THE NECKLACE, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.

SLEEPING NUDE MODEL, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.




OK. I've done a little thinking of composition. Actually, I just lied. I haven't. Never thought about it again after I said I would. Not out of meanness, but because my brain is so easily distracted, it is usually days, if not weeks, before I remember I was supposed to do something (that also explains why I don't return a lot of emails and phone calls--I just plain got distracted by the next email I opened). Do you think that may be ADD? I'll have to remember to look that up.

But I can still say something about composition.

I don't put a lot of planning into my compositions. I know from my experience many years ago in the graphic arts, that when an element on a page 'bleeds' off the page, say, a little corner of something, it draws the viewer's eye into the page. That's something I usually do with an elbow, the tip of the head, something. By having a little something bleed off the page, maybe quite a few somethings, it creates unusual shapes of negative space, making things look abstract, which I think makes a piece more interesting. Then there are the well-known rules, like not starting in the middle of the page--I place things off-center. And I avoid making horizontal or vertical lines divide the piece in half. I always look for thirds if possible. It's pretty much that simple. Just a few good habits.

Did that help, Jennifer?

Now the reason I got distracted yesterday–a friend and I are planning a photo shoot. After lunch at a Mexican buffet, we spent the day hitting local junk shops and thrift stores looking for billowy dresses and costume jewelry. Then we've got a girl coming, whom we will dress like a Barbie doll. (oy. what a wretched job I have) It should be fun. You should be seeing it all soon in an upcoming series.

EVENING BATH, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.












Jennifer asks me to say something about my colors, why I chose a certain palette and any challenges I had with composition or modeling.

About color: Some artists have difficulty seeing value. For some reason it came easily to me in the beginning. So I was able to play freely with color. I wondered what would happen if I put the most clashing colors I could find together, staying in the same value. So I'd put purple with sepia, or coral with turquoise, and I discovered a sort of visual buzz. Something seemed to vibrate. I loved it, and have kept doing it.

Not being very technical, I never got around to learning the color wheel. What I discovered many years later, was that I was simply going from one side of the color wheel to the other, putting warm on cool, cool on warm, then warm on cool, cool on warm... always looking for that buzz.

Composition tomorrow ( I need time to think about it).

A COLD DAY ON THE GULF OF MEXICO, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.












Sometimes I just can't think of a thing to write on this thing. So I hope you don't mind my just putting up pictures. Actually, I guess you'd prefer to only see pictures, and not have to listen to me. But occasionally you're going to just have to see what's on my mind. Fortunately, for you, this morning there's absolutely nothing on my mind but getting my first cup of coffee.

UNDRESSING AFTER A NIGHT OUT, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.

The Green Drape, sold

This is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord. Bidding starts at $100.













This is Lisa again, from the Seattle area. I have to specify Seattle, because I may be painting another Lisa, who is from my church, and may be mortified if people thought she posed like this for me. So maybe I'll call the other Lisa something else. Since I've probably already mortified her by mentioning her here. Sorry, Lisa, I'll refer to you as 'Mystery Woman".

I think I'd better go to sleep. It's late, and I'm beginning to embarrass myself.

Lisa, sold

"Lisa" is a 5x7 pastel on PastelBord.














This is Lisa, a model from my recent workshop in the Seattle area. You'll see a few more of her.

I've been busy lately, thus, the inactivity on this blog. Got to see the beautiful northwest Pacific again. I'm always astounded by the beauty of that place. And the gardens! I gape at the lush colorful gardens everywhere, and feel so deprived, coming from the southeast, where ours should be at least as beautiful. But they're not. Of course our drought, several years long, is mostly to blame. But the bugs down here! And the Pacific northwest has all that rain. I had no idea what a difference these things could make. Makes me want to pack my bags and head up there.

BASKING IN THE SUN