Category: Architecture
Thursday, April 26th, 2012
This is a 9 X 12″ pastel on Fabriano paper. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a process study. I hope you enjoy seeing the steps to the finish. I usually start with a rough sketch in a neutral color to decide placement of objects, etc.
Next I work on the sky. I know a lot of artists leave the sky to the last, but, for me, it sets the tone of the scene.
Now it’s time o start adding color and painting the objects.
I always work top to bottom and then later go back and add or change the interior items I’m not satisfied with.
Finally, the bottom half is completed and any corrections are made…..actually, I made several to the buildings!
As usual, any comments are more than welcome. I think I’d like to spend a little time at this farm.
Tags: buildings, Color, Flowers, landscape, pastel, process study, trees
Posted in Architecture, Color, Flora, Landscape, Paintings, Pastels, Process Studies | 5 Comments »
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Well, as you can see, I’ve made a few changes to this pastel. I really felt that the bottom needed more attention and that the color sets off the barn much better. Since this is a process blog, I can’t promise this is the final version. I always have to live with paintings for awhile to truly feel satisfied. The danger, of course, is going to far. But then, that’s what learning is all about, isn’t it?
I hope you enjoy this version.
Tags: buildings, Color, landscape, pastel, trees
Posted in Architecture, Color, Landscape, Paintings, Pastels, trees | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
When I was a little girl, I grew up in the country outskirts of Roseburg, Oregon. Nearby our house were several fields just being left fallow, filled with bushes and wild grass and perfect places to play with our dog. Up a slight slope in the nearest field was an abandoned barn and climbing it’s ladders and using my imagination to think up stories wasn’t a bad way to spend time. This barn is actually painted from a photo taken on one of my husband and my cross-country trips. It doesn’t really look like the childhood barn, but close enough.
It was completed on Fabriano Tiziano pastel paper (8/1/4 X 11 3/4) using my usual mixture of Unison, Ludwig, Sennelier and Rembrandt.
I have to say that I’m not really excited about my results on the Fabriano paper and would love to see comments from anyone else that uses it.
Tags: 100 Pastel Challenge, buildings, Color, landscape, pastel, trees
Posted in Architecture, Color, Landscape, Paintings, Pastels | 3 Comments »
Monday, December 26th, 2011
Well, as you can tell, the past few weeks have been hectic and I haven’t gotten too much done during this time. The drawings above were done with a sepia pen on 3-1/2 X 4-1/2 sketchbook that I carry with me in the hopes of grabbing a moment or two.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoy the drawings.
Tags: Animals, black & white, buildings, Flowers, landscape, pen & ink, Sketches
Posted in Animals, Architecture, Black and White, dogs, Landscape, pen & ink | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Title: Coast Sentinels
Pastel
Size: approx 10-1/2 X 13-1/2
I thought I’d make the work of getting pastels completed and ready for hanging on Thursday by including some process shots of the last one. I think it’s been awhile since I’ve done this. Anyway, as you can see, this is a scene of Eucalyptus trees on a cliff overlooking the pacific. This is not an uncommon site in Southern California, believe me. Once people started planting the Eucalyptus, they just couldn’t stop. Like the also prevalent Palm Tree, the Eucalyptus is not native to the area, but you would never know it. I think they actually fit the landscape here even better than the Palms, but that’s just my opinion.
Title: Texas Spring
Pasel
Size: 9 X 12
Just as the hills around Southern California are blanketed with carpets of poppies and Purple Lupine in the spring, so Texas is blessed with meadows of Blue Bonnets.
I may not get all the new pastels up on Thursday (I have plenty framed and ready from the Spring Art Show!), but if not, I will go in and exchange them when they are done. I’m trying hard to meet the deadline of mid-day on Thursday, but I’d rather be happy with the paintings than put them up before they are ready. I’ll be in this location for two months, so …who knows? I may even exchange some more.
Please enjoy and remember that comments are always welcome.
Tags: Coast, Color, Flowers, landscape, ocean, pastel, process study, trees
Posted in Architecture, Beach, Coast, Color, Flora, Landscapes, Paintings, Pastels, Process Studies, trees | 3 Comments »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Well, it’s finally over, and worth every minute. We had an exceptional number of paintings and crafts entered and the quality just keeps getting better and better. I entered 2 pastels and 1 ink drawing. The ink drawing was chosen as an Honorable Mention in the “Other Media” category. I was so happy just win anything, but a drawing is really unusual. The biggest group, of course, is the large-size oil paintings, actually oil and acrylic are judged together…I don’t agree with that, but I didn’t have a say in the rules.. Interestingly, the judge is a very well-known watercolor artist and teacher and, strangely enough, we had fewer water colors than usual.
