Small Pastel Studies by Margaret Dyer

oops!

2012-01-07T16:18:00.003-05:00

I have no idea why that post from July 2011 all of the sudden went out to you all. I'm just as bewildered as some of you are. Please forgive me. I hope this doesn't happen again..

Here's a picture for you to see to make up for the intrusion! Flea Market at Clignancourt, Paris.

Randy Higbee 6x6 Exhibition opening

2011-12-11T19:32:00.002-05:00

I hope this link to the video works...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-puUNz0DOU&feature=email

I've sold two so far...

France in 2012!

2011-12-06T11:18:00.002-05:00

Join us! June 16-30. Class is limited to 7 students.
http://labonneetoile.com/workshops/Dyer2012.pdf

Pastry Chefs

2011-12-03T10:54:00.003-05:00

"Pastry Chefs" is another 6"x6" pastel at the Randy Higbee 6x6 exhibition. $425.
Opening reception December 3, 5:00-9:00.
Randy Higbee Gallery
102 Kalmus
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
randyhigbeegallery.com

Randy Higbee Gallery "6 Inch Squared"

2011-12-02T06:59:00.003-05:00

I have several pieces in the Randy Higbee Gallery "6 Inch Squared" exhibition, December 3-22. Opening reception Saturday, December 3, 5:00-9:00. Wish I could see the show. I suspect it's a fun show to see, with all pieces being 6x6 inches. And at affordable prices, just in time for Christmas!

Randy Higbee Gallery
102 Kalmus
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
randyhigbeegallery.com

My final workshop in 2011, The Veranda.

2011-11-01T08:52:00.008-04:00

Just got home from teaching my last 3 day workshop of the year at The Veranda Bed and Breakfast, in Senoia, Georgia. What a perfect way to end my year. The beautifully decorated 1800's home was a thrill to wake up in every morning; the late October weather and brilliant colors outside the windows embellished the mood. I even got to share the weekend with my daughter, Meg, who posed for us all weekend (pictured). It was a great group of artists and Laura and Rick Reynolds, owners and ex-inlaws of mine (that's Laura pictured standing in the dining room), could not have indulged us more. Actually, maybe they indulged too much...lavish breakfasts, cookies all day long, wine in the evenings, even a birthday cake and champagne to celebrate 2 students' birthdays on the last day of the class. We're already making plans for another in October 2012. Many of the students plan to do it again!

I got home Sunday night and fell into the bed at 8:30; slept till 8 the next morning. It's been a long year. I'm grateful to have the work. And a full schedule already in my 2012 calendar. Very grateful. Thank you everyone!

October 8 workshop at my studio...

2011-09-28T22:15:00.001-04:00

One-day workshop at my studio: October 8. There's still room.

The Veranda, Senoia, GA

2011-09-18T21:29:00.004-04:00

Anybody interested in taking my art workshop near Atlanta? How about October 28-30 at The Veranda, in Senoia, GA (near Newnan), a gorgeous victorian bed and breakfast. Breakfasts to die for. I'd love to fill the place. For more info: http://www.margaretdyer.com/veranda.html

I'm writing from Montreal, where tomorrow I'll begin teaching a couple of classes, then I go to Toronto to teach another. I'll try to take pictures of it all. Sorry I haven't been writing. Life has just been...challenging. I figure keeping busy is the best thing to do. It also helps pay the rent.

The Beaux Arts Auction

2011-09-18T14:21:00.003-04:00

This piece has been donated to the Beaux Arts Auction, the annual fundraiser for the Scottsdale Artists School, in Scottsdale, AZ.

The Scottsdale Artists’ School offers weekly classes and workshops for everyone from the aspiring novice to the professional artist. Their courses are taught by some of the most highly respected professional artists in the country today. If you're looking to add to (or begin) your art collection, this is the place to look. I don't know if they take phone bids, but you might want to give them a call if you're interested.

Beaux Arts Annual Fundraiser
Date: November 12, 2011 - November 12, 2011
Time: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Location: Scottsdale Artists School

Signature artist, Milt Kobayashi and Honoree, John Coleman -EAST MEETS WEST
$125 per person. Sponsor packages available, please contact SAS for more information.

To view the Beaux Arts Gallery (site will be updated as more artist contributions arrive) click on title of blog above. Gallery will be continuing to grow right up until the event! All art is available for auction at the event.

"101 South" Best of Show!

2011-08-22T00:04:00.002-04:00

I'd feel remiss as a marketer of my work if I didn't mention this. "101 South" won Best of Show at the Southeastern Pastel Society Juried Members' Exhibition, juried by Marc Hanson, whose incredible work you must see ( http://marchansonart.com), and whom I met last night. A very nice guy. I'm honored and humbled he selected mine. Thank you, Marc.

Rozsa, our model, with the laundry

2011-07-22T11:42:00.005-04:00

Well, I'm recovered. I think. I got back on the 7th of July and had to hit the ground running. I edit the newsletter for the Southeastern Pastel Society, which was to be edited and published as soon as I got home. It's also the time of our annual exhibition, for which I create the show catalog. So I didn't have time to recover from my trip, being up all hours--for days-- on my computer. Then it took me a couple of weeks to pay bills, catch up on emails, do laundry, catch up on lost sleep. I'm only just now feeling like I can function at normal speed again. I think I'll think again next time I'm asked to commit to being out of town for a month.

But...France was magical. The artists who took my classes made it that much more so. I will treasure the memory of every face I had the honor to work and play with. If any of you think it'd be fun to join me at future workshops there, please do. Kippy will somehow make you feel like you're her very best friend by the time you leave La Bonne Etoile.

I never did put up the work from the students from my first week's class--we had opted not to have a vernissage (private exhibition) at the end of the week, so I had difficulty figuring out whose paintings were whose when I finally got around to looking at their work. But I'm going to upload their work for my next post--it'll take me a little time to do it.

In the meantime, here's something I did from the workshop photo sessions. I'll be posting more of these images in the days to come.

"Rozsa with the Laundry" is a 9x12 pastel on LaCarte paper, a larger size than my usual little 5x7 auction pieces. Bidding begins at $450.00.

My last day in France...

2011-07-06T02:11:00.016-04:00

Today is my last day in France (yes, I'm still here--one week after the last of my students left). I woke to a glorious morning with the sun exploding into my room and a symphony of bird song. I'll spend the day packing my bags and running errands, like taking a trip to the boulangerie/patisserie in the adjacent village for a thank-you gift for Madam De LeHaye, who has ironed any article of clothing I left too long in the laundry room.

I've done a lousy job of blogging this time around. There was so much to write about, and so many pictures to upload, but that process was extremely time-consuming on my old PowerBook G4 laptop, and there was always a rush to be somewhere else.

What did I not write about? During this past week, Kippy and Jerome took me on a 4 hour drive to Jerome's grandmother's centuries old home (6 photos on top) in the Loire Valley for several nights, which is another reason why I've been so quiet--no internet.

A ten minute drive from his family home, we visited the Royal Chateau d'Amboise, initially built in the eleventh century, improved over time, and in the mid 1400's became a royal residence and summer residence of the Kings of France. Nearby is the 15th century Chateau du Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci, invited to live in France by King Francois I, spent his last 3 years and was buried. I walked the halls he walked and the rooms he lived in: his bedroom (pictures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are Da Vinci's home--that's his red canopy bed), his studio and the room where he met with his friends. In the lower level of the house were 40 of his machines, some with 3D animation: the parachute, the bicycle, the automobile, the paddle-boat. the helicopter, the machine gun, the tank. We walked through the gardens he walked through. You can play with some of Da Vinci's machines throughout the garden--you can paddle-boat down the meandering stream, there is a a steam-spewing machine-gun, and you can walk over his turning bridges. How thrilling to see where he lived in his final years.

We saw troglodyte homes. In France, homeowners are charged tax according to the roof over their heads, so many people, even today, build their homes into the limestone cliffs. They carve out caves and make comfortable homes. And they don't pay property tax. They looked like well-appointed homes. I want one.

Last night, the icing on the cake. Kippy and I had tickets to the opera at the incredible Palais Garnier Opera House (Paris Opera pictures swiped from Wikipedia). Or, we thought it would be an opera. While sitting in our seats, flipping through the program as the orchestra warmed up, we realized it was actually a ballet. We sat enthralled and delighted for the next several hours as we watched the Paris Ballet de L'Opera perform Les Enfants du Paradis. During intermission, Kippy led me to an ornate ballroom with sculpted and guilded walls, with ceilings painted by Paul Baudry (a new name on my favorites list--and note to my daughters Anna and Meg, who I suspect may have inspired Mucha).

I just realized I have not seen TV in almost a month. I have not missed it (although I do check daily for news and Casey Anthony updates).

I'm ready to go home--back to reality, after this whirlwind fairy tale experience. But I'll be listening even more religiously to my French CDs throughout the next year, in anticipation for a repeat trip, Lord willing, to La Bonne Etoile. Maybe some of you will join me?

Katie #2

2011-06-30T07:25:00.004-04:00

We had 2 Katies; one each week. This is Katie #2.

Some of Curtis' work

2011-06-30T07:20:00.003-04:00

Some of Carey's work

2011-06-30T07:17:00.000-04:00

Some of Alice's work

2011-06-30T07:03:00.005-04:00

All students but Alice stayed with us one week; Alice stayed two weeks. That's why you see so much more of Alice's work.

Suzanne's work

2011-06-30T06:30:00.008-04:00

The next few posts on my blog will be showing some of the work painted by the students in the class. Here's Susie:

Monday, Tuesday and Verinssage

2011-06-30T05:44:00.009-04:00

On Monday, our model, Rozsa (that's the proper spelling), left us. What a sweetie. We miss her already. The rest of us worked in the studio from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Meg spent her last day with us also.

Tuesday, another long day in the studio. The students worked so diligently, they even preferred to decline a last excursion so they could spend more time in the studio. We planned a plein air session for the evening; Kippy packed a picnic dinner, with wine of course. Some of us went with Kippy in the van to scout out a good painting location, the rest followed with bikes as soon as they knew where to go. We found a charming little town 5 miles away, with sunflower fields in the distance. In case you non-artists don't know what plein air is, it's painting outside. 45 minutes after setting up our easels, 30 minutes after the bike-riders arrived, thunder and lightening sent us packing, and frantically peddling home, where we spread the picnic on the patio table. The storm followed us, and sent us packing again into the dining room, where we listened to the thunder and hail.

