Flowers for a Friend

Flowers For a Friend 9 1/2 x 13 1/2 pastel Sold

I have a funeral service to attend this weekend, and it has put me in the mind frame of thinking of memories of those who have drifted in and out of my life and the memories I hold dear of each of them.  So often we get caught up in our own little worlds that we don't make the time to keep in contact with the very important people in our lives.  The lady whos funeral I will be attending is a co-worker of mine from years past ~ Marsha, and I have many regrets to loosing contact with her. She will be missed and I will forever remember the laughter.  This painting is dedicated to her.


I keep these little words of wisdom on my fridge, and it's been hanging there a good six months, but just like loosing touch with others, I don't take the time to read it, and that was the point to hanging on the fridge in the first place, to read it daily. I want to share it with you.

To begin the painting, I chose an older painting that I could never get to look quite right, and I brushed off as much pastel as I could and then wiped it down with an alcohol wash.  If you look closely you can still see the old painting - it was a horse with a reflection in the water, but it was not coming out quite like I wanted so it was time to put that paper to another use.

I wanted to try something new and I had some bottles of liquid leaf laying around and wanted to see how they would work with the pastels, so after the quick sketch-in, I filled in the vase with the liquid leaf.

I began with putting in the background, then adding to the vase using the same colors.  It was then that I decided to stay as limited in colors as I could and do the entire painting with just a few color choices. The next set of pictures shows the stages until the completion.

Take some time this week to honor a friend ~ past or present, but ideally one that is present. Make some new memories and show them just how much they're loved.

Day 6 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Fleeting Moment pastel 5x7 available $26.75

Today's posting is going to be short and sweet.  I forgot to take progress photos, but this will be an addition to the butterfly notecard series.  I'm getting very excited to see my paintings professionally printed.

Fun fact on the Monarch Butterfly: did you know you can tell the difference between the male and female Monarchs by looking at their hind wings?  If you see a small round black dot on both the left and right hind wings, you are looking at a male.

I will be posting more Monarch Fun Facts throughout the summer because of my summer hobbies is to breed Monarchs and release them into the wild saving them from predators and trying to help get them off the endangered list. I will share my butterfly adventures and tips.  Who know's.... you might get hooked on butterflies as well and join me in their rescue.  Like I've said before.... I'm a nature girl!

No Name Monday- Memories of Camp Ecco

Here is another design for the upcoming wildflowers note card series.  This is just a small 5x7 painting, but I love how these colors came together. It will be available for purchase in my Etsy Store on Tuesday.  It's a picture of thistles ~ which makes me think of my childhood church camp, Camp Ecco located in Ohio.  I have fond memories hiking up the hills into the tall grasses that were filled with thistles.  I was fascinated by these little weeds. They were always filled with bees and butterflies. Such a beautiful sight. I can almost still smell the air at the top of the hills looking out over the rolling hills.  Oh how I miss that place!  I know, I know very nerdy, but I'm a nature girl what can I say?

Each Monday I try to post a painting that needs a name.  I like to have the viewers take a crack at painting names because quite honestly, coming up with a name is one of the hardest parts to the whole painting process.  So I like to take one day off a week at having to be too creative.  Call me lazy, that's ok.  Do you have an idea for this painting? Just post your idea and my committee (my children Zach and Mikaela) will choose the winning name which will then be forever attached to this piece.  I'll post the newly named painting on Tuesday.  I can't wait to hear all your ideas!

My Favorite Pastel Cleaning Supply

Bay Gold 9x11 pastel available $75.00

Pastels are a messy business.  I probably wash my hands at least 50 times for each painting, and with dirty hands comes dirty pastels. In the past I've tried paper towels and old rags, but my favorite pastel cleaning supply is a good ole roll of toilet paper.  It's cheap and it lasts a really long time.  Clean up is a breeze.  After each painting is completed, just rip off the used squares and your ready for the next one.  It's also more compact for when you need to pack supplies for plein air, art classes or just a traveling paint day.

Here is a yellow pastel.  Doesn't look like it from the picture - I know.  Yellows seem to get the dirtiest the fastest.  No sooner do I put a mark on the painting and I'm having to clean it for the next stroke.

One swipe and you can finally see the true color.  Toilet paper is no longer just for the bathroom.

What is your favorite pastel cleaning supply?

Saturday Photo Shoot and the Winner of Friday's Freebie

In The Mood 9x6 pastel available $45.00

I was so proud of all the weight I recently lost.... then Zach took my picture. I have a long way to go it looks like. 

In heavy concentration.  Actually, I had just finished, but he wanted an "action shot". 

All the "Pick Me" names 

Into the little crystal bowl they go

My sweet daughter got the honors today to pick from the bowl.

And the winner is.........

Mikaela blowing you a kiss 

Thanks to all for your love and support and don't forget that this month I will be having one more Friday Freebie so keep checking back.  

Friday Freebie

I recently began working on some themed paintings that I plan to turn into note cards and bookmarks. This is one of the designs for a flower themed note card set which I hope to have available by the end of the month along with bird and butterfly sets.  I'm researching printing companies and when I settle on the company that best fits what I'm trying to achieve, things should begin to take off. 

I didn't have a chance to post a freebie at all last month, so this month I'm going to have 2 freebie Fridays. Keep your eyes open because the Fridays chosen are going to be a surprise.  If you'd like to have your name in the drawing for this painting all you have to do is comment with "pick me" and I will announce the winner on Saturday. 

Wish me luck with this month's 30 paintings in 30 days - - it seems to get harder and harder to find the time to paint and post.  Or could it be I'm just getting lazier - 

Starting off the Month of March with Another 30 Paintings in 30 Days.....I Hope

September Sway 16x20 pastel available $264.00

I came across this photo and just fell in love with the colors in the grasses and the dramatic reflection and knew I just had to paint it.  I went out and bought a 16x20 pastelbord because I felt this one should be larger than what I normally paint. I started with a quick sketch with vine charcoal.

Using a nupastel in spruce blue, I filled in all the dark areas rubbed it into the board and applied it once more.

It was time to begin working on the sky still using nupastels and also some Rembrandts in various blues, pinks, violets and green.

I added two shades of orange working on both the sky and the water simultaneously. When a color was added to the sky, I immediately added it to the water.  I did some blending along the way to give a smoother look.

Next came the really fun part. The greens! I used 5 different shades of greens for the back trees and also the grasses. It's at this point that the painting starts to all come together.  

Time to bring out the crème de la crème or in other words, my Terry Ludwig and Sennlier pastels. The Terry Ludwigs are the perfect shape for pressing in grasses and the Sennliers are velvety smooth to add chunks of color.  It was at this point that I thought I was finished, but after walking by it a couple of times I felt it needed a bit more.  Can you spot the differences in the 2 paintings below?