PSA

Today I received a notice that I was accepted into the Pastel Society of America.  I am thrilled beyond words!

Lemons and Bowl with early Daffs

Lemons and Bowl with Early Daffs

10x10 oil on panel

 

I enjoyed painting Friday's daffs so much that I bought two more bunches when I went out for groceries.  It is snowing again and is forecast to continue until the end of the day tomorrow. A foot or two on top of the three feet we had last week. There isn't a better way to spend the time than inside the warm studio painting daffodils and thinking of spring.

Lemons and Daffs

Lemons and Daffs

6x6 oil on panel

 

This one is almost done, just needs a little tweeking.

 

I started with a wash of sienna and a sketch with umber, wiping out the lights.

 

 

Block -in

 

Adjusting.  This is where I notice it is almost finished and that it might be ok.

Copper Pot

Copper Pot

6x8 oil on RayMar Panel

 

When something isn't working, try something different. I had been working on a pastel landscape.  I did multiple versions of it on different surfaces.  They were all ok but none were great and they were not getting better.  I hung them all so I could evaluate and I put the pastels away.

 

This is an oil study based on Kelli Folsom's video on painting metallic objects. I watched it for the third time while I painted along with her.  She doesn't use OMS to mix her paints or clean her brushes, just wipes down with a paper towel. This is also the first time I used oil primed linen and I could not believe how easily the paint moved around.  These are definitely techniques I will use again!

Maine Marsh 2

Maine Marsh 2

6x8 pastel on colorfix rose gray

 

The same reference photo as yesterday, I am playing around with different surfaces and underpaintings. I used nupastels for the underpainting and girault for the final version.

 

Underpainting using 3 values of nu pastels

alcohol wash

 

 

Maine Marsh

Maine Marsh

12x16 soft pastel on canson mi teintes paper

 

 I was not happy with it when I finished it a week ago so I left it on the easel to think about.  Today I made a few corrections and I like it now. I hope to get back to this spot next summer.

Minumental

 

Peonies

2"by2"

This little painting was done for the NHIA "Minumentals" show with very small brushes!

 

It is painting #14.200, I painted 200 paintings in 2014! My goal was to complete 100.

Looking back, I learned a lot and my work did improve and I was pleased to realize that I like more than I thought I would, sold a few and won a few awards.

 

The mediocre ones still get me down so I packed them up in a box and put them out of sight.

 

My plan for 2015 is of course to continue painting. I want to improve my oil landscapes so I hope to focus on them.  I plan to apply for associate membership in the PSA, membership in NH Art Association and join Newburyport Art Association.  I will have a focus exhibit in December at Sullivan Framing so a lot of my work will be towards that end. Friends and Family have reminded me not to be so quick to wipe out or toss away so I am saving even my failures to help record my progress.