Study in temperature alone.

Yesterday I started a 2 day workshop with Tom Balderas.  This temperature exercise was challenging.  I think value first and value got shelved for this one.  Using a limited palette of warm and cool for yellow, red, blue and green we went through the process of decided which of these colors would fit each shape.  Lots of mind tweaking.  It was fun and I will try this many many more times.

So for my 30 in 30, I have 2 in 5.  I'm failing the challenge,  oh dear!

Ode To The Tree

I am so rusty.  Did this pastel of my tree in the yard that is being removed tomorrow to make room for a big new shed.  Did one of a little shed before this that was way too rough.  It all gets me started.

I commited to Leslie Saeta'ps 30 in 30 for September to knock the dust off and get back to painting.  I can tell you it doesn't come back easily.  I am hoping to stay with it daily for 30 days.  Wish me luck.

The Plaza

The fountain in the center of the plaza is a wonderful gathering place.   It is a great place to sit and relax and enjoy the charm of Downtown Orange.

Edgy - A Study Of Self

The palette knife is a tool unlike a brush.  There is an awkwardness to my handling of it.  It is like trying to use a tool in a small space.  I had the feeling of being restricted.  That feeling did get better.  I realized the fun of it was mixing color and putting it down. It felt very much like laying down chucks of pastel except with a tool.  I wanted to use my hands and just move the paint around with my fingers.  The other difficult thing was that I cannot see well without my glasses and they are a part of me.  I kept pushing my face thinking that I had them on.  I had a wonderful shade of phthalo blue on the bridge of my nose for most of the session.  So as you may get from all this, ...I was very much out of my comfort zone.  I seem to do that as much as possible these days.  There are things that don't work, so I will keep this practice going and you may so these from time to time.

Lovely Girl

8x10, oil, $100.00

It is not often that pretty is important in painting, but she is very pretty and capturing her beauty was the challenge.  Just a "Lovely Girl".