PASTEL 100 Competition Winners

Excited to learn two of my entries in the 16th Annual Pastel 100 Competition have received Honorable Mentions. "Daisy Blues" in the Floral category juried by Stephanie Birdsall; and "Sage Symphony" in the Landscape category juried by Doug Dawson. These paintings will be included in the Pastel 100 issue of The Pastel Journal in April 2015. Thank you Pastel Journal for this honor and congratulations to all the other artists who have received awards!

Abstract is Thrilling

Not much more thrilling than when an abstract piece is successful, especially when it is laid over a failed impressionist piece, as "Late Night" was. This is 12x18" on UArt 400. Just entered this in the 2014 IAPS Fall Web Show. 

JUST 10 MINUTES PLEASE

I've been having such fun with my 10-minute paintings ... A great exercise to help you stay loose, make quick decisions (helpful for Plein air painting), leave a trail to show your journey, and stop before you cover up a masterpiece! This is a demo I did for my students at Emerald Art Center in August. I love the abstract quality of this ... Often achieved because you literally don't have time for details... I also like to leave some of the underpainting showing through... Lucky is she who snagged this during the workshop!

"Three Orange Pears" done in ten minutes ... 6x12"  Another thing that giving yourself a time limit does is keeps you from going back and fiddling with it . . . Although on a couple of these I did tweak for a few more minutes.... Not this one and the radishes above was actually done in 8 minutes!

My 10-Minute daisies . . . This was a little more involved and 8x10" 

I like the subtle indication of Baby's Breath in the bouquet...

Really love this piece... 10 minutes here... With these quick pieces you must be bold with your strokes and leave the alone...  6x6" "Bruised Ego"