Shiitake

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

This one's from a lovely small herd of Brahmans that I passed coming home from somewhere a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful sunny day. Irresistible for reference photos!

Here are some progress shots:

the gold primer - 3 layers

the terra cotta primer added

the black primer added

then starts the pastel...

Thanks for watching!

BTW: Still space available in my January workshop in Victoria, Texas! "Pastel in Miniature", Saturday and Sunday, January 18 & 19 at the Victoria Art League at 905 S. Bridge Street. Treat yourself to a fun and inspirational pastel art weekend, and start your year off right!
Informational Flyer
Registration Form
Supply List
Lodging Guide
Mail in the registration form or visit my Workshop Page for a convenient Paypal payment button!

A Wedding Portrait

"A Wedding Portrait" (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches)  sold

One of my favorites from this Christmas season at the mall craft show. I enjoyed this one for the non-standard composition and the beautiful emotion in the pose.
Because the viewpoint was quite different from the 'usual' portrait, I drew a grid on some acetate laid over the photo to help me compose the drawing within the 8x10 size.

Visit my site ritakirkmandrawings.com for information about commissioning a pencil portrait drawing.

.

Flamenco

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

One of my Year's resolutions is to paint with nothing but oils for an entire year (or an entire month, I haven't decided.) But that won't be this Year, or this month either. What with everything else I've decided the best I can do is to take life one day at a time and today I felt that familiar was better.

So here's a pastel 5x7 cow for my first painting of the year. Since I like to work in batches, I used up a lot of the afternoon in cropping and adjusting several new photos, and did manage to get the primers finished on 9 new minis. Here's a peek at the first 2 layers:

...And progress shots on Flamenco:

the first 2 layers of gold primer.

I use Golden (brand) fine pumice gel with Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold acrylic color added. About a 2/1 ratio. This is a transparent mixture, so each layer gets darker.

the 3rd layer of gold primer

Art Spectrum (brand) pastel primer, terra Cotta color.

 I scuffle the terra cotta in some areas with an almost-dry brush or sponge, in order to extend the tonal range of my primer-underpainting.
Then comes the pastel...

BTW: I still have spaces left in my January workshop in Victoria, Texas! "Pastel in Miniature", Saturday and Sunday, January 18 & 19 at the Victoria Art League at 905 S. Bridge Street. Treat yourself to a fun and inspirational pastel art weekend, and start your year off right!
Informational Flyer
Registration Form
Supply List
Lodging Guide
Mail in the registration form or visit my Workshop Page for a convenient Paypal payment button!

.

New Year Baby (Pencil Portrait)

"New Year Baby" (conte and pastel pencil, 8x10 inches)  sold

So here's my most New-Year-ish portrait for today's post. Isn't she adorable? This is the newest Great-Niece of a client who has several portrait drawings from me over the years. I've changed the baby's name here to protect her privacy.

I hope that the New Year brings all of you much Health, Happiness and lots of Power-Naps!

(For information on commissioning a portrait like this one, visit RitaKirkmanDrawings.com)

.

Familial Bliss in Southwest Art Magazine

"Familial Bliss"  (pastel, 22x28 inches)

Here's my other painting in Southwest Art this January 2014 issue! This one I submitted for my half-page paid advertisement that was part of the 'deal' for the half-page editorial and publishing of the award-winner "4 And a Half Sheep". But hey, it was a two-for-one at a really good price!

"Familial Bliss", my latest large cow painting, is on page 86.

I have progress shots on my first post of this painting, Here.

.

4 And a Half Sheep in Southwest Art

"4 And a Half Sheep"  (pastel, 16x16 inches)  sold

My goodness, where did December go?? I'm so rusty at posting I'm getting tongue-tied (key-tied?) Anyway, I had a busy month of pencil portrait commissions (some of which I will post in the next days) and I have no new pastel animal 'dailies' yet, but I wanted to brag about my painting in Southwest Art Magazine.. "4 And a Half Sheep" is included in their Juror's Choice section highlighting some of the winners of the Artist's Magazine Annual Art Competition (mine was a Finalist) and is on page 64. I got a Half Page with some editorial!

You can order the issue at northlightshop.com. (in print or instant download!)

PS: I'm happy to report that my collarbone is healing up as expected. The bone is well-knitted and time will straighten it out. I've begun the process of rejuvenating the muscles which seems to be as long and slow a process as the bone healing was. They have me using the pulley, and will start me on some real exercises on Tuesday. But I feel slight improvements each day, and tonight was able to wash my hair with both hands!