Pastel Paintings as Gifts

Every once in a while a special occasion arises and I decide to paint a painting as a gift. Most of the time, I would rather that the person for whom the gift is intended just pick a painting that they like. When I choose the painting, I feel that the gift receiver may say they like the gift and feel obligated to hang it. Maybe they will hang it up only when they know I'm coming to visit. :)

The elephant for the landlady in Silver City is an example of one of these special paintings. I promised a painting to the landlady in Las Cruces as well and had failed to do it. Today, I decided was the time. Gene picked up the frame for me last week. The openings are 5 x 7 inches. I cut Colourfix paper to fit the frame so that Gene wouldn't have to worry about taping with the odd mat involved.

Here is the painting or paintings on the paper on my drawing board. They are New Mexico landscapes. The mountains are the Organ Mountains by Las Cruces.


Here they are in the frame without the glass for photographing. Gene will put it in and put a wire hanger on it for me tomorrow. It is supposed to be rainy and cooler, so something for him to do. :)


I also painted a gift for Mary, that delivers our mail. She is such a special lady and has been our mail delivery person since we have been in this house. I did this little triple pastel for her for Christmas. The openings were also 5 x 7. The tree scenes are in the neighborhood. I called it Mary's Route. She says she likes it. :) I cut the paper to fit the frame the same way.