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!

Mother's Day Rose

 

"Mother's Day Rose" (pastel, 8x6 inches) bid or buy

Happy Mother's Day! Here's a fresh rose (painting, that is) for you on this lovely day!
Also to be my painting #3 of my 21-in-31 goal for May!
See a quick GIF here!

Golden

 

"Golden"  (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

Painted in 2017, this is the fourth or fifth portrait I've done using the toned underpainting technique with the gold and terra cotta primers, and it's sill the most successful with my ultimate goal of  letting much of the underpainting "speak" along with the pastel. I think my favorite part is the reflected light under her chin. That's all underpainting and no pastel!

This was one of the merchants at the Texas Renaissance Festival during the daily parade. I love the parade for catching all kinds of excellent pics!

"Golden" is just now beyond her competition age (most competitions require works less than 4 years old) so it's time to bring her out to the art festivals! She'll be with me this weekend at the Naples Downtown Art Show. If you're in the area, find me in booth 222 on 5th ave between 4th and 5th streets.

See progress pics and read more about my process here!

Wildflower Field #35

 

"Wildflower Field #35" (pastel, 7x9 inches) bid or buy here

This was the first of the three wildflower paintings I did in my "Wildflower Interpretations" Paint-Along earlier this month. This is on UArt paper, 400 grit, with an alcohol washed pastel underpainting.

 

I had fun creating this little one-minute speed video...

 

 

 

Become a Patron for access to the full-length Paint-Along video of all three variations, with reference photo and tons of painting tips! https://www.patreon.com/posts/51374213

 

 

And in case you missed the last post, I need to tell you... an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

The Feedburner team announced that their email subscription service will be discontinued in July 2021. As a result, Blogger’s email subscription widget, also known as FollowByEmail, will be turned off. Specifically, the email subscription system will no longer work and subscribers to Google blogs will no longer receive email updates.

SO! If you're receiving this post via email, I thank you for your subscription, but you will no longer be getting these delivered to you from my Google Blog after next month. 

But don't despair! Here are two ways you can still get my (almost) Daily Paintings in your inbox!

#1 - Sign up for my website's New Art Alerts. I basically have been pasting the same info into my website art posts as I do here, so you won't be missing a thing. CLICK HERE to get my New Art Alerts from my website at RitaKirkman.com.

#2 - Follow my public Patreon Posts. Sure, Patreon is a subscription-based creative support platform, but you don't have to pay anything for my public posts, and just about all of my new work gets posted on my Patreon page, usually with cool little extras like progress pics or short speed videos (like the one linked above!) CLICK HERE to go to my Patreon Page and right below the membership levels, next to a button that says "share" is a button that says "follow". It's that easy! (Browse around my other free posts while you're in there..)

Thanks so much for liking my work and following my blog. Here's to many more years of following my Website or my Patreon, and to many more years of creating!

 

Wildflower Field #36

 "Wildflower Field #36" (pastel on Canson, 8x8 inches) bid or buy here

This is the second little painting from last Saturday's Paint-Along. This one on regular Canson Mi-Tientes paper in an olive green sort of color. I hadn't worked on Canson for quite a while. I had forgotten how softly subtle it can be. 

See some progress pics on my Patreon page here.

And in case you missed the last post, I need to tell you... an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

The Feedburner team announced that their email subscription service will be discontinued in July 2021. As a result, Blogger’s email subscription widget, also known as FollowByEmail, will be turned off. Specifically, the email subscription system will no longer work and subscribers to Google blogs will no longer receive email updates.

SO! If you're receiving this post via email, I thank you for your subscription, but you will no longer be getting these delivered to you from my Google Blog after next month. 

But don't despair! Here are two ways you can still get my (almost) Daily Paintings in your inbox!

#1 - Sign up for my website's New Art Alerts. I basically have been pasting the same info into my website art posts as I do here, so you won't be missing a thing. CLICK HERE to get my New Art Alerts from my website at RitaKirkman.com.

#2 - Follow my public Patreon Posts. Sure, Patreon is a subscription-based creative support platform, but you don't have to pay anything for my public posts, and just about all of my new work gets posted on my Patreon page, usually with cool little extras like progress pics or short speed videos (like the one linked above!) CLICK HERE to go to my Patreon Page and right below the membership levels, next to a button that says "share" is a button that says "follow". It's that easy! (Browse around my other free posts while you're in there..)

Thanks so much for liking my work and following my blog. Here's to many more years of following my Website or my Patreon, and to many more years of creating!

Wildflower Field #37 - And an Important Announcement!

 "Wildflower Field #37" (pastel on hand-prepared board, 5x5 inches) buy here

This painting was the third (and my favorite) of three paintings in my last Paint-Along, "Wildflower Interpretations," where we tried out a field of wildflowers on various surfaces, and it was interesting to see how the surfaces affected the look of the paintings.

Watch a short speed video of this one on my Patreon page!

