Exhibit Georgetown, Texas, Reception Sunday

The Austin Pastel Society has an exhibit at the 
Georgetown Library
402 West 8th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626

Exhibit Dates January 28 - February 25, 2012.

You are invited to the reception Sunday, February 5, 2 - 4 p.m.  Refreshments.  There are 50 or so beautiful pastel paintings at the library.

I have three paintings there.  All the paintings  look so much better in person!  If you get a chance stop by and see for yourself!  You can get a bite to eat a couple of blocks away at the well known Monument Cafe.

Ollas, Pastel on Pastelbord,  18 x 14 inches framed in black  frame

Chollas, Pastel on Pastelbord, 14 x 11 inches framed in burgundy wood frame

The Great Divide, Pastel on Pastelbord, 20 x 16 inches framed in gold plein air frame

Last Sketches for Hunt 254, Pastel Start and Photos

Scavenger Hunt 254 ended yesterday.  I'm posting the last couple of sketches today and hope to sketch for Hunt 255 soon.  We have some new sketching artists and it is fun to see all the different styles and scenes from around the world.  Ai, in Thailand, sketched on her bicycle ride the other day.  Pretty cool.  She hasn't posted the sketches yet, but you can see them on the Scavenger Hunt.  She is a working mom with two small girls and still manages to go out and sketch with a group quite often.


I sketched in the Utrecht recycled paper sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 08 fine point marker/pen. (click on the sketch to see all the photos larger)

Number 6, fruit - blueberries and Number 7, watch.  I thought I had posted this and made a couple of scribbles with a red marker, trying out the point.

I went with Regina Burchett last Friday to see Will Klemm's exhibit at the Wally Workman Gallery.  He does such beautiful pastel paintings as I mentioned before.  Then we went to Regina's and painted.  Charlie, the art critic, came in to see what we were doing.  I was taking photos of the French horn so I could do a painting.  I never finished the last one I started at Regina's.

It is very good for artists to get together and paint.  It is inspiring and a boost to your creating side.  As I said above, sometimes I don't finish what I start, but any time you paint you learn something.  I was trying some velour mat board given me by Rae Andrews (I think, when APS gave me the welcome home, after the fire, art supplies)  At least she is the one that uses velour the most.  The jury is still out on it.  Not enough time to see if I can add more layers or not.  I wasn't going to post it, but what the heck.  I worked on it for about two hours with a break or two.

This piece of velour has some marks on it, so I won't finish this, but will try adding more detail and just feeling how the velour works. I think it might be fun, especially for flowers or something a little more abstract with lack of detail.  Many artists like it for animal portraits, though.  This start  is 14 x 11. 

Here are a couple of different views of the lake and our house from the lake side.  The lakes came up a bit with that last 5 inches of rain.  We had another half inch night before last.  Yahooooo!

Sketching and Art Show

I'm in a posting frenzy it seems so scroll down if you are on my Home page or click on home if you are on the regular post page to see my other posts today.

** Remember today is the ASH Insights Art Show and Sale.  Hope to see you there.

**Forgot to say to go to the Texas Music Awards and vote for our friends, Kathy Street and Tommy Byrd, Byrd and Street, if you have a minute!  I don't have time to tell you what great performers they are and generous and giving people.  You have seen them on my blog before.  They are visual artists, too.  Super musical folks!

I sketched some for Scavenger Hunt 254.  I did the first one on my iPhone and the second in the same old sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 08.

Number 1, metal - a bronze horse that survived the fire.  I haven't figured out this sketch program, it is different than the one I use on Gene's phone.  Bear with me.  This was the first time I tried this program and took about 15 minutes to get this simple sketch down.  I couldn't figure out how to "undo" so had to erase instead, so left some rough edges.

Number 2, wood - the corner of the electric fireplace and you can see my pen on the side.  No erasing or undo here.  : )

Buy Art and Be Happy

I saw this article today on FASO, it made me smile.  I think this is great advice for buying art and liking what you buy.  It has always worked in our house.  I haven't tried the "moving around" part, but since I don't have many paintings at the moment they will be moved around when I change out art in the galleries here in Bastrop and should work fine!

Happiness and Art on Your Walls

by Ginger Whellock

Let me warn you, purchasing art becomes addictive as you crave the happiness and joy each new painting, brought into your home, brings to you and your visitors. [...]

Read the rest of this article at:
http://fineartviews.com/blog/39414/happiness-and-art-on-your-walls

----------------------------------------------
This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com

-----------------------------------------------

Bluebonnet Pastel Painting - Finally!

