"A New Beginning"

Back in May, I ordered two DVD sets from Eric Wilson (see My Favorite Links on side bar), and fell in love with his technique.  It is so much like how I am trying to work.  I have watched both sets, which are quite lengthy, but so thorough.  You are able to see almost every stroke he makes.  I will be watching them again and again and again.  The painting below is my first attempt at applying his technique.  I could feel the integration of his technique with my style--I've heard that's what we are suppose to do.  Enjoy!!  And be sure to check out his website--you will love it!!

My referance photo was taken a couple of years ago, while Jon, Fancy, and I were doing our morning walk.  We happened upon this little fawn, way too close to the side of the road.  I wish I had taken more pics, but was afraid of scaring it.

"A New Beginning", Pastel on pastel mat, 7" x 5"

A new award and a new friend

On June 30th., I entered the "Texas" Show at the New Braunfels Art League and Gallery, sponsored by Heineken Premium Light.  It is a beautiful show and we had a great turnout at the reception.  Texas was well represented by some outstanding art work.  I am happy to announce that I received an Honorable Mention in the water and drawing media category, for "Ready to Work".  Cheers to Fancy (my border collie who posed for the pic)!!

"Ready to Work", Pastel, 12" x 16"

I have also made a new friend and fellow artist via the internet.  Upon posting a comment on my Lesley Harrison website, Kay contacted me, and we discovered we had a lot in common.  I have added her website to my Favorite Links, www.wildwolfportraits.com.  She does beautiful work!!  I think it is so great that we are able to communicate with others so far away (WVA), however, I wish I lived closer so I could take a workshop from her.  Enjoy!

"And God Provides"

I didn't even have to think on a title for this one--it just came to me.  The butterfly is a symbol of new life in Christ, and God provides for us (all creatures), abundantly.  Just look at all that lantana.  The butterfly is definitely having a good meal.

I used several photo references(all I took), and also used my creativeness, changing leaves and adding lantana, and coming up with my own background.

reference photo

reference photo

This painting is quite different from my "Worn Traveler", posted May 19, 2012.  I wanted it higher keyed, lighter.  I have an app on my iPad that I use more and more.  It is called ValueViewer.  As I come to certain stages in the painting, I take a pic with my iPhone, it goes to my iPad via Photo Stream.  I import it into ValueViewer where I can see my grays, Notan or levels of black, white and grays.  I love it!!  There is, also, the red acetate that helps me see the values.  I haven't automatically learned how to see or remember how each color is on the value scale.  I still see light green as a light value, but it is still darker than even some darker yellows.

 levels

 Notan

 grays

This is where I decided to stop--I kept pickin on it--so easy to do.  When I cut the mats, I messed up and reversed the dimensions, so will have to recut.  Guess what--I will be doing another different butterfly painting, to use the first mats cut.  Maybe it wasn't an accident?!

Enjoy!

"And God Provides", Pastel, 8" x 10"

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas

They can come from any source or direction.  We just have to keep our ears and right side of our brain open to them.

One night my husband (aka Jon) and I were fixing crab legs and I asked him to remind me to fix the drawn butter.  He immediately replied,  Are you going to get your pencils out and draw the butter?  (He was trying to get a smile out of me).

I was in the process of trying to decide what to work on next in my art.  My enjoyment of working with charcoal had been renewed from doing "Beaver Pond", but I wanted something easy and quicker to do than my regular painting.  I had one of those "aha" moments.  Thus, the idea of "Drawn Butter :)" was born.  I have since come up with a few more.  Any ideas from my readers are welcome.  Let's see how much fun we can make of this venture.  Jon has also named this series my "Runaway Art".

"Drawn Butter :)"

Charcoal, 6" x 6" 

Accolades

The Canyon Lake Art Guild is currently having their annual "Lasting Impressions" show at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery, in downtown New Braunfels, Texas.  The show is running from April 5th. to April 30th., 2014.  We had our reception on April 6th. with a beautiful turnout, good food, and a fun time!

I would also like to mention that while I was chairperson for the show this year, it all came together because of all the hard work of the members who volunteered to help and coordinate what had to be done to make it a success.  You have my utmost appreciation and gratefulness for making it happen!  THANKS A BUNCH!!

I am happy to report that both of my paintings, won ribbons.  "Beaver Pond" received 1st. Place in the Pastel/Drawing category, and "Ready to Work" won Honorable Mention in the same category.

"Beaver Pond"

"Beaver Pond", Charcoal, 8" x 10"

 Many artists I have read about and talked to, say "keep your old or never finished artwork.  Not only is it good to go back and see how you have improved, but you can redo them and improve them.  Such is the case with "Beaver Pond".  When I came upon it in my stack of "unwanteds" I saw why I wasn't pleased with it at the time.  So many of my values were wrong, and I needed to recrop for a better composition.  Now I know I still need improvement, especially since I am not a "landscape" artist (at least now right now), but I like it a lot better.  The referance photo is courtesy of James R. Rodgers, my brother, who took it while on a trip to Colorado.  Thanks, Jim!! 

"Ready to Work"

"Ready to Work", Pastel (on pastel mat), 12" x 16"

This is another painting I've been wanting to do, every time I came across it.  It is a typical stance of a border collie, and shows what concentration they can have when they are getting ready to work.  They can keep that position for a looong time!!  However, I have to tell you--Fancy is not ready to work.  She is waiting to catch her frisbee.  Having two senior citizens for masters and no goats, her work is herding us and playing with her frisbee, outside, and catching her handball indoors.   

Follow the Path

Sometimes we are following a path and really don't know why nor where it will lead us.  If we find we have misgivings about it, we stop.  Otherwise, we continue, and are often in awe at the good that occurred at the destination.  "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."  Proverbs 16:9.  Such an event recently occurred in my art journey.

I decided I wanted to have some prints made of four of my paintings, but I also needed some good photos, and I didn't trust my photography skills nor my tweaking them on the computer.  Well, Bob Cook, from the New Braunfels Art League, was doing a presentation on "Digital Imagery for Artists".  Very informative and well done.  He also said he did a service of not only taking pictures of your paintings, but also printing.  He had my attention and my business.  He, also, helped me decide what size of prints to order.  One suggestion was a 12" x 24" of my butterfly painting, "Worn Traveler".  At first I didn't want that size because it was larger than the original (8" x 16").  Why I thought that, I have no idea.  On the day I gave him my order for prints, I went ahead and ordered one of that size--then wondered why I did--completely baffled with myself.  All of my prints were beautiful.  When I went to look for some frames, I found one for "Worn Traveler".  It was perfect.  I showed it to a lady that loved my original and she bought it (the print, framed) on the spot.  This gets even better--it is now hanging in the reception area at our beautiful Tye Preston Memorial Library!!  I would never have imagined.

My many THANKS to Bob for the service he provides, his suggestions, and his prompting to order the 12" x 24".  He does beautiful photography and has a websit you should definitely check out:  www.bobcookart.com