The Fairy Rose - First Place Portrait

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

I'm happy to announce that The Fairy Rose has won the prize for First Place Portrait at the Austin Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibition.

The show remains up through May 1, 2016, at the Chase Bank Building Corridor of Art, 700 Lavaca Street, Austin TX. It can also be viewed online at Flickr HERE.

Three... Five... Seven (and "The Large Project" Workshop)

"Three... Five... Seven"  (pastel, 30x24 inches) $2815 unframed for a limited time

I had this done weeks ago, but the Rodeo delayed my finish of the video speed-demo I wanted to post with it. Finally got that done, and here it is! Eleven minutes from start to finish (sped up 16x and with the boring bits clipped out.)

This painting and video were intentionally completed in time for my newest workshop "The Large Project" coming up in just 3 weeks in Ulysses, Kansas. There are still a few spaces available, and it's not too late to register!

Click on the flyer for a closer look, or visit my workshop page for more info!

Portraits at the San Antonio Rodeo

Double quick-sketch portrait (conte pencil and pastel, 12x15)

I know!! I haven't posted in a LONG time!

Well, January was way too short a month to take "off", trying to catch up with paperwork and taxes (which I still haven't done, lol) and now it's the middle of February and the San Antonio Rodeo! Can you believe I've been sketching portraits there since 1994?! How time flies!

I especially wanted to post this portrait because I drew this girl four years ago, AND took a photo of it! I do get various people back to be drawn year after year, but it's memorable for me to get someone whom I felt I drew well enough to want to photograph the portrait...

quick-sketch portrait 2012

Now she's married and had her portrait with her husband. Here they are with their portrait from yesterday!

The rodeo continues through February 28. You can find me on the floor of the Freeman Coliseum, right down the stairs from the front entrance.

For more rodeo info, see their website at www.sarodeo.com.

Blaze

"Blaze" (pastel, 6x4 inches)  click here to bid

This might be my only little auction painting this month. Have not yet finished the kitchen grout, or this giant box of last year's receipts. And I still have some modifications to make to the rodeo booth. So what's been slowing me down (besides age)? Yesterday I composed a new large sheep painting, and 3 days ago I composed a new portrait of my daughter from an older photo and some new reference shots of draped fabric. I've even got titles already. Now to decide which one to paint next and get to it before the excitement fades!

Meanwhile, got some progress shots of this rooster:

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...

Bella and Fuzz

"Bella and Fuzz" (pastel, 13x15 inches) sold

One of my tasks for January; this was a commission for my friend Len, who was my airbrush manager way back in my Six Flags days. Ok, technically it was a deal of a trade for park tickets, but don't be thinking I give this good of a trade for just anybody. Only for old friends who have amazingly awesome pics of their amazingly adorable pets!

Here are some progress shots:

Who could resist this photo?!

the underpainting

Thanks for watching! Please share!