Day 27, January 30 in 30

Day 27th, January 27th

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Just a quick pastel. Time to finish up my dog commission.

Day 16, January 30 in 30

Day 16, January 16th

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

This Saturday finds me back at Rockford Art Guild's Art Hors d'Oeurves Classes.
I taught a class on alcohol inks than took a pastel class. Again, I've done pastels before but I wanted to see how other people do them. The class was incredibly relaxing and even therapeutic.

Field of Tranquility

Pastels

These have been so much fun. here are some photos of my afternoon. What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon .... with friends and art.

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Day 4, January 30 in 30

Day 4, January 4th

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Tybee Island Beach Pastel

It was a windy day which made drawing a bit challenging. But really,,,, on the beach? Who can complain?

We leave this morning. 2 days in the car. I'll see how drawing in a moving car goes. It was a wonderful family trip filled with a lot of memories.

Day One, January 30 in 30

Day One, January 1st
30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Happy New Year from Savannah, Georgia!
I am here with my family to bring in the new year and celebrate my husband's 60th birthday. I stopped doing anything art related about a week before Christmas so I could concentrate of my family and the holidays. It felt good to pack my little black bag of pastels and watercolors in preparation for the trip. I'm traveling light, of art supplies at least.

It felt good to pick up my supplies and paint a bit.
I forgot my pastel pencils so I needed to work with the larger pastel sticks. Oh well. Today's pic is the view from the living room of the house we're staying at. It's incredible! Our street, Tattnall makes a T as in intersects with Jones Street. The view is incredible as the live oak trees frame the street along with the Spanish Moss that drips off of them. The street is framed by beautiful Colonial  Houses each one unique. In fact, Jones street was named as one of the most beautiful streets in the country. What a sight last night was with the Christmas trees and festive lights all glowing up and down the street as people scurried to their New Year's parties.

Christmas in August, Pastel of the Dogs

Ever have one of those weeks where you just want to shut yourself in your studio and crank up the volume on the I pad? 

I'm having one of those weekends. (I should say my next free weekend is October 17th.) I want to savoir this weekend - this summer. But most of all I just want to paint. Maybe add a dip in the pool on this 90+ degree day.

I've started this year's Christmas card which features Spike and Cooper getting their big bone on Christmas morning. This pastel still has a long way to go. I haven't decided on the background. I think it needs to be darker.

This will be a busy week;
Katie's Cup Monday
Plein Air at Nicholas Tuesday
Rockton River Market Wednesday
Glen Ellen show Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Still to do: Finish Christmas card,  get 4 to 5 pics ready for 317 Studio and Gallery by the 28th. (I'll be doing another Artist at work on Sept. 4th.), submit works to Professional Artist competition. (Have you heard about it? ProfessionalArtistMag.com/BlankCanvas) and enter Beloit, Wi. competition "Faces" by Sept 25th.

And I'm loving every minute of it!

Day 28, Pastels, Jardin des Tuileries

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

To simplify I have copied yesterday's Post. It actually took three days to complete but who's counting?

Jardin des Tuiliers

Pastels

11.5" x 17"

$185

(From 1/27/15)
Sorry to do a work in progress two days in a row but I couldn't help myself. I've been looking at this photograph for a few years now and have wanted to paint it. I'm interested in putting more people in my works. For me, this is a large pastel piece, 11" x 17". I felt that there was so much going on in this picture that it had to be big.

The Rockford Art Guild put forth a challenge for this month; use the theme of friendship. There are several kinds of friendships here; people you work with, family members, long time friends and acquaintances. This is a park cafe in Paris on a beautiful May day. I spent a lot of time with the background because I think it is so important to the story. The waiters fascinate me as do the cooks that are indicated only by their black outlines. I love the way the sun shines through the kitchenette revealing the park on the other side.

Tomorrow I will finish the rest of this pastel.

Day 27, Pastels, Work in Progress

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Sorry to do a work in progress two days in a row but I couldn't help myself. I've been looking at this photograph for a few years now and have wanted to paint it. I'm interested in putting more people in my works. For me, this is a large pastel piece, 11" x 17". I felt that there was so much going on in this picture that it had to be big.