 

Now for an IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Feedburner team announced that their email subscription service will be discontinued in July 2021. As a result, Blogger’s email subscription widget, also known as FollowByEmail, will be turned off. Specifically, the email subscription system will no longer work and subscribers to Google blogs will no longer receive email updates.

SO! If you're receiving this post via email, I thank you for your subscription, but you will no longer be getting these delivered to you from my Google Blog after next month. 

But don't despair! Here are two ways you can still get my (almost) Daily Paintings in your inbox!

#1 - Sign up for my website's New Art Alerts. I basically have been pasting the same info into my website art posts as I do here, so you won't be missing a thing. CLICK HERE to get my New Art Alerts from my website at RitaKirkman.com.

#2 - Follow my public Patreon Posts. Sure, Patreon is a subscription-based creative support platform, but you don't have to pay anything for my public posts, and just about all of my new work gets posted on my Patreon page, usually with cool little extras like progress pics or short speed videos (like the one linked above!) CLICK HERE to go to my Patreon Page and right below the membership levels, next to a button that says "share" is a button that says "follow". It's that easy! (Browse around my other free posts while you're in there..)

Thanks so much for liking my work and following my blog. Here's to many more years of following my Website or my Patreon, and to many more years of creating!

 

Tulip Garden - won some pastels!

 

"Tulip Garden" (pastel, 12x12 inches)

The Pastel Society of Southeast Texas has been having a themed painting challenge each month, and last month the subject was Flowers/Gardens. I'm thrilled to say that this won an Honorable Mention in the challenge (and $50 to Dakota Pastels! Whoo hoo!!)

You can see a slide show of the PSST monthly contest show on their home page here. (The September show will be featured until the October show is judged.)

Landscape is not my main thing, and frequently when I do one I'm either taking another artist's workshop or trying to channel another artist's style. For this one, I was inspired by the landscapes of Gustav Kimpt and a cloudy-day photo I took at the Dallas Arboretum which reminded me of Klimpt's landscapes. I painted this on MingART Premium sanded pastel paper, dark gray.

This was painted during one of my Virtual Open Studio days. You can watch a Speed Video demo of this painting here!

"Tulip Garden" will be part of my inventory for the Woodlands Waterway (Virtual) Arts Festival coming up Oct 16-18, 2020. 

$550 framed and free shipping in the US

 

Persephone in NYC

"Persephone" (pastel, 8x6 inches) $1150

I'm grateful to have my latest Renaissance portrait "Persephone" (pastel, 8x6 inches) accepted to the prestigious exhibition, the Pastel Society of America's 47th Annual Exhibition Enduring Brilliance! The show hangs at the Grand Gallery of the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC, September 3-28, 2019.

Gallery Tour & Reception, Sept. 20, 6pm
Materials Fair, Sept. 21, 10am – 4pm
Awards Ceremony, Sept. 22, 4pm

Wish me luck! I'm just one award away from PSA Master Pastelist!

Check this PSA page soon for the show to be posted.

See some progress pics of Persephone on her original blog post here.

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Golden - New Award!

"Golden" (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

I'm very happy to be able to brag that "Golden" has won the Terry Ludwig Pastels Award at the Pastel Society of Colorado's 15th Annual Mile High National Pastel Exhibition. This makes her fourth award from five shows in 20 months. She's having a good run!

The Mile High Exhibition continues to June 29, 2019, at the Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO. Big thanks to Barbara Jaenicke for judging the show, and to Terry Ludwig for his generous donation!

An eloquent quote from Barbara:  
    "It's apparent from the title that the artist effectively stayed on track with a clear visual statement about her subject; a statement that could easily be overdone without the adept skill and experience evident in this painting. ...This artist very successfully balanced the color temperature, intensity and edge treatment so that the concept was subtle but still clear, making this piece a truly 'golden' winner."

Read more about Golden and her list of recognition here!

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Hard at Work (and new video!)

"Hard at Work" (pastel, 12x6 inches) $320 unframed for a limited time

I did a bumblebee painting a while back and really enjoyed it. I decided I'd do another for the demo at the Carriage House Gallery last weekend during the 23rd Annual Boerne Parade of Artists.

I had a couple volunteers take some video clips, and over the last two days I taught myself how to use Adobe Premiere Pro (with a lot of help from Google and YouTube videos!) So, here's a video demo for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for watching, and please share!

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Persephone

"Persephone" (pastel, 8x6 inches)

"Persephone", my newest addition to my Renaissance Portrait Series, has been accepted into the Austin Pastel Society's Juried exhibit. (She will also be going to IAPS  - the International Pastel Master's Circle Exhibit at the Convention in June!) That was my plan, one painting for two shows...

Actually, my original plan was a much larger painting with three figures but I ran out of time to complete, so Persephone was my Plan B.

You can see her and the other amazing paintings of the members of the Austin Pastel Society at the Chase Bank Building Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX, now through April 28, 2019.

Or peek at the show here, online!