Wednesday, our Vernissage, or private exhibition. We finished painting in the studio around 4:00, cleaned up the studio, thumb-tacked our work onto foam-core, set a table with flowers, hors d'oeuvres and champagne, washed ourselves up a little, and waited for guests to arrive. Here are some pictures taken while we were setting up, before the guests arrived.

Saturday and Sunday...

2011-06-27T00:52:00.006-04:00

Another bike ride to the Seine, another lunch on the patio, another trip to Paris, another dinner on the patio, with conversation lasting till almost midnight. What a life.

I have to catch you up on the past few days. I don't know why this year it is so difficult to write; last year it seems I was able to do it every night.

On our way to the Musee D'Orsay on Sunday, we stopped at a little village's brocant (Kippy has an innate sense where they are--we were allowed a quick run-through, so we could get to Paris on time), and almost all of us found something to buy...Kippy an oil landscape and a couple of glass salieres, little pich-pots for salt and pepper; Alice, a hand-painted ceramic saliere from Normandy; and I found two original graphite drawings of French scenes from 1930. FOR 10 EUROS.

We made it to the Musee D'Orsay, for those new students in the class. We visited the Musee Marmottan to see Berthe Morrisot's work; we were surprised to discover a retrospective of brother artists Raoul and Jean Dufy--I was not familiar with their work, but loved the colorful show. Lunch at a nearby cafe, then (be still, my heart) the Paris Clignancourt flea market. In the states I spend untold hours haunting antique malls, always in search for some rare little treasure that I cannot live without. I now know why I come by these treasures so rarely. They're all over here. Booth after booth of silver, lighting, vintage clothing, fabric, art, hardware, tools... I was in heaven, while everyone I arrived with thought I was lost and spent 40 minutes looking for me. Here are my new drawings.

Restaurant Baudy

2011-06-24T17:06:00.005-04:00

For some reason, I'm exhausted tonight. It could be because we worked from 9-7 today. Or it could be because we have been going practically nonstop since I arrived on the 10th. Whatever the reason, I crashed.

I was too busy today to take pictures but do have a few from the other day that I never mentioned.

After visiting Monet's garden and home the other day, we walked a few houses down the street and had lunch at the Restaurant Baudy. Only after eating did we realize the place had a history. Back in the late 1800's, during Monet's time, a straggly American artist arrived at Baudy's restaurant for a meal. Madam Baudy was initially afraid to serve him because he looked like a derelict. During conversation, the artist discovered that Monet lived a few doors away; he returned to Paris to tell all his artist friends. Soon Baudy's restaurant became a hangout for artists on weekends. Cézanne could be found wandering around the rose garden; several artists kept studios here. The garden and the studios are open for the public to meander through. And on the walls throughout the restaurant are small paintings by the artists of that time, many used as payment for Baudy's hospitality! Oh, to be a fly on the wall back then!

A new class began tonight.

2011-06-24T01:50:00.001-04:00

Roza, our wonderful model, has returned. Roza posed for us last week and we all fell in love with her. She exclaimed when she got out of the car today, "I'm home! "She carried with her a home-made Hungarian dish (pictured here) made with feta cheese and red peppers. You spread it on bread, top it with a slice of hard boiled egg, top it again with some capers (sp?) and red pepper. Yum. We devoured it before dinner tonight.

New students--Carey, another Katie (both from Atlanta), Susie (whom we're calling Suzanne this week), and Suzanne's husband Curtis (both from Chattanooga) will be in the class, along with Alice (New Jersey), who was here all last week and through Normandy, and Meg (expatriate American, living in Paris for 20 years), who was with my class last year (Meg wrote the article about my workshop at La Bonne Etoile last year for the February 2011 issue of Pastel Journal). And Kippy, of course (also from Georgia, but living happily in France).

Tonight we rode bikes throughout the French countryside while Kippy prepared dinner. We finished dinner at 9:00 and brought a bottle of wine up to the studio. The students sipped wine and watched as I sipped wine and demonstrated.

Bright and early tomorrow morning, 9:00, we're to get to work in the studio, and will work until dinner, breaking, of course, for salad fresh from a garden, ripe cheeses, french bread, and a little wine at lunch time.

Giverny!

2011-06-23T10:23:00.007-04:00

I was doing something I never thought I'd see myself doing...walking through Monet's garden (and home!). It was raining that day, something that might distress some artists. But I was thrilled to see the visitors milling around with umbrellas in the garden, creating a virtual garden within a garden. I got practically giddy snapping photographs of the polka-dotted and plaid and brilliantly colored umbrellas bobbing through the perennials.

We were all to converge in the gift shop at 11:30 to head for lunch; I got there at 11:15, preoccupied with how I was going to paint my "Monet's Garden in the Rain" series, when Judith mentioned something about the lily pond. "The lily pond? I missed the lily pond! Where was it?" Judith pointed me toward the far end of the garden, and I raced with my umbrella, weaving through the groups of people who insisted on meandering slowly and pausing to take photos. I got there in time to snap a few inspiring photos and was back to meet up with our group by 11:31. With "Monet's Gardener Cleaning the Pond" series in my head.

Some more pictures...

2011-06-23T02:43:00.007-04:00

While traveling through Normandy, internet connection has been sporadic, and uploading pictures has been even more difficult. I'm back now at La Bonne Etoile, Kippy and Jerome's home in Fontaine-Fourches, with a better connection. So here are a few more shots of our travels...Etretat, Honfleur, a thatch-roofed cottage, the Cathedral in Chartres...

More pictures

2011-06-22T19:10:00.003-04:00

Another thing I forgot to mention! We visited the city of Rouen, the city where Joan of Arc was tried and burned at the stake. The 15th century old town still exists, while a new modern city has been built around it. But they've preserved the site of the execution and marked it with a cross.

After visiting France last year, I returned home ashamed that I knew so little of French history, so I spent the year reading about Napolean, Joan of Arc (read Mark Twain's version--he did his research) and more French characters. I was stunned by the account of Joan of Arc and was awed to see the actual location of her trial. Here's a picture of the execution site.

Oy veh. I'm trying. I'm really trying...

2011-06-22T03:01:00.008-04:00

...but they keep us going all day here, and late into the night, when we drop into our beds and crash.

Where to begin... I told you we have been to Paris.

We have also visited the early 17th century chateau of of Nicholas Fouquet, the
finance minister of Louis XIV. According to Wikipedia: The château was lavish, refined, and dazzling to behold, but these characteristics proved tragic for its owner: the king had Fouquet arrested shortly after Fouquet's house-warming; the celebration had been too impressive and the superintendent's home too luxurious. Fouquet's intentions were to flatter the King, but Fouquet's plan backfired. ...Fouquet was arrested and imprisoned for life, and his wife exiled. The king confiscated tapestries, statues and all the orange trees. Fouquet died 19 years later, in prison. Madame Fouquet recovered her property ten years later and retired there with her eldest son. In 1705, after the death of her husband and son, she decided to put chateau up for sale.

But back to us...Frances has gone back home to her family in Georgia. We miss her.

We have spent three days in Normandy. We visited the city of Bayeux to view an 11th century tapestry, 70 m long, depicting William, Duke of Normandy's conquest of England in 1066. We wore earphones and followed the story told in colorful hand-stitched imagery of William and his men gearing up for battle, the battle, William's captivity and escape and finally William's conquest of England, which earned him the title of William the Conquerer.

We have visited the World War II Memorial in Caen. We have seen Omaha Beach and Point du Hoc, sites from D-Day; we have walked over the cratered battlefield and explored the bunkers which shielded the Germans on those horrible days. We've walked through the American cemetery.

We have driven the winding Thatched Cottage Road in search of thatched roof cottages, with iris' growing at the apex of the roof to hold the thatched roof together.

We spent the afternoon setting up our easels and painting the ancient maritime city of Honfleur.

We have climbed the high cliffs of Etretat (I made it to the top).

Tomorrow: Giverny--Monet's garden! Thursday: Friday class begins again.

So sorry!

2011-06-16T17:51:00.014-04:00

Well, I had every intention of writing everyday, but it is a whirlwind here. What day is it? Thursday? When did we start? Monday? Have 4 days already gone by? A brief rundown:
Sunday (or was it Monday?) we all worked in the studio with a lovely model, Roza, from Hungary. She was a dream to work with, and all of us loved her. She stayed here with us for 2 and a half days, modeling when we worked, or traveling with us on our half-day excursions.
Our excursions:
Monday (or was it Tuesday?)-We spent the first half of the day at the local brocant--an antiques yard sale, blocks and blocks of all sorts of luscious things to fill a little French cottage with, if one happened to have a little french cottage (and one might tend to fantasize about having one, if one were in France, browsing the brocant). Original art, furniture, china... but knowing that I only have 3 extra pounds available in my check-in baggage prevented me from purchasing that wardrobe...and that cottage...
Tuesday (or was it Monday?)-We traveled to the city of Sens-about a half hour from where we are. We spent another half day visiting the Cathedral, whose construction began in the early 12th century and was finished in the early 1600's.
Wednesday (or was it Tuesday?) Provins, a 12th century walled city, where people still live in the 800 year old stone houses. Fascinating! We stopped for crepes--mine was with melted caramel and butter, fresh from the local dairies. Oh dear. And that's a scoop of whipped cream (also from the local dairies), which wasn't mine, but I had to photograph it. And taste it. Oh dear.

Today (definitely Thursday), we are all probably a few pounds happier than we'd like to be. We spent our day in Paris at the Musee D'Orsey. Pictures to come tomorrow. Just don't have time to upload them. Everybody is asleep in the house, and Frances' daughter is beginning to worry because she expected to hear how her mom was doing over here with us through my blog, which I just can't seem to get around to. That's Frances with the hollyhocks, so Beth, she's doing just fine. She's saying if she know how much fun she would be having here, she would have planned to stay longer.

Nous commençons.

2011-06-12T05:49:00.006-04:00

Katie, Frances, Judith and Alice have arrived, some after harrowing trips across the ocean. Lunch on the rose and wisteria covered patio: terrine, fresh tomatoes and mazzerella, salad, finished off with the incredible French cheeses and a little chocolate. Then they were sent up to their rooms to take a restorative nap. A couple of hours later, our beautiful model, Rosa, from Hungary, arrived. We all went up to the studio; I did a demonstration to show them how I use pastels. Then downstairs to the main house for a candlelight dinner. Pork roast, new potatoes, green beans, salad, bread, cheese, a yummy lemon dessert and stimulating conversation. I completely forgot to take pictures.

