Orchard 1 - Pastel painting of an extreme close up view of an apple tree in the fall.

Pastel painting 20 inches x 20 inches    SOLD   (but giclee prints are available)

I am sooooo excited! I just found out that one of my pastel orchard painting was accepted in the Pastel Society of America Exhibition. I’ve entered a few times, hoping to be part of this worldwide pastel experience, and am so honored to have an acceptance! Orchard 1 will be shown at the National Arts Club in New York City from September 6 – October 1, 2011. John and I are hoping to attend the Materials Fair and Awards Ceremony and Dinner.

With this acceptance, I will be able to apply for the use of the coveted “PSA” after my signature on all pastel paintings. (“Signature artist members are privileged to use the PSA initials after their name, a meaningful designation for the art community and for potential art buyers.”)  But that process may also include some rejections along the way. Just part of the ongoing art journey…

Pastel landscape painting of woods with sunlight streaming through the trees.

Pastel painting 12 inches x 9 inches

In the spring, summer and fall, I work almost completely en plein air-painting outside directly from the subjects that inspire me. But during the blustery winter months in Michigan, I do pastel paintings from the reference photo library I have built up over the years. We are lucky to live in an area where there is still pristine woods and fields. Forests have always inspired me and I love to do pastel landscapes of them, especially when sunlight creates an interesting focal point.

In this piece I concentrated on creating a lifelike fall scene, using a limited palette of colors and hues.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a Michigan river with autumn trees.

Pastel painting 8 inches x 11 inches

This is another pastel landscape from my plein air outing last weekend. There is a river that winds through the park in town and the reflections of the early morning light made for an interesting pastel painting. I think I may have gone a little crazy with color but the fall trees really DID seem that vibrant!

Don’t forget the Saline ArtWalk this weekend at the Stone Arch Arts and Events! The reception is Friday,  5-8pm and we will be demonstrating on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5pm, too. Y’all come by!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a colorful fall tree and barn.

Pastel painting 11 inches x 8.5 inches

Yeah! What a beautiful weekend for plein air pastel painting! Crisp blue skies and cool weather here in Michigan. I loved my time in Italy painting watercolors, but I was really pining to get back to a juicy pastel landscape. This farm just south of my hometown Saline fit the bill!

After I get my feet wet with pastels again, I will be painting a pet portrait commission that I received this week. Really looking forward to capturing this sweet Borzoi puppy! Let me know if you have an animal buddy who is yearning to be a model…

Plein air watercolor painting of flower pots on a deck in autumn.

Watercolor painting   7 x 10 inches

Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

Sad to say that even Indian Summer has left Michigan. The gardens have all faded and we are gearing up for the cool fall weather. I sat on my sunny deck and painted a watercolor painting of these pots whose flowers had faded but were still gallantly holding on to a bit of foliage.

I haven’t had a chance since coming home from my trip to get out and do any plein air pastel landscapes. I’m really looking forward to capturing some of the beautiful fall trees this weekend…

Watercolor landscape painting of an old Victorian house.

Watercolor painting 9 inches x 13.5 inches    $400

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

I’m really getting excited about my trip to Italy this fall. I will be spending two weeks in a small village in Umbria at a painting workshop. The art school is located in a 15th century monastery and we will use the chapel as our indoor studio. But most of the time we will be traveling to tiny hilltowns throughout the region. Ahhhh….bliss!

I’ve decided to work mostly in watercolor when I’m there, and that inspired me to start painting in the medium again. This watercolor painting is from my many reference photos of old houses in our county. I believe this house is on Main Street in Milan.  I love to doing paintings of architecture especially when the rigid structural forces are contrasted with natural landscape elements.

Pastel painting of an extreme close up of ripe apples on a tree in the fall.

Pastel painting 25.5 inches x 12.5 inches  $850   (Giclee prints are available)

Please contact me if you are interested in similar art work.

I’m continuing to work on my new series of orchard pastel paintings. Although I really enjoyed creating in a square format for the first two works, I felt that a horizontal composition might work better. I started with some photographs I had taken last fall. I cropped the image tightly in photoshop, added some apples, took out some leaves, and generally fussed with the elements till I felt that they made a pleasing composition. The color palette is very similar to the first paintings, but completely unlike the actual photo. I pushed the vibrancy in some areas and toned it down in others. I figure that photos are great for reference, but that I have no responsibility to copy them exactly…

Pastel painting of an extreme close-up view of ripe apples on a sunny autumn day

Pastel painting 20 inches x 20 inches     SOLD   (Giclee prints are available)

Pastel painting number two for the Tvedten Fine Art “20 x 20″ show this summer. The Opening Reception will be July 29th and I am assuming the show will run through August. I’m really excited about this new series and looking forward to exploring new compositions and color combinations within this bright harvest subject matter.

Pastel painting of close-up view of ripe apples on a tree in the fall

Pastel painting 20 inches x 20 inches     SOLD  (Giclee prints are available)

The gallery that represents me in Harbor Springs, Michigan, Tvedten Fine Art, is having an intriguing show this summer. Margaret Tvedten requested that all of her artists submit 2 paintings that are 20 x 20 inches. They can be of any subject matter and in any medium. I LOVE working in square formats so I was immediately enthralled. I have been collecting orchard reference photos for years so I decided this might be a good time to start the series.

This piece isn’t really a pastel landscape. I call it a “micro landscape” and continues my fascination with extreme close up views of everyday scenery that we take for granted. Very similar in concept to my RiverStone series. I will post the “partner” pastel painting in a few days.

I’d love to hear what you think…

Pastel landscape painting of a beautiful pond with autumn trees reflected in the water.

Pastel painting 11 inches x 17 inches     $650

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

One of my close friends, and a long time client at our Ann Arbor advertising agency, has created the most beautiful garden and pond on the land behind their home. They own an organic fertilizer company, Ocean Organics,  and use their chemical-free products to nurture nature and make it blossom in breathtaking ways. On a sunny day last fall, I took some reference photos to paint from later in my studio. This pastel landscape shows my favorite view of the pond and the small bench where you can sit and take in the gorgeous scenery.

Plein air pastel painting of a pond and reflections in the fall

Pastel painting 11 inches x 8 inches       $200

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

Today I braved the stores to get all the holiday gift purchases done and it was about 40 degrees when I finally got a chance to go out with my pastels in the afternoon. It was a little chilly but I thought I could handle it. Whoa. Within a half an hour my fingers were tingling and 30 minutes later, I could not feel them at all. But the sky was bright and the atmosphere crystal clear, so I kept on going. It took me a good hour to warm up. Who would have thought plein air pastel landscape painting could be such a dangerous sport?

Plein air pastel painting of a house and rolling lawn in late autumn.

Pastel painting 10 inches x 8 inches       $200

Please contact me if you are interested in similar artwork.

I was sure that my plein air days were over for this year but it looks like we will have another nice weekend. I’m planning to go out somewhere exotic for a long session tomorrow but this afternoon I found time to do a pastel landscape painting right from my own backyard.  Almost all the trees are bare but there are a few colorful leaves holding on.

I broke down and bought MORE pastels. Its like a sickness. I have to try all the brands and their different colors. This time I purchased a bunch of Great American pastels in shades that were not already in my collection. I had heard they had a wonderful creamy texture and they do! Its like painting with butter! I swear I am going to produce a cool tshirt that says, in huge letters: “Whoever dies with the most pastels wins.”!

Support a local artist in your community: Give original art for your holiday gifts this year!