Daffodils

Yes, I know. This photo is out of sync and out of season, but I couldn't help posting it. It's been in my Camera Uploads file since July and I thought it was time to do something about it. 

This past July, while visiting my cousin in Ohio, I looked over her collection of my artwork which she displays throughout her home. I'm truly honored to have her do that. This particular pastel was done ages ago and is one of my favorites. I just thought I'd share it.

Georgia's Swans

"Georgia's Swans" - 9x9 - Mixed Media Collage Available on Etsy  

At last! I promised my 8-year-old niece, Georgia, that I'd do a collage featuring swans and I'm happy to say that I've complied at last. I love swans so I'm not sure why I never did one earlier. But here it is! I hope you like it, Georgia.

Retrospective Part 4

Florals

"Ceramic Birds & Morning Glory Vase" - Pastel - 11x14 - 1998

Ultimately, flowers became my favorite subject matter. My mother has always been an avid gardener and I grew up following her around the yard asking the names of all the flowers and learning the difference between annuals and perennials. I learned to love flowers, but somehow, not gardening. :\  Don't get me wrong. I love to plant flowers, but whether they live or die is up to them.

Anyway, creating images of flowers, in all mediums, is a huge source of joy. Interestingly enough, the flowers in this first image were from my yard (obviously something survived my rather crude gardening methods). I had just made a breakthrough in my handling of pastels and was having a great time with them. What I love most about this painting, though, are the ceramic birds and vase. They had been made by my grandmother almost 40 years earlier. I realize that when she made these she must have been around the same age I am now.

"Nasturtiums II" - Pastel - 16x17 - 1999

The nasturtiums in this second image also came from my yard. Hmmm... maybe I'm a little more into gardening than I realize. I absolutely adore nasturtiums and enjoy representing them in collage, too.

"Blue Vase - Pastel - 11x14 - 2002

This final piece of pansies (also grown by me) was painted as a homework assignment for a pastel workshop I was taking. Fact of the matter is, I never went back after the first session. The instructor was such a flake. Work was never really accomplished in the classroom unless the "energy was right." Most of the time he just talked about painting. I must have gotten something out of it though. This image was made in response to his encouragement to think about composition a little differently and I rather like the way it turned out.