Not to Beth: your mother is doing just fine. She seems happy as can be. And even though she was chagrinned at your efforts to keep her safe, she redeemed you in our eyes with the Tasha Tudor story.

Une chambre pour le modèle vivant.

2011-06-11T17:08:00.004-04:00

We're preparing for the arrival of students. So today we set up a boudoir scene for our model. I'm thinking Toulouse Lautrec, Van Gogh sorts of images. Can't wait to get started tomorrow. I'll have more to write then.

Je suis en France!

2011-06-10T16:24:00.003-04:00

Got here after 11 hours traveling, had a cup of tea and crashed for about 6 hours. Kippy and Gerome took me to their friend's home for dinner, where I had a chance (after a couple of glasses of wine) to practice the French I have been studying in my car the past year. I am told that I don't speak with an American accent. That I speak the language very well! It was fun this evening. I didn't bring my camera because I'm still groggy from the trip and just didn't want to bother with it. Instead, here's a picture of my little bedroom for the next few weeks.

Students begin arriving Sunday. Kippy wanted me to have a little time to rest before class started. I'll write more tomorrow--I'm going back to sleep.

101 South

2011-05-04T19:56:00.001-04:00

Been busy working. This is just a change of pace. I think I'll do more. 101 South is an 18x24 LA street scene.

THE ATHLETE, click to bid

2011-04-28T12:18:00.002-04:00

No tornados here last night. I am due east of Birmingham, AL, about an hour and a half away, well into the state of Georgia. The storms which passed through Birmingham last night headed northeast, into north Georgia. My heart goes out to all of you who were in their paths.

THE ATHLETE! is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

BATTER UP! click to bid

2011-04-26T20:49:00.001-04:00

BATTER UP! is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

THE FORMIDABLE PITCHER, click to bid

2011-04-25T17:34:00.000-04:00

THE FORMIDABLE PITCHER is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

A FINE DAY TO GO FISHING

2011-04-21T15:52:00.004-04:00

Just busy working today; not much to say. I just finished this one. We're expecting rain today and tonight, so this ought to add a little sunshine to my room.
A FINE DAY TO GO FISHING is a 12x16 pastel on PastelBord. My 12x16's retail at my galleries for $1500.00. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

PRETTY IN PINK, click to bid

2011-04-20T19:37:00.002-04:00

Already, this kid can catch a ball better than I can.

PRETTY IN PINK is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

BIG BROTHER, click to bid

2011-04-19T15:18:00.005-04:00

I grew up in a mostly girl family--5 girls (I'm #2) and one boy, who came along at the very end. I have two daughters. So most of my experience with children has been with girls. I always fretted that I might have a boy and wouldn't know what to do with him--nobody ever taught me how to throw a ball (yes, and I catch like a girl too), much to my chagrin. When watching children playing, my eyes always followed the little girls. Until my daughter had a little boy. Now my eyes follow the little boys and I think of little Victor, in Alaska, 3400 miles away.

BIG BROTHER is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

INTRODUCTION, click to bid

2011-04-18T23:55:00.004-04:00

Happy Passover to everybody. It's a holy time.

I love watching fathers with their children.
INTRODUCTION is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

DIGGING FOR WORMS, click to bid

2011-04-18T09:59:00.003-04:00

It is spring. My favorite time of the year. Open windows, brilliant color everywhere, children playing outside. Just love it.

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord, at auction on ebay. Retail value $450, but bidding begins (and many times ends) at $100. Ten percent of my ebay sales go to World Vision.

Gearing up for another trip to La Bonne Etoile

2011-04-15T14:04:00.003-04:00

Well, it looks like it's going to be another wonderful time in France in June. Both of my classes are filling, air fares are dropping. I'm practicing my French with language CDs in my car. Or ma voiture. There are a few spaces left and I'd dearly love to fill them. If you want to get an idea of what to expect from the trip, you can view my 2010 May and June blog archives, (start at the bottom and go up if you want a chronological journal). The trip is a no-brainer, since you'd be picked up at the airport and returned, with everything taken care of in between.

I'll be blogging my way through the trip again; blogging has proved to be a wonderful way for me to record my own memories (what incredible technology we have today). But I think the more the merrier, so I'd love to encourage anybody who can to consider coming along.

Bathsheba, a study

2011-04-04T06:53:00.004-04:00

"Bathsheba-A Study" is an 18x24 pastel on pastelbord.
I'm on my way to Chattanooga this morning, about a 2 hour drive from Atlanta, to deliver this and a few more pieces, and to retrieve work that didn't sell.

I've just agreed to teach a class in San Miguel de Allende next January!!!!! More info to come.

The Penitent

2011-04-01T10:34:00.007-04:00

I don't know if you can see him in this image, but there's a man kneeling in prayer in the middle of the street outside a little cafe in Troyes, France. I think he was actually a beggar pretending, but I found the image compelling. The Penitent is a 12x16 pastel on PastelBord, available from River Gallery, in Chattanooga.

I must tell you about my little family get-together last Tuesday night. My 4 sisters and I planned to celebrate my Dad’s 87th birthday with a simple dinner at his retirement home. Because Dad’s apartment is so small, we decided to set things up in the common sitting area on his floor, a relatively private place off the main hall. Catherine was supposed to make lasagna, but at the last minute couldn’t, so Francine substituted with a little frozen pasta dish, enough to feed 4, the box said (she decided she wouldn’t eat). Emily was to bring paper plates and plastic forks, which she hurriedly purchased en route to Dads, after teaching her high school English class, but inadvertently left them all at the store. Lil, the Esthetician, had a facial, so would be late. I brought a salad and a couple of bottles of wine. So, we got there, I set up the salad and wine next to a birthday cake someone had brought; Francine and Catherine were in Dad’s apartment waiting for the frozen pasta to finish cooking. I was a little surprised to see some of the residents (inmates, Dad calls them) hobbling out of the elevator with their walkers and canes to our room and sit down with us. More and more of them. I offered them wine and wondered when they would leave; we didn’t want to be rude and eat in front of them. They didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon, so I suggested we serve the cake first, then they’d leave. One of the inmates, realizing what was happening, discreetly ran down the hall to her apartment to scrounge around for little paper cake plates and plastic forks. I was in the process of cutting the first piece, when I heard Dad saying to one of the inmates that dinner would be ready shortly. Turns out, Dad had invited his closest friends to celebrate with us, and didn’t bother to tell us. I ran down the hall to inform my sisters, who were in the process of cutting up the steaming hot pasta dish into 4 sections, that everybody was waiting to be served dinner. For the rest of the evening we all looked like deer in headlights: Catherine frantically scooped tiny spoonfulls of pasta onto the little cake plates. Francine slathered butter on bread. Hiding out in Dad’s apartment, we handed the little plates to Cecily, Francine’s daughter (who showed up to wish Dad a happy b-day), told her to put a huge pile of salad on each plate and serve everybody. Cecily was running back and forth from the public room to Dad’s apt. to get more little dishes, and then asked in a frenzy, “Why am I the only one doing this?” Francine, Catherine, Emily and I all cowered, “We’re not going out there!”

But we did, eventually. Catherine plopped what little was left of the pasta onto a little paper plate and I carried it out to the larger room. Everybody was munching happily on their little dinners. We were even able to offer people a little more; all seemed perfectly happy and full. Then we served cake. When it was all over, we collected 12 baskets of loaves and fishes, I mean, there were LEFTOVERS!

Dad was oblivious the whole time.

There is still space available in my Texas workshop, April 13-15, click here if interested.

2011-03-30T06:59:00.006-04:00

If any of you are in Texas, near Austin, there's still room in my workshop in a couple of weeks. Dena Wenmohs hosts art workshops at her ranch in Cypress Mill. She provides lodging and meals. It's a great environment to immerse yourself in art and comraderie. Feel free to contact Dena at dena@wenmohsranch.com

This piece, "Overcast Day at the Market," (9x12 pastel on PastelBord-$1000.00), is a market scene from France. It is on it's way to the River Gallery in Chattanooga.

Been gone way too long...

2011-03-30T06:37:00.003-04:00

and I miss blogging. Life has been in turmoil for quite a while--marital woes--but I am ready to try to try to make things normal again, if I can.

I've been teaching little classes here in my studio once a month, teaching an occasional workshop around the USA. And lately I've been drawing a lot of kids, something I love to do. I lurk around baseball fields and playgrounds, hoping I don't look like a predator. But what can make a person feel better than to be with children?

Pastel Immersion in the Pastel Journal

2011-02-16T14:14:00.008-05:00

The current issue (February 2011) of The Pastel Journal has a 6 page article on my workshop in France last summer! It's on the stands now at Borders and Barnes and Noble. If you can't find it, you can purchase it directly from the publisher's web site. Click on the title above to go to the site.
We're going again in June. The classes are filling (they'll be small classes, so it doesn't take long). If you're toying with the idea of coming, this blog post by Warren Mannix, a student from last June, may help quiet some of your anxieties: http://labonneetoile.com/b/
Come. We'll have a wonderful time.

Thank you for bidding. I was able to send $500 to Cherie's family.

2010-12-10T11:02:00.006-05:00

This framed piece would retail at my galleries for $1500.00. Right now it's going for about $500. All the money goes to accident victim, Cherie, a 42-year old woman who was paralyzed in an auto accident on September 30. She has no insurance and her brother and sister have committed to her care and safe keeping. They have to modify her sister's home to accommodate a wheelchair and other adaptive equipment. Cherie is paralyzed from the shoulders down.

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1828783?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget
You can also help this family by buying a copy of "Art With Heart" (click link above), an art book (with a piece of mine in it) produced by Cherie's best friend Elizabeth Nelson (http://elizabethsthilairenelson.blogspot.com), also an artist. $12 (the entire profit) from each sale goes to Cherie's family.

Thanks for helping.

