Contemporary Abstract Pastels

Turquoise Landscape Abstraction

2012-01-27T17:17:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Landscape
6x12
pastel on Wallis

This is another "reclaimed" pastel that originally had a watercolor underpainting in turquoise. I have found that watercolor underpaintings do not work for me. They are too delicate and light. Maybe it is the way they are put down on the sanded paper. I actually worked in watercolors for a few years. I created abstract grids of flowers and they turned out pretty well. It just wasn't my medium. I do enjoy experimenting with it from time to time though. I enjoy experimenting with different mediums. I might do some painting again when I have time.

Aura

2012-01-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

Aura
30x30
pastel on Stonehenge paper with ground

This is my second post with this image. I photographed this pastel again in better light. I always photograph my work on my front porch around 10:00 a.m as I find the sun is usually very nice then. It was really overcast today for my first shoot. This image is much closer to what the actual work looks like. I had been thinking of this image for at least a week and was anxious to get it down on paper. I have a few more in mind but will wait til I have more time. I enjoyed working this large but am not sure where I am going to store this as it is larger than my flat file. I will probably cover with glassene and store upright between some board. Inspiration for this seems to be walking, looking through trees at the winter light. Another artist mentioned coating with resin which I have never done. Maybe I will experiment with this to see how this might look. I won't experiment on this one though. I really don't want to flatten the pastel with "goop" as I think it would ruin the look. If I exhibit this it will probably be in a large silver frame.

Am I growing?

2012-01-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Esprit
6x12
pastel on Wallis
275.00 unframed

Sometimes I feel I go this direction and that direction, wondering if I have a "style". The thing I feel is most important is growth. Am I growing and developing? I don't want to be stagnant at all. I want to see improvement as I look back over my work. I have a much clearer idea of where I'm going right now. I'm not searching and fumbling all over the place. Well sometimes I do if I've been under some stress and thinking too much. I have two definite themes running right now. I have this theme of dividing the paper into quarters and some comes out as landscape inspired. Some is just plain abstract compositions. I know that I pick up many of the same colors no matter what I seem to be working on. I also have this theme of variations in light that I play with when I am using the textured ground on paper. I really enjoy those also. I tend to remember colors I have seen on walks and utilize those in the textural pastels. I am creating giclees with those pastels and have them for sale on Artful Home. I was thrilled yesterday to find that someone had purchased one. My first sale on Artful Home and my first of a print. I hope there are more to come.

Am I going forward, growing, trying new things, improving and reaching?

Vivid Landscape

2012-01-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

Vivid Landscape
6x12
pastel on Wallis paper
275.00 unframed

Here is another pastel on some salvaged paper. I've also had some odds and ends of nupastels around and have not used them until the last two days. Now I want some more. It makes things so much easier. I like to see lines with some movement showing through my work and the nupastels make that so much easier. I've enjoyed doing these and am taking previously completed pastels that just didn't work and cutting them up to experiment with color. I also like the long format and plan to frame these in the black plein air frames with the gold interior strip.

Made my first sale at Artful Home today. I have been on this site for over a year. An artist asked me about it yesterday and I said that I had not had any sales and now today I have my first. Strange. I am making giclees of the textural abstracts I have done on the Stonehenge paper with ground. I thought they would make very nice prints and I'm happy that someone else thought so also.

I have committed myself to attending a pastel workshop at the end of March. I will be attending a workshop in Illinois by a PSA member. Looking forward to it allot. I don't want to say much about it at this point but will write about it when it is finished. I hope to learn some new ways of looking at things and using the materials. I also hope to learn about workshop structure and process. I'll be taking a lot in.

Composition and Abstraction

2012-01-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Land
6x12
pastel on Wallis
275.00 unframed

Sometimes I can try and try and then I salvage a piece of used paper and experiment and get what I am after. It is so hard to plan something successful. It just happens at times and can be looked at as a gift. That is how I feel about this small pastel. It has many of the elements I would like to see in larger pieces. Of course, I will strive to do this and not know if I can get there but just keep trying.

