Oils and Pastels by Margaret Dyer

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.

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 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 t...

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.

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.