BARGE TRIP ON THE SEINE

2010-12-10T07:51:00.004-05:00

Barge Trip on the Seine is a 7x5 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100. Can't think of a Christmas gift for that special someone? You'll have this before Christmas.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE DU CARROUSEL AT THE LOUVRE

2010-12-04T23:36:00.003-05:00

"Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the Louvre" is a 7x5 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

6" SQUARED

2010-12-01T18:11:00.004-05:00

I have several pieces in this show in costa Mesa, CA. It looks like it'll be a beautiful show. All work is 6"x6", from some of the finest artists in the country. I'd love to be there. If any of you are in that area and get a chance to see it, I'd love to know how it looks.
Randy Higbee Gallery
102 Kalmus
Costa Mesa, CA
www.randyhigbeegallery.com
Opening reception Saturday, Dec. 4, 12-5
and Sunday, Dec. 5, 12-5.

This is a benefit auction for car accident victim, Cherie, click to bid

2010-11-30T13:30:00.002-05:00

In early October, near her home in Florida, Cherie was injured in an automobile accident, in which she rolled her jeep and broke her neck. She is now in Shepherd Spinal Center in Atlanta, paralyzed, where they are easing her off the ventilator. Needless to say, her family's expenses have been overwhelming. Her best friend, Elizabeth Nelson, is an artist friend of mine. Elizabeth is trying to help Cherie's family by getting her artist friends to contribute in some way. This is my effort to help. All the money for this sale will go to Cherie's family.

This framed pastel is 16x12, and would retail at my galleries for $1500.00. If you're bidding, please be generous. Thanks in advance for your generosity.

To read the entire story on Elizabeth's blog, go here: http://elizabethsthilairenelson.blogspot.com. The first entry about Cherie begins on October 5.
http://elizabethsthilairenelson.blogspot.com

COCKTAILS IN PARIS, sold

2010-11-29T17:42:00.003-05:00

COCKTAILS IN PARIS is a 7x5 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

CORNER CAFE IN PARIS

2010-11-24T14:06:00.004-05:00

CORNER CAFE IN PARIS is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

Thanksgiving is over. Turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, champagne and family thoroughly enjoyed. Now begins the Christmas season. Oy veh.

PARISIAN MARKET

2010-11-24T13:57:00.002-05:00

PARISIAN MARKET is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.00.

Another abstracted image. Just having fun.

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving.

RAINY DAY IN TROYES, sold

2010-11-18T21:16:00.004-05:00

RAINY DAY IN TROYES is a 7x5 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

This is a little different than my usual stuff. I'm playing with abstracts.

NUDE WITH RED AND BLUE, sold

2010-11-18T11:26:00.003-05:00

NUDE WITH RED AND BLUE is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

Nothing major pending today...ship off a painting (after rummaging around trying to find a box the right size, and bubble wrap--it's either feast or famine here. I'm either overwhelmed with shipping supplies or I'm running around town trying to gather up more). I'l spend some time at the easel to make a few more 5x7's. It's also time to start mentally preparing for my Saturday one-day class. This month I'm having people work from a special photo of theirs, something they've been meaning to do but have never gotten around to, or something they've been unsuccessful at recreating. If they don't have one, I'll let them use one of mine. I'll get the students to work differently than they're used to working. Hopefully, they'll go home with a successful piece of art.

BATHSHEBA

2010-11-15T21:11:00.001-05:00

BATHSHEBA is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding for this piece begins at $100.

Well I'm finally back to doing some little 5x7 pieces for auction. Seems like it's been forever. It feels good to be working small again. I enjoy that for some reason. I hope to get quite a few up throughout the next few weeks. Maybe someone's looking for some Christmas gift ideas????

A CAFE IN PARIS

2010-11-11T17:45:00.004-05:00

This 16x12 pastel is on its way, with a couple of other pastels, to Watts Fine Art, in Zionsville, IN.

I recently returned home from my last workshop of the year, with the wonderful artists of the Vermont Pastel Society. It was a drizzly, cold day with snow flurries, as Sandy, the President of the VPS, drove me to the airport. She tells me there were 3 inches of snow on the ground that evening. I would have loved to have seen it; Vermont is beautiful without snow, how much more beautiful with it?

Now I'm back in 70 degree weather, working at the easel again: 3 pieces to this gallery, one to that gallery, another to another. I'm tying up loose ends, now that I don't have to rush out of town again. Tomorrow, I visit my Dad in his retirement home, maybe see some of my sisters (I have 4, and a brother), hopefully have dinner with daughter Meg (short for Margaret), affectionately referred to as Moo. Or Moo-Head. Or Meggomaloo. Or Meggers.

France dates finally confirmed!

2010-11-10T09:15:00.002-05:00

June 12-19 First week session
June 19-23 Mid-workshops Normandy excursion
June 23-30 Second week session

Click on the flyer at left to see more info. This should be fun!

For more information on the class and La Bonne Etoile, click on the title above.

Scottsdale Artists School Beaux Arts

2010-11-02T18:38:00.004-04:00

This 9x12 pastel is a demo from one of my workshops; its on its way to the Scottsdale Artists School Beaux Arts Annual Fundraiser. The Scottsdale Artists School, in Scottsdale AZ, hosts classes and workshops all year long, taught by some of the best working artists in the country. Beaux Arts 2010 is a festive evening with a silent auction of original paintings and sculpture by teachers and students of the Scottsdale Artists School. This year its Signature Artist is renowned artist and former SAS Instructor, Richard Schmid. There should be some incredible art being auctioned off that night. I wish I could be there and get some treasures.

Saturday, November 13, 2010
7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
http://scottsdaleartschool.org/news/beauxart

FAMILY PORTRAIT

2010-10-30T23:59:00.001-04:00

While in France this past summer, I stayed a few days in Paris before flying home. I was able to trade this FAMILY PORTRAIT for 4 days in a Parisian apartment. This is the grandbaby of the apartment's owner. Now if I can find someone in Italy...

BEFORE THE DINNER CROWD

2010-10-28T09:49:00.007-04:00

BEFORE THE DINNER CROWD is a 12x9 pastel on PastelBord. It may look familiar because I did a 5x7 study of it a while ago. This larger version is one of several of my pieces at the Windrush Gallery in Sedona, AZ. If you're interested in this piece, click on the title, it'll take you to Windrush. BEFORE THE DINNER CROWD is another Parisian scene...the Rotonde Cafe.

Today there will be a Halloween event in the little amphitheater park, here in my Villa Rica neighborhood. My studio is a converted warehouse loft, adjacent to a shopping strip of antique shops, restaurants and the Villa Rica Police Station. The amphitheater is at the far end of the shopping strip. Later today, I, with my wonderful Nikon D-80, will walk past the antique shops, restaurants and police station to the park; I'm looking forward to seeing all the children. I'm missing my 6 year old grandson, who's in Anchorage now; his dad is stationed there. I'm sending him little packages so he won't forget me.

LES SERVEURS

2010-10-28T09:07:00.003-04:00

LES SERVEURS recently won an award at the Degas Pastel Society Biennial National Exhibition at the Hammond Regional Art Center, in Hammond, LA. The show runs till November 5. You can see the entire show online with the link above (click the title). It's a scene from a restaurant in Paris.

And I'm returning to France again in June, looking for people to sign up for a week workshop with me. Info to come soon. The class is limited to 7 or 8 people, I don't remember which. If you didn't follow my blog this past summer during my first workshop there, you can see it in my May and June posts. I'll be teaching two sessions--two weeks. People can take one week or two. I'd better get those French audio lessons I've been meaning to; I promised I'd be able to speak French when I returned.

Three in a row! Gimme 5 (which I absolutely hate, when people do that).

VILLA RICA WORK CREW

2010-10-28T06:38:00.004-04:00

"Villa Rica Work Crew" is a 16x20 pastel on PastelBord. It's a scene from right outside my studio. This month it won an award at the Pastel Society of America Exhibition in New York, and was purchased at the show.

I've actually had a little flurry of awards lately, so I'll dribble them into the blog day by day. And hopefully I'll be able to get back to my little 5x7's again soon. I teach one last class the first weekend of November in Vermont, then my schedule comes to a screeching halt. Time, then, for the easel again.

Can you believe it? I'm actually posting two days in a row!

OFFICIALLY AN OLD LADY

2010-10-27T08:03:00.003-04:00

"Dejeuner" is a 24x19 pastel on Sennelier LaCarte Pastel Paper, from my France series. I really like this piece. $3500.00.

Just can't seem to pin myself to the computer long enough to write in my blog. But I sure have missed it. And I miss having some sort of contact with people in cyberspace. When I teach my workshops (which I've been doing a lot of lately), inevitably several people from the class, whom I had never met before, tell me how they followed me in France through my blog. It's a funny feeling, but rewarding.

Much has been happening, and I shouldn't tell all in one post, then I'd have nothing to write about in future posts. But I'll tell the most embarrassing thing...I AM OFFICIALLY AN OLD LADY.

How so, you ask? While in Greenville, New York, in late August, the evening before my 3 day workshop was to begin, I was to meet with my 18 students in the dining room of the Greenville Arms B&B. As people were beginning to congregate for the wine and cheese, I was stepping out of the shower, when my foot went out from under me and I crashed hard onto the side of the ceramic tub. I knew immediately that I did something very bad; I could barely breathe. It took me a good 15 minutes to get up (the only motivating factor was the fear that I might need to be carried out naked). I was able to dress, drive to a nearby drugstore to purchase one of those back brace thingies that you wrap around yourself, and make it to the reception...straight to the bar for a glass of wine. I knew I should see a Doctor, but I had 18 people who had paid months in advance and come from distances for the class.

I taught the 3 day class, barely able to breath or move, drove home to Atlanta, and went to an emergency clinic, where the x-rays showed I had fractured 6 ribs, 3 in multiple places, and had a contusion on the lung. Nothing to do for fractured ribs I had been told, but pain medication. So I lived on Tramadol for 2 weeks. It has healed remarkably quickly. Within the 2 weeks I was almost back to normal.

But I am soooooooooooo careful now, when getting out of the shower. And walking down steps. And wearing high heals. I am officially an old lady.

New! Giclees available.

2010-08-24T21:00:00.003-04:00

Sorry for my silence. Life's been a little complicated. I won't bore you with it. Needless to say, my productivity has suffered. But my classes have kept me busy.

In an effort to keep treading water in this economy, I've decided to give giclee reproductions a try. I've got 4 images, limited to 150 print editions, that are available in different sizes and on different papers or on stretched canvas. They're beautiful reproductions, virtually identical to the originals, in my opinion. So if anyone has ever wanted a piece of mine, here's an inexpensive way to do it. Click on the headline above or go here for more info: http://www.fineartmarketplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_89&products_id=484

I'm leaving Thursday morning to drive from Atlanta to upstate New York, to teach at the Greenville Arms 1889 Inn. It should be a nice drive. I'm driving so I can stop off in Maryland to pick up some work from a gallery.

