Playing with Pastels

"Tangled Up in Blue", oil, 12x12" The dictionary says... "Core values are the guiding principles that dictate behavior and action." I hold many core values that have been defined by my faith and my upbringing. I try to stick with them in all that I do as a person and a citizen. As an artist the concepts of value and color guide my palette choices. I try to always begin a painting with a small value study such as this one for "Tangled Up in Blue". (The tick marks guide me when I transfer my composition to my painting surface.) I have a little trick I use to check my values as I paint... I take a photo of the painting and use the mono filter to change it to a black and white version of the painting. It is pretty close to the value study! Yeah! When it isn't, this trick helps me make adjustments. Notice how I added some highlight to the spoon. Stick to your values in life and in painting! Judy

"When Life Gives You Lemons", oil, 10x8" "Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make. Good. Art." ~Neil Gaiman When life gives you lemons... well you know the rest! I don't know about you, but I really hate making mistakes. One of the scary things about being an artist is how easy it is to make mistakes every time you make a stroke! The painting above went through many stages and at least one big mistake! Take a look at the "mistake phase"  of this painting... This was actually the block in phase of the painting. Notice how I used a lot of orange in the under painting of the gold cup and the yellow lemons. Made sense to me, however...   When I started painting I got carried away with the orange in the cup and it didn't work with the composition. Fortunately

"Napkin with Pear", pastel, 5x7" "There are always a myriad of color choices that will work in any situation, as long as the tonal value is appropriate." Gaye Adams Last week I shared my thumbnail value drawing in preparation for painting. I could have made so many different color choices, but decided on a mostly blue composition with the complement of the orange pear. Mixing colors can be surprising at times! Take some of the shock out of the process with the following color mixing exercise... Use each color on the palette you commonly use or think you like. In the first row, paint the color straight from the tube. For pastels, begin with the most saturated colors corresponding to the 12 hues of the color wheel. In each subsequent row add a tint of white. See how light you can go!   Choose three primary colors from your palette and their complements. Gradually add the complement to each, making the color duller

"Wonderful World", oil, 6x6" "Value does the work, color gets the glory." Richard McKinley Why is it so important to have a good understanding of values when you paint? 1. Values describe the scene in three important ways: Whether the subject has volume or is flat. What kind of texture the surface of the subject has. Where the light source is located, and how bright it is. 2. Values create the visual structure of the painting The darks and lights of a painting do more than just provide descriptive information-they also determine its structure. When you look just at the values you see the movement through the painting. Take the time to do a thoughtful value drawing thumbnail before you begin a painting. This one to the right is very small and has already helped me prepare for my next painting! Have fun playing with your paints and pastels! Judy

"Welcome!", Pastel, 6x6" "All colors are the friends of their neighbors and the lovers of their opposites." Marc Chagall This painting was done as a demo for the Creativity Fest at Middlebury Studio School a few weeks ago. There is a wonderful community of artists there that have made me feel very welcome! I  am currently teaching a class there that focuses on understanding and using color theory to make our paintings stronger.  This past week we reacquainted ourselves with the Color Wheel. I try to keep one with me wherever I paint and, even more importantly, I try to keep it clearly in my head! Can you "hear" the conversation between the complimentary colors in the painting above? If you want a quick refresher lesson on the color wheel, this short video by Bill Martin will be helpful. Enjoy this colorful day! Judy

Playing with Pastels: "Choose the light... : "When our thoughts, at times, wander into darkness... remember we are human and have been imbued with free will to choose the lig...

Playing with Pastels: "Choose the light... : "When our thoughts, at times, wander into darkness... remember we are human and have been imbued with free will to choose the lig...

"When our thoughts, at times, wander into darkness... remember we are human and have been imbued with free will to choose the light." Christopher Earle   This painting will be in an upcoming group show at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT which opens on March 4th from 5 - 7 PM . I hope you will come!

"Jaine with Tea", pastel, 24x18" I have many blessing, not the least of which is my beautiful daughter Jaine. When she was very little I started calling her "my best, best girl." Don't remember why exactly, but she certainly is! This painting will be in an upcoming group show at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT which opens on March 4th from 5 - 7 PM . I hope you will come! Judy from a "A Mother's Prayer" recorded by Celine Dionne (listen) I pray You'll be my eyes And watch her where she goes And help her to be wise Help me to let go Every mother's prayer Every child knows Lead her to a place Guide her with Your grace To a place where she'll be safe

  "Hanging in the Balance", pastel, 14x11" "I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan,  like every sparrow falling,  like every grain of sand." Bob Dylan   It is actually a challenge to find interesting compositions while sitting in a waiting room. This one captured a mood I was feeling. I am curious to know how this painting makes you feel? Listen to "Every Grain of Sand" I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan, like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/987768 I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan, like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/987768 I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan, like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand. Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/987768 I am hanging in the balance of a perfect finished plan, like every

"Waiting for a Miracle", pastel, 18x24" I have been spending a lot of time in waiting rooms lately. It is a good place to pray, that's for sure. Better things will happen, but not always in the timing that I am hoping for. Painting, making music, writing, and cooking are creative activities that keep me going. Hoping all my students and friends are well and enjoying their creative spirits! Judy     Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ~ Mark 10:27

"Raining Sunlight", pastel, 24x18" Yesterday was January 10th and it was raining and thundering here in VT! As I finished this painting I was thinking about the phrase "When it rains, it pours." Life seems like that sometimes, but then the sun come out! This is another painting for the 30 in 30 Challenge . I have done six paintings, which is not too bad. I'm going to try to pick up the pace! Judy

"Ripe Tomato in Blue Gingham", pastel, 7x5 "Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen ... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.   Bradley Whitford This quote really speaks to me today. Circumstances are difficult in my life right now, but sitting still is not an option! This is the next in my series of vegetables and gingham. The blue just cheers me up! Judy

"Onion in Gingham", pastel, 7x5" This is another in my mini-series of paintings of vegetables and gingham. The 30 in 30 Challenge is really good for me right now. It is helpful to have a goal! My new favorite quote is... "A goal without a plan is just a wish." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", pastel, 7x5"   It was 3 degrees when I woke up this morning and I was longing for summer!I found a photo I took in July of flowers from my garden. Where are they now!?! Playing with my pastels... Judy

"Red Pepper in Blue Gingham", pastel, 7x5" "In your cotton shirt and faded jeans, you came for me And the gingham dress was all I had to wear With a dollar in your pocket and a borrowed car You picked a yellow daisy for my hair That's the way it could have been" Dolly Parton - That's The Way It Could Have Been   Something about a voluptuous pepper and gingham makes me smile! The lyrics to this Dolly Parton song are making me long for warm summer sun!  I am going to try a few  other vegetables wearing gingham during the course of the 30 in 30 Challenge. Judy

"Hell Boy, Undercover Cat", pastel, 12x12" I have had double cat trouble here at my daughter's house! Double the fun and love, that is!!! This little cuddly baby has a mind to crawl under covers and rugs! He really makes us laugh! Day 2 of the 30 in 30 Challenge ! Judy

"Prince Mallomar Sitting on the Throne of Unconditional Love" , pastel 12x12" For the past four months I have been blessed with the company and love of this sweet, sweet boy! It is good to get back to painting again. I have signed up for the 30 in 30 Challenge again this year and I am counting on it to help me rejuvenate my creative life! Having fun playing with my pastels... Judy