Back to Pastels!

Almost two years ago I was introduced to pastels by my good friend and fellow artist, Cindy Gross. She hired me to do some interior painting for her in her home and there she showed me her work as a pastel artist. Cindy is a very talented artist and was excited to share this unknown medium to me. I had been doing watercolors and she thought they were beautiful. She told me that I would love pastels. So, one day when I was working at her house, she let me try some. I spent about 30 minutes messing with a few sticks adding colors to a landscape, I believe. Of course my favorite! She was amazed how quickly I took to it. We instantly became friends and I decided to join the North Shore Art League and take a class with her. After that, it was all history! I couldn't wait to get my hands into the pastel dust and start creating painting after painting. Oh how much fun it was to take those classes. I met many talented and fun artists, including my teacher Frances Vail. Thank you Frances for guiding me...........I miss the group, and maybe someday will meet again for more fun with the North Shore Art League.

Finally after a short break from pastel work, I have finished this latest painting. I was inspired by the beautiful daffodils that I saw at the Mettawa, Adlai Stevenson home last Saturday at the plein air group. What a great group............I am grateful for all the fun and help they all provide to advance my career as an artist!

Quick Watercolor and Ink

Learning to just paint is what counts. I have a habit of trying to add every little detail to a painting and crowd in all the little details making the painting too busy. This time I put in what I thought would make a good painting. I found the big old oak hanging over this docking area very beautiful. The original photo was taken on a plein air session last year up in Antioch, IL.

Today I am going to go to the Adlai Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa for another plein air session with my group from the Lake County Art League. I am excited because the sky's are clear and it will be warmer today. Last session, it was a bit brisk and sunny, but was a little windy for painting. So I am hoping for a calmer day to actually have more time to paint.

Got Watercolors on the Brain

Boy when you go into streaks, you go into streaks! I have been cranking out watercolors like crazy. I am working on a few pastels, but can't seem to get them finished to post. So here is another watercolor I did from that batch of photos from the last plein air in Zion.

Still fighting a cough and cold, but everyday feel better and better. Now we are suppose to get more snow! Go figure! April and it's acting like December!

Working on finishing up some of my art

My office/studio looks like a nightmare with all these unfinished paintings hanging around the place, so tonight I thought I'd work on some of them to get them off the easel so to say. I work mostly off of boards, and prefer to work at my desk with the board resting on the computer keyboard tray or stuck in the open drawer! This way I can look at the photo I am working off of from the computer and see the colors and detail right up in my face.

Anyway, here is another watercolor and ink that I did from the photos I took at the Thunderhawk Golf Course. This is approx. 12 x 17.