Jennifer Evenhus

Jennifer and Vanda in Wenatchee, WA Studio

Jennifer Evenhus has intrigued me since I saw her images in Pastel Journal, in a number of issues.  Wenatchee, Washington is just a bit off the path to Seattle so this last trip to visit Kristin, with a quick email request to meet, Jennifer and I were in her studio.  What a delight to see her work up close.  Her palette is vibrant, her marks masterful with their bold and confident strokes. Her pastel collection was not enormous and as we discussed, as you develop your own personal set of hues, you don't really need all 515 Terry Ludwig Pastels, but oh it could be fun?  She also told me she does her pastels on Uart 400, which I have also begin using with the shortage of Wallis.

Pastel 9x12 by Jennifer Evenhus

I chose this luscious little beauty to go home with me, however Jennifer wasn't ready to part with it telling me of her plan to write a book, with a working title of Ten Minute Studies and this will likely be an image in the book. After more deliberation  Forgotten was my next pick.  I have been gravitating to Kitchen Art loving colors and forms of vegetables and the zest of markets and lovingly arranged produce.  Maybe I can try 18 minute studies... 10 minutes, how does she do it?

Forgotten pastel 6x12 by Jennifer Evenhus

The Demo

One and a half hour pastel demo by Diane Rappisi

The Pastel Society of Colorado hosts a monthly meeting and the high point is a demo by a notable artist.  Diane Rappisi moved to Colorado in 2011, and has opened a studio, the Atelier at Castle Rock, where she paints and offers private and group instruction.  She explained her passion for portrait and when ever possible painting from life, is her first love. Diane declared that learning to paint, was not an innate ability but with instruction, passion and lots of practice developing art is possible for anyone.

Diane chose Terry Ludwig for this demo the creator of a pastel brand coveted by pastel artists for their range of hues and their dense, velvety texture.

Diane Rappisi & Terry Ludwig

Art on the Walls at the Y

Landline Pastel

The show is up at the YMCA with pastels by my friend Barbara Wolf and me.  Along with street scenes from NYC and landscapes from Wyoming you will find fruits and vegetables in the Kitchen Series.  All priced right for a unique gift this season. Stop by the Y any time or mark you calendar for a reception on December 12th from 5 to 6 p.m.  Hope to see you there.

If you have access to Warren AFB stop by the Holiday Mart in Fall Hall this Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.  I will have mini-mini's, note cards and the Wyoming Pride series on display.  

New Venue

Raw Chocolate Pastel 12 x 9  $250

I was delighted to be asked by Maura Jacobsen to place my pastel  paintings at the Wyo Art Factory.  Maura opened the business not only as her Studio for her unique ceramics but as a place to host events related to art as well as birthday parties, workshops and next year watch for art camps.  She is also on the Art Design & Tour.  The next tour is November 13th from 5 to 8 PM.

One of the pieces at the Wyo Art Factory is Raw Chocolate.  I was intrigued to learn more about chocolate, a FAVORITE staple in my home, after visiting Theo Chocolate in Seattle.  The cocoa pods were bright and leathery before they are opened and processed.  Theo Chocolate is unique in their processing as they do not use soy lecithin to thicken the chocolate.

Meeting Other Artists

Along Hwy 7 Gilpin County CO

Sunday was  our day away driving in the Colorado mountains, stopping to photograph the glorious fall foliage and meeting the artists on the studio tours. The artists are all members of the Pastel Society of Colorado.  Virginia Unsled was in a spot with 360 degrees views with a detached studio in Gilpin county, near Black Hawk.  Jeannette Stutzman, Sally Davidson-Marovich and Karen Spotts all had their studios spaces showcasing their art and personalities in the Evergreen area.  

The Evergreen Studio tour had another artist I admire and was delighted to meet, Jane Christie. Her luscious pastels are painted on black Canson paper.  See her art at Saks Gallery in Denver.  Saks Gallery

Check out Jane

A Commission

Wyoming Pride Series

We were driving in Maine when I got the email from Beth at the Wyoming State Museum Store.  She needed 30 paintings for the Legislative trade delegation to take to Asia. Would I be interested?  With cell reception in the middle of Maine (we are traveling to the smallest town in each state)  I accepted the commission and mentioned my pastel pal Gail might also help.   I choose our Wyoming state flower, the Indian Paintbrush, which I have painted several other times. The image is the finished 5x7 pieces in four compositions delivered for framing.  Gail painted the Wyoming state bird, the Meadowlark.   The paintings are on the way to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to be given as gifts.  

one of the 5x7 pastels