Happy New Year!

Yippee, 2016 is done!   And to ring in the new year, I've signed up for another 30/30, starting today!    This time, I am not worried if I make Fabulous Art;  I'm doing this one for fun.  For ME!   Some days might just be trying out some new idea I have, some scribbles on paper, maybe even just chosing a color scheme for a painting I have in mind.  

But today, I drove down an old dirt road and just had to finally stop just anywhere--my area is so rich with ideas, sometimes just picking one thing, right now, is tough!

                                                   6x9 on grey wallis sanded paper.  

Having my tiny little sketch box is turning out to be great fun!   No longer am I worried about cold, wind or snow!   I do hope to get in as many plein air pieces in for this 30/30 as possible too.    I spent time to prepare, which made all the world the last time I did this challenge.  

And, I have set a date for the upcoming one day class on Techniques in Pastel!   I have a limited class size so sign up right away to be sure you get a spot!    

Just a quick hello!

As we head into the New Year, I have joined up with other artists to do another 30/30!   Every day for the month of January I plan to do a small painting; it might be nothing more than an experiment, or some little thing I've been wanting to try.   Working small and daily frees my mind up, and there's not a lot of materials involved so it removes that fear of failure.   This round I am not going to hold myself to making something complete, as long as I put pastel or pencil to paper daily!   Its still pretty tough to do!

I also have been wanting to get outside to paint but BRRRR!   I'm made of pretty sturdy stuff but I ain't going to stand in SD winds to paint!    I had been planning to fix this little wooden box into a "Front Seat Pochade" for some time; now I can use it for this challenge.    Now I can sit in my car, hot cuppa nearby, tunes playing, even Arty can come along!   What fun!!   Painting snow without the frostbite!

I tried it out this morning, just something from memory to try it on.  Yeah, I like it!   Hey Mikey!   (just aged myself there, didn't I?)   My new little thumb box* will suit me just fine!  

*thumb box is the term, as long ago artists used to make a box so small, they only needed to hold them with their thumb to do field sketches, long before cameras, to make a snapshot so to speak!

I Have the Power!

....tools, that is.   Love me some power tools.   They used to scare me and I still have a very healthy respect for them and take all the precautions.   But I think power tools give me power!   Today I used my chop saw and a power drill.

This is/was my cutting box for my soaps.  that front part *had* a stop on it so the soaps were all the right size and evenly cut.  This was my first attempt at making a cutter box, and it worked ok for a year now, but had several flaws.   The stop snapped off last night, so time to get building....

This one is the bomb!   It has a must sturdier front end and stop so my soaps won't come out wedge cut.   A handle on top also keeps the sideboards from wobbling.   All from scrap made and custom sized!   Like most projects, took me longer than expected but the price was right and I didn't have to compromise on the size, etc.  

There are only a couple more weeks for discounts in the studio!   10% off soaps, and up to 75% on everything else, including incoming framing and painting commissions!

I will be making soaps often in the next few weeks, and those will need time to sit and cure before use, but they will be ready to leave the shop very soon, don't let this chance slip past you!

Happy Holidays to All!

This year is wrapping up pretty quick!   I am working on a few Christmas things that I can't show just yet.  

But I am excited to tell you that I am offering at least  10% and up to 50% off everything til Christmas.   That is soaps, paintings, and even new orders for frames or commission work!    What can I do for you?

"Norma" private collection

UPCOMING CLASS!!

COMING SOON!!!    I will be holding a ONE DAY ONLY class in Mitchell SD.   This class will be geared for artists working in other mediums, but who'd like to try pastels.  

I will be covering materials and techniques, so bring what you have!!   I'll be going over mark making, supplies and what to do with them. 

Keep watch for more information to come!   This will be a small class so you won't want to wait to sign up!

I've been finally getting more time back in the studio, and some plein aire as well.   With such great fall weather, its mighty hard not to spend as much time as possible outside but I needed to get some of the Dog Days pieces going.  

First up is Jake, a lab who was a rescue and became a very much loved fella.   I love hearing clients talk about their animals, and it truly helps in the painting of them.   I keep in mind what the client has said and try to put that into the painting.  

"Jake"   12x16 pastel on navy colorfix

The client wanted a rustic frame and we went with this barnboard style--its a bit more grey in real life.   

Since Jake was approved yesterday, I took today to go sketching.   I wanted to catch some photos of this huge moon we have now,  and our sunsets have been amazing!

I stopped on a section line and got the dogs out and my sketchbox.  I knew I wouldn't have much time, so I just hit it and left it, each mark is fresh and very strong.   I used this dark blue paper to make it easier on myself--the dark blue served as much of the shadow areas.   I left a lot of the blue uncovered by pastel, and it lent a uniformity to the whole.

"Looking North"  8x12 pastel Plein Aire, colorfix paper

Thanks for stopping in, see you next time!

Hiatis

Took a brief time-out.   My daughter was between jobs in Colorado so we spent the month riding and other fun stuff.  

I am working on some commissions at the moment, and so I cant' show those just yet. 

Although I haven't any actual paintings to show, I can show what I've been doing in between riding, cooking and just hanging out....some nature sketching.

I have been hiking most days for weeks on end and dont' plan to stop anytime soon!   Right now the fall colors, clear or cloudy skies, changing of the fields, wow, its all just a feast!  

I take a small sketchbook and just a few pencils (hard, med. very soft, and a white graphite) and find a spot to just enjoy.  My dogs get to sniff and run and roll, and I get to smell the fresh air, feel the sun and listen to the birds.   Very addicting!  

I don't do these sketches for any other reason than fun.   Maybe just a tad of study, but its a way to let all that nature soak into my soul.   I see so many scientific studies done that prove it; they didn't need to bother, they could've just asked a plein air sketcher!