Playing with Pastels

"Bottle Family" pastel, 5x7" I am taking a holiday break from teaching painting classes, but I can't wait to start again. My last class of beginners did some amazing work. Including learning to paint glass objects like the painting above! My next painting class begins on January 7th so there is time for you to awaken your creative spirit and join me. There is room for a few more! See below... and let me know you want to register! Gift Certificates are also available!  Playing with Pastels… Beginner and intermediate Join this class and experience a nurturing community atmosphere that will ignite artistic and personal growth whether you are a first time explorer or have had some experience. Students in this class will develop basic pastel painting techniques as we seek to discover our own style. We will explore color and composition, and refine our drawing skills. Ages: Adults & mature teens When: 5 Monda

"Triple Dare", pastel 5x7" This painting, along with four others, is currently showing at the Jackson Gallery at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury, VT through the month of December. On this cold Thanksgiving Day, a few hot peppers might be welcome! Give yourself the gift of creative expression! I dare you! Take my next series of classes here in my studio in Middlebury, or give a gift to someone you love. Gift Certificates available. Pastel Painting… Beginner and intermediate "All the Tea in China" - Vermont Pastel Society Juried Show - 2nd Place In this class, participants will experience a nurturing community atmosphere that will ignite artistic and personal growth whether you are a first time explorer or have had some experience. Students in this class will develop basic pastel painting techniques as we seek to discover our own style. We will explore color and composition, while refining our drawing skills.

"The Shadows Begin", pastel, 6x6" Driving home the other day I asked my husband to stop by this old barn so I could take a photograph. I love the way the shadows change in late summer. Peaceful and cool. The sun trying to hang on to the life of summer! My class begins on Monday and it was time to get back to the easel again. Pastel Painting… Beginner and intermediate Students will experience a nurturing community atmosphere in this class that will ignite artistic and personal growth whether you are a first time explorer or have had some experience. Students in this class will develop basic pastel painting techniques as we seek to discover our own style. We will explore color and composition, while refining our drawing skills. Ages: Adults & mature teens When: 5 Mondays September 17 - October 15 2:00 - 5:00 pm Fee: $180 If you don't have materials and would like to use studio materials, the cost is $200.

"Whispering Hope", pastel 6x6" Soft as the voice of an angel Breathing a lesson unheard Hope with a gentle persuasion Whispers a comforting word. Wait, 'till the darkness is over Wait, 'till the tempest is done Hope, for the sunshine tomorrow After the darkness is gone. Songwriters: Jimmy Carroll / A Hawthorne I have always felt inspired when I see this little stand of trees. This morning the sun highlighted their hopefulness. So good to be painting again. Judy

"Working My Way Back to You", pastel 6x6" I have painted this spot many times and it never fails to  bring me pleasure. Shadows and atmospheric perspective have fun with color value, temperature and tint. Good to get to the easel today after a busy day in the office! Make room for your art making this fall... Pastel Painting… beginner and intermediate In this class, participants will experience a nurturing community atmosphere that will ignite artistic and personal growth whether you are a first time explorer or have had some experience. Students in this class will develop basic pastel painting techniques as we seek to discover our own style. We will explore color and composition, while refining our drawing skills. Ages: Adults & mature teens When: 5 Mondays September 17 - October 15 2:00 - 5:00 pm Fee: $180 If you don't have materials and would like to use studio materials, the cost is $200.

"Here Comes the Sun", pastel 12x16" Standing in the brilliant sun trying to paint this glowing barn was very memorable. I had a terrible time choosing colors, but I loved the way the barn seemed to glow. I was almost blinded by the light and couldn't quite get is right. The painting sat in the drawer I call "You've got one more chance!" Today I took the painting out of its exile to give it another chance and get myself warmed up to painting after a two month lapse. It was fun to try to capture the memory of an iridescent spring afternoon. I got my hands dirty and played with my pastels! Judy ps My Pastel Painting class starts on September 17! Come and play!!!

"So You'd Better Get Ready" It's been quite a while since I used the creative side of my brain to paint! You might know that I started a wonderful new job in July. My job is challenging both sides of my brain, but it feels like I've been away from the easel for too long. Beginning to teach again will be good for me and for you , too, if you can join me! I'm just offering one class this time around, and it begins on September 17th in my studio. Call me or email me to register! 802-989-7644 Judy MONDAYS Pastel Painting… beginner and intermediate In this class, participants will experience a nurturing community atmosphere that will ignite artistic and personal growth whether you are a first time explorer or have had some experience. Students in this class will develop basic pastel painting techniques while discovering their own style. We will explore color and composition, while refining our drawing skills

   Last Saturday I did a painting demonstration at the Brandon Artists Guild in Brandon, Vermont in conjunction with our show " Art from Farm to Table ". There were about 20 attendees and lots of good questions! Here are some of the progress photos as I played with my pastels... Initial sketch in charcoal...     I then created a value under painting in charcoal... I begin to add color... I took a vote as to whether or not I should dull down the background and I began to do that.  And this is where I stopped the demonstration... I worked on the painting for a few days and I think I am finished! Thank you to all who came and the staff at the Brandon Artists Guild! Spring Tonic , pastel, 12x16"