I've missed blogging. I'll try to get back to it.

MARKET DAY II

2010-07-04T19:09:00.003-04:00

MARKET DAY II is a 7x5 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

OUTDOOR CAFE AT TEA TIME

2010-07-03T09:16:00.004-04:00

OUTDOOR CAFE AT TEA TIME is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

Still recovering here. I think I can go out in public today.

MARKET DAY, sold

2010-07-02T11:43:00.006-04:00

MARKET DAY is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

I've been waylaid by the flu. A nasty germ that has knocked me down for about a week. Fever, cough, sneezing, barely can breathe. Got it from my husband, who seemed to have had it worse than I do. I'm on the upswing though, and am able to get back to the easel, finishing up a commission and some small pieces of France. I'm not back 100%, still fearful that I might start an epidemic if I go out in public, but I see light at the end of the tunnel.

MARKET DAY is from a day at the market during my recent visit to France. How vivid the images still are in my head--what a wonderful time I had. I have to say the trip has alleviated that gnawing angst I've had for years, wondering if I'd ever have the chance to travel, fretting that world events, crashing economies, health, anything or everything might prevent it . Well, it's done. And it was so easy. I'm ready to go again.

The model vivant (The live model)

2010-06-18T17:23:00.009-04:00

We had worked late in the studio one evening during my recent workshop. So the next morning I slept in a little later than usual. I was still groggy while getting ready when I heard Kippy calling my name from outside. I rushed to the window, bent over the second floor balcony to hear better and she said, "It's OK now. Everything's fine."
"What's OK?"
"It's all OK. I've talked to her."
"What are you talking about? Talked to Who?"
"Zee model vivant."
Oh dear.

Zee model vivant was tall and slender, dark and fashionable, commanding in presence. She has been modeling in Paris for over 20 years for art schools, independent artists and commercial photographers. No doubt, she has some stories to tell. "I'm looking for Degas type poses, nothing fancy, simply a woman grooming herself. Maybe even Toulouse Lautrec," I had told her. She knew exactly what we were wanting. I placed a boudoir chair onto the model stand and told her go go ahead and get comfortable, I'd work with the lighting. She sat. And bounced off the chair as if she had been stung. "NUH! I can not seet in zis chair!"
"Why?"
"Because eet does not feel right. I can not feel zee pose in eet."
"OK, well, then let's try this..."

The day wore on with me making suggestions and "NUH! I can not do zat pose, I do not feel it. I can do ziss.." By the end of the day, she was extending her long leg above her head, "..and I can do ziss, and I can do ziss for you...and I deed ziss pose for..." So zee model vivant posed in cabaret fashion, stradling chairs, extending pointed toes, wearing her top hat.

The morning I was called to the balcony, there was to be a photo session between one of the students and zee model before breakfast. But zee model said it was too chilly. Thus ensued a talk between Kippy and zee model.

La Bonne Etoile

2010-06-18T16:54:00.015-04:00

Now that I've caught my breath, I have to talk about La Bonne Etoile.

I'm naturally scared of everything. So it was a big step for me to go to France all by myself. But Kippy prepared every detail for me and all the artists who attended the class. Kippy, an American artist who has lived in France for over 10 years, and Jerome have turned a 250 year old farmhouse in the village of Fontaine-Fourches into a beautiful, cozy home with room for 8 guests. Lunches on the patio, elegant dinners at the dining room table, good French food and wine, excellent company, a lot of laughing, all while surrounded by the beautiful French farmland and wild poppy fields. La Bonne Etoile is about an hour from Paris and a half hour from some incredible medieval sites. Kippy and Jerome made my first visit to France all that I had hoped for. If you're looking for a place to take an art workshop (if you're interested in attending mine next year, let Kippy know so she can keep you on her email list) and experience France with all details handled for you, look here: http://www.labonneetoile.com/about.html.

Our last day

2010-06-18T12:21:00.007-04:00

Wednesday in Paris. Our last day. MerryLeigh and I spent most of the day getting lost in the Louvre. Really. If you were there, you probably saw us huddled in every corner, sitting on every bench, turning our maps this way and pointing that way, or turning our maps that way and pointing our fingers this way. We could never figure out which floor we were on. And we were there for hours. But we made our way through it and saw our favorites. ML had to see the Mona Lisa. I wanted to see Vermeer (not much of him to see there, I'm sad to say). Loved the Dutch painters. We did make our way down to the lower level and wander around the medieval remains of the original structure. Totally cool. I'm glad we went, probably won't ever do it again. I found the Musee D'Orsay so much more enjoyable. Lunch at a creperie, shop at a fromagerie for gifts, hope they're not confiscated at customs.

Later in the evening, a frantic clean-up of the apartment, wash the sheets, write a thank-you, contact a taxi via skype (in my broken French--but they understood) because we have no phone, up at 4:30 a.m., out on the street at 10 til 5. Taxi waiting, we rush to Charles DeGaulle. A kiss-kiss, as the French do, to MerryLeigh, she's on a later flight. I'm in the air at 7:30.

I'm home now, fromage intact, after a harrowing day. The harrowing part was arriving in the Atlanta airport. What an affront, to be yelled at continually by the security personnel after having had such a gracious time in France.

Now to my 400 emails (most of which are offers for viagra) and carton full of mail. Bills to pay, messages to return, daughters, sisters and Dad to call, catch up on some sleep. Tomorrow I start digging into my photos of France to paint. I can't wait.

2010-06-15T15:50:00.006-04:00

Sunday in Paris: the Pere Lachaise Cemetary. We visited Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Modigliani. We went to Notre Dame. We walked to the Latin Quarter and bought souvenirs for people at home. We saw the Eiffel Tower, which glowed golden in the dusk. We chatted with other Americans. After dark, promptly at 11 p.m., the tower began to sparkle with flashing white lights. For 10 minutes it glittered in the dark, and we were dazzled as we sat on the wall that overlooked the Seine. We trudged our way back to the apartment at midnight, our bodies aching from walking all day long.

Monday in Paris: Kippy and Kathryn are gone. Merry Leigh and I have the apartment to ourselves. We are struggling to get our computers online. I had dinner with Meg, a student from my class, and American journalist living in Paris for 30 years. Her lovely apartment was 3 Metro stops away from where we're staying. I felt absolutely cool traveling the Metro all alone, making my way to unknown places. I won't mention how long it took me to figure out how to use the Metro ticket machine. I went through the line 3 times, and finally asked a woman to help me. I never would have figured it out by myself.

Tuesday in Paris: Merry Leigh and I travelled all day on the Metro (I'm a master at it); we finally made it back to the Musee D'Orsay to see the Art Nouveau section and revisit the Impressionists--my favorites-Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Vuillard, Bonnard. We found our way to the Carnivale Museum, hoping to see some medeivel architecture. Never found it, or if we did, we didn't recognize it. We stopped around dinnertime for wine and cheese, then headed home, stopping at a boulangerie for more bread, and at a market for wine and cheese.

Student work

2010-06-12T05:00:00.056-04:00

It's been a whirlwind the past few days. Our class is over; everybody has dispersed.

On Friday we worked in the studio from 9 a.m until 10:30 p.m. Back to the studio Saturday morning for our last day of the class. For the first time, we were dragging our feet a little. We were tired. Around 4:00 in the afternoon, we put away our pastels, moved everything to the perimeter of the room, hung our work, set a table with wine and munchies and met the people Kippy had invited to the Vernissage. The students' work was plentiful and impressive. Here are some pictures.

Warren:

Kippy:

Kathryn:

Guests were gone by around 8, and we piled into the car for dinner in Provins, a 12th Century walled city, about 15 minutes away. I was enthralled with Provins, though it was very difficult to comprehend the history surrounding me. The city was built in the 1100's to host the great annual trading fairs, which linked northern Europe with the Mediterranean world. Remarkably preserved, today Provins is still a thriving city, with people living and working in these 900 year old houses. Provins is celebrating its annual Medeival Festival this week. The narrow streets were crowded with people in costume, Vendor booths lined the cobblestone streets, interspersed with tents, so vendors camped by their booths all week long. Young, old, lots of teenagers, all in costume. There were performers, typical of the time, reenactments, crafts, roasted pig on spits. I want to come back and see more. It'll have to be next year.

On Sunday I said good-bye to La Bonne Etoile and headed to Paris. Kippy and Kathryn stayed with me in an apartment on Sunday night. Kathryn flew home to Georgia Monday morning, My friend, Merry Leigh from Atlanta, flew in and joined me. We have 4 days.

Empire of Death

2010-06-11T00:11:00.008-04:00

The Paris catacombs were created at the end of the 18th century out of abandoned mines to house the dead; filthy conditions of Parisian cemetaries had been causing sickness. So all the remains in the cemetaries were transferred to the abandoned mines. Wikipedia says: "The removal of the bones began after the blessing of the place on April 7, 1786 and was continued until 1788, always at night, a ceremonial made up of a procession of priests who sang the burial service along the way borrowed by the tipcarts charged with bones and covered with a black veil. Thereafter, this place was used, until 1814, to collect the bones of all the cemeteries of Paris." Read Wikipedia's description of Paris' previous burial conditions. They were horrible.

We spent a good part of yesterday wandering through the dark underground tunnels on the outskirts of Paris. We climbed down a dizzying narrow spiral stone stairwell, which seemed never to end, passed through a long and twisting dark stone hallway, which seemed never to end. I got ahead of our group--I wanted to experience the catacombs in silence, without laughter and chatter. But the passage was so long, I was beginning to think maybe I had come to the wrong place or taken a wrong turn. After maybe a 20 minute walk through the dark tunnels, I finally arrived at a doorway with a sign "Arrête, c'est ici l'empire de la Mort" ('Stop, this is the empire of Death').

I was glad I was alone. It was of course morbid, but it was respectfully and artistically arranged, with quotations about death and life carved in stone thoughout the tunnels. Organized by originating cemetaries, It was much larger than I had expected, with 'occupied' tributaries going in many directions, all gated and locked, so you couldn't take a wrong turn. Toward the end there was a quotation, which made me glad I had walked it alone. The last line read, "The number here is nothing. In every crowd one is alone."

