I is for In for the Night

This landscape is in chalk pastel on dark blue Canson MiTiente paper.  

Somehow as I worked, the image turned icy cold. Even the moon became wintry and reflected its chill onto the water.

No one is outside in this dreary wintry scene - except the moon. I am no fan of winter - and this image reflects my feelings.

However, it was fun to let the colors turn cool and the houses grow dark so that everyone is asleep in their cozy beds. I hope ...

Finding my Voice

Pastel on Black

Acrylics, pastel, markers, pens, color blocks, simple lines, abstract, art deco, painterly, graphical. Which way do I work? What do I want to do? Do I want to paint or draw, free form or delineated shapes? Lines or blobs, loose or structured?

The walls of my studio are crowded with the many and varied images I have created since I started to paint in acrylics this fall. There are  abstract faces, flows and stripes of vivid color, wild bright flowers,  mysterious forests, lovely girls in pretty dresses, symmetrical patterns and subtle geometrics. I also see drawings, pastels, line images and complicated symmetrical patterns.

What I can not yet see is a theme ... what DO I paint? What is my style? What do I want to say? Will I learn to say it? Will others want to see it? Will I feel good enough about my work to show it?

Classes help - every week another artist to study and think about, another technique or concept to consider and incorporate. Every class brings another artist to fall in love with, a new idea to marvel at or a color that compels me. Every class makes me  think, THIS is the way I want to work, and every week I realize how much I do not know, how much I can not do, and how much I want to learn.
Lately though, I am beginning to see some growth - an idea from one painting, a color combination, a technique I have learned, a style I particularly enjoy carrying over into my new work and shaping my choices. Last night I dreamed of bold sweeping lines, inspired by work I see in my classes, yet when I set out to work today, the image that I suddenly decided to draw was not lines at all, but loose, bright colored shapes - lights and darks, and not a painting, but a pastel. So, here it is, pastel on black paper, small and  square.

I am happy for today - the results are vibrant, the process was fun - and these are definitely MY colors, and those lines that have been so compelling to me lately? They are here too.  Is this a step to finding my own voice?

U is for Up

The endless rain and drear is dragging me down - so it was time to look up - up at the sky on a lovely evening. This little pastel (4"x6") is part of series of little sky sketches drawn from my photos of sunsets on the beach - in different places and at different times. What they share in common is gorgeous light and uplifting colors.

Q is for Questions

In the style of Richard Diebenkorn

Is this good? What is wrong with this? How can I do this? Why doesn't this look right? Who can help me? Why is this so hard?

Artistic confidence is not always my strong suit. Sometimes, no matter what I do, the image I am working on fails to satisfy my toughest audience ... me.

Maybe the only thing I do not question on my creative quest is my own  sense of what is beautiful to me. In my eyes, either it works or it doesn't. I trust my sense of esthetics, just not my ability to create it.

Sometimes, as I am working along I suddenly know - this is good. More often, far more often, I know I am off - but I am not sure why.

One of my teachers suggests that a good way to learn technique is to copy the work of masters. I have learned a great deal about working with pastels in this way - and the results are often pleasing, and always worth the effort.

Today, in preparation for my Saturday Dynamic Abstract Painting class, I decided to explore the work of the artist we are going to study - Richard Diebenkorn. As I scrolled through images of his work, I found this simple semi-abstract seascape. I decided to copy this and see what the artist was doing  - how did he use such simple forms, and yet tell a clear story of time and place? How did his colors impact the affect?

Though the original is painted, I knew that pastels would work well for me. I started by drawing the shapes - and began to color. Something was off - the questions started up - why doesn't this work? What is wrong? Stepping back and staring at the work for awhile, an answer appeared - I had drawn the trees too large and they completely threw off the perspective and depth. Once I redrew them, the proportions fit. Then, of course I had a few more questions - how can I create the depth in the clouds? Are the colors right? Is it raining too hard to take this outside to spray?  After awhile - it all worked out - at least for now.

It is good to know that sometimes, if I ask the right questions, the answer will come. So. my questions to you - and I would be grateful for answers posted below ... What questions do you ask yourself as you work? Where do you find answers? Who do you trust to help you? What is the hardest part of creating art? I look forward to learning more about you.

By the way, this is 18"x24" on Canson Mi Tiente paper. It felt so good to have my hands back in the messy pastels for a change.

L is for the Love of Learning Something New

I am learning to paint in acrylics. Actually, I am learning to paint. Learning something new is just about my favorite thing to do - and learning to paint is a challenge on many many levels.

The desire to learn to paint began just over two years ago when I took a class in pastels. After a significant birthday I felt the need to prepare myself for a new stage in my life - one in which I had more time to create, and more need for a way to occupy my time with something meaningful and pleasurable.

From that time on, I was hooked on the fascination of trying to capture color and light and images in pastel, and later, in pencils and markers. As I worked, and experienced both moments of elated success and dismal failure,  I began to understand that each piece is a teacher. I often find myself staring at something and thinking - what did I learn? What did I do right? What would I do differently? How can I get better at this? Sometimes the answers are right in front of me, more often my growth requires outside assistance from articles, books, teachers, and my husband with his logical mind and eagle eye for details. But I have discovered one thing for sure - the answers and the progress and the learning lie in the doing.

