Setting Up

I found myself enjoying the feeling of nupastels.  They are on the hard end of soft pastels and come in long thin square sticks.  I like to use them because I love to draw above all and I get the chance to experiment with line and and shape.  I started this painting with a watercolor under painting in compliments.  I tend to cover up most of my original painting, so why do it?  It loosens me up.  It is rhythmic and relaxing and gets me on the map.  So when I place that first mark down with soft pastel it doesn't stand alone.  It is a mark that feels right or doesn't because of what is already down in the under painting.  Silly, maybe, but it is my process of warming up to the surface and feeling my way through.  It works for me.  Sometimes I just lay it down with strong strokes in a very alla prima style, but today I love tickling the paper and let line build slowly and securely.  It is a different style that is directly related to me and my personal feeling about the journey from start to finish.

"Setting Up", 12x12 soft pastels on wallis paper

Chemers Gallery
17300 Seventeenth Street, Suite G, Tustin, CA 92780
714.731.5432     info@chemersgallery.com

With Thought of Bischoff

12x12, oil, sold

Sunday was the last day of the Bischoff show in Pasadena.  My husband and I drove up in the rain and the down pour on the way back.  It was a show I so enjoyed with some of the most beautiful rose painting s I have ever seen.  I went for the landscapes and was delighted with the roses.  Just a gorgeous exhibit.

ONE OUT

8x8, oil, $100.00

Reds are challenging.  I have been drawn to these complimentary set ups when doing still life work.  The reds of the rose is vibrate or just vibrating up against the green background.  It is not as vivid in person.  I love it...

SOAKING UP THE LIGHT

6x6, oil, $75.00

I think I enjoyed this painting for the fun of the brush.  I felt free and confident in my stroke which was nice.  

COOL ON WARM

10x8, oil, $120.00

Thought I would try my hand again with a rose.  I enjoyed painting the warm background against the cool pale yellows, blues and whites of the rose.  I found myself focusing on the vase and leaves more than the rose itself.  The light was a incandescent with a fluorescent.  I directed it more directly over head and found that it flooded the soft pedal of the rose and washed away color and shadows in the rose, but still cast a nice shadow on the background.  I loved the play of the green leaves against the warm red.  

What is fun about painting almost everyday is the chance to just try things.  Tomorrow is another day and another painting with new things to try.  Taking info from today will always benefit tomorrow.

Before I started today I read a little about values and light in a book from my self called "Problem Solving for oil Painters", by Gregg Kreutz.  I loved reading this in the chapter on light,"The thing to remember is that you're not really painting a green apple, you're painting light hitting an apple.  The apples existence is revealed by the light".  So light is everything...

  

OH SWEET ROSE

6x6, oil, sold

This little painting made me crazy.  Roses are just difficult for me.  I approach them with a value sketch and lay out a map to follow and still find myself lost in the layers.

So something to continue to visit with spring not to far off.

BLOOMING SHADOW

8x6, oil, $90.00

Back to the easel and still life after a nice break.  I have been playing around with color and having some fun.  There was a time that all I did was play with color.  Never finished a painting and doodled on everything in sight.  As fun as that was it is sure nice to have something for my time.

"SO LOVELY"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Just a little rose in my yard that I can't remember the name, except that it was lovely.  It was cut and painted and just drooped when it's portrait was complete.  I really love painting these little ones.  

"UNCONDITIONAL TO THE LAST PETAL"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Another little sweetie.  I love my roses till the end.  I often trim them down as they begin to weep hoping to get a little more life out of them.  I have many little vases to hold them dear till the end. 

"LOOK'IN FOR LOVE"

4x4, oil on 3/8 panel, $50.00

Working this small is fun because it goes with my love for small things.  I have always collected little things, like thimble size.  There is something personal and sweet to a painting so small.  I have been working with bigger brushes to make me stay loose and I am lov'in it.  They are a little abstract to me.  Anyway this rose was pulling way over and made me think it was look'in for something.  So why not love.

Through My Garden Gate 8x10 oil

Got out mid to late afternoon today to paint this one.  I kept thinking I would start painting inside, but wanted to try this busy scene to see if I could simplify it.  there are several layers and I have trouble with dark foliage in the distance.  Like what color is that anyway.  So here it is..I think it is a bit busy or dotty.  To many iceberg roses, I got a little carried away.

So this is the walkway close to the house in the back yard.  I am sitting under the Crepe Myrtle tree that I painted in my last post.  I have a thing for gates and walkways as they feel hopeful and inviting.  This leads to our driveway where lots of basketball has been and still is played.  I have several broken roof tiles to prove it.  It is an area of energy and action.  With three boys and their friends, it is a place to escape, shoot a few and return to whatever.  To the right is an old Orange Tree that has been in the background of many Christmas photos.  Love to send those back to the Midwest.  So I continue with "About the House"...

Stepping Out And About the House 10x8 oil

Onward and upward with the "About the House" series.  It sure is easy to pack up and step out my front door.  I only made 5 trips back in the house to get stuff.  Much better than driving home.  Which I have not done yet.  Ah well, you forget something and you just get along without it, but not 10 steps away.

This was a challenge with green.  Green grass, green plants, green green green.  Thank goodness there was a house to add some structure and shape.

Love these iceberg tree roses.  They line the walk up to my front door.  I decided to paint them from the side where I walk around my house from the back to the front.  We have these stepping stones that create a path to the front side walk and continues through to the other side of the house.  I like to almost jump from step to step.  It reminds me of being a kid and stepping on every line in the sidewalk. 

So it was a peaceful morning with birds chirping and neighbors out for a morning walk.

It was suggested that I do a nocturne painting...hummmmmmmm.  Thanks for the idea Marian (check here to see her blog).   

A Rose 6x6 pastel

I have been cutting roses from my yard to put in small vases around my house.  They don't last long and I keep saying I need to paint one.   So today I was sitting at my desk and staring at this rose in its open stage, knowing that tomorrow would be to late.  Yes, tomorrow the petals will fall and another opportunity gone.  So with a box of miscellaneous pastels, I dug out a few colors that might get this rose across with justice.  At the same time I completed something and that makes me feel good.  

Late Rose

This rose was from my yard. It was a little tattered and ready to be cut and tossed. I just started painting without much thought. I will try again, it was good practice.10" x 8" oil