Chickadee 2

Today's chickadee is a little clown hanging upside down from a seed pod.

 

Chickadee 2, 7 x 7 pastel on brown cardstock

Sweet Chickadee

A chickadee is one of my favorite little birds to watch, especially in winter. I'm using someone else's reference today (by permission) to do this charming painting.

 

Sweet Chickadee, 7x7 pastel on brown cardstock

Art Workshop and Winter Colors

Today was the day for our first Art Workshop, which will be held twice a month from now on! The idea is for everyone to work on the same reference (photo, still life, plein air landscape, etc.) using our favorite medium to create the piece. Our workshop group (so far!) has one oil painter, several watercolorists, and one pastelist. (guess who!)

Shirleen presented us with our challenge photos for this meeting. One was the red cardinal, which I did ahead of time, and the other two references were snow scenes. I decided to take a lot of liberties with the reference to make it a whimsical version with lots of color. It only seemed fitting to call it: Winter Colors. :)

 

Winter Colors, 8 x 10 pastel on brown cardstock

 

 

I only thought to take a couple pictures while the group was here. Next time it might be fun to photograph each person's project. In the photo below is Ed, Deni, and Shirleen.

 

 

This photo shows Karen, and Ed again.

 

 

Here are Pegg and Rosemary. We met for three hours this afternoon and the time just flew by. I can hardly wait for the next session!

 

Cardinal Colors

Well, I just couldn't wait. I'm meeting Friday with a group of local artists and we will all work on the same references to paint in our own medium of choice. As preparation we were given three reference photos to consider, but this cardinal couldn't wait. The branches of the trees in the photo reminded me so much of stained glass that I just had to see what it would look like in pastel.  Guess I'll be working on one of the other references when the group meets.

 

Cardinal Colors, 10 x 10 pastel on brown cardstock

Coastal Serenity

This largish stream was slowly meandering towards the ocean at Agate Beach. The color in the autumn grasses brightened up the scene after a night of heavy rain.

 

Coastal Serenity, 8 x 10.5 pastel on brown cardstock

Spencer Creek

While camping at Beverly Beach last month we went for a wet hike through the woods and along Spencer Creek. Today's painting is based on one of the photos I took along the way.

Spencer Creek, 8 x 10 pastel on brown cardstock

December Azalea

Santa gifted me with new pastels for Christmas and I could hardly wait to get my fingers dusty. We (Santa and I!) went for a long walk in the misty rain at CCC today and what did we see? A silly Azalea in full bloom! Since that's what tickled my fancy today it gets to be my first "return to the easel" subject of the week. It feels great to play with color again!

December Azalea, 8 x 10 pastel on dark blue cardstock