I painted a small bluebonnet painting.  I had a piece of Pastelbord that I started a painting on in Angel Fire this summer.  I decided to wipe it off and start a new painting.  I wiped it with a paper towel, turned it upside down and started in with the bluebonnet painting.  Usually I would have washed it off, but the blue sky was there for the bluebonnets and what had been horizon and mountains could now be the trees behind the bluebonnets.  I used a variety of pastels.  I start and blend a little with the hard pastels.  Most of my harder pastels are Nupastel.  I have quite a few Rembrandt for medium hardness and then Ludwig, Unison and Sennelier for the softies.  I still have some Daler-Rowney soft pastels that I really like, too.  There are a few other brands scattered among my pastels as well.

True Blues

Pastel on Pastelbord, 8 x 10 inches

Gene will put museum glass over this and I will look for a frame.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, the finished price with museum glass will be $165.00.  Check my Jo's Notions to buy now or my website as well.

5 inches of Rain!!

We had 5 inches of rain here at our house this morning.  Amazing.  Our little lakes look a little better.  The one that is more to the east had very little water.  I hadn't even posted a photo as it was so dry.  In fact some kids were riding their four wheelers in it one day.

This is also the smaller of the two lakes.

The other lake that you have seen photos of is here:

It is interesting, as an artist, to see the very saturated colors after a rain.  I do like to paint the brighter colors!

Maybe you can see how much lower the water was when I was taking a photo of our resident buck.  We see him every couple of days or so - always alone.

Late Sketches for Hunt 253

Yesterday was the end of Scavenger Hunt 253.  I did not get my sketches posted even though I finished them on January 20.  I will check out the new list tonight.

It has been so difficult to get my mind around things.  Hopefully it was stress and now that we are mostly settled my mind will clear.  We had a pretty normal day.  Sort of back to our old schedule.  We washed sheets and towels and could hang the sheets out on the clothesline.  I love that, the smell just can't be duplicated with softener.  Then lunch and worked on balancing the checkbook, etc. 

Then back to art!! Yay.  I did some paperwork.  I got some calendars ready to mail to a couple of collectors and friends.  It took some time as I included notes, a certificate of authenticity in one, etc.  Then I wiped off a Pastelbord I had started in Angel Fire and worked on an 8 x 10 bluebonnet painting.  It is about done, but too late for a good photo.  It may rain tomorrow (another yay!) so may not get a photo for a few days.

I sketched in the Utrecht sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 01 marker/pen, freehand (as usual).

For Scavenger Hunt 253, #10 - soft and cuddly.  This is a little sock monkey, Beanie Baby, that Santa brought.  He doesn't look very soft in the sketch and his head should be bigger.  He really is cute!

#11, something from the bathroom - handsoap and #12, outside activity - bird watching.  Not particularly my outside activity, but could be. 

#13, hobby - I like to do crossword puzzles and #14, from the office - a stapler.

By setting aside some studio time today I am hoping to get back to spending regular time there.  Keep your fingers crossed for me. 

For my artist link, check Regina Burchett's blog.  She is on a sketching frenzy .. well, project.  I love her graphite drawings.  She is so multi-talented.  You will see a link to her book, Friends of Orion, there, too.  You will enjoy it as a good read.  

Regina and I  are going to have a painting get together on Wednesday.  We will take in Will Klemm's exhibit at the Wally Workman Gallery and try to get some pastel painting time in, too.  And that calls for still another Yay!  Regina and I took a class in painting skies with pastel from Will a few years ago.  Maybe I will work on a sky on Wednesday.  Hmmmmm.


A couple of photos .. non art follow.

Just had to show more packing silliness.  These two "non breakable" cushions were in the box they are sitting on and then in the bigger box with the brown paper protecting them.  We recycle cardboard and paper, but yikes!  Companies are giving free shipping and the wasting so much packing stuff.  Wow.

And a peek in our new bedroom.  You can see a couple of Regina's paintings on the wall.  They look like they were painted and framed to go in our room.  I just love them.

Sketches for #253

Sketches for Scavenger Hunt 253 done in the same old brown paper sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 01 pen/marker.

Number 1 - from outside the house, Number 2 - from inside the house.

Number 3, something from the entry or hall.

Number 4, something from the living or family room and Number 5, someone you live with.

Number 6, from the kitchen and Number 7, something with legs.

Number 8, gift - a new glass thermal cup, gift from Joanna, thank you! Number 9, sweet treat - some pineapple chunks.

I have painted a couple of paintings and will post about that soon!  I expect that to be a bit more interesting.  Off to work on insurance stuff, yuck!

Catching Up Photos

When I don't post for ages, I never know where to start.  I have sketched, painted and taken photos that I think you might be interested in, so....  I will start with the photos.

You can see the side of the house now!

This star was on the side of the old house.  Jeff Snyder made it.  We haven't cleaned the ashes off or decided where to put it.  Hmm.

Sunrise a few days ago

The back side of the sunrise

The lake, midday.

Moon over the house.

Garage door openers in and we can put both cars in the garage.

Gene got the clotheslines up.

And the bird feeder, too.

