A Very Good Year

Art has played a part of my life this past year, however painting has been sporadic.  Perhaps the four months away on the World Cruise, or the other travel.  Saying goodbye to mom after 92 years on this earth and the typical day to day endeavors have changed my motivation to paint in pastel.  Deselm's Fine Art has represented my pastels for a number of years and this year Harvey has sold eight paintings.  This is the inspiration to get out the pastels and begin again to create. 

Rejoice has a new home

I had received a bouquet at Easter and the light from the window caught my eye.  Light is typically my inspiration to paint.

The Falls 12x24

The Falls was inspired from Don's photo from Artist Point in Yellowstone National Park.  An iconic image, this is my interpenetration of this famous vantage point in the nation's first national park.

A Very Good Year

Can o Lilacs - BOS and On the Graybull - 1st at RSVP

I have been fortunate this year to be accepted in several juried shows and proud to win awards on these paintings. The inspiration of vegetables and clouds pulled me to the easel  and let me explore my impression of a moment.   The pastels will be in hiatus until next March.  Wonder what will be my inspiration next year?!?

Landline - BOS and 1st CAG National Show

Check out Locations link above and find some of these pieces for sale, and please don't miss my last show for this year at FrameMaster this Thursday the 10th for the Art Design & Dine  art tour.

Leadership Cheyenne Beautification Project
One of 8 artists to be chosen for a wrap

This was my first year to be chosen for the Pastel Society of Colorado Mile High International Show for Winter Beets and delighted to win an award for Fresh Market at the PSC miniature Show. Yep more beets.  Ya can't beet that as my pastel pal Jeannette quipped......

Yes,  a very good year.  Best to all in your pursuits in 2016.

Fresh Market

Winter Beets

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Shows and More Shows

All Pastel with Pastel Society of Colorado Members

I was invited to curate the Nagle Warren Mansion for this month for Art Design and Dine and what more fun than inviting some of the members of the Pastel Society of Colorado, living in Cheyenne, to join me is a show All Pastel.  Don't miss the reception November 12th at 5:30 until 8 PM. More than two dozen extraordinary pastel pieces, some note cards and a local display of my Kitchen Art Series.  The other pieces are in the Loveland Clutural Center through November 22.  Show is up all  this month if you will miss us on the 12th. Open Monday through Sunday 9 to 6 PM.  

Be sure to click Locations above page to see the other locations for my pastels through the end of the year.   


And while you are out on the art tour stop by the Paramount and see the Cheyenne Camera Club Macro show, featuring nine club members.  The Paramount show is up all month if  you miss the reception on the 12th.  

Annual Easter Show at CAG

Spring Menagerie Pastel 12x24 

The Cheyenne Artist Guild has been in existence for more than sixty-five years, located in the historic Van Tassel Carriage House in Holliday park.  We have lived in Cheyenne for forty years and always enjoyed the Annual Easter show, featured for many years at the bank. This year I have three pastels and Don has three pieces of photography.  You can visit the Guild Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 PM or Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM.  The reception for the Easter show is Sunday April 5th from 1 to 3 PM.

In addition to the monthly art shows the CAG offers numerous workshops, one from my mentor, friend and Denver artist Terrie Lombardi is scheduled for April 18 and 19th.  You may sign up by calling 307 623-2263.  

Summer's End in Western Spirit

Summer's End Pastel 10x20

It is always rewarding to get the little notification you have been accepted.  Western Spirit is an exceptional show featured at our Old West Museum with almost 200 artists from across the nation juried into the show.  It opens March 1st and runs through April 13th.  

This piece will be there with over 300 other pieces.  It is based on a photo I snapped at our Governor's residence, an arrangement in an old milk can.  The light was just right making the sunflowers gleam.  

The Falls 16x20 

This is also the first year that the show has included photography as fine art. Don just took up photography two years ago and he has two images to show.  Be sure to come and see Begin Again and The Falls, both images of a Yellowstone trip. 

