News From The Front

Been too busy to sit down here. Quickly - I started a pastel in Lake George and hope to finish it on my return in a few weeks as well as another. Current oil is underway. It has a working title of Three Graces and is a 24" x 48" canvas. Image is just five days in. I love it and am being conscious to keep using much larger brushes and work all over the canvas. I've also decided to leave areas I'm happy with alone - even if the bare canvas shows through! So far, I think it's the right decision.

In other news, I had an older pastel accepted into a local juried exhibit and managed to take third prize! I'm thrilled because the piece had yet to get into any competitions, much less win a prize. Summer Seasons is the piece.

I also have had a pastel accepted to the Connecticut Pastel Society's 2010 Renaissance In Pastels national competition! I still am waiting to find out which of my three entries got in, but was notified because American Art Collector magazine will be doing a feature article about the show in October and accepted artists are being offered discounted advertising rates. I have sent a check to reserve a block in a 12-person full page ad. I hope it leads to some sales... I suppose this means I need to devote some time to updating my website. Yes, that is next on the list.

Next up after that is the week-long Greg Biolchini pastel workshop. I'm hoping to glean more new knowledge to take on vacation. Must remember too take videos and notes. Pastel seems to be taking over, doesn't it? Perhaps.

Off to work.

Alons-y!

I have completed two fun pastels while trying to create the next apple set-up for another oil painting. One is a silly hen in a planter and the other is a set of Russian doll dogs surrounding a bone. They were both quick and helpful to get away from all the detail of the oil painting.

After looking at the completed Gala, I was at a loss of what direction to head next and depression hit hard. Time and the pastel works helped and I decided to go with the 'less is more' theory and focus on fabric with apples. The fabric I've selected is one I'd fell in love with that was intended as window treatments in my dining room, but were negated by my husband. The woven pattern is bold, complex and quite graphic while the colors are copper/terra cotta and cream - much brighter than the fabrics in the last paintings and more appropriate for this season of sun. I decided that the color of Granny Smith apples would work best with the fabric, but all the warm hues needed balance somehow. Something blue was the obvious choice. All I had were vertical cobalt items that were just wrong and far too much blue. Friends Erica and Keith to the rescue! They had a hand-blown glass dish I've borrowed that holds three large apples perfectly. Now the lighting must be arranged to emphasize textures and create interesting shadow areas too keep the composition from being too flat.

I have chosen another horizontal format, but am still not sure of the vertical scale. I have noticed that the painted apples are almost exactly the same size from one work to the next and am now conscious of it. I suspect my attempts to increase their size will feel wrong, but plan to give it a shot.

For now, I will hold off beginning until after a short trip out of town. I plan to do another apple oriented pastel while I'm gone, but may be lured into just visiting with loved ones.

For now, here are the pastels to ponder!