pastel dust

After returning from Montana and since my last post, I have been busy with a variety of "stuff" besides painting which can make me a little itchy.  Finally this week I was able to get things in order and get out and do some painting.  Our weather is still beautiful and it lends to getting out and doing some plein air work as well as going on photo expeditions for those reference photos that are so important when the fog sets in and the dampness is bone chilling.
Bambi and I went out this afternoon with the good intention of doing some plein air work, however, the colors were so incredible we agreed that it might be in our best interest to make it a "photo: day and shoot images.  And that is what we did.  We trekked down along some creeks and drove up remote roads in the Blues.  We stayed out late enough to record some of the fabulous light that happens around 4 o'clock this time of year.  We will appreciate this day come mid January and fog!
I am contemplating a new series...it will be different from the small works series where I  used one composition and recreated it differently 100 times.  I have decided this will be small works, but in the 8x10 or 9x12 size...what I haven't decided on is the number and if the pieces will have a relationship to each other.  I am leaning toward something like "Back roads" or "Roads and Streams" or maybe "Montana On My Mind" or "The Path of Lewis and Clark".  Maybe it will be "50 off the 90"...50 images of areas of interest off of Interstate 90...since I-90 begins or ends in Seattle and goes across the panhandle of ID and through MT and continuing on east to Boston.  Outside of Billings you get the option of getting on I-94 which takes a northerly route through North Dakota and continuing eastward, joining I-90 at Lacrosse, WI and then veering off again toward Madison, WI, crossing 90 in the Chicago land area and ending in the Detroit area.
So with that little bit of highway geography, about any area that I wander around is near I-90 and it is diversely different between Seattle and Billings, MT.
A small bit of trivia....up until a few years ago there was one stoplight on I-90...at Wallace, ID...that went away when a new section of interstate was built that circumvented the downtown area of Wallace.
So with that rambling...I think this next body of work will be spots of interest between Seattle and Miles City, MT.  They might be near I-90 (or 94 as one closes in on MC) or a hundred miles off of it.  I promise them to be interesting spots, remote, probably.

Shows to look forward to include The Northwest Pastel Society International Open Show  that opens the 13th at American Art Company in Tacoma, WA.  This should prove to be a good show with quality work.  I am anxious to see the show hanging in this beautiful gallery space.  The next NPS event is the members show which will be at the Kirsten Gallery in the university district of Seattle in a wonderful multilevel gallery.  that show opens in April, 2011.

I am considering going to the International Association of Pastel Societies annual convention/workshops in Albuquerque next June.  That would be a prime time to take some time and spend painting in NM which is something of a  desire of mine.  The thought of being able to combine a trip to paint and a trip to a pastel convention which should be like a huge candy store for pastelists seems almost too good to be true.  For me this could be a whole new series.  The potential for a landscape artist traveling the route I would take would take me through some splendid sites like Zion, Bryce, etc. and on into CO and northern NM.

"Fall Kaleidoscope" was given an honorable mention in Jerry's Artarama's Summer Pastel Challenge using the Mungyo pastels.  I had not tried them before, but like these semi-hard square sticks.  They are touted to be light fast and the colors are very nice.  Prices are great.  I did a trial run with a box of 1/2 sticks (64) and continue to use them for burnishing and some under painting.  I like these!  this little piece was actually done entirely with the Mungyo's on Art Spectrum paper.  I also used some on the painting at the top which was done on black Art Spectrum and is a scene along Patit Creek.   I am also a big fan of Jerry's plein air frames....very good value especially when you can take advantage of a case lot and when they are on sale!

Finally, I would like to post an image and invite anyone who wants to paint it and then submit it to me to post.  I think a few of these with people's different style and palette would be fun to see.  You can send them to my email bzgriff@charter.net and I can post them or you can try to post them with your comments to the blog!  Here is the first image:

good luck and happy painting!