So, now I am doing something new, something difficult, something exciting and frustrating. And I am learning - the list of what I am learning grows everyday. For example, I am learning about acrylic paints. The color names are a book in themselves. I read articles on the internet , look at the work of professional and amateur artists, and I take classes. But still, the real learning happens as I work, or rather, as I figure out HOW to work in this medium.  I am discovering that some paints are opaque, others transparent. Not all the tubes provide this information - though some do. Some colors mix beautifully with others, some, not so much. I am learning about surfaces to paint on, the best size for a piece, how to choose and arrange my tools and my paints, how to keep the paint from drying out, how much paint I need, ... I could go on an on (and I will, but not right now.)

One the toughest things for me is to understand WHAT to paint, because the images that lend themselves beautifully to pastels and color pencils do not always work in paint (and vice versa.) Though I often have ideas, I lack the skill to make them work.  So, one of the ways I am able to rehearse a painting is to depend on my digital tools for help.  I layout designs, try different strokes and techniques, play with color and shadows, and by doing this begin to understand where the light is, how the colors work together, how to adjust the proportions to improve the composition, and so much more. And sometimes, the digital image that results in just beautiful in its own right. The image above is one I used to plan a painting called Harvest - which is still not ready for prime time - but I like this  digital painting enough to share.

Now, I need to get ready for today's painting class. I can't wait to discover what I am about to learn.

I is for Ideas (or no ideas)

One of the biggest challenges of the Art Everyday for a Month challenge is coming up with ideas for what to do next (okay, this is a constant challenge.) Add to this the fact that I am trying to work in an abstract way, and today I drew a blank. (Not one I can post here however.)

Though no abstract ideas are coming my way, the stack of pears on my kitchen counter are calling my name. The tree in my yard has been most abundant this year. A source of culinary inspiration, and this morning, an art idea.

One of the first things I learned to draw was a pear. I was first inspired to try to draw one because I saw them drawn, painted, photographed in almost every book I read as I was learning about drawing with pastels. Pears are just a lovely, sensuous shape. They come in wonderful colors, they lend themselves beautifully to pastels, and they taste good too.


As I look around my studio, I realized  that because I draw pears at least a few times a year, they are a good judge of my progress. So, today, something real - a quick sketch in pastels on canson mi tiente.

G is for Grit

I could write about the guts and grit it takes to create and share something new everyday, but that's not what I am thinking about.

Today, the grit on my mind is the gorgeous grit on Wallis Sanded Paper. This summer, in exchange for an art lesson, I received a handful of this heavy sanded paper. I had heard pastel artists rave about it, but I had never seen it or worked with it.  Simply put, grit on paper + pastel = WOW! Every piece I have done on this paper has had a wonderful velvet texture that I just love.

One of my favorite ways to relax is to draw these scribble paintings, they are always fun and I never know what to expect when the color is added. This little abstract is done with pastel pencils on the Wallis Sanded Paper.

Upcoming Summer Classes: Time to Sign Up

I will be teaching several classes this summer to will allow kids and adults (and me) to take advantage of the beautiful gardens at Luscher Farms on Stafford Road in Lake Oswego. Participants will be able to work indoors or out (depending on weather) and materials are provided.

Classes are offered through Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation.

For more information or to register: www.lakeoswegoparks.org or call: 503-675-2549.

Feel free to post any questions below, and please, share this information with anyone you know who might enjoy the chance to spend some time being creative while surrounded by nature, beauty and growing things.

NOTE: Private classes (one-on-one or small groups) and workshops are also available. Check the ART EDUCATION section of my website for a list of possiblities, or suggest your own.

Art Picnic in the Garden
Capture the colors and shapes of the Friends of Rogerson Clematis Collection’s remarkable clematis collection in drawings and photos. I will provide drawing instruction, inspiration, and a variety of materials. Bring a brown bag meal to enjoy at the farm, and a digital camera to capture what you see (optional).

WHEN: Tu 6-8:30p 6/14-6/21
For Ages 16+
Cost: Res $30/Non-Res $35 LUSCH
Reg ID # 3300140

Art in the Garden for Kids
Learn how to draw the basic shapes and details of a flower, consider their color and their complex design, then explore the garden to discover how the shapes and details repeat in other flowers. Create sketches and paintings of your observations. Materials and inspiration provided. Kids are encouraged to bring a snack and a drink.

WHEN: 10a-12p Tu/Th 7/19-7/21
For Ages 5-15
Cost: Res $35/Non-Res $40
Reg ID #: 3200470 LUSCH

Introduction to Painting in Pastels
Prepare to get your hands dirty. Through a variety of garden related drawing painting projects, we will learn about this versatile medium, explore how pastels can be used to achieve stunning effects, vibrant color and rich texture.

WHEN: 7-9 pm Tu 7/5-8/2.

For Ages 16+
Cost: Res $90/Non-Res $104
Reg ID: # 3300145 7-9p LUSCH