Video Demo of a Pastel Landscape

I was proud to have a one woman show at the Sequim Museum in Sequim, Washington during the month of June. On June 17th I held a demonstration of a pastel landscape. I really enjoy doing demos because it's a great opportunity to meet the public in a way that introduces them to my work and also helps to enlighten and teach others about the art making process.

This painting was done from a small oil plein air study I painted a couple of years ago at Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, Washington.  It's a long spit that goes out for about two miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  It was overcast that day and very windy. I actually did this small piece as a demo for the paper and my small plein air class. I used a very limited palette for the oil. I always liked the study and thought it would be fun to try as a pastel. So I used it for the demo.

I didn't have a videographer to work my camera so I set the camera up on a tripod and asked a friend to just monitor it and make sure it kept running.  Unfortunately, I do step a bit out of the camera range but only for a second or two.  It's been edited down and fixed as much as possible.  Hope you enjoy it!

Pastel Painting of Washington Hoh River

"Hoh River Morning"Pastel, 12" x 18"

The past two or three months have been extremely hectic. Summer's on the Olympic Peninsula generally are very busy. Our summer's are short and once the weather turns warm, everyone's relatives and out of state friends start clamoring to visit. While the rest of the country is sweltering in 100 degree temps, it's a nice comfortable 75 degrees here - most of the time.  I've had one house guest after another and then my work load has increased. A gallery in Northern California has expressed interest in my work and requested that I bring 10 new pieces down for possible selection. Needless to say I've been pretty busy.  

This year I was asked to judge the Clallam County Fair Art Show and in addition, I spent two days demonstrating pastels. Here's one of the pieces I did on Saturday.  Sunday's piece to follow in a couple of days. 

Landscape Painting of Santa Ynez River and Oaks, 11" x 14", Pastel on Board

"Evening on the Santa Ynez"
NFS

This winter has been flying by. Between school and teaching, I've been busy working with a committee to create a brochure and advertisements for the upcoming Fourth Annual Sequim Arts Open Studio Tour. As a result, it finally dawned on me that I had better start squeezing some time out of the easel in preparation for this event which is only five months away. Here's a little landscape I worked on last week. I have yet to scan and make prints available, but at least the original is done.

Landscape Painting of Meadow and Stream at Sunrise, Unframed Image 5" x 7"

"Landscape Variation No. 2"

Available Framed or Unframed

Unframed no Matt $45.00 Unframed with Matt $50.00 Framed with Matt $75.00

Here's the second variation on the landscape theme I've been playing with. This is also available with three options - framed with matt, unframed with a matt, unframed with no matt.

For those of you who have wanted to purchase a pastel but have been concerned about the piece being ruined or smeared before you could frame it, this is a good opportunity to purchase a pastel without worry. The small frame fully protects the piece under glass and it's framed size of 8" x 10" is great for hanging in small out of the way places which won't accommodate a larger piece.

Pastel Landscape of Trees and Stream, Image 5" x 7"

"Variation No. 1"

Available Framed or Unframed

Unframed with Matt $50.00 Framed with Matt $75.00 Unframed no matt $45.00

I've just returned from a trip to South Korea. This trip was part of a military revisit tour offered by Korea to all veterans who fought in the Korean War. Korea generously paid all expenses (except airfare). It was wonderful to experience the profound gratitude of these energetic and productive people for the sacrifices made by our soldiers on their behalf. I could go on and on here, but that's not the point of this post.

Just prior to leaving I had started a project where I have been working on doing variations of one landscape in pastel. The point of this exercise is to push boundaries and see what I can come up with. Because my time is the studio is limited to four days, I have been seeing what I can do to reduce the time spent on the small pieces I post here. These pieces are pastel and because they are small studies I thought I would give prospective buyers some options.

You may purchase the pieces unframed with a double matt, Framed with a Matt and Unframed with no matt. The prices are listed on the drop down menu above. I hope to be doing about 50 pieces as part of this color study. If you are interested in purchasing more than one with a price break, just email me and I'll be happy to quote you a price.