We also visited the Musee D'Orsay. A significant number of pieces are currently in San Francisco while the Museum is being renovated, so we only had 2 floors to explore. But two hours were not enough. I will go back next week. I had to run through the Art Nouveau section, my favorite period, and never got to see Vouillard, another of my favorites. It was a beautiful collection. Just beautiful. I'll need a good part of a day to really enjoy it.

Today: back in the studio. Hopefully we'll get to do some Parisian city scenes.

Change of plans

2010-06-09T00:40:00.004-04:00

We decided early this morning to stay here and work today instead of spending the day trudging through the rainy streets in Paris. Tomorrow looks like a better day. So as it rained or drizzled under gray skies all day, we got lots done in the studio. After dinner, we plan on going back up to the studio and work till about 11.

No travel pictures for you today. Instead, I'm attaching some of the pastels I've worked on from our photo shoots with Eva.

Troyes

2010-06-08T14:23:00.008-04:00

Sometimes it's past midnight before I make it up to my room, and most of the time that's after a long day and a few glasses of wine. So I can't blog. All I can do it flop into the bed.

Yesterday (Tuesday) we worked in the studio until lunchtime, then off to visit the city of Troyes (pronounced something like Trwah). I think this is the sort of place I've been longing to see here in France. Its history goes back to before the days of Rome. In the middle ages it was the place of an annual fair, where traders from throughout the western world would sell their silks, leathers, furs, spices, precious wood and silverware. It was a thriving town. The buildings we walked among were, if I understand correctly, built between the 12th and 16th centuries. There had been a fire in 1524; much of the city had to be reconstructed. We saw the Saint Urbain Basilica (1654), with it's incredible stained glass windows and gargoyle gutter spouts. We walked narrow cobblestone streets, almost gutters they were so narrow. It was difficult to comprehend the history and the lifes spent in the wonderful city.

Today: Paris in the rain. Skies have been gray almost the entire time I've been here. It's raining now. We've had a few sunny days, but for the most part, we don't leave the house withour our umbrellas.

A new class begins.

2010-06-07T01:57:00.004-04:00

Never got a chance to write Sunday or Monday. Sometimes I can't get online for some reason, no connection to the internet. I also am not able to get onto Facebook because of my older operating system on my used laptop (I think that's the reason). So if I seem unresponsive to anybody, that's one reason.

I'll catch you up on the past 2 days.

Katherine (27, reminds me of my two beautiful daughters very much) arrived from the U.S. Sunday. Kippy puts people to bed for a 4 hour nap if they've traveled from the states. While Katherine slept, we went to to brocant: huge yard sales held in little villages all around--meandering streats with tents and tables full of household items, old furniture, clothes. I bought a few things which would fit in my suitcase for people at home (whom I'm missing very much). Eva returned from Paris to model for us for 2 days. She translated art vocabulary words for me to use for the new French students who would arrive Monday morning: sombre, moyen, claire, dessiner comme un carte de geographie, plisser les yeux.

Monday, I actually taught in French with my few newly learned words. I was so busy trying to speak French, I forgot to teach in English most of the time. At lunch, Eva was telling us that there are over 400 kinds of cheeses in France. Someone asked why so many? Jacqueline, from Versailles, answered, "Because we eat them."

Today, Tuesday, we will have a half day in the studio, a photo shoot with Eva, a trip to a local historical village for lunch and picture taking. Later in the evening more time in the studio to work from photos from our photo shoot today.

Wednesday, Paris again. The Musee D'Orsay. I can't wait.

Warren is still here with us. Asti is back home in Germany. We miss her here. She's written a beautiful post on her blog about the workshop (thanks so much, Asti):
http://pastellbilder.blogspot.com/2010/06/la-bonne-etoile-time-of-lifetime.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AstridVolquardsenPastellbilder+%28Astrid+Volquardsen+»Pastell-Blog«%29

A day off

2010-06-05T08:07:00.008-04:00

I took the day off. I took a nap, read some of my book, "Water For Elephants," did absolutely nothing that had anything to do with art. Kippy, Jerome, Warren and I rode bikes through the French countryside to the River Seine. I kept telling myself, "I'm riding a bike in France! I'm riding a bike in France! I'm riding a bike in France!"

Tonight for dessert: tiramisu and a 7 layer torte. How can I say no? I'm in France.

Vernissage

2010-06-05T00:21:00.037-04:00

Our last day. We worked from 9 till 4, finishing our pastels. Afterwards, we hurriedly cleaned up the studio, vacuumed, moved all easels and chairs and slide projector equipment and heaters and tabourets to the perimeter of the room behind screens, collected all the work done during the week and displayed it on walls and easels, grouped by artist. A table cloth was put on what had previously been piled high with pastels and clutter, a vase of fresh flowers from the garden, wine glasses, champagne flutes, cookies, nuts, chips. We had 20 minutes left to shower and change clothes before guests arrived.

Asti and some of her work:

The room was filled by 6:30, with invitees - people I was getting to know by now. People from Caroline and Serge's dinner party earlier in the week, people who attended my demonstration at the beginning of my class a lifetime ago, most French speaking only. I somehow was able to converse with many, sometimes in only English, sometimes I used my pathetically meager knowledge of French, and sometimes even in Spanish. I find myself resorting to Spanish if I can't communicate, and several times it's helped the understanding. By 8, the number of guests had dwindled down to those who were to remain for dinner.

Meg:

The patio table was set with flowers and candles and was ready for us as we left the studio. Kippy assigned seating. On my left was Stephan, who brought the cheese - a huge platter of about 8 different kinds, carefully chosen to be ripe for the evening. He selected 5 cheeses for me, and in his broken English, described the order in which they were to be eaten. He also bought 2 of my demonstrations, one as a birthday present for his wife across the table. On my other side was Gilbert Shelton, a cartoonist and underground comix artist. Some of his cartoons: The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Fat Freddy's Cat, Wonder Wart-Hog, Not Quite Dead. He also did the album cover for The Grateful Dead's Shakedown Street! Totally cool, huh?

Warren:

I'm not sure what time the evening ended because once we were all told if we needed to do anything, we were free to go, I slipped upstairs while the party continued, and fell asleep.

Kippy:

Cucumbers. Just can't escape them.

2010-06-03T16:01:00.011-04:00

This is a 19x24 pastel of the restaurant at the Musee Jacquemart Andre. I did it while the others were working and didn't need much input from me. I'll be posting some of their work tomorrow.

It's 10:00 p.m. We've just finished for the day. It's been a long day, in the studio since 9 a.m. , breaking only for lunch and dinner, then heading back to the studio.The artists want to get every last minute they can in the studio, and I want to make sure they get what they want. They have produced some pretty impressive stuff. I had hoped to, but I'm not ready to photograph their work yet; there's some finishing up to do. I'll shoot it tomorrow.

Tomorrow's the last day for this class, which will culminate in a vernissage, or private viewing. Guests are invited over for drinks and munchies, and we from the workshop will display the work produced all week. We'll dine afterwards.

Asti leaves Saturday. It's going to be sad. I've gotten used to her beautifule German/English accent. She's from Hamburg and paints the seashore there. See her beautiful pastels on her website (http://www.pastellbilder.de ) and her journal of this workshop on her blog, in German of course (http://pastellbilder.blogspot.com). Warren is staying for next week's class. We may see Meg next week, if not in class, then afterwards.

It's been a small class. I've felt bad that we didn't have more attendance, but the students were ecstatic about it; they got lots of attention from the teacher. Monday, a new class begins; we are expecting 9 students, most of whom speak only French. I'm going to learn some vocabulary words so I can communicate with them.

For lunch, Kippy seved magret de canard (domestic duck with an apricot sauce) and cucumber soup, served cold. Those of you who know me well may be surprised to know that I actually ate some soup. OK, the photo shows how much of it I allowed into my bowl, and I didn't finish it, but I did actually take, of my own will, not being forced or coerced, several sips. Had I not sniffed it before tasting it, I might have had more than 3 sips, because it actually did taste pretty good, but the cucumber smell was still in my brain, and occasionally I'd bite into a little lump of the detestable stuff, so with each sip, I had a more difficult time trying to forget what I was eating. Kippy promises to serve it again today.

One of my very favorite quotes:
"A cucumber should be well-sliced, dressed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out."
Samuel Johnson
English author, critic, & lexicographer (1709 - 1784)

2010-06-02T18:05:00.005-04:00

It is 9:45 p.m. here and it's as bright as 6 p.m.

We spent the whole day in Paris. We began with the Musee Jacquemart Andre, where there was an exhibit of Spanish masters: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, El Greco and my favorite, Joaquin Sorolla. We had lunch at the Museum restaurant and headed to the Musee l'Orangerie to see Monet's water lilies. Before we left the museum, I slipped downstairs to see a Paul Klee exhibit, and discovered rooms and halls full of Post Impressionist works: Modigliani, Matisse, Sisley, countless others, A wonderful surprise. We'll catch the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre another day. We were exhausted. One more stop--Sennelier, maker of artist paints and pastels since 1887, for pastels and paper. Dinner time, we searched for a restaurant, but discovered Parisians don't eat dinner when we do, no restaurants were open. We settled for wine and cheese. We were rejuvenated and headed back for the hour train ride to La Bonne Etoile.

Tomorrow, 9 a.m., back to the studio to work from photos. We will work long and hard to make up for lost time. In tomorrow's post, I hope to put some work done in the studio up.

Monday

2010-05-31T13:12:00.013-04:00

It was a long day yesterday. We were busy from early in the morning until late at night, exhausted when we went to bed. Kippy had to wake us all up at 8 this morning for class. I never had a chance to get on to the computer. So I'm writing for 2 days now.
Here's how Monday went: At 9:00 a.m. we were at the easels. Another student, Meg, arrived. Meg, an American, is a journalist who has lived in Paris for 30 years. We worked on poses for about 3 and a half hours. By the end of the day, each student had 3 pieces. At 4, after Eva quit for the day (or so she thought) several of us worked from photos of the last pose until 7ish. We were served wine as we walked into the house, guests (Chantal and Paul) arrived, the table was set: pork roast, wine, cheese, more wine. After dinner, probably 10:00 or so, we put Eva back to work. A photo shoot in the bathroom: we set up the lighting (lightning as Asti keeps saying), filled the bath, Eva disrobed, got into the claw-foot tub, bathed, got out of the tub, dried off, brushed her hair...all while Kippy, Asti, Warren and I (Meg is not staying here at the house) frantically photographed her from different angles We probably each took about 200 photos. Eva earned a little money and took a bubble bath at the same time! After her bath, Eva went to sleep, we stayed up and oohed and aahed over the photos on the computer. Once we figure out how to put them all together and print out the good ones, we'll have some excellent references for night times in the studio.

