Mt Hood Morning

Looking through my photo references this morning I realized that I have a LOT of sky pictures. You'd think I like skies or something! Well, I do think they are pretty amazing. So I decided that this week will be "Sky Week", and all the paintings I do will be showcasing the ever-interesting and beautiful skies above. The first one is a sunrise over Mt. Hood, and the reference was taken about a year ago on a morning walk.

Mt Hood Morning, 8x11 pastel on Canson

To Gladden the Heart

In Church today I had this image come into my mind as a possible small painting. I knew there was at least one daffodil blooming in my yard, so I could hardly wait to come home and explore the idea. It seemed appropriate for a Sunday activity...what do you think?

To Gladden the Heart, 6x6 pastel on Canson

First Green

We're back home to Oregon after spending a week in snowy Wisconsin (which I hear is now sunny and in the 50-60's!), and I was thrilled to see new green leaves in the forest behind my house. I took a few clippings inside to create this impressionistic view of the greening branches.

First Green, 6x6 pastel on Orange Canson

Neskowin Beach

Heading off to visit kiddos in Wisconsin for a week, but I squeezed out time to do one last pastel of Neskowin Beach, and now my pastels will sit idle for a while. Who knows...maybe Elsie and I will do some crayon art this week and we'll post it on Grandma DeeDee's art blog. That would actually be fun. :)

Neskowin Beach, 8x11 pastel on Canson

Winter Maples Study

I wasn't planning to do a finished painting today. After Church I gazed outside watching the rain/hail/snowy-slushy stuff come down and noticed all the layers of color in the meadow below my tall maple trees in the backyard. I wondered how I would render those layers in pastel, and headed into my art room to do some color scribbling. This is what happened. A little fun experimenting and then the whole paper was covered in layers of color. The maples are rough looking, but that's because it's just an interperative "study", remember?

Winter Maples Study, 6x6 pastel on Canson

Springtime Walk

Every beginning artist needs one good friend to push them along lovingly, who manages to find positive things to say about every effort. Here's mine...on a lovely early spring walk a few years ago. Thanks for the memories, Kathy!

Early Spring Walk, 8x8 pastel on Canson

Paulene's Hellebore

Another busy day. I thought I'd try something easy and paint a hellebore blossom from a photo taken in Paulene's garden last spring. Turns out it wasn't so easy after all. I almost decided to trash it entirely, but then I changed my mind. I'll keep it for the record of progress...(as in, learn from my mistakes!). Some days are better than others. Next time I attempt a giant blossom, I'll approach it in a different way. I'm kind of looking forward to it. :)

Paulene's Hellebore, 6x6 pastel on Canson