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.
Pastel landscape painting of a sunlit river filled with rocks.
Pastel painting 11 inches x 17 inches
This is the second pastel painting I did while demonstrating at Art Walk. It was kind of disconcerting to be painting with so many art lovers milling about and talking. People came into my booth and chatted for a while, and when I went back to my painting, I had completely forgotten what I was doing and why. It was a new level of concentration for me.
I was pretty happy with the outcome of this pastel landscape. It reminds me of the breathtaking river I came upon one sunny morning in Louisville, KY where we were visiting friends.
Plein air pastel painting of farm buildings in the early morning light.
Pastel painting 11 inches x 8 inches
My friend Karen and I hit the plein air road last month while our husbands played golf. We didn’t have to travel too far from the golf course to find a scene we both liked. There were some old farm buildings, with peeling orange paint, just down the road. Karen set up for oil and I did a pastel painting while the bright morning sun was at its most dramatic. I had just enough time to start another pastel landscape before the guys called and were ready to be picked up. I will work to finish that one in the studio.
Watercolor landscape painting of an old shed down a monastery lane in Italy.
Watercolor painting 7 x 10 inches SOLD
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I’m back from 2 1/2 wonderful weeks of painting Italian watercolors in Umbria and Rome. I had the most fabulous time ever at La Romita, a small art school based at a 15c monastery just outside of Terni. The accommodations were quaint, clean and comfortable and every meal was new and delicious. The grounds were so beautiful, I could have painted there each day. But every morning at 8, the bus would pick us up and take us to a new hill town to explore. Assisi, Perugia, Todi, Orvieto, each one amazing in their own unique way. We had two wonderful instructors who encouraged us and helped us grow in new ways. If you every want an all-inclusive art experience in Italy, I highly recommend La Romita!!
I am saving most of the watercolor paintings I created on this trip for a solo show I will be having in the spring. But I sold one La Romita painting to my new friend Liz and have posted it today. This is the path behind the chapel that leads to the olive orchard. The sparkling light and flowers near the shed caught my fancy!
Plein air watercolor painting of sunlit pillars on a fenced walkway
Watercolor painting 9.5 inches x 6.25 inches $80
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I’m all about light and shadow. Its always what attracts me to a plein air subject, even when I’m just hangin out at the pool. I did this watercolor painting of a fenced walkway specifically because I liked the way the sunlight and shadows played on the pillars. I also love architectural and sculptural elements so the little pineapples on the tops of the pillars were and added bonus!
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I’m working on some large portraits right now so I thought I would post another pastel landscape that I painted right after the big storm last year. This is a scene from our back yard. I love how, on bright, sunny winter days, the warm light throws golden highlights against the deep blue shadows
Pastel painting 13 inches x 8 inches $375 + shipping
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I walk by this field almost every night with my Aussie, Roxy, and never thought anything of it. Then one afternoon last week the sun was low and the light coming though the fence looked fantastic. I ran back home and got my pastels and Roxy and I spent a great hour painting together.
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When I saw the sun filtering through the trees at our local park, it really called to me. It was mid morning and the sunlight created wild colors and patterns that were just perfect for pastel. Trees and forest are some of my favorite subjects that I come back to time and again.