While this piece is shown in a dark cherry frame, a limited number are also available in oak frames. Email me if you'd like a photo of the piece in an oak frame before purchasing.

Sunset painting, Pastel, 20" x 26"

"August's Last Blush"





I've been experimenting with pastels and watercolor recently. Clouds and sunsets have always intrigued me. I love the luminosity of watercolor and the intensity of pastels. I managed in this painting to bring both into play. I have no way of telling how this image will appear on your monitors, but the colors have subtle changes in hue and intensity. The opacity of the pastels played against the transparency of the watercolor makes for a good contrast and mimics the way in which clouds hover at different altitudes and sometimes work to mask the sun completely.

This painting when purchased is available double matted and comes with a protective sheet and it's own case to protect the image. Price is $575. Shipping is free. Email me if you are interested.

Pastel Painting of Duck a Bush Salt Flats, 22 1/2" x 10"

Mattina Tranquilla"
SOLD

On a recent return trip from Olympia, WA, my husband stopped the car at the Duck a Bush river so that I could take pictures of the salt flats. This area always intrigues me but unfortunately I never seem to be able to get there when the light is right. This time we were there in late morning. Not the best light but I made do. I improvised a bit on the color but I think this pretty much captures the moment. I may do an oil on this next.

Dogwood and Tangerine Painting, 15.5" x 18.25", Pastel on 2 Ply Cotton Rag

"Dogwood Daze"Currently NFS

Painting is becoming more and more of a challenge with the mess around me growing daily. We're into the third day of drywall and mudding. I'm told to expect at least three more before they plaster and paint. Sigh. I purchased the materials for my matting table today and hope to sneak into the empty studio space on Sunday when the workers are gone and put the thing together.
However, I did manage to get a bit of work done yesterday and today. My husband helped me move my huge case of pastels into the dining room (the drawers tipped forward, oh no!) and after I made some order out of the mess, I started this painting. It's a mixed media, actually. The underpainting is done in watercolor and then I've worked glazes of pastel into it. I've found that this technique works best on rag. While the paper is a bear to raise a nap on, once you do, the surface allows you to get multiple lazers of pastel in thin glazes. I'm entering this one in the Northwest Pastel Society members juried competition. They've advertised that it's an "anything goes" show for pastel so I'm hoping the mixed media flies. Wish me luck.

Draped Reclining Nude Pastel Painting, 13" x 11"

"Draped"

By now you probably think I've lost my mind. This is a pastel done of the same figure I've been working with. I've changed the colors quite a bit here and played around in layering and glazing some pastels. I had some 2 ply cotton rag sitting around the studio and although it's not generally used for pastels, I realy like it because it allows me to layer lightly and glaze one color over the next. Look at the cloth and the bottom of the painting, for instance. See all those lovely colors playing off each other? You really can't get that with a lot of the newer pastel papers on the market. They're very good for handling a lot of the medium, but they don't allow you to put light layers on like this. I'm beginning to see the merit of working in a series because it actually has been giving me quite a few ideas for other works I'd like to try.

Pastel Landscape of walking path, 18" x 24"

"Summer Gold"

Not a new one. This piece just brought back summer for me. Won't be long.

Pastel Painting of Approaching Storm over Farmland, 11" x 14"

"Storm Watch"This painting is framed and matted to 14" x 18"
Please email me if you are interested in purchase.




Where I live, there are a lot of open fields. We're facing the Strait of Juan de Fuca with our back against the Olympic Mountains. Although the weather changes frequently, because of the mountains, we are saved from the worst of the rain that blesses the State of Washington. However, the combination of sea and mountains makes for some pretty dynamic weather effects. One of my favorites is when the sky darkens with heavy clouds and the sun is low enough to shoot underneath lighting up parts of the landscape. This happens here quite frequently and I paint it whenever I can. While not as dramatic as some I've done, I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of this piece. There is something exciting about to happen, but the land the is waiting and watching. Nothing stirs.