For lunch yesterday, we had terrine, a salad and cheese. Here's wikipedia's definition of terrine: A terrine is a French forcemeat loaf that is served at room temperature.Similar to paté, a terrine uses more coarsely chopped ingredients.

Today, Tuesday, at the easels at 9:00 again. Eva posed--a nude. Lunch, back in an hour and a half to the studio. This time we work from photos of Eva. I did another demo, using one of the bathroom scenes we took last night.

The objective of this workshop is to acquaint students with my pastel method, using the figure as the subject. We start with a live model, then we'll work with photos of models. The purpose for using photos is to teach them how to make it look like you're not using a photo. Once they're fully acquainted with the method and constructing the subject as if working from life, we'll go out to the nearby villages and Paris to take more complicated shots like people at cafe tables. We'll then return to the studio for a full day working from those photos.

The class has officially begun.

2010-05-30T18:40:00.012-04:00

Warren, student #2, arrived today. There he is front and center, sitting next to Asti. I'm back there at the projector, Eva is in the pink robe. Kippy is somewhere in the front of the room.

Warren's from Albany, NY. Both of my parents were from Albany. Almost all my cousins still live there. I'm sure we'll find something in common besides art before the class is over. Another student is expected tomorrow, and there will be some local students coming for the day throughout the week.

We were to begin the workshop tonight at 6:00 with a slide show and demonstration. Kippy had invited artists from the area to watch. Since I've got such a small class, I was a little apprehensive about nobody showing up. But by 6:10, the room was filled with an enthusiastic audience, very few of whom spoke English, most of whom were from the dinner party the other night at Caroline and Serge's. Kippy translated for me. We got through half the slide show and the projector decided to misbehave, so we went on to the demonstration.

Eva was a wonderful model, which made my job very easy. The evening lasted almost two hours and went very well. Everybody seemed impressed, several people were asking about getting into the class, the demo piece itself wasn't embarrassing like they sometimes can be. After the crowd departed, Warren, Asti, Eva and I went into the house to have dinner with Kippy and Jerome. Eggplant au gratin, salad, cheeses, wine (I think Catherine may have been right about French wine not making you drunk, because I've certainly tried to prove her wrong). We stayed up way too late at the table talking about art. Such a passionate evening we all should have.

Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m., we're to be at our easels. The class has officially begun.

A few thing's I'll do differently, if I get to come back next year: get a watch, bring a stylish blazer, speak French.

To answer some of Jim N.'s questions: I'm using a Nikon D80. That was not me with my foot up on the post in the street scene yesterday, that was Eva, the model. I'm using a Mac PowerBook G4, which I bought just before I left home. I got it from ONYX, in Decatur, Ga, for about $275.00. They receive donated used computer equipment, refurbish it, sell it, and donate the proceeds to charity. You can get some good computers for dirt cheap. Check them out: http://theocf.net/index.php?cpage=mission

la fromagerie, le bucherie, le pain et les amis

2010-05-29T17:19:00.025-04:00

The first student has arrived: Asti from Germany. Kippi, Asti and I spent time photographing some Parisian streets. It's been heavily overcast all day--not ideal for our photos. Ideally, I'd love to have bright sunshine, later in the afternoon or early in the morning, with long cast shadows. But Paris doesn't think we need that, so we'll find other contrasts in our imagery.
The model has arrived: Eva has lived in Paris all her life. She's an actor and has modeled for Parisian artists and art schools for years. She's got some totally cool costumes to wear for us, some totally cool music to play while she poses, and I suspect some totally cool stories to tell.

Here are Asti, Kippie and Eva at La Rotonde.

I think I may be experiencing jet lag. That or I'm just not used to late evenings and so much wine. I crashed early today, as soon as we arrived back at the house, I told Kippie not to wake me for dinner if the aromas didn't wake me, dragged myself up the stairs and climbed into the bed. Woke only to post this; everyone is asleep right now. I hope I can get back to sleep.

Day 3 in France

2010-05-28T09:47:00.039-04:00

This morning we went to market. I am proud to say that when a gendarme came up to me and asked me (in French) why I was taking so many photographs, I was able to relpy, "Je suis un artiste. Je suis américain. Je ne parle pas français très bien." She then asked me if I was using my photographs for the papers (which I understood), and I told her no, I pulled out one of my picture post cards and gave it to her. "C'est bon. ?" I asked, and she said "C'est bon.." And she left me to continue my shooting. Kippy was impressed, she later told me, that I was able to communicate like that. I got hundreds of photos, some of which will make beautiful paintings.

Back to La Bonne Etoile, lunch on the patio with friends. What a tough life they lead here.

I'll be glad when Sunday arrives and I can actually work. I'm feeling very guilty being non-productive. Sunday evening we hope to have an audience to watch me demonstrate painting a pastel from a nude model. We're hoping there will be quite a few locals there, filling up space. Then there will also be a reception. Monday, students and I get to work. But until then, there's some serious eating to be done.

We had dinner at Caroline's and Serge's, about a 20 minute drive from here, in a home which has been in the family for generations. It was a family gathering with about 20 people; I definitely felt like a fish out of water, not understanding what anyone was saying, and not knowing anybody. My sister Catherine says you can drink as much French wine as you want and you won't get drunk. I don't know if that's true, but it certainly helps you understand French a whole lot better. By the end of the evening I was laughing and getting along just like family. I suspect it may have been the gracious people who made me feel at home, moreso than the wine. And OK, some of them did speak English.

Some more French things I've learned:
After dinner Caroline came out with what looked like a huge cheesecake. It was cheese, brie. So soft, it almost spilled when you cut it. Mmmmmmm. I was told that cheese has a ripe time. There are people who know how to gauge when it will be ripe for special occasions.
French men are incredibly polite and considerate. The people are soft-spoken and gracious.

It's way too late for me to be up. Kippy and I go to the airport tomorrow to pick up a student, then to PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Le Boudin

2010-05-27T17:00:00.031-04:00

The town of Fontaine Fourches has a population of about 500.

La Bonne Etoile is the name of Kippy's and Jerome's home.

My bedroom window.

Not much to do today; things will pick up once my students arrive on Sunday. I took a walk in the town with my camera. Fontaine Fourches is very small, just a few blocks of homes, several hundred years old, very close to the street, each with their gates shut tight. If you peek behind the gate, you're likely to see gardens and children's plastic toys, geraniums on windowsills and lace curtains in windows.

After an afternoon of working in the studio with Kippy, she on her pastel, me on mine, we went to dinner at Chantel's and Paul's home a few blocks away. As it has been at every meal so far, the hostess appointed seats for each of us, making sure never, or almost never, to seat husband and wife together.

Another French lesson: what we Americans call the entree is le plat principal (main course) in France. The salad, at every meal so far, has been served after le plat principal. After the salad, usually a platter of cheese is brought out.

Le plat principal this evening was le boudin. I picked up enough in conversation to know not to ask what I was eating. In fact, twice Jerome knowingly shook his head when I started to ask. It was a very black sausage, very sweet and absolutely yummy, with a side dish of baked apples and sauteed onions. Bread on the table. And of course wine. Then a salad with cheese was served; strawberries for desert. We played with French/English flash cards, figuring out the translations to such sentences as, "The pig is cold in the winter." Back to Kippy's and Jerome's in the cool dark night, with a full moon hiding behind the clowds.

Boudin, wikipedia and Kippy told me later, is blood sausage. No meat. Just blood. But the consistency of very soft meat. It crumbled when I sliced the sausage. And it was delicious. I would have had thirds, but didn't want to look crass.

Merci beaucoup, Chantel and Paul, d'un dîner délicieux!

Tomorrow morning we go to market to buy vegetables. A photo op for me!

Boudin photo from www.lacuisinecorrezienne.com

Petite chou

2010-05-26T18:37:00.019-04:00

I am in Fontaine Fourches, France. About an hour from the Charles de Gaulle airport, past fields of winter and spring wheat, young sugar beets and miles of the yellow flowers of canola beans. I've spent the day with Kippy Hammond in her home and studio, resting from my trip overseas, and planning for the workshop which begins Sunday. Kippy and Jerome have friends staying over, two couples and two 10 year old twin boys; they'll be leaving by the time our class begins. We dined this afternoon on the patio on grilled pork kabobs, cucumber, tomato and green pepper salad (OK, those of you who know me know that I only ate the tomatos), fresh cheeses from the region and French wine. We spent the evening with a fire in the fireplace to take the chill out of the thunderstorm outside, a candle lit dinner and lots of wine. Some of the topics of conversation: French table manners--bread goes on the upper left side of the plate or on the table cloth next to the plate; wine and water glasses are side-by-side at the top of the plate, not at the upper right like ours; forks are placed face-side-down when setting the table. I learned how to fold a huge piece of lettuce in my salad with a fork and knife, and how to properly cut different kinds of cheese. And there seemed to be great confusion over the phrase 'petite chou,' an affectionate phrase which the Americans at the table could not understand. Chou is cabbage.

The surprise at dessert was petite chou, a sinful pastry filled with cream. I ate the entire thing.

Rhett Butler comes to mind tonight, when he said, "I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace." I found it, Rhett.

American Artist Magazine, July issue is on the stands...

2010-05-17T10:16:00.003-04:00

and I'm on page 28, as a runner-up in the cover competition.

I'm packing for France. And trying to figure out if there's any way I can buy a cheap laptop or ipad before I go, so I can blog on the road. I don't know if there's any interest in it, but I'd love to keep a journal. The more I talk about it, the more I'm persuading myself to go get something. I've got a good P.D. James book for the plane and a wonderful little travel bag which is perfect for my bulky camera and important papers. Can you tell I'm getting excited?

ANOTHER WAVE

2010-05-14T15:41:00.003-04:00

Another Wave is a 9x12 pastel on sanded paper.

I really and truly am wanting to write in this blog, but life just keeps getting in the way. I'm afraid I've committed myself to way more than I should have, and it's showing up in my life. And my anxiety level.