"Headin' to the Jordan Shore" pastel, 6x6" My journey into the words of the song "Put on Your Travelin' Shoes" are nearing the end. I have felt inspired and sometimes frustrated as I created these paintings. Frustration comes with the territory, but inspiration is a joy when it touches your heart and soul. There are two more paintings to be created in this series, but the message of the the four paintings that I have shared with you is pretty simple. "Put on Your Travelin' Shoes" "Goin on a Journey" "So You'd Better Get Ready" The message is hope . There is something ahead of us that is greater and more wonderful than we can imagine. Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"So You Better Get Ready", pastel, 5x7" When you are painting from a memory it can be hard to get the colors and values right. My memory of a wet and muddy dirt road near my old home finally gelled for me just before my class today. What a blessing! This is the same road from the last two paintings in this series, "Put on Your Walking Shoes". I can't get the song out of my head! Who knows where inspiration will come from? We just have to be ready to say "yes" to it! Get those pastels out and PLAY! Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"Goin' on a Journey" pastel, 5x7" I am enjoying this series of imaginary landscapes. A song we sung in choir recently, "Put on Your Travelin' Shoes" inspired the titles. Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"Put on Your Travelin' Shoes" pastel, 6x6" I am trying to learn to do better landscapes and painting a "sky hole" was the challenge of the day. I started with this ground  of a soft umber and sketched in the big shapes. I blocked in the basic hues and values using Nupastel. Painting in the sky holes makes it come alive. I used Richeson pastels mostly. I wanted to try my new set created by  Desmond O'Hagen. Had to get a few colors from my big set, but I think I might be on the right track. Hope you are playing with your pastels! Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"The Comfort of an Old Friend" pastel, 5x7" I love this old teacup. I love the vintage napkin, too. I could have used a paper one, but it felt special to use this one. "Treat yourself," I said. Enjoyed talking to a new friend at church tonight. Another treat! Life's simple pleasures can be so comforting. Counting my blessings today... Judy

"Let Your Living Water Flow" I thought I might play around with some new pastel paper that I ordered. The grit was 250 and it was like painting on course sandpaper. I ended up using a piece of foam to push some color into the tooth. Interesting results. So I kept on playing. Sometimes it is good to fool around and not be concerned with results. Just let it flow... Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"Living Water", pastel, 7x5" Again... (another day in the 30/30 painting challenge). I just had to paint something, but what? A simple subject (without a staged setting) was all I could come up with, as I had an hour before my class would arrive. I painted this one with just the intention of painting a beautiful water pitcher... a man made object...  that I love , to express with the appreciation that I have for it, and what it holds. I painted it and I like it. But I hope it expresses much more... Many colors make up the living water ... Play with your pastels... Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"To the Fading Flower" pastel, 7x5" Last week after church a friend gave me a bouquet of flowers from the Fellowship Table to take home. They were so pretty and I thought I would paint them. Life got in the way and today all that was left was this one fading flower. It was not a well lit, perfect set up. The photo to the left was what I was looking at. The leaves were under water and the background was a chair and electrical outlet! As artists we are always interpreting what we see. I wanted to honor the beauty of this flower, so I glorified it! I set a stage of quiet beauty and tried to honor the life of this flower and the person who so kindly allowed me to enjoy it and it's friends. I painted the leaves where I wanted them to be. Sometimes we paint what we see... and sometimes we paint what we know it to be. Make sure you play with your pastels this week! Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"Easy Being Green", pastel 11x14" On a winter day it's so easy to long for green! Found this reference photo in my "painting possibilities" folder. It wasn't easy, but it was fun to think about peppers and zucchini instead of boots and shovels! Hope you are playing with your pastels! Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"Vermont-a-Doodle-Doo" pastel, 14x11" It is snowing like crazy here in Vermont! I have been wanting to paint this rooster for a long time. We have the most wonderful rooster and his harem of chickens in our neighborhood. Trying to get back to the painting a day challenge!!! Judy www.judyalbrightart.com

"My Happy Place", pastel 12x12" "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone" Neale Donald Walsch I have had a few days of not being in a happy place, painting wise. Nothing was going right. I thought I had forgotten all I knew about painting. What was going on?  I had started a painting that was giving me so many problems because the board I was painting on was very rough and didn't accept the pastel in a way I was used to at all. What a struggle. I finally went back to it today and wrestled my way through it. Still not happy! I started a new painting on a board that I love and am familiar with. Wow! What a difference. Here is the progression... This is my charcoal sketch which carefully included the values I will be wanting to remember as I paint. First rough in that follows the map I have laid out. I was happier already. The latest version may have some tweaks added, but I think I have found my happy place again! Hope you

"Lanterns Over Teacup" pastel, 7x5" I seem to be off to a rough start on the first day of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge offered by artist Leslie Saeta! But I do like the painting I am posting. I did it a few months ago, not yesterday because the one that I started yesterday was rough... literally! I was working on a board that I reused by painting over the cleaned surface with clear Gesso. The surface was rough and that just didn't work with the subject I chose. I will try again and (hopefully) post a brand new painting! Judy