Oils and Pastels by Margaret Dyer

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! May it be a blessed and safe day for you all. Thank you for being a part of my life this past year.

Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the town. But they build their homes into the cliffs in parts of France. I'm dying to see the insides of them. A HOME IN THE CLIFFS is an 11x14 oil on canvas panel. Auction begins at $100. Go here to view auction  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232174412494?

Here's another piece up for auction. MODEL'S BREAK has been a piece I have loved, but for some reason just has never sold. The model was Rosza, a lovely lady who poses for my workshops in France every summer. And the title says exactly what she was doing--taking a break from posing for us. I am wanting to empty the studio to make room for a whole slew of work this coming year. I want this to go to a good home. MODEL'S BREAK is an 11x14 oil on canvas panel. Bidding begins at $100. You can follow this link to view the auction:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232174399791?

I spent a day painting with my friend Debra Nadelhoffer ( https://www.debranadelhoffer.com ) this past summer. Here's a quick oil sketch from her back yard. So nice to have artist friends. I think we are the most fortunate people of all. DEBRA'S GARDEN is a 9x12 oil on canvas panel, up for auction. Bidding begins at $100. Go here to view auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232166455853?

 "FIRST DAY AT THE BEACH" is 16X20 oil on board, up for auction. Bidding begins at $200. Go here to view the auction:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232164181786?  

  Here are a couple more up for auction: CAT IN A BAG is a 16x20 pastel. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/232163276013?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 FRIENDS is an 11x14 oil on board, bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/232163290102?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I participated in the Olmsted Plein Air Paint-out last spring. One day we painted at the Swan House, where the Smith Family Farm is tucked away in the woods, just off West Paces Ferry Road. A bit of country right in the heart of Buckhead. "BREAKFAST AT THE SMITH FAMILY FARM" is an unframed 11X14 oil on canvas panel.  It is up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161937522?

I taught in Florence, Italy a couple of summers ago. Our path to the studio was blocked one morning, forcing us to take a detour. ROADBLOCK IN FLORENCE is a 12x16 pastel on Pastelbord. It's available at auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161925604?

"Leonardo and the Blue Bag" is an unframed 16x20 pastel on Pastelbord.  It is up for auction on ebay. Bidding begins at $150. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/232161920652?

There is still room in my figurative pastel workshop at the Scottsdale Artists School, January 6-8, 2017, Scottsdale AZ. We need a few more people to make the class happen. If you're thinking of joining us, contact the SAS this week!   http://scottsdaleartschool.org/instructor/margaret-dyer/

...and I am glad to see it go. My ex husband of 22 years was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on January 29. He was gone 5 weeks later. But those 5 weeks were unspeakable (the reason I have not written in my blog this year), as I watched him die, and watched my daughters nurse their daddy at home and lose him in such a wretched way. There has seemed to be a pointlessness about things ever since; I can only imagine what his family and my daughters are experiencing. I'm writing now because of a conversation with my oldest daughter this afternoon; she brought up my blog because she wanted to show one of her teachers (Anna's going to nursing school in Savannah) my work, and the possible bargains that can usually be had this time of year as I try to empty my studio to make room for the upcoming year's work, and get through Christmas without using the charge cards. So I figure it's good motivation to write again. I hope there are still people out there who want to read...

Join me for 3 intense days of drawing live models, exploring the brilliant pastel medium. Even beginners will feel comfortable with my simple step-by-step method. http://scottsdaleartschool.org/course/the-figure-in-pastels-3 www.margaretdyer.com

I have two remaining workshops in 2016: Ann Arbor and Raleigh, NC. If you're in either area, there is still room for you. We will be working on both the figure and urban landscapes. In Ann Arbor you are welcome to paint in oils. Pastels only in Raleigh.

This coming Friday evening I will be at River Gallery in Chattanooga for the opening reception of a group “Sketch Show.” On Saturday afternoon I will be giving a demonstration at the gallery of my pastel drawing. You are all invited to both. “Summer Sketch Show” at River Gallery, August 1-31, 2016 Reception Friday, August 5, 6:30-8:00 Margaret Dyer pastel demonstration, Saturday, August 6, 1:00-3:00 River Gallery, 400 East Second Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403 (423) 265-5033 ext. 5 art@river-gallery.com, http://river-gallery.com/index.php

If you live in or are near north Michigan this weekend, I will be teaching a 3 day workshop in pastels. There's still room. We'd love to have you join us. Click here for info:  https://apm.activecommunities.com/crookedtreearts/Activity_Search/b-margaret-dyer-the-figure-in-pastels/421

​This was executed in my class with Jim Richards. I've been taking from him for almost a year, once a week for, 3 times a month, 8 hours each day. He demonstrates on my canvas when I'm in trouble. As time goes by, he works on my pieces less and less. But he worked quite a bit on this one, and I have to say that I don't recognize any of my own brushstrokes or colors in this piece. But it's good to know that I am beginning to see the difference. But it's taking up room on my floor.  I will note on the back of the painting that both Jim and I had our hands in this.  MARKET SCENE, FRANCE, is a 9x12 oil on board and is available for auction on DailyPaintworks. Bidding begins at $200.  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/498000

Rosa has posed for my workshop in France for 4 years. A lovely artist from Hungary, she lives and teaches art in Paris. One day she made a typical Hungarian dish for us for dinner. Model's break is a 9x12 oil sketch on board, available at auction on DailyPaintworks. You can go here to view the auction: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/497999 

And another oil sketch from Jim Richards' class, up for auction on Daily Paintworks:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/496982

This is from the Acadamia in Florence, Italy. We had a brilliant guide who rushed us through the museum. Oh, to have that knowledge inside me. I don't seem to be able to retain all the info. But I do retain the energy of an artist's brushstrokes. So sad to be compelled to leave a room before I've had time to put my nose to the painting to figure out what size brush the artist used, what pigments. On to the next room... This is a 9x12 oil on board, up for auction on DailyPaintworks. Bidding begins Monday, January 25, at $200. Go here to watch... http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/497995

Here's another oil painting from my class with Jim Richards. It's an 11x14 oil on board. Click here to go to Daily Paintworks if you're interested: http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/496981

I participated in a plein air event in Wexford, Ireland a few years ago. I had no idea what a plein air event was; I was out of my league. It rained nonstop, and I was doing pastels at the time. Not a good mixture, pastels and rain. Needless to say, it was a very difficult time for me. This oil painting I did from a photo I took on the trip one day when the sun made its brief appearance. I hope to go back to the annual plein air event in Wexford one day, now that I know better what I’m doing. This is an 11x14 oil on board, up for auction or sale on DailyPaintworks. Bidding begins at $200 or you can purchase it for $400 outright. You can watch the auction or purchase this painting by going here:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/497094

I have been taking painting classes from Jim Richards for quite a few months now, and the work from class has been accumulating. Since I don't have a working studio at the moment (my garage is in transition and I'm holed up in my mudroom with canvases and boards lining the walls), I need to make room for more. So for the next few weeks I'm putting up for sale my class work (much of which Jim has actually helped me with). Here's one I like. This one is a 12x16 oil on board, price begins at $200 on DailyPaintworks.com. I think it's a sweet little piece. Click here to go to site:  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/496936

If you are playing with the idea of joining me in France this year, now might be a good time to get those airplane tickets. I'm seeing prices around $1,000.00 from Atlanta. That's pretty incredible. Here's a sampling of what you'll be doing. It's two weeks of magic and easy as pie. Everything is taken care of for you.  Here's the link if you want more info:  http://www.labonneetoile.com/workshops/Dyer2016.pdf