My Cup Runneth Over

Dedicated to my Sweetheart for Valentines Day!

My Cup Runneth Over, 6x6 pastel on Canson

My Cup Runneth Over
by Ed Ames

Sometimes in the mornin' when shadows are deep
I lie here beside you just watching you sleep
And sometimes I whisper what I'm thinking of
My cup runneth over with love

Sometimes in the evening when you do not see
I study the small things you do constantly
I memorize moments that I'm fondest of
My cup runneth over with love

In only a moment we both will be old
We won't even notice the world turning cold
And so, in these moments with sunlight above
My cup runneth over with love
My cup runneth over with love
With love

Garden Rocks

My yard has several different areas for gardening. There the front lawn, the backyard upper lawn, and the backyard lower lawn, plus we have terraces, and lots of different beds for growing things. It gets complicated sometimes trying to tell one another where we saw a particular thing in the yard. Today's pastel is from a photo reference in what I call the "triangle bed", which is in the backyard upper lawn. The previous owner placed this interesting pile of rocks into that bed, so I get to garden around them. I like them, so they are staying.

Garden Rocks, 6x6 pastel on grey Canson

In this picture the rocks are surrounded by tall white and purple statice, burgandy rudbeckias, and little lemon gem marigolds. The deer don't eat these plants, but the slugs absolutely LOVE the marigolds, so I have to watch over them carefully.

Anyway, I had fun with this pastel. I layered soft over hard and it was a lovely tactile experience. Sweet.

White on White challenge

Sewing Room White on White,    6x6 on Canson paper

Coming Soon

Coming Soon,   5x5 pastel on grey Canson

Apples on a Red Box

Apples on a Red Box 5x6 pastel

Nature's Matinee

Nature's Matinee: Sunset           6x6 pastel

Nature's Matinee: Cloud formations          6x6 pastel

The Rose Bowls

I spent a fair amount of time in my "studio" today trying to work out some difficulties with a still life arrangement I called the Rose Bowl. My first attempt was a rather quick sketch on blue paper. I kind of liked the colors, even though the drawing was a little weak. Actually, I didn't draw it ahead of time at all...I just started adding colors and shapes to see what would come of it.

Next I used some of the new white "pearlized" paper and got the drawing down right before applying color. Yech. I didn't like the colors at all. I'm discovering that using white takes a great deal of skill. A toned paper has the ability to unify colors in a painting, whereas with a white ground each color stands on it's own. It takes a great artist with a keen color sense to work well with white.

Lastly, I switched over to an orange paper and brought the composition in a little tighter. I am pleased with some of the elements here, but it's still not quite what I'm looking for, and it got a bit over-worked.

Funny, when I look at all three together, the one I like the best is the hasty sketch that I did to begin with. I like the fresher marks of the pastel and the assortment of colors. What do you think?