This week I did come to realize something about composition and what appeals to me about my own work. What pieces I feel are successful and what ones are not. I seem to gravitate to a composition that is divided into quarters. Most all works that I would describe as my best nearly all have this type of composition or have variations of it. I don't know why and it is not something I have consciously decided to do. But now that I have realized this I will bring this into focus more in my planning. I used to do small pastels, cut them into squares and then rearrange them into a grid of four pieces. I also used to paint with watercolors and divide the paper into a grid. It is possible that this grid is a reoccurring theme for me. It does provide some structure to an abstract composition.

Ready for Chicago

2012-01-07T06:53:00.000-08:00

Illusion framed

This photo is a little dark and not an exact color match for the original. I decided to try something different in framing my textural pastels. This is the one that is going off to the Joffrey Ballet's Pointe of Departure exhibit. I deliver next weekend to Chicago. I used some Lascaux fixative on this before framing and it seemed to work well with little color change. I used spacers on the plexiglass and cleaned the plexi with some static reducer plexi cleaner and then I put the work in a contemporary silver wood frame. I like the look. I was back and forth about whether to use a mat with these works. I really like how this looks and creates a nice clean and modern look. It would be great if this piece sells at the exhibit!

Working out the "kinks".

2011-12-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Untitled textural pastel

Still working out the "kinks". Taking notes on process and keeping a notebook in my studio. Liking this one better. Going to forgo the expensive paper for awhile and just play. Thinking of trying a self portrait again. Haven't done one for years. I used to do one at least every year and have quite a collection. It might be good to go back to representational from time to time to find that foundation again. I believe abstraction has its roots in representational. It is just another way of looking for me. I could always draw representationally but it was never really expressive enough for me. That is why I left it behind.

Change Directions and Try Something Else

2011-12-29T13:18:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to work my way through that "stuck" feeling the last two days. I always know it will not last but it is hard to knock it sometimes. I've had to tell myself that "this will pass", "just keep doing and it will work itself out", "try something else", "change directions", etc. So, instead of ruining expensive sanded paper I prepared some paper with ground. Because this is cheap to work on it really frees me up much more. I took a small landscape study that I had done previously and used it as a guide for this one. I really do enjoy the textures of the ground. It creates a nice linear look and this can be developed into the piece. So instead of struggling, I just enjoyed myself - finally.

I am venturing into being a workshop leader. I am looking forward to that and am working on preparing for upcoming workshops next year. But now I am also considering taking a workshop from someone myself. It has been 5 years since I attended Split Rock in Minneapolis. That was such a turning point for me. I have taught myself all I know about pastel. I would really like to see someone else work, see their process and learn from them. I have a couple of people in mind and hope to connect this next year. I'm looking forward to the upcoming year.

Looking Beyond Present Circumstances

2011-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

Thinking of Mountains
10x10
pastel on Uart paper
$375.00 (unframed)

Thoughts of mountains today. Needing to center myself as I have had an "emotional hangover" of sorts from the past week. Pondering possibilities again. Reaching out into the world from where I am to see where I might venture. Looking beyond present circumstances.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year

2011-12-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

Untitled Abstract Landscape
7x5

I want to sincerely thank all of you that I have met on my blog. Thank you for "following" me. Thank you for commenting on my posts. Thank you for emailing me and responding to emails I may have sent. My online friendships have come to mean a lot to me. I appreciate the support, interest, positive feedback and much more. I enjoy seeing your work, following your process and learning from you. I may have learned more from reading and following other's blogs and facebook posts than some other methods of learning. Pastel artists have so many exciting methods.

This week has been a "challenging". Again, I ponder the year ahead. Is this the time to make that "leap of faith". I have three pastel workshops scheduled for 2012. Do I schedule more? Should I write a book about the process of creating abstract pastels? I have many questions and many things pulling me in a new direction in my life. I continue to - do the work and leave the results to my Higher Power. Something I learned long ago in another life change. So, this week the necessity of another life change has become more evident. But, the road ahead is not clear. Trust.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope to meet many of you in the coming year.

