Studio Notes and Reflections

You can have different 'stratas' of ground on your surface to fix problem areas. [...]

Not all pastel involves working on paper with a light stroke. [...]

Getting Started on Textured Surfaces [...]

I’ve been ‘artistic’ as far back as I can remember.  It was not however after I retired, and began competing, and put my work into galleries that I felt I had become an “Artist.”   As so many in this world, the obligations of being an adult meant fulfilling responsibilities.  I was a single parent from 1973 to 1999, and worked in software.  That is not to say I did not, ever so often, fitfully create a painting in my kitchen in the middle of the night.  But there was precious little time to develop a body of work.   When I finally retired at [...]

Did you already know how to subscribe to my Newsletter?  I do put them out from time to time to announce events in my artistic life.  I try to keep them brief.  It is pretty easy.  From the Homepage you can click on Email Newsletter:      and you will come to this screen:     From here you can put in your information to subscribe or to unsubscribe.  And one more thing, you can also select Read Past Issues to read earlier Newsletters.     [...]

There are two 'things' that drive what I paint, how I feel, and what I see.  It is a combination of these sensations that propel me towards color and form.  During the pandemic I began a series on cactus.  Going out to walk the nature trails was one way I could get outside and not have to wear a mask, well, unless I met someone on the trail.   Proud Opuntia is the last of my 'COVID era'  cactus paintings.  And I think it is my favorite.  I was out in the late afternoon in November, the light was fading so fast, and [...]

I always feel better prepared to launch into a painting if I've done a good job of the under drawing. I may have some idea of how I want the painting to look, but I often discover that when I execute a careful study I will begin to express my subconscious feelings. I come to understand what drew me to the subject in the first place. Other times my thoughts and feelings will drive the drawing. For this composition, the drawing is teaching me what the "agave has to say." [...]

  November 6, 2021 found me at the Tiemann Art Gallery in my home town of Round Rock, Texas.  The Central Texas Pastel Society was holding their Fall 2021 Annual Exhibition and Competition.  The Reception was a packed house buzzing with excitement.  When the hour came to announce the awards they said that they would work from the 'bottom up.'  Made sense to me.  My name was the first one announced for a Merit Award for Landscape given to my work, Sentries to the Sunset.      I thought, that was mighty nice.  I've always had a place in my heart for that painting, [...]

(November 1, 2021:  Breaking news, this painting was accepted into the International Association of Pastel Societies 39th Juried Exhibition  as part of the 7th Master's Division.  I was 'over the moon' that it was accepted into this prestigious show.)     Spring this year in central Texas was unusually wet, making sauntering off onto nature paths a bit more of a challenge.  One does not usually associate cactus with rain, but it was after a rainy morning that I captured this scene.  It was very early, and the light was low and faint.   The grass was high from so much rain, the path soggy.   Most of [...]

I was especially surprised and pleased last October when I was notified that I had earned an Honorable Mention in the prestigious 22nd Pastel Journal 100 competition for my painting Sentries to the Sunset.   I began this painting because I thought I could finally use a particular frame I had,  I needed something that would fit into a 20 x 30 format and would go with a silver/gray frame.  I wanted to try and keep my purchases down through the pandemic, so I started off with a vague plan to work in a cool colors for this one particular frame.   A Bad [...]