Gouache landscape painting of a barn along a road in winter

Gouache painting    8 inches x 6 inches

Continuing to play with gouache. This barn is just down the road from our house and every time I drive by I think of what a nice landscape painting scene it is. I painted it once in pastel and gave it to the owners, who also do a lot of landscaping work for us.  Loving the ability to use opaque paints and layer the colors.  Feels almost like acrylics but with a touch of watercolor’s looseness.

Pastel landscape painting of afternoon sunlight streaming through pine trees in winter.

Pastel painting 17 inches x 11 inches

This is Michigan right now. Freezing, brutal, icy — and yet hauntingly beautiful. When the sunlight shines through the trees in my backyard, the snow lights up with color. I’ve been working on very detailed, realistic work lately and I felt like doing a pastel painting with a bit looser feel. My friend Liz’s abstract paintings inspired me. Although this is still very much a recognizable landscape painting, it is moving in a less realistic direction…

Pastel landscape painting of a snowy winter field with a stream running through it.

Pastel painting 5 inches x 7.5 inches

Between helping with my new grandson, work, and the holidays, I haven’t been getting much painting done! I’ve been pining to do a winterscape so I slipped this small pastel painting in this afternoon. This field is near our home and I often take my Aussie, Roxy, for walks along the little creek. Its barely noticeable from the road and feels very secluded. I painted another larger pastel landscape of this area a year ago. I can’t wait to go back this spring and try a plein air version.

Pastel painting 17 inches x 11 inches     $650

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Another pastel painting from right here in Saline. This creek is just off the main road going into town. And let me tell ya, I almost got run over while shooting my reference shots from the tiny bridge! (I can see the headline in our local paper: Pastel Artist Expires Shooting Precarious Photographs…) But I just had to do it. The reflections were so beautiful, especially in contrast to the bright snow on the rim of the river. I took about 20 photos and cropped and revised the composition until it felt right for the pastel landscape I had in mind. I’m really happy with the results!

Pastel landscape painting of a winter river through the trees.

Pastel painting 10 inches x 10 inches     $450

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I’m continuing on with my winter river obsession in my current pastel paintings. Last weekend, John and I traveled west and south of Saline, shooting good research photos that I could work from back in the studio. We stopped at every little stream and creek and now I am flush with new ideas!

I am working on putting together a series pastel landscapes which all have Michigan rivers, streams and lakes as their subject. Hopefully later next year, I will mount a solo show of these artworks. Stay tuned!

Pastel landscape painting of a path wandering through a snow covered field

Pastel painting 11 inches x 17 inches     $650

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Winter scenes are very intriguing to me. The white snow, with blue shadows and golden highlights, makes a great foil for other dark landscape elements in pastel paintings. Paths and riverbeds are especially strong elements to draw the viewer through the scene.

I wish I could say that I am strong enough to paint pastel landscapes outside in the winter. But the truth is: I am too much of a wimp to deal with the cold, wet weather to paint en plein air after November. So instead, I keep my trusty digital camera with me at all times. I shoot 5-10 photos for every view that entices me. Then, when I get back to the studio, I crop the photo I like best on my computer, and often subtract elements or add some from other photos. I keep fussing with the composition til it says exactly what I want. Then I sketch it on my paper. And THEN, the fun begins!

Pastel landscape painting of a road leading to an old barn in winter.

Pastel painting 6 inches x 9 inches     SOLD

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The warm sunlight and cool shadows on snow make it really fun to paint pastel landscape paintings from winter scenes. This barn, right down the road from our home, looks really stunning around 1 pm. in the afternoon. The sun creates a perfect highlight on the snow covered shed roof.

Busy day at our Ann Arbor advertising agency tomorrow, but Friday I’m hoping to start on another winter pastel painting.

If you have a chance, come by the opening for the Braun Farm show at My Favorite Cafe in downtown Saline on Friday night 7-9pm!

Pastel landscape painting of a creek in winter.

Pastel painting 11 inches x 17 inches     $650

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OK. I think I’ve crossed over into obsession. I LOVE the little creeks that wander through the countryside in southern Michigan. You can drive right by them and never notice them. But not me. Each time I see a little sparkle on the side of the road, I have to stop and investigate. Sometimes they are a wash, but often they are little gems waiting to be made into pastel landscape paintings. I must have driven by this little trickle a hundred times on the way to my sister Beth’s house. Last week, I finally stopped and photographed it.

I must say, as much as I hate winter, I’m really enjoying painting the season…

Pastel painting of an old farmstead covered in snow.

Pastel painting 10 inches x 10 inches $450

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OK. I lied. One more of my new winter pastel paintings. This old farmstead down the road from our house looks gorgeous in the winter sunlight…but not so much in the spring and summer. So I decided to paint it one more time before all the snow melted.

My new absolute favorite pastel paper is Kitty Wallis Belgium Mist. It has a wonderful sandy texture and a warm grey tint that takes pastels beautifully. I also do a lot of my work on Art Spectrum paper–especially Terra Cotta. The warm rust color is a great background for landscapes and florals that are heavy in green tones.

Pastel painting of woods covered in snow

Pastel painting 5 inches x 7 inches $80   SOLD

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My last homage to winter. I’m looking forward to spring. I painted this pastel painting right after our latest storm and I’m hoping its the last one of a long, snowy season. I must say that I’ve really enjoyed painting winter landscapes this year. I’ve realized that there really is very little white in snow–but lots of blue, purple, pink and yellow. It all depends on the light!