Don't Drive and Draw

2011-12-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

Small Landscape Study
4x6

Decided to try taking some pastels for a drive today. I am not a plein air artist. But, I have been looking at the landscape and imagining some abstractions and wanted to get some direct inspiration. I have a lot to learn about taking my materials out into the world. Its cold outside in Iowa so I sat in the car. Got a lot of pastel dust on my lap. Great -just what I need- a car full of pastel dust! So I spent more time just putting charcoal down and using the alcohol wash to brush things around. Played with some of them when I got back home. The fumes from the rubbing alcohol are a little more intense in a car also. So, what did I learn from this small adventure? I am probably only going to do some drawing with the charcoal from now on and maybe write some notes about colors. Think I'll leave the pastels home and try it again when it gets warmer outside.

Threshold and music by Robert Plant

2011-12-11T13:54:00.001-08:00

Threshold
pastel on Stonehenge with ground
20x30

I completed this pastel today. I really enjoy doing these textural pieces. I may use this one for the Pointe of Departure exhibit by the Joffrey Ballet. I will continue working in this size and see if I come up with another that I like better. I tried using music to one of their ballets my a composer Max Richter. I like the music but eventually went back to Robert Plant and Led Zepplin. I guess that music just does more for my psyche than contemporary classical. Now I need to figure out the framing part of the equation. Should I mat or not mat? I keep thinking of a wide silver frame for these but should it be metal or wood? Glass or plexiglass? Glass against the piece or use of spacers? So many considerations.

Joffrey Ballet and IAPS

2011-12-10T06:15:00.001-08:00

Mosaic
24x18
pastel on Wallis

This pastel was accepted into the International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show. I am not sure when the show will be online yet. I was very happy to receive notification that it was accepted. You never know what a juror will decide. I have become much more discerning about what types of juried shows that I enter. They are expensive to enter so I really have to be sure before entering that my art would be a good fit for the show.

I did submit my work for consideration for a show in Chicago by the Joffrey Ballet. I am very happy to have been accepted into this show. Pointe of Departure is a fundraiser for the ballet but 40% of the sales go back to the artist. It is going to be held at VenueSix 10 on Michigan Avenue. I don't know if artists attend the event but I look forward to dropping my pastel off at the Joffrey Tower in downtown Chicago. I am going to create a pastel inspired by the music of one of their contemporary ballets. The music is by composer Max Richter and is titled Infra. I'm looking forward to working with this music. Music is always a big inspiration to me when I work and I have really never listened to contemporary classical music. I am going to work on a larger piece and frame it in a contemporary silver metal frame.

Workshops are also an interesting development. I am close to scheduling the date for the Ontario workshop. I do know it will be the last week in July but not sure what day yet. My husband will have a family reunion in the same town of Cambridge. It really is a very nice town and I am really looking forward to getting back to Canada and putting on a one day workshop.

Autumn Abstraction

2011-12-02T05:05:00.001-08:00

Autumn Abstraction
10x10
pastel on uart

I like the size of this pastel. The only draw back to changing sizes is that I cannot reuse my existing frames. I am also growing to like uart paper more and more. It doesn't use up pastels as much as other papers and it lays flat when I glue it to boards. I plan on doing a horizontal piece soon. I"m thinking I will drive to Galena and sit at this overlook and do some sketching for some pastels. I would like a long narrow pastel of an abstracted landscape.

I have published three books by using Blurb. I have published a portfolio, a journal and a day planner with my artwork. I am thinking of writing a more thorough book on creating abstractions with pastel and taking those to workshops I will be doing next year. I am thrilled that I have sold some books already and that people want books with my artwork. I am not making much money on these but I don't really care. That is not the reason that I am doing it.

I will not be able to attend the opening at Abend Gallery in Denver today. I wish that I could as I would love to meet the other artists in the Miniature Show and see Colorado again. Find myself listening to lots of John Denver lately and reflecting back to my trip to Denver and Evergreen in August. I love those Rocky Mountains!