The Rockford Art Guild put forth a challenge for this month; use the theme of friendship. There are several kinds of friendships here; people you work with, family members, long time friends and acquaintances. This is a park cafe in Paris on a beautiful May day. I spent a lot of time with the background because I think it is so important to the story. The waiters fascinate me as do the cooks that are indicated only by their black outlines. I love the way the sun shines through the kitchenette revealing the park on the other side.

Tomorrow I will finish the rest of this pastel.

Day 13, pastels, In Cahoots

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


Okay! I admit it! I was watching Ohio State take the championship last night instead of working on my 30 in 30. But, what a great game it was! So exciting. ( I was spending quality time with these two if that counts.)

In Cahoots

Pastels

8" x 12"

A Work in Progress

This is one of my all time favorite photographs. Matthew will be 18 next month. Where did all that time go? In this picture, the boys had spent the day on the lake and their hair was a mess from the wind. They were tired but happy. Because I choose to watch the game last night I ran out of time to work on this so I'm posting it as a work in progress. I wanted to finish it today but you know, I was forcing it. That's never a good thing. So I will move on and come back to it latter. Will post it when I get back to it.

Day 7, Pastels, The Flock

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

 Day 7

The Flock

7" x 10.75"

SOLD

Two years ago my feeders were visited by a flock of

cardinals consisting of 12 males and 12 females.  

It was beautiful - I couldn't believe it! I took pictures with plans to paint them and also, I didn't think anyone would believe me. It turns out that they were more difficult to photograph than I thought and quite honestly the feeders weren't all that attractive. Anyway this is what I came up with . It was first time doing snow in pastels.

To purchase this drawing go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu. 

Win a Custom Ink Drawing. 

I will create an Ink Drawing from a photo that you email me. It could be a favorite vacation place, your house, or anything - just not portraits (they aren't really very distinguishable.) The art work will be between 8x10 and 11x14, depending on the photo and will take about one week to complete.

 

All this is to introduce my new Monthly Newsletter coming out at the end of this month. It will include what's currently happening at JR Finally Art along with some deals exclusively for my newsletter readers. Each month this free newsletter will be emailed to you so you won't miss a thing.

All you have to do to enter the Custom Ink Drawing Giveaway is to subscribe at

http://eepurl.com/SHx-f  or just hit the subscribe button to the right of my blog. I will draw a name from all new subscribers on January 9th. You will be contacted by email and asked to send a clear photo via email within 5 days of winning. After about a week I will sent it out in the mail to you, no shipping charges, no taxes. It's free!

This has a $65 value.

Good Luck and thanks for subscribing.

Day 21, Pastels, Afternoon Jaunt

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Afternoon Jaunt

Pastels

8 x 10

$55

It never fails, every year the deers come into the yard Up North and eat the newly planted flowers. Well it's more like, first they pull the plant out, eat what they like, then spit the roots out in the grass.  Then you remember who is eating these plants and it doesn't seem like such a big crime anymore. It's the neighborhood doe and her two fawns. They make scheduled visits during the day, once at 7AM then again at dusk. If momma gets a glimpse of you sitting at the kitchen table watching the babes, she'll let you know by stomping her foot at you in warning. As the summer progresses the fawns continue to grow and eventually are allowed to venture out on their own a bit. This little one and his sibling were playing unattended in the back, by the road, for over an hour. Terri and I had such a great time watching and photographing them.

To purchase this drawing go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.

Day 18, Pastel, Lunch in St. Mark's Square

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

 

 

 

Lunch in St. Mark's Square

Pastels

9 x 11.25

$85

 

 I've been holding on to this photograph for a long time, waiting for the time I could draw this scene. I love the row of chairs, the tuxedos, the band and all the people in the background. In the middle of all the tourists in their jeans and tennis shoes sits this lone woman is having a very elegant lunch.

 

 

 To purchase this painting go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.
 

 

 

 

 

Day 8, Pastel, Flower Shop

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Flower Shop

Pastels

aprox. 9" x15"

$65

This was a beautiful little shop Mark and I found in Rome. That's the great thing about Rome, a surprise around every corner. It was good to do a pastel again.


To purchase this painting go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.