Category Archives: Pastel

Pastel Disaster

AAUGH!!!

Daring whispered in my ear today.

“Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to do a pastel to celebrate Earth Day!”

“YEH!”, I thought.

Never mind that I do not know much about pastel painting. It felt only right to work with my hands, to get them dirty. Pastels get you dirty. This is only my third ever, pastel painting.

I spent almost three hours this afternoon working on what you are about to see. Ok, maybe more like two hours, because I was checking on the split pea soup, and changing loads of laundry too.

This is small, five inches square. It is a good thing I really had fun working on this. Otherwise I would be really, REALLY, REALLY upset.

I apologize for the horrible photos. This is a quick look at the process. I was happy with the result. That is, until I decided to seal it, so I would be able to scan it for this post.

Brilliant, bloody brilliant Sheila.

It didn’t help, that right when I started to spray sealant, the wind kicked up and spread a fine dusting of little yellow specks from the trees nearby.

pastel progress. Hydrangea, 5 x 5, watercolor and pastel on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

I started with a watercolor wash. Then a few layers of pastel to get the basic shapes. I changed my mind, and decided the leaves looked better on the side, instead of the bottom. Little by little, I added details. I used Prismacolor NUPASTELS.

Decent

Here it is, finished and semi-show-able.

D.O.A.

And here it is, not ready for prime time.

I know. Awful.

So there you have it. My Earth Day experiment.

Oh, and here is the photo that started it all.

Hydrangea, blooming in the garden.

Hope you had a fabulous Earth Day!

They Say Angels Are Among Us

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To fit in better with the struggling, striving, sprouting souls on earth, they leave their wings behind. And are known to us as friends.

I know this is true. I have proof. I have witnesses. I will share a short story, and you too can bear witness to the miracle of friendship.

This past weekend I was elbow deep in research. My phone was not ringing, my inbox was empty. My focus was on reading, note taking, blog building.

How to Blog. Build a better Blog. Blogging 101. What beginners need to know about blogging.

By Sunday I was overwhelmed, and sure that I was the biggest under achiever in Blogland. I decided to take a break, but before I turned the computer off, I checked my mail. There it was. A gift. A blessing. A letter from a friend.

Most of the letter was an update on what is new in her art world. Exciting, interesting, GREAT news. I couldn’t wait to reply! And then in the last few lines… she just lifted me up the way Bette sang about to Barbara in Beaches.

She said my friendship was a blessing to her. She complimented my work. And get this, she asked me to teach her about Blogging. What??

ME, teach about blogging?

Her words brought me to tears. A pat on the back that turned into a full-fledged HUG.

She asked if she could buy one of my bookmarks (they are free by the way, and you can see them here.) I replied, telling her that one was on the way via USPS. I couldn’t help but include a quick little ATC (Artist Trading Card) for her. This is just a partial peek, because she might read this. I am hoping it will brighten her day, and serve as a reminder of what a blessing her presence here on earth is.

Thank You Kat!

watercolor, floral arrangement in a pitcher

Watercolor, pastel, pen, 2.5 x 3.5

August Birthday Postcard Swap

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The borrowers are at it again. I have searched high and low and everywhere in between. No really, I got down on my hands and knees to look under the chair and behind the desk. My brand new little book of stamps is missing.

I went thru my wallet & my purse, which I just cleaned out last night. Nope. And I recently vacuumed out the car, and cleaned under the seats, so I know the book did not fall into any hidden spaces there. I clearly remember taking it out of my purse when I got home. And there is only one place I would put them, which is exactly where they go, where my postcard stamps are. In the drawer marked “Office”. As in supplies. As in stamps.

You know what this means right? AAUGH! (A la Charlie Brown.) I am going to have to do a serious tearing apart, I mean cleaning. But my everything-in-its-place gene seems to be on vacation. So I will wait a few days and hope that Arrietty takes pity on me and returns the book while I am sleeping.

This month there is just one birthday we are celebrating in the Milliande Birthday Postcard Swap. I also included a “Believe” bookmark. (The freebie from my earlier post) and I made a tassel with cobalt blue glass beads on it. This was is watercolor, pen and pastel.