Figure Sketch of Older Woman, 18" x 24", Pastel

"Juvia"$30.00, Available with Mat
Email me about this sketch.





Every now and again in figure drawing, I'm able to come up with a good color sketch. I particularly like the way this one came out. Juvia is an older model with interesting features. While not as shapely as many of the younger models who work for my group, Juvia is beautiful in spirit and has great character in her face. I think I managed to capture some of that in this sketch.

Pastel Painting of Alaskan Bonny Lake, 18" x 26.5"

"Bonny Lake"$250.00 plus shipping.
E-mail Susan to purchase.

Well I'm back. Almost a complete month away in Europe and on the high seas! Wow. I'm still recovering from jet lag. Can you believe I've been falling asleep everyday at 7:00 PM? On a transatlantic crossing, the ship turns back the clock one hour every day for six days. While that sounds gradual - trust me, it isn't! Then that final five hour flight back home and another three hour change. What time is it, anyway?

I haven't had time to pull my pictures from the vacation and sort through for some good resource material. I was going to paint a still life, but felt like working in a well lit studio which I can't do for still life. My friend, Patti Cline is a fabulous photographer. This painting was done from a terrific photo she took of Bonny Lake in Alaska. I asked her permission to use it for a reference and she graciously gave it. I don't use photos much these days as I have been focusing on still life and Plein Air. But I just don't get to Alaska very much and besides - it's too cold to stand outside there!

I really like the way this painting turned out. I haven't painted in pastels in quite awhile so I really enjoyed being able to just walk away and come back without fear of dried paint. There's a lot more happening in this painting than the photo reveals but, after all, I'm not a photographer. I'm a painter and my friend lives too far away to help me out on that account.

This painting comes shipped in it's own secure case to make it easier for framing. The pastel is lightly fixed to protect it. Framing and matting is available upon request. Closeup photos are also available upon request.

Please be sure to visit Patti's site and e-mail her to let her know how beautiful her work is! I'm trying to talk her into blogging so you can all subscribe, but she's a busy girl and is resisting at the moment.

Pastel Painting of Green Crystalline Tea Pot and Peony with Grapes

"Green Tea"SOLD









Here's the last of my old pieces. I'll be turning out new ones from this point on. Thanks for your patience everyone.

Pastel Painting of Lemon and White Pitcher

"Lemonade in Blue"
SOLD

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This pastel was one of the first Trompe l'Oeil that I did in the series. It was scooped up by a collector. I still use this vase in many of my still lifes, only because I paint more flowers now, the top is hard to see.

Pastel Landscape of sunny fields and oak trees, framed 13" x 10"

"Santa Rosa Morning"nfs







I love painting in pastels and it's been awhile since I've done so. I was helping out a friend by introducing them to the medium and knocked out this little one as a demo. I don't usually sell my pastels on EBay but this one is already framed and ready to go so I thought I'd post it.

Here's the image without the frame.

Original Pastel Painting of Nude, 12" x 16", $45 Unframed, $85 Framed

"Angela with Child"
E-mail me to imquire about purchase through PayPal.

Angela, my favorite model, is vibrant with the blush of expectant motherhood. Today was her last modeling session for awhile and I caught her while I could with some pastels. I had to work quickly as I changed paper three separate times. This piece is available directly from me for $45 unframed or $85 framed. The framing makes it easier as there is no worry over smudging the work. Unframed pastels get shipped in their own special case that protects them until framing.

Pastel Still Life

"Millard Sheets Demo"

I had a bunch of computer/technical stuff to catch up on today so, sigh, no studio for me. So, just for entertainment, here's a piece I did some time back as a demonstration at the Millard Sheets Gallery in Pomona, CA. They ended up purchasing one of my pieces for their permanent collection - but not this one. It was, however, sold so it's not available. I thought it would be fun to show this piece as it is a pastel. It's a lot different than my work as of late. My specialty for a long time was transparencies and reflections. I'm currently working on a "how to" book for pastel artists on this type of rendering. Enjoy.