for another few days, and paint along to Karen Margulis and Brenda Boylan ...and Lyn Diefenbach!? Oooo! That might be a good way to accomplish 3 more paintings for my month? If it doesn't take me six more days to tweak them all up to standard, lol!

Meanwhile, please enjoy this little Hereford Mini speed video! Muses and Buddies on my Patreon page can watch Episode 115 when I pasteled this half-Hereford along with the Baldy Mini, the Busy Bee Mini, and tomorrow's Rooster Mini!

#11 of 21-in-31 "Baldy Mini"

 

#11 of 21-in-31: "Baldy Mini" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy

I thought I'd mark my half-way point with a half-faced cow! This was one of the 4 little paintings I pasteled at my Virtual Open Studio on Tuesday.  

Next up will be my Pastel Live demo! Whoohoo! (Though it was pre-recorded, it will "go live" Thursday at 3:40 ET) and then I'll get to post it! What a fun week this is! 

Meanwhile, enjoy this little video of this little Baldy!

#10 of 21-in-31 "Busy Bee Mini"

 

#10 of 21-in-31 "Busy Bee Mini" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy

I pasteled FOUR little minis at today's Virtual Open Studio! Here's the last one first because my son likes it best.

The Episode 115 video is still in editing, but will be posted soon for Muses and Buddies! Meanwhile, enjoy this speed video!

#3 of 21-in-31 "Cheeky Chick"

"Cheeky Chick" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy here for a limited time

Here's my third painting for the month! I know I know, I'm only averaging every other day so far instead of the 2 out of 3 I aught to be, but I'll be catching up with many that I underpainted yesterday.

See a GIF of this cheeky chick on my Patreon page! 

Day 20 of 21-in-31: Wildflower Field #38

 

Day 20 of 21-in-31: "Wildflower Field #38" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy
Almost done with my 21-in-31 goal! This is the other little 4x4 I painted yesterday. This one is "Wildflower Field #38". There weren't really any flowers in this scene, but I felt like it was calling out for some delicate little pink blossoms!
I used almost the same pastels here that I used for yesterday's little park trail. In fact I painted them side by side.
See a quick progress video here!

Day 19 of 21-in-31: Park Trail #60

 

Day 19 of 21-in-31: "Park Trail #60" (pastel, 4x4 inches) bid or buy
3 paintings left in my 21-in-31 goal! So I felt like doing something quick and easy today. I pulled up a screen shot of some landscape pics and picked a couple at random and painted two little 4x4's. This one is "Park Trail #60". I liked a relatively cool palette for a change, but couldn't resist putting in a few tiny flowers!
See a quick progress video here!

Chickiepoo - Day 15 of 21-in-31

 

"Chickiepoo" (pastel, 4x4 inches) sold

This is the second painting from my triple demo in my weekend workshop, the third one not being completed yet. 

Click here to watch a quick speed video of "Chickiepoo"'s painting process.

Here's a photo one of my participants took of me painting!

Warm Fuzzy #24 - Power Chick

Warm Fuzzy #24 - "Power Chick" (pastel, 4x4 inches) click here to bid or buy

This was the result of a "what if". Richard McKinley encourages his students to keep a "what if" attitude when deciding how to approach a painting, and my habit of working in series of small Daily Paintings especially lends itself to this approach, in fact sometimes demands it! I felt like a lot of my backgrounds lately were becoming a little too predictable. So with this chick I wondered "what if the background were to match the beak, but bolder?" Ok, it did help that there was a bit of this exciting red in the background of the photo. But when I began to throw in those intense reds, orange and fuscia, suddenly the chick went "Wow! Pow!" Timid little chick no longer! Just goes to show you the power of a background and how it can change the mood of a painting!
I could paint this chick like Andy Warhol's soup cans with all sorts of background colors, just to see the difference... hmmm...

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Baaabee

"Baaabee" (pastel, 4x4 inches) click here to bid or buy

I was lucky to have the opportunity to drive aimlessly around Fredericksburg Texas last month and came across several sweet herds of ranch animals, some with youngsters! This little black lamb was an especially sweet acquisition to my photo files.

No Yawning!

"No Yawning!" (pastel, 4x4 inches) click here to bid or buy

May all your yawns this Easter weekend be not from boredom, but from the state of divine comfort and satiation that comes from relaxation, pleasant company and good food.

But no yawning while Skyping or Zooming family and friends!!

Happy Easter Y'all!

Thanks for reading! Please share!

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