Color Fields

Color fields was the name of a group show that I did one time; but certainly is appropriate for the Series of 100. One hundred little fields; thirty are finished, two of which have not yet been posted. I digitally manipulated the icy one in another view and may post it for fun...amazing what can be done with digital engineering! With the snowy one, I have seen that heavy frost that is so beautiful and dense on the trees - probably causing significant distress to the plant, but so pleasing to the eye. I achieved that by putting a dark purplish-brown down first, then giving it a mist of workable fix, on top of which the lighter colors were added. The beauty of Wallis paper with it's tooth and the fix allows you to get that 3 dimensional effect that just pops!

The blue one...what can I say...just working monochromatically...gives a sense of twilight on snow.

My great uncle who was an accomplished watercolorist, did a winter scene of his home in the woods of Northern IL in the evening. It is all shades of blue with the \yellow glow emanating from the windows. It was done when I was a kid; was his Christmas card image and I have been in awe of that painting ever since I first saw it! I became the caretaker of his artwork after my mother passed away and it hangs in my home prominently in it's original little frame and along with several other of his works. His work has served as an inspiration to me from early on.

happy painting...

Summer Nights

Monday was a little rainy and cold until later in the afternoon when the sun came out and warmed the earth. Just in time for M'Lisse's annual party. This solsice event is one I never want to miss. You leave your men and your panyhose at home and gather at her lovely home and yard for an evening of reflecting, seeing old friends and meeting new. It is always a treat to see who shows up at party. She always has a new theme for the event - this year - "Change" - bring your change, decide to made a change, go thru the change, don't change something good, etc. The :change" benefitted the HelpLine and the YWCA shelter. I added to the change with some clothes and toiletries as did most. We wrote the usual cards to ourselves to be opened next year; something we wouldn't change and something we would change. We ate fresh raspberries and ice cream, had some wine and sparkling water and made smores and visited. All the time she put into the event...thank you...So I wouldn't want to change my sense of humor, but I have a few things I can change - for the better :-)
There's no art today and maybe for the week...the Yard Sale/Art Sale is a commitment for the weekend...I am changing...some of my clutter will go :-) !!!

Art and Pastels and Father's Day weekend

It's a beautiful weekend thus far in Wallyworld...I am waiting to visit with Raphael when she comes to pick up some new pieces for her walls in her restaurant in Pendleton. If there is an opportunity for a wonderful evening meal on a journey to/thru Pendleton....Raphael's is a must. Chef Rob does an all star menu and lots of good things. They are on 4th St, just off Court. Rob does a lot of dishes with huckleberries including Huckleberry martinis and daquiries...Raphael is, and has been a long time volunteer and support of the Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts. Anyway, Raphael hangs my art along with some fabulous Native American contemporary artists - one being James Lavadour...The restaurant is in the old Raley house and it is a treat to just go there to see what the Hoffman's have done with the property...wonderfully rich painted walls, fireplaces, large dining spaces, small dining spaces, quaint bar area with lots of personality...all wonderfully appointed with both their collection of art and art for sale. Check out her web site and be sure to have dinner there sometime...you will be pleased you did!
So Raphael took some larger pieces...and they will look good in her business. There's A Place, The Walla Walla at Pepper Bridge, a small Bennington Trail and 3 from plein aire painting in the Joseph area - one was a juror's win for the plein aire event last year..."Oregon Water"
The rest of the day I am devoting to the love of my life, celebrating Father's day weekend...No list of chores for Les this weekend, just doing what he wants to do...I bet there is fishing involved...some drives in the country for sure...

Our show is coming together; nearly all painting are hanging - at least the large ones. I have been concentrating on painting some small ones in the last couple of days - 4x6" and 5x7". Last night I did a couple with oil pastels. This is a fun medium to work with - I have a much more limited palette, but a good one for landscape.

The dogs and cats are looking at us like we are nuts with all the moving stuff around, hanging paintings all over. Alfi sits on top of the computer monitor watching every move while Spanx is more stealth-like and wanders around carefully looking at everything. The dogs Mac and Morrie sleep mostly; but have this look of "what's up?" when they are awake. here's Spanxand Alfi checking out paintings while I was photographing.