Mountain Barn

Mountain Barn

My second go with oil pastel crayons.  I'm working on different ways I can learn to blend.  A dab of linseed oil on a rubber tip brush works pretty well.  I'm experimenting.  These are really sketchy, but fun because they're so fast.  Only have 14 colors (including b & w) so I'm looking forward to getting a bigger set.

It's always an adventure...

Arles Morning

Arles Morning

pastel oil crayon on canva-paper

So I was looking for something in my art junk drawer, can't remember what, and I ran across this pad of "Canva-Paper".  Then I ran across some old, old "Cra-Pas" art sticks that I have had forever.  

This is from a photo I took in Arles, France.  I have a painting halfway done of this scene in oil right now, but I thought I would just see what these oil crayons did on the same setting.  I only have 14 different colors, so it's limited but I dunno....I thought this looked kinda cool.

It's always an adventure............

Abandoned

Charcoal study for 'Abandoned'

I was going to put more "stuff" in the foreground like a wheel, maybe some junk.  I thought stark was better.  doorway needs something.

If anyone wants some of these I'll let them go for a reasonable price.  They're mostly just on newsprint, 18 x 24.

It's always an adventure

"Around the Block"

These are my entries at the Parklane Gallery for October.  the web site with more info is on the flyer.

It's always an adventure...

Parklane Gallery - October

I have 3 new works for October and 2 repeats (Rainstorm and Sunflowers).  These images are raw, without frames to save space on the page.  Rod's Lake is oil, One Headlight is charcoal and Red Door is pastel.  (I just started pastel work, so am going through a first stage learning curve.)   Although, everything is a learning curve now, isn't it?

It's always an adventure...

Charcoal study for Main Track Open

Main Track Open

Tracks heading east from Salina.  I took out alot of detail and moved the switch to experiment with composition.  Almost has a B&W negative effect using my eraser on the trees and grain elevators in the distance.  I did this whole thing in 20 minutes so it's pretty loose.

It's always an adventure...

Too Far Gone...charcoal study

Too Far Gone

The loneliness of this small barn on the prairie was striking to me.  I added a man sitting next to the ditch, his thoughts left to the viewer's imaginings.  This study is for a future oil/watercolor, possibly a pastel.

It's always something...

Night Falls study

Charcoal study for Night Falls

I wanted to do something a little different in oil (for me), so I did this study.  Not sure about color and texture just yet.  I did this in about 30 minutes so I didn't go back and fix stuff that needs fixin'.  These are fun to do.

It's always an adventure...

Rod's Lake

Rod's Lake

This is really not Rod's lake.  Rod took the photograph.  I've just always called it his lake.  It IS a lake somewhere but that doesn't really matter.  What matters is the fun and (of course) learning I got while doing it.  I like sky and I like foreground so I guess that's why my horizon is always sort of in the middle.  I need to venture out from that maybe.  

It's always an adventure...

Soggy Morning

Soggy Morning (charcoal study sketch)

Every artist has done a road and puddles with a mailbox before.  This has been bouncing around in my head so I finally sat down and drew what I saw.  Tested it in photoshop with various "blurs" and the light and form holds strong so - onward.  Probably a 16 x 20 when I get to it.

It's always an adventure...

The Cannon Art Studio for September

September 2012

This is from my monthly flyer showing September art at the Parklane Gallery in Kirkland.

It's always an adventure...

Back 40 Shed

Back 40 Shed

This is the last of my midwest pastel series for awhile (unless I can find the ones I misfiled).  Glad to be back home in Seattle (AND we have one more week of nice weather supposedly coming up).  Soon to be grey and gloom and shut inside my studio for a winter of work.

It's always an adventure...

Cottonwoods

Cottonwoods

I tried to catch the essence of big cottonwoods along an unseen river beyond.  Pastel on creme medium tooth paper, from my photos.

It's always an adventure...

Desert Truck

Desert Truck

More experimenting with pastels.  This is 5" x 5", for a 12x12 frame.  Pastel is more difficult for smaller size drawings, especially when you only have the large soft sticks and working on mom's dining room table.  Yes, I'm getting in trouble for the mess.

It's always an adventure...