Cool Anger, pastel 5.5" X 5.5 "

This is another small pastel I did a few weeks back. The ranch had another breakin, this time the stole all the copper wire in the well so the ranch has not had water to the house in a few weeks. Hopefully the electrician will have it fixed next week.  My Advanced Placement students finally got all their digital images sent to the college board so I can stop worrying about them. Only about 2 weeks before my Academy class is over and 3 weeks till school is out, then I can ....maybe do some painting for myself just for fun. A novel thought. Well, I am going to go read a book and be grateful for my life with all that it has and does not have. I am blessed. Later!!

Dreads and Drama 2, 5.5"X5.5", pastel

This is a little pastel that I have submitted to a couple of shows. It was not done for a class. I started it while supervising detention at the high school...continued it in the orthodontists office....more at my friends house while we had coffee. I have 2 other little tiny guys in progress. I will post them as they are done. I worked on them while my husband was in for surgery. (I bet they never had anyone as messy as me in their waiting room before!!!) I worked more on my waterlily painting this morning. Yesterday I was so frustrated...I was not sure I ever wanted to paint again! What was I thinking. The waterlily painting is 36" X 48" and no matter what I did, I got glare and could not see the painting to continue to paint. Well, today I was rested, with a clear mind, I lowered the painting and rotated it to it's side and the glare was minimal so I began painting again. I started to feel better. I remembered back to the days that I just painted to make me happy. I need more of that. Mostly this painting is for me.

Oh, poor Diana still has not got her pastel that I sent to Germany as they are holding it in customs!! It is a gift!!!! Please!!!! I even put that it was a gift on the customs form. The people in customs probably think I am nuts for giving it as a gift but Diana is a very special exchange daughter. When I had my mysectomy she came back to the USA to see me and encourage me. What a dear young woman she is. Wish I could have hand delivered it, that would have done my spirits good!! Customs...IT IS A GIFT!!!!!!! YES, THE PASTEL PORTRAIT OF PHILLIP IS A GIFT!!!!! Sorry, yes, I was yelling at the customs people!

Race with the Rabbit, oil 6" X 6"

This cute little rabbit is actually a ceramic figurine with very worn gold leaf. It was so cute that I had to have it. The little square bottle was one of my many garage sale finds. The flowers are oleanders and if you did not know, they are poisonous, but pretty! I worked out on the ranch with Jerry today checking the drip lines and flushing out all the ends. My poor Jerry started feeling bad. He got a terrible headache and nausious. He is napping now. I hope it makes him feel better. I also painted on the "Waterlilies" a bit more early this morning. If anyone wants to check out some cool lecture notes from one of Richard Schmid's lectures go here: http://artofrodrigo.blogspot.com/2011/04/richard-schmid-lecture-notes.html Richard Schmid is just excellent. I know I need to locate his landscape book. Later!!! Enjoy the sun! Click Here to Bid

Red Tractor Seat with No Butt Reflected Oil 6"X6" Eger

This is one of my many tractors from my farming and ranching series. I am working on a 36" X 48" oil painting of waterlilies in the studio. It is about 80% done. I am hoping to have it finished in the next couple of weeks. I am working on edge control and color temperature on it now. My spring Academy class will be over the middle of May so I need to focus. This summer I will be attempting 2 Academy classes for the 1st time in 5 years of taking classes. Wish me luck, I may need it!!  Click Here To Bid

Pam's Palms, oil 6" X 6"

I did this little guy on Thursday after work down in Turlock, Ca. with the Central Valley Suncatchers. The wind was blowing and my beautiful brand new Kevin McPherson Pochade easel was thrown to the ground an slightly damaged but I felt alive and happy!!!!  Enjoy!

"Phillip", pastel, 18" X 24" Done

Well, it took me 9 monthes but I finally finished the pastel of Phillip and shipped it to Germany this last Monday. I made some changes in the background and quieted down the reflected light in the hat and jacket since the last posting. I threw my back out a week ago and 2 trips to see Dr. Toni Reynolds, (my Chiropractor) I am finally starting to feel a lot better. I am very tired...I am thinking that maybe I am not drinking enough water. Sorry, I have been very negligent about posting lately. I did not get any work in Pastels USA. Oh well. There is next year. I will just have to try again.

Dancer 5 Quick Study

Click Here To Bid This was done in the quick studies class I had with Michelle Goodwin. A great class and a hell of a lot of work but good for the soul!!!!!  I am soooo tired. My kids are doing airbrush, scratchboard, learning clay tools and tomorrow starting to get really messy with clay whistles!! They are so much fun!!!! Got to go. I need to put in some more time of that cute little "Phillip", pastel!