Saturday Demo in Buda and Surprise

I had a great day, Saturday, where to start? How about the beginning, which means the preparation.

Friday, Gene had taken a painting out of a frame for me to use, cleaned the glass and replaced the wire for a horizontal painting. He had cut a piece of pastel paper, Colourfix, for me to use. I put in a new double mat, backboard with my card on it. I planned to take the framing tool, push pins and framing tape.

I had printed hand outs, located brochures, leaflets, and cards. I had picked out three paintings to take to show the group. My easel, other samples of pastel surfaces, pastels, Colourfix paper for the artists to try if they wanted to paint along, towel for my hands, apron, liquid gloves, rubber gloves, masking tape, old mat, brushes, cups, paper towels, handy wipes for the hands, my floor cover and pad to stand on, plastic cloth for the table, pastels, and more. I talked to Joanna and she reminded me to check it all again. I did. I had my reference photos and plan for my painting. All was ready.

I left for Buda about 8:30 a.m. Google said it would take an hour and 13 minutes and the meeting was at 10:00 a.m. Beautiful day, sunny and warm for my drive. I was listening to "Car Talk" and was about halfway there (it is about 48 miles), when it hit me! I did not have the framing tool, framing tape and push pins for the frame. Argh....

I called my friend, Regina, she lives closer and luckily hadn't left yet so she would bring the push pins and some assorted tools. Thanks Regina, for coming to the demo and being my life saver! I wasn't sure if I had mentioned the tape to her. As I drove into Buda I saw a big Wal-Mart. They wouldn't have framing tape, but I could get some clear packing tape, which I did.

The meeting started on time. It was a nice group, Artists of the South Corridor, and we had a good time. I showed them that when I plan on using a mat on a pastel painting, I cut the paper the size of the frame, (11 x 14 in this case). That way, I don't have to worry about using tape to place the painting under the mat which can come loose over time. I taped the paper on a foam core board for painting and used an old mat to sketch out an 8 x 10 area for painting. I painted a landscape and several of the artists painted along with me. Some used my photo and some brought their own references. I painted and answered questions. We discussed the different surfaces and pastels and other art related subjects.


At the end, I brought out the frame, put in the clean glass, mat, painting, and backboard. Fastened it in, fastened the wire and there you go ... the door prize! It was more of a sketch than a painting. I worked on it just over an hour. Marilyn Rodriguez was the winner.

Demo sketch in pastels, 8 x 10 inches.

It was fun to meet some "new to me" artists in our area. It is always a delight spending time with other artists. I am always energized and motivated. Karen Hargett, one of the artists that was there, has a blog. She does wonderful animals and paints with her pastels on velour. Very sensitive surface for me... I put a link on the sidebar for you to check out her beautiful paintings.



I had a big surprise as well. While I was setting up some artists came in and went to sit and I didn't get to talk to them as they arrived. I began my talk and was looking around at the artists. There was a young lady and gentleman at the back and I thought she looks so much like my niece, Marcela. But she lives in San Antonio, I thought. I looked again and realized the gentleman sure was familiar as well .... zap ... it was Marcela! She had read my newsletter and decided to come to the demo. Isn't that fun?? She has been accepted to nursing school in January and we are so proud of her.