Happy Easter!

"Reverent Chick"  (pastel, 6x6 inches)  click here to bid

Rejoice, for He is Risen! This little chick is filled with awe at the miracle.

(And why isn't that called "awefull"? I never understood why "awful" has an opposite meaning from what it logically should ... Food for thought.
 ...But I decided not to call this "Awefull Chick")

Here are some progress shots to enjoy on this happy Easter morning (or afternoon, or the day after...)

Happy Easter! Please share the happines!

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Wildflower Field #33

"Wildflower Field #33" (pastel, 6x8 inches)  sold

Here's the other field from the same photo as yesterday's. This was a demo to show how surface and underpainting variances can affect the finished painting. This one had a watercolor underpainting on white Wallis paper. Below is the reference photo (greatly enhanced in Photoshop) and the other painting, which was on my usual gold-primed gatorboard with a warm pastel underpainting. In both cases, I allowed the underpainting to influence my application of pastel and color choices in the finished paintings.

enhanced photo

"Wildflower Field #34" pastel, 5x7

 A couple shots of me working on the underpaintings... (#34 is on top, #33 is below it)

Wildflower Field #34

"Wildflower Field #34" (pastel 5x7 inches)  click here to bid

Here's one of two landscapes I did from the same reference photo, as a demonstration of how different surfaces and underpaintings can affect how a finished pastel painting will look.

This one was on my usual gold-primed gatorboard, and then had a pastel underpainting in warm tones washed in with alcohol. Tomorrow I'll post the other one, Wildflower Field #33, which I sold to one of the students.

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Beach Date #4 (and the KS Workshop)

"Beach Date #4" (pastel, 6x6 inches, on Art Spectrum Suede)  sold

I snuck this one in between demos last weekend at my pastel workshop in Ulysses, KS. The Main ARTery (I just love that name!) owner, Jeani, bought it on Sunday, so I didn't have time to think up a more unique title.

I've painted this scene 4 times now (hence the #4 title) and maybe this image will never be in official 'retirement'.... It keeps sneaking back into my radar.

Here are the other three...

"Beach Date" (pastel, 6x6 inches, 2011, on Wallis Belgian Mist)

"Beach Date" (oil, 6x6 inches, 2011)

"Beach Date" (#3) (pastel, 8x8 inches, 2011, on Wallis Belgian Mist)

Tomorrow, I'll try to have time to post some photos and notes from the workshop on my Art Journal Blog.

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Safe Haven in Salon International 2014

"Safe Haven"  (pastel 18x28 inches)

I'm thrilled to announce that this, my third painting of my daughter, was accepted into the 13th Annual Salon International hosted by the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, TX. The exhibit will feature original paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor selected from artists submissions across the country and around the world. Renowned Master artist David A. Leffel will be serving as the exhibit judge.

The Reception is Saturday April 5, 5-8pm.

View the exhibit online HERE.

This is the first year the Salon has accepted more than just oil paintings into this prestigious exhibit. 

 Below are some progress shots:

Thanks for watching! Please share!

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Elfling won Best of Show!

"Elfling" (pastel, 8x6 inches)  $1150

Just found out on Sunday that my newest painting in my Renaissance Portrait Series has won Best of Show at the Austin Pastel Society's Juried Member Exhibition. The show continues at the Chase Bank Building Corridor of Art, at Seventh and Lavaca, Austin TX, through April 26, 2014.

A video of Elfling's creation progress is posted on YouTube Here.

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