Below you will see me with my entries. I had one of our Guild members take the pictures and so I can’t take responsibility for the shots. It is a difficult room to get good pictures in, but I promise I didn’t have my eyes closed very long.
Aside from 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners (I won a blue ribbon at the spring show!!!), and the Honorable Mentions, we had a special Mayor’s award, a Best of Show Award and several awards from art materials companies. The mayor chose an oil self-portrait for his award and was there to present it. We all had a great time and are looking forward to the Spring Show for 2010!
Mendocino House – Ink Drawing – approx. 10 X 12 As you can see, this won an Honorable Mention.
Bad reflections in this room…maybe I was pretending they weren’t there. This is a pastel approx. 7 X 9. I used the mountains in this painting on my business card.
Even worse reflections here. The second pastel. 7 X 9. I especially liked the mats on this one. You can see the mountain better if you want to check out the older posts. I don’t think it’s too far back.
Thanks for looking. Jan
Tags: black & white, buildings, Color, landscape, pastel, pen & ink
Posted in Architecture, Black and White, Color, Landscapes, Paintings, Pastels, pen & ink | 3 Comments »
Monday, October 12th, 2009
Well, since this is a process blog, I decided to leave the last post with the weak picture of this house so you can compare it to a better photo. I also placed it in a wide maroon mat because I am going to frame and hang it here in the house. The proof is here. Outdoor light is the best.
Tags: black & white, buildings, landscape, pen & ink
Posted in Architecture, Black and White, Landscapes, Paintings, pen & ink, Process Studies | 2 Comments »
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
This is an India Ink drawing done from a photo I took several years ago along the Central California coast. I was born in Iowa and raised outside of a small town in Oregon. There was something about this house that stirred childhood memories even though we didn’t live in any house that looked like this. I think it was just the aura that did it. Size is 8-1/2 X 11-1/2. I’m not sure why the photo faded out like that, the entire drawing should be as dark as the trees. Perhaps I can replace it with a properly lit photo.
Tags: black & white, buildings, landscape, pen & ink
Posted in Architecture, Black and White, Landscapes, pen & ink | 4 Comments »
Saturday, September 5th, 2009
Well, I decided yesterday that I was letting too many things keep me from getting the important stuff done…..art. So, I’m going to try again to join the daily painters on Wet Canvas. Today, I posted this sketch done in my favorite sketching style using a flair pen (non-permanent ink) and then brushing water to push the ink around. This was done on my 5-1/2 X 8-/1/2 sketch pad. Just a lot of fun….which is my preferred way to start the day as well as end it.
Tags: black & white, buildings, pen & ink
Posted in Architecture, Black and White, Coast, Landscapes, pen & ink, Sketches, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
On June 28th, the California Art Club hosted a professional critique offered to members of the Club and I’m proud to say that I jumped at the chance. They accepted the first 40 painting or paintings of sculptures that they received that fit the digital requirments. The critique was held in the Wells Fargo Theatre at the Autry National Center at Griffith Park. The critiques were given by five local Master Artists and were really worthwhile. I learned a lot listening to the critique of others’ work as much as my own.
I have to say, it was a little unnerving at first to see my painting projected onto a large theater screen, but thrilling as well. I received some very nice comments on my pastel (show above) called Utah Snow along with some good advice. The only complaint I had was that 90% of the work submitted was oil and maybe 9% watercolor…..I believe there may have been one or two other pastels, and I really wasn’t able to determine whether all of the critique group recognized it as pastel and not oil (sometimes it isn’t easy to see if you are only looking at a photograph).
A good friend and former co-worker, Elaine Maslen, joined me and mentally held my hand during the process! It ended up being very enjoyable, as was the lunch afterwards. I’m always nervous the first time I do things and I know that the next time will be so much easier. Thanks, Elaine, for your support!
I hope you will feel comfortable adding your comments to the blog, rather than email as we have been doing. I know we have been doing that for quite awhile, and I’d never turn a good word down :-), but I’d like to move all the work and comments onto this site if I can. Thanks for looking and all your support!!!
Posted in Architecture, Color, Flora, Landscapes, Miscellaneous, Paintings, Pastels | No Comments »
