Pouring the Foundation, 9x9

"Pouring the Foundation" 9x9" Pastel on Paper

When I present a pastel workshop or class series, I love sharing new ideas and materials that I have experimented with my students. Here is one example of a pastel piece that was painted on a navy blue Canson paper using the lumpy side.  I enjoy using the lumpy surface because it sort of feels like the sanded surface that I am so enamored with. I use the side of my pastels to lightly glide over the texture, allowing the pits to remain unfilled. It gives it a funky look that sort of looks like I painted it on a window screen. It worked well with this particular subject as I loosely conveyed the activity of this scene, leaving the viewer to "fill in" the rest. 

7-week Pastel series at OSA

Demo of alcohol wash underpainting

The Oregon Society of Artists has asked me to teach pastel on an ongoing basis so I have put together a 7-week series that runs continually until April of 2015. I'm in the final stretch of my first 7-week series and it sure has been a wonderful class. I'm finding that teaching is incredibly rewarding. I think it may become a little bit addicting. So, the next class series will begin Nov 25th and end on Jan 6th.  There is still room for 2 more students, so if you have been looking for a weekly pastel class, this may be your time.  Check out the info HERE.

Above is one of my demonstrations using an alcohol underpainting. It always makes for a lose wash that gives interesting variations and twists for me. We have studied mark-making, values, color theory, and we still have a few classes left to work out a solvent underpainting as well as a few quick timed pieces to get the juices going.  

Time lapse movie: West On Canyon, 20x16

West on Canyon, 20x16" Pastel on sanded paper

Here is a really fast video of my recent painting "West On Canyon". Every time I watch this, I think what others may suspect that I drank too much Monster, Rockstar, or Red Bull drink. Nope, not ever will I try one. I like my own generated energy that comes from eating well and getting enough rest, thankyouverymuch! Enjoy!

Time lapse movie: Season's Between, 20x16

Making a time-lapse movies is really a cinch, that is, once you've bumbled through all the errors and computer jargon! This is my third video I've created and I think I've got the hang of it. One special tool I use to create these art marketing pieces is my iMac. My iMac does so much for me as an artist that it's indispensable! If there ever were a fire in my studio, it would be my iMac (or it's backup hard drive) that I'd rescue first! Anyway, I use iMovie to create these time lapsed films and it really is not that hard to figure out. And it's so much fun to see the artwork come together...the painting process and corrections along the way. Oh, and I forgot, you have to have a video camera too...yes, that would help too. Enjoy!