Begin Again 16x20

Take Three Snow Days

 

 

It started snowing Sunday, and by Tuesday schools and offices were closing. I pulled out some reference photos from last spring, the iris were irresistible. Having just finished a workshop with Mike Beeman I worked through the steps for creating a great painting. First find the value map. I keep it simple. Not having the Value Viewer, a great little app created by Mark Putman, I make a copy of my reference photo in black and white.  I was happy with the composition as I had cropped the original photo.   Next I chose a palette and realized I needed an even a darker purple to create the shapes of the iris.  I used the analogous color wheel to find a discord to keep the eye moving.   The snow has stopped so the time to really paint, not just do a quick study, may not begin again for a bit.  This painting in pastel is 10x20 and is Irresistible on this cold April day. 

Our early summer iris from last year... oh for Spring...

 

 

 



Purely Pastel

    

Gorgeous 9x12

Many months ago I proposed a show called Purely Pastel to the Community College, our LCCC.  I was honored and thrilled they liked my concept of a show.  All the work will be in pastel and my teacher, Terrie Lombardi, will do a demo in pastel before the reception.  She will also show several of her pieces.  Because the exhibition is educating about pastel there is also a chance to see a slide show on how pastel is made and  learn about the pure pigment, pastel sticks and papers that combine to create the art work.  So save the date, Wednesday September 12th and join us at 7 PM in the Easter and John Clay Fine Arts Gallery.   See these pieces along with eighteen more through October 11.




Exquisite 8x10





WOW

Yes Works of Wyoming, WOW. http://www.worksofwyoming.org/  They opened a retail store last week. It was a fun day trip to wander that way, overland from Cheyenne.  We jumped in the Tundra around 9 AM and arrived before lunch.  Amazing scnery on the southside of I80.  We drove through the Remount Ranch and dropped down through the Hermosa tunnel and then emerged at Tie Siding and on to Laramie.  Ron and Wyn Ratz were also over for the grand opening so after making our mark on the canvas cloth had lunch next door with them.   

Wyn Ratz and Vanda Edington at WOW opening

We came back via Happy Jack road and Don photographed some scenery.  I loved the truck and may try it in pastel.  It is marking the entrance of the Bunkhouse Bar. 

Chek out WOW next trip to Laramie and don't forget our amazing little jewel at the Univerasity... The Art Museum.
http://www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum/

Shows and Shows and Shows

Pure Pigment Reception

Art Shows are springing up.   So you know that Pure Pigment opened at the WOW gallery in Laramie yesterday.  Gail and I had a nice collection of friends and met some new folks at the demo.  Jeanie Schlump, a brilliant pastel painter, enjoyed trying out pan pastels.  http://jeanieschlump.com/


And remember you still have time to see the Western Spirit Show http://www.oldwestmuseum.org/western_spirit_art_show_2012.aspx 

Old Mill pastel 8x6

in Cheyenne at the Old West Museum.   
This show runs through April 15th,  The Old Mill, Ivy and Aster and Helianthus are there with more than 200 pieces of art from 130 artists selected from across the nation. 


The next show, the Cheyenne Artists Guild annual Easter Show, will open April 3rd.  It is a tradition to visit the Guild on Easter Sunday, see the show and visit with the community.    Rejoice and Raw Chocolate will be on display.  

Framed

It usually takes about an hour to frame each piece.  First the pieces need one last look, a signature, a name and trimmed to fit the frame.   I usually use standard frame sizes for the economy.  I want to sell my art so framing expense needs to be reasonable.  The frames you see in the picture are from an online art website.  My friend Gail and I watch for the sales and buy in large lots to get the "free" shipping.  The glass is also purchased in bulk.  I use non-glare.  There are conservations between using regular glass, non-glare and museum glass.  When you see a piece framed in each of the styles you can decide which you prefer.   There must be a riser between the glass and the pastel image.  Since none of these pieces are matted the riser is thin and set on the edge of the frame. 

Notice the piece on the top right still needs glass.  I need to check my inventory as the 16x20 size is depleted.  The piece is called Rejoice and will be on display at the Cheyenne Artists Guild Easter show in April.

These pieces were painted over the last few months.  The studio is now ready for new inspiration.