Pastel on Watercolor Paper

Tread Lightly 12 x 22
Pastel on Arches Watercolor paper
Charity Supported: Pasado's Safe Haven

It has taken me awhile to let go of this piece. I have decided to finally decided to offer it for sale. In my mind, it is just so tranquil. I can pop in there so fast when I need a place to "be" that is just a little more calm than where I am. It's a special place in the valley (Skagit Valley in Washington) that is home to lots of animals roaming freely and, strangely, every time I've been there the sun has been shining. Anyone living in Washington knows just how strange that is.

This was one of those experimental pieces that just fell together and I loved every minute of working on it. One of those I was there but not there pieces so it was fun to be done, sit back, and then say "Oh, look what happened while I was gone!" It is painted with a variety of pastels (Nupastels, Unisons, Schmincke's, Diane Townsends, and a few others I'm sure) on Arches watercolor paper. From a distance, it looks pretty smooth but up close you can see the texture of the surface. Loads of fun!

Alley, a crop of a pastel

This is a crop of a painting I did of my niece's friend. I took the liberty using lots of different textures for her scarves and her jacket. I like the way the soft green and teal scarf contrast with the metal and zipper on her jacket. Just my take but I think it works.

I used Wallis museum sanded paper and did a full turpentine wash to get the soft gradiated background. That orange is an intense color but was a blast to work with - especially against Alley's soft skin tones and green, green eyes!

Cat Oil Painting, Heart Stealer

Heart Stealer 5 x 7
supported charity: Best Friends
sold $150

This piece was auctioned with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as the recipient of the eBay Givingworks donation. I chose them because they are a member of the Rapid Response team in compliance with the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition and are assisting as needed with misplaced animals of the GUSTAV hurricane.

No matter which way you look at her, she'll steal your heart if you get too close. I had so much fun painting this oil of Biscuit on her favorite rug, playing with her favorite red heart toy, and giving me that little wink that she does sometimes. If you are at all familiar with my art, it might appear that everything is all about Biscuit. Oh, wait, it is.

It was so much fun to get back in to oils again for this piece. I've been away from them for awhile and, perhaps because they were my first art-love, I always get the "ah" factor when I get them out again to start a new painting. This one was especially enjoyable because I used a new surface, too. I tried using the relatively new Unison pastel board. What a treat that is for oils. As a precaution, I checked with Terry Stanley at Richeson art (the manufacturers) and she noted the surface holds up great for oils. So, this won't be my last on oil on this board. I will, however, be buying more brushes. They look like Biscuit's new chew toys after using them on the pastel surface.