Seeing Colors That Are Not There

2011-11-27T07:41:00.001-08:00

Autumn Landscape

Color Study with pink

I am much more inspired by a fall and winter landscape than I am a spring and summer. I can use my imagination much more by looking at a monochromatic landscape. I drove to Cedar Rapids this week to change out some art at Cornerhouse Gallery. As I drove I looked at the fall landscape and imagined different colors. Most colors that I saw were ochres, browns, blacks, umbers and siennas. As I looked I thought about adding pink or purple in certain spots on the horizon or the field. I have a couple more that I want to work on today with the addition of yellow greens. This fall and winter I will probably spend some time with landscape ideas. I have put a small sketch book and some charcoal in my car just in case I need to pull over on the side of the road and put some ideas down on paper. I don't want to drive with my cell phone in one hand and my sketch book in the other!

Falling (for pastels)

2011-11-12T13:56:00.001-08:00

Falling
22X15
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

This is another in my series that I need to find a name for. I am enjoying them so much. Love the interaction of color with the underlying ground and its texture. Toyed with the idea of trying to find another way to do these and frame them without glass. Could I do the same thing on wood and then spray with a matt varnish of some kind. This was a result of getting the same comment from some gallery contacts - nice but we don't take anything under glass. I have dropped this idea because I think this would just ruin the whole feel of pastel. Pastels are somewhat more fragile than paintings but they are so much more luxurious in my opinion. Pastels can be so many things. They have such a vibrancy compared to paint and they are alive. I am a pastel artist and am committed to working with this media. I have tried many different mediums over the years and nothing gives me the energy that working with pastels does.

Now I am pondering how to frame this new series. I'm considering a plein air silver frame with no mat. I think silver would have a very modern feel to it.

Fall Impressions

2011-11-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

These small pastels are quick impressions of a day out golfing with my husband. It was so windy but I enjoyed looking at the colors of the fall landscape. I really like the dull browns, greys, ochres and blacks mixed with the bright greens, yellows and reds of the turning leaves. I actually spent more time looking than I did concentrating on golf today. Winter will set in soon and that is fine with me. I enjoy the solitude and the pace of winter although the lack of sunlight really has an impact on me. I made a reservation for a summer vacation to the outskirts of Santa Fe this year. We will be going to Abiqui and staying in a remote setting but a wonderful casita. I will be purchasing a travel box for my pastels so that I can take them along. I have never worked in plein air but it will be interesting to try. I would like to get the immediate impression down and see how that influences me.

Gerhard Richter and New Blog Format

2011-11-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed finding and watching this video of the artist creating.

I've been trying out the new blogger dynamic format and deciding whether to keep it or not. There are things that I like about it and things that I don't. I do like this magazine format for the large images and the fact that it lists so many posts. This way readers do not have to look very hard for past posts. It allows for more readership of posts. I don't like that other blogs I follow are not listed. I receive followers and readers from other blogs. And I am sure the reverse is true. Other blogs are accessed by seeing them listed on blogs. I hope they can tweek this.

So I will probably be going back and forth from the old format to this for awhile til I decide which to keep. If you have an opinion please let me know.

Illusive

2011-10-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Illusive
20x30
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

I am still not quite finished with this one. Going to add some more green touches in spots and then it is finished. I've been working on workshop outlines and getting organized. Going in this direction will be a challenge but I think one that will also be energizing. I'm looking forward to it. I've been sending out a lot of gallery inquiries lately. I'm finding many that do not take any works on paper - of any sort. Some want abstracts to have a representational element or foundation. I certainly have made things challenging for myself. Abstract pastels! Once the leaves are off the trees I will go back to adding some abstracted river elements. I may use this current technique to explore an abstracted river.

Transition #2

2011-10-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Transition #2
22x15
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

Another one in my series of pastel on paper with the Golden ground. I will be ready to delve into a larger piece one of these