Art on the Walls at the Y

Field Poppies 6x7 Pastel  $48

It is a busy time this summer.  Ya would think I could be painting but there is a another show coming up at the YMCA.  Chris Shay invited me and my friend Gail to do a show that will hang during July and August.  Getting ready for a show is not the most fun part of art but required if one wants to get their art into the world.  I had to update the inventory of paintings and determine if a piece should be held for a pending entry into a juried show.  And then there  is the framing to complete.  Many times a painting will be left unframed for just a bit more work or there just isn't enough time to get the framing done....  and the little show tags must be created.

The show will hang the beginning of July and the reception will be July 15th at the Y from 5 to 6 PM.  The Y is located just east of Holliday park accessed from 19th street.  

Market Finds 9x12 Pastel  $188

                                                       
See Gail's web site to see what she may be bringing. http://www.gailwatford.com/

You can email me direct at enliven.art@gmail.com


See you at the show.  

Crafting This Week With Neckties

Wow it has been a plumb full week with  our two G'sons staying here while their parents are traveling (in two directions)  No time to paint but I wanted to share this clever little purse.  I have saved old neckties for years and this is a perfect way to use them.  Choose two coordinating ties and cut them to 17 inches from the wide end.  Choose a thread color, but generally black works the best, especially with the black cording as shown.  Overlap the ties by 1/4 inch and stitch the two ties together up the middle with a flat seam. 

The handle can be the cording as shown or use a piece of the skinny part of the tie.  Remove the sizing to create a matching handle.  It can be long or short. Or you can even skip the handle if you want a little clutch or a jewelry bag.   

Fold the narrow part of the double tie piece over the handle and stitch.  Then fold the purse as shown and stitch each side just to the edge of the handle.  The closure can be a matching corded frog or make your own with the scraps of the cut ties. 

So all you crafty people out there, including the Girl's Gone Mild, find those old ties and get creative. 

Plein Air

Reference Photo Shellback Ranch Road

Jeanne Mackenzie was our instructor for a two day workshop in plein air, which is translated from French as painting outdoors.  Jeanne paints outside in all weather and was an excellent instructor.   She says, start with just big shapes, not tress and water and sky and land and a lilac bush, just big shapes.  Then discover the values of the various shapes.   The sky is typically the lightest value and the closer the shape usually the darker the value. Though Jeanne paints in oil, I had my pastels to paint with.  I discovered that painting from the great outdoors is hard. Finding a pleasing composition, with all there is to behold, takes discipline.  Finding the shapes and values for the preliminary sketch is not intuitive for me.  I did take reference photos but fininishing in the studio isn't technically plein air.  Guess I won't be a purist.   I started three paintings but none are finished.  


A gust of wind knocked over the easel.  Pastels went a flying but at least they didn't land in the cow pie.  The next gust knocked over the easel again and hit me in the head.  

Picking up pastels