Join us at the reception: Thursday, March 21 from 2 – 4 p.m.

Click here for directions and more show info.

Just for you! Some progress shots of Persephone:

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Garden Hideaway

"Garden Hideaway" (pastel, 9x12 inches) $425 framed

This painting will be with me at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair July 20-23, 2017.

The final day of painting in Albert Handell's workshop we went to Santa Fe's charming historic El Ray Inn. Full of lovely gardens and meandering pathways between courtyards, this lush viewpoint was around back somewhere.

 Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Golden - Awarded at PPSCC!

"Golden"  (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

I think I posted this one a while back when she was finished, but wanted to re-post now that she has her first award! "Golden" has won the Terry Ludwig Pastel Award at the the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod annual exhibition For Pastels Only on Cape Cod 2017. A big appreciative thank you to Jacob Aguiar, judge of awards, and to Robert Carsten, juror of selection.

The show continues through July 16, 2017 at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA.

(If she returns unsold from Cape Cod, she might be on her way to Italy this fall! More on that later!)

You can view progress shots of Golden on her earlier post here: https://ritakirkman.blogspot.com/2017/04/golden.html 

Golden

"Golden"  (pastel, 12x9 inches) $1350

My latest Renaissance Portrait has been accepted into the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod annual exhibition For Pastels Only on Cape Cod 2017.  The show will take place at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth, MA, June 20 - July 16, 2017.
Opening Reception:  Saturday, June 24, 6:00 to 9:00 pm (Awards Presentation at 7:00) My schedule won't permit me to be there, but if you're in the area, please stop in and see the show!

For more information visit www.pastelpainterssocietyofcapecod.com 

This is the fourth or fifth portrait I've done using the toned underpainting technique with the gold and terra cotta primers, and I think it's the most successful with letting much of the underpainting "speak."

 IMO, she desperately needed an elf ear!

Thanks for watching! Please share!
And if you haven't yet, please like my Facebook Page!
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Petunias in a Glass

"Petunias in a Glass"  (oil, 8.5 x 5.5 inches)  click here to bid or buy

My first oil painting in 3 years, and the first flowers I've ever painted in oil!  (Possibly the first flowers I've ever painted from life, in any medium..) Thanks to Stephanie Birdsall, our workshop instructor this past weekend for the Austin Pastel Society. She works and teaches in oil as well as pastel, and four of us decided we wanted to do oils.

Scroll through my progress shots and see a quick speed video I made of Stephanie's oil demo!

my subject setup... painted from life!

And... Stephanie's oil demo! Very inspiring!

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Awards: Two Thirds!

"Familiar" (pastel, 8x10 inches)  $1350

And

"The Fairy Rose" (pastel, 9x12 inches)  sold

Have, coincidentally, both won Third Place Awards at their respective exhibits on Saturday.

"Familiar" is showing at the Pastel Society of New Mexico's 25th Annual National Pastel Painting Exhibition in Albuquerque, at the Hispanic Arts Center through November 27.

"The Fairy Rose" is with the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas, Art of the Pastel 2016 through November 26, at The Gallery at Round Top in Round Top, TX 

If you're in the areas, hope you get a chance to see the show(s)!

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Fairy Rose

"Fairy Rose"  (pastel, 9x12 inches) $1350

I've been hibernating this month, getting bogged down with paperwork and household chores, and kind of getting depressed from the painting withdrawal symptoms (...and from the paperwork and household chores...) So I need to give a huge Thank You to my friend and fellow pasteler Gail Sibley, who had me write a guest post for her blog, How To Pastel, for January. Well, she posted it early this morning, and suddenly I realized I'd better get something good (and recent) on my own blog just in case I get residual visitors from hers after reading my article. (Read it Here!)

So I popped into the studio and warmed up with a little rooster (which I'll post tomorrow) then brought this one down from the shelf and was determined to finish it! (Started it at the same time as "Familiar".)

I've not yet decided what to do with her yet. Likely will be the Austin Pastel Society annual juried exhibit, but that entry's not due until the 31st, and Pastel Society of the West Coast is due in two days! Hmmm, decisions, decisions...

Aileen in Blue - day 9

"Aileen in Blue"  (pastel, 8x6 inches)

Day 9 of my 30 paintings in 30 days of November!

No new batch prepared today, but I did cut a bunch of boards. Instead of doing new underpaintings I decided to try to finish this girl, who I started during the last batch and thought I might have been close to finishing. I thought, "Oh, I'll just get this one done before priming my new batch and then at least I'll have today's painting done." Ha. Five hours later I get the text from the hubby that he's on the way home which is code for starting dinner. I was really nit-picking at that point, so I gave myself five more minutes to just be done. If I hadn't needed a painting today I might not be showing this one, but it's probably a good thing I had to stop!

So she is today's painting, but I haven't decided what I'll do with her yet, besides let her rest a few days. There are some show deadlines coming up so I'll probably enter her into something. But if I do any touch-ups on her I'll re-post.