Oils and Pastels by Margaret Dyer

Here's a conversation that happened yesterday between my 8 year old grandson and me... Me : Victor, do you want to put that gingerbread train together today (I had purchased one the day before from the dramatically reduced Christmas items table at Walgreens)? Victor : (Thinking about his XBox 360 alien game) Naw. Let's just do it next Christmas...if you're still around then. Me : If I'm still around? Victor : Yeah, you might be dead or something. Me : You might be dead or something. Victor : Chances are more likely you might. Me : Well you never know. It could happen anytime to anybody. Victor : (Mulling it over) Let's do it next year. Don't exactly know why, but it struck me as very funny. I don't think the gingerbread will last that long. And all that has nothing to do with the picture above. I am, however, grateful to still be here. "White Cat with Purple and Orange" is a 10x10 pastel up for auction. Click on title above to link ...

Pepper recognizes the sounds of every engine, every automatic lock, every horn in the apartment parking lot. She's heard Anna's car and is waiting for Anna to get out of her car. In a moment Pepper will be frantically dancing around the room, barking with joy and anticipation...Anna will walk in the door. "Waiting" is an unframed 10x10 pastel on board, auction bidding begins at $150. Click on headline above to be linked to auction.

Hellllllllllllllp. They're everywhere! My daughter's two cats have been staying with me. They're on the refrigerator, in the cabinets, in the grocery bags, in the tub, up on closet shelves, in the bookshelves, everywhere. But they make great subject matter. Despite the omnipresent cat hair. "Cat in a Bag" is up for auction, with bidding beginning at $150. Just click on the headline above to be linked to the auction.

What time is it? Time to secure your place in my annual workshop in France: Dates of workshop : June 16-30, 2013 Where : La Bonne Etoile, a charming 250 year old farm house in the small village of Fontaine-Fourches, France, about an hour and a half southeast of Paris. What we'll be doing : With a maximum number of 8 students in the class, we'll work in the studio with a model in a Dega-esque boudoir scene; we'll take excursions to local markets, Paris and the medieval cities Provins, Sens, Nogent sur Seine, Troyes and Fontainebleau; back in the studio we'll work from our travel photos; we'll wine and dine together, sitting up late in the evenings making lifelong friends. You'll return home with fond memories and a new body of finished gorgeous pastels, ready for framing. It's a magical time you'll never forget. Click on the title above to see the descriptive flyer for the class. Or go to my blog archives (June 2010, 2011, 2012) to see photos...

"Man's Best Friend" is a 10x10 pastel on board, unframed, up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins (and may end) at $150. Click on title above to be linked to ebay auction site or go to http://www.ebay.com/itm/230911229261?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649.

We're 11 days into 2013 and I've yet to wish you all a Happy New Year. Happy New Year everyone. I hope it's a happy and healthy one for you all. I'm feeling optimistic, despite the fact that I began the year with the flu. I'm ready to start anew, feeling optimistic. "A New Grocery Bag" is a 10x10 pastel on board, unframed, up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins (and may end) at $150. Click on title above to be linked to ebay auction site.