I leave next Thursday to teach a workshop in Amelia Island, Florida, and will be bringing a van full of art to exhibit, in hopes that maybe a few more people who see my work in person will want to join the class. I'm hoping to come home with lots of pictures of children on the beach to paint from. That Sunday evening, after the class ends, I'll drive the 5-6 hours back home to pack my bags. I'll be leaving the next Tuesday for FRANCE (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), where I'll be teaching for 2 weeks. I've never been before. I'm nearly giddy.

The only thing that dampens my giddiness is the fact that my oldest daughter, Anna, and my 6 year old grandson, Victor, will be leaving while I am gone. They will be flying to Alaska to join Jerry, Anna's husband, who recently got home from his 3rd tour in Afghanistan. He'll be stationed in Alaska for 2 more years; Anna and Jerry plan on continuing their education afterwards, in Alaska. So I'm told that it may be 5 years before I see them again. It's only just now beginning to sink in.

But here's what I figure. I'll put out word on my blog, Facebook, everywhere I can, to see if someone would be interested in trading air miles for a piece of my art. I may get there before Victor starts growing facial hair.

Southeastern Pastel Society International Exhibition

2010-05-04T16:54:00.004-04:00

"Christmas Eve Party" is a 16x20 pastel on PastelBord. I'll be delivering it to the Southeastern Pastel Society International Juried Exhibition next week at Oglethorpe University. Anyone in the area is welcome to attend the reception. There will be some beautiful pastels there. Here's the info:

2010 14th International Juried Exhibition

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
4484 Peachtree Road, N.E, Atlanta, GA 30319
May 18-June 27, 2010
Opening Reception Thursday, May 20th, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Museum hours: Tuesday-Sunday, noon - 5:00 p.m.
404-364-8555
http://museum.oglethorpe.edu

May 15: one-day workshop at my studio

2010-04-29T14:23:00.000-04:00

May 15 is the date of my next one-day workshop in my studio. I can only fit 5 students and a model in the room, so I have to make it first-come, first-served. If you're one of the first 5 people to contact me, either by email or phone, I'll send you a link to PayPal to secure your place.

Je vais enseigner en France. Voulez-vous venir aussi ?

2010-04-26T20:40:00.000-04:00

BLUE SCARF AND DRAPE is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

Well, it's official. I'm definitely going to teach in France. I've never been before and I'm a little overwhelmed. Fortunately I'll be in good hands. Kippy Hammond, an artist from Atlanta, moved to France many years ago. She and her husband refurbished a 150 year old farmhouse, converted the barn to a studio, and now host artist retreats and workshops there. She can comfortably house 12 people, but prefers to keep the crowds smaller. Eight is good, she says. They'll feed us, take us on day trips to Paris and the local markets. In the studio we'll work with models and the photos taken during our day trips. It sounds like heaven to me. I'm not allowing myself to get too excited yet. There's that pesky volcano...

There's room for more students, and I'd dearly love to have more in the class. If you want to know more: www.margaretdyer.com/la-bonne-etoile.html.

DRAPED IN BLUE, click to bid

2010-04-21T10:34:00.004-04:00

DRAPED IN BLUE is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

I've been trying to get back to blogging, but there are distractions...a workshop in Texas last week, art to finish, frame, package and ship to 3 galleries, the Southeastern Pastel Society newsletter to edit, the Carollton Creative Writers Club newsletter too. Then there's that horrid demon, who tells me I don't know how to paint, so I'm better off doing something else. Sometimes that voice gets uncomfortably loud. A while in prayer today to make it go a way, within minutes, a phone call from a gallery. Somebody wants two pieces. I'm ashamed. And grateful. My prayers are not always answered that way, mind you. But I think God knew I needed this one.

"Draped in Blue" is of a model we had in my recent workshop at the Wenmohs Ranch, in Cypress Mill, TX. Dena Wenmohs, a remarkably funny lady, pictured next to me (I'm wearing the red apron in front) owns an 800 acre working cattle ranch that has been in her family for eight generations. She hosts art workshops in her studio all year long. I got wined and dined and got to hang out with some wonderful artists for 3 days. I hope they had as good a time as I did. When I unearth my paperwork from the class, I'll post some links to some of the interesting artists I met there.

NUDE ON A CHAIR, click to bid

2010-04-17T18:35:00.007-04:00

NUDE ON A CHAIR is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding begins at $100.

The results are in for the American Artist cover competition. I did not win the cover. But my work will be in the July issue, which most likely will come out in mid to late June. I'll post it when it's out. It's a tremendous honor to have been a finalist. And my congratulations to the winning artist, Alberta Geyer, for her painting "Tang Dynasty Steed."

NUDE ON A CHAIR is also a model from my recent workshop in Texas at Wenmohs Ranch.

Art Show at River Gallery, in Chattanooga (click for link to gallery)

2010-04-01T15:28:00.005-04:00

This piece will be in my show, opening tomorrow evening, Friday, April 2, at River Gallery in Chattanooga, TN. Anybody in the area, please drop by.

I sure hope the evening doesn't turn out like my last show there. I got stuck in rush hour traffic on I-75, just south of Chattanooga. A wreck. All lanes completely stopped. For hours. I missed the reception. Finally made it to Chattanooga around 9:00, went to a friend's home, had a couple of drinks, turned around and drove back to Atlanta.

Oy.

WATER TO WATER at River Gallery, Chattanooga

2010-03-11T13:59:00.006-05:00

Three huge boxes sent off to Watts Fine Art, Zionsville, IN, yesterday. Finally. Today I'm back to the easel, painting for an upcoming show in Chattanooga at River Gallery. The show will be April 1-30, the reception Friday, April 2.

Now I have to clarify something, because some people are thinking my piece will be on the cover of American Artist Magazine. Little Dancer is just a finalist. The actual piece has not been chosen yet. It's an honor just to be a finalist, and my piece will definitely be in the magazine in July. Just don't know whose will be on the cover yet.

I'll keep you posted.

A glimpse into my life...

2010-03-10T14:38:00.009-05:00

So this week I received this email..."Congratulations! Your artwork has been chosen as a finalist in American Artist magazine’s 2010 cover art competition. Your painting, Little Dancer, along with information about you and your working process, will appear in the July issue of the magazine..."

Wonderful! All I needed to do was send them a 300ppi 11 inch image for publication. But wait...was it this one, named "Little Dancer" or this one named "Little Dancer?"

Or this one named "Little Dancer?"

So I've spent the last 3 days frantically trying to find documentation of which image I may have submitted to the competition. Nothing. Nowhere. Nada. A frantic email to the publication. A frantic phone call to the person who made the initial contact. A CD sent with all the images and a note. Finally someone called and emailed me the correct image. It was the first one. A little 5x7 which was purchased from my blog and ebay link a while back. So, if the current owner is reading this, keep your eye out, I'll post how this thing turns out.

A note to the current owner: The publication doesn't need the original piece of work. They will use my digital files. So enjoy your little dancer.

A note to me: Don't use the same title for different pieces.

A note to the rest of you: It is very difficult naming all this stuff.

Thank you.

2010-03-09T14:48:00.006-05:00

You don't know how moving it is for me to open my email and come across all these generous good-wishes from you all. Most of you I've never met, but I feel like I've got all these wonderful friends. It makes me almost giddy to read your comments. Thank you very much.

"Villa Rica Work Crew" was the clean-up crew during the Villa Rica Pet Parade back in the fall. Villa Rica is a tiny little town 30 minutes west of Atlanta. A train runs through it, so there are a couple of shopping strips on either side of the tracks, with little restaurants, antique shops, the Villa Rica Police Department. The whole span of 'downtown' Villa Rica is about 3 blocks. It's a cozy little place, 3 minutes from I-20. I never have to deal with traffic, unless I choose to go into Atlanta, which I do regularly. Yet I can pretend I'm in the middle of NYC in my little loft. I'm looking forward to getting to know the place.

One more thing I've been doing in my recent absence...my how-to video, shot with a Flip video camera, and edited on my beloved mac. Totally totally cool technology for technological morons like me.

It sells for $29.95 plus shipping. You can get it on my web site at http://www.margaretdyer.com/books.html

Well, I guess an explanation is needed...

2010-03-08T08:26:00.005-05:00

It's been months since my last post on the blog. I've missed writing and uploading my small pieces. The habit of that seemed to have kept a rhythm in my life, which I've most definitely been without lately. I'm hoping to regain that rhythm.

I've moved my studio to a new place, an artist's dream in Villa Rica, GA. An old warehouse with polished concrete floors, original brick walls and exposed rafters and pipes. All I have to do to clean up is pull a dry mop around the room. No vacuums, no carpet spot removers, no constant worrying about ruining anything. A kitchenette, a separate room large enough for a bed and my computer. Couldn't ask for more. And the studio is large enough to accommodate 5 other artists and a model, if I move furniture around. So I've taken to hosting a one-day workshop, once a month, which pays for my new little refuge. My February and March classes filled.

"Lisa", above, was the model from my first workshop here. She's framed and ready to be shipped to Watts Fine Art, a new gallery opening in Zionsville, IN, this spring. From the looks of their web site (www.wattsfineart.com) and Facebook page, I'm humbled to be in such accomplished company. I fear I may be exposed as an impostor.

So anyway, I'm back. Not 100%, but getting there...

Bearded Iris

2010-01-22T19:21:00.002-05:00

Bearded Iris is a 12x16 alkyd on canvas. Interested buyers can contact me personally. Alkyd is an ail paint with a synthetic medium, which helps the paint dry quickly.

Just playing with new imagery. I think I like this. Any opinions? Maybe flowers for a while. I may run to the DeKalb Farmers Market tomorrow, while I have my 5 year old grandson with me, and pick up some flowers to paint all next week. Gotta do something different. I'm dying here.

GIRL IN A RED KIMONO, click to bid

2010-01-08T18:11:00.004-05:00

GIRL IN A RED KIMONO is a 5x7 pastel on Pastelbord.

Still below freezing temperatures here in Atlanta. Icy patches on the roads make driving hazardous. But 50º temps promised for Thursday. I'm headed for the studio, 40 feet from my kitchen door, anxious to be productive, anxious to work on some new imagery. What to do... lately I'm thinking...cats? I've got 3 of them hunkered down in my cozy studio, reluctant to venture out onto the snow covered deck. There's a cat show in Birmingham at the end of the month. Could make for some interesting photos. Or it could be an absolute dud.

Any suggestions from you out there? If I follow through with any ideas you submit, a free original 5x7 pastel for you.