The clotheslines and bird feeder poles are from the other house.  Gene's brother made the clothesline poles years ago.  The bird feeder poles were on a play set attached to a playhouse when we bought the other house.  Never used in our time by kids as the swings were missing.  Ha.  The birds and squirrels have enjoyed them.

Picnic tables at the golf course, guess discarded by the park service?

Gene fishing for balls.  So good that we finally walked nine holes yesterday!

Just updating our life a bit.  Now I will go post some sketches.

Kelly's Gymnast

My artist/sculpture friend, Kelly Borsheim is off in Italy again, working hard on her art.  She can use those carving tools and paint brushes with style.  Have a look at her "Gymnast" and read how it was created and carved.  You can see it in person in Dripping Springs, Texas.  Not too far from Austin.  Check out her website and blog.  You may remember her from previous posts when she was painting on the sidewalks in Italy.  Probably more of that on the way, don't you think?

Hunting for Number 252

I have sketched a little for Scavenger Hunt #252.  I used the Prismacolor Chisel Point marker and the Prismacolor Premier 08.  The chisel has a flat tip so you can make wide and narrow marks.  Fun for a change in pace.  The 08 is one of the fine tip marker/pen that I like as well.  I sketched in the Utrecht sketchbook with the recycled brown paper.  I have that sketchbook about half full.  Will I ever fill it up??  We shall see.

 

Number 1, basket with the challenge of making a blind contour version.  A blind contour drawing is to sketch something by looking only at the object and not at your paper.  It is not an easy task.  It sometime helps not to lift your pen or pencil from the paper, but on the basket, I didn't try that.

 Number 2, Bottle with label.  Number 3, smells good - popcorn and Number 4, round - an orange.

Number 5, with rind - a grapefruit from South Texas.  (thanks Esther!)

Number 6, feather, Number 7, water - the lake,  and Number 8, sky.

It was interesting.  One day last week when I was hosting the last Hunt, Gene and I were in the garage on our way to get in the car  and I found a feather on the floor.  I picked it up and told Gene, "I'm going to save this.  Someone puts feathers on the list once in a while for the Scavenger Hunts."  I put it on the newspaper recycling pile and told him to remind me to take it in when we got back.  Then when I opened the list for this Hunt, there was "feather".  Thanks to Joan.  :)  I saved the feather for next time, too.

I did paint with pastels a bit and have two paintings going.  A landscape of the view out our dining window, early morning, is almost finished.  It probably is finished but is sitting there to be studied and find out if it is ready. 

I visited Enid Wood's pastel class ( she is a wonderful pastel artist) on Monday and started another painting there of a blue door in Taos. I painted on it a little yesterday and today.   Maybe another four hours or so and it will be good to go, too.

There are two shows with the Austin Pastel Society soon, so need some new work.  The first one is in Georgetown at the library and I can hang three that I have done.  The other, the juried show, is in March but the deadline is Sunday for entries.  Hopefully I will like the landscape I did to enter in that show.  At least it doesn't have to be framed soon.

I need new paintings to change out at the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild and White Morpha.  I used to paint fast but now ......

We are going to Austin tomorrow afternoon, so not much time for painting.  We shall see how it goes.

ASH Insights Art Show

I want to remind you of the fundraiser for the Austin State Hospital.  I have donated a painting along with friends from the Austin Pastel Society requested by Mike Etie.  I hope you can go or make a donation.  You can see the art and more info on their site:  www.ashinsights.org  I posted about my donation on this post.

Hunt 251 Sketches

I'm catching up on posting my sketches for Scavenger Hunt 251 where I have been the host.  You still have a couple of days to join in.  Maybe you are sketching but not posting.  That is OK, too.  We all need the practice.

Sketching for the Hunts has kept me going.  As I have said many times, sketching for me is like homework.  I try to sketch freehand with a goal of placing lines just once.  You can tell when I am not paying attention or very interested in the item.  Usually if it is more difficult, I concentrate more.  Not always, though!

I sketched day before yesterday, yesterday and today.  Only three more items to go, do you think I will finish?  I only remember finishing all the items once before.

Number 20, bush or shrub.  These potted shrubs are in the neighbor's yard and you can see some in the distance, too.  I sketched with a Prismacolor Chisel Tip Marker.  You can see the different lines it makes.

Number 21, skyline.  I haven't been to town to get a "city" skyline so this is a substitute.

 

Number  22, rug.  The yellow part is actually beige, should have used the paper color, duh.  I used the Prismacolor markers and a Tombow Dual Brush pen.  They have a brush on one end and a point on the other.  Number 23, in a drawer - with a Prismacolor 005 pen/marker.  The lines are very fine so it doesn't show as much.

For the artist today, Margie Crisp from Elgin, Texas (just down the road) has created a book about the Colorado River in Texas.  It will be published in April.  You can contact Margie through her website for more information.  You can read about it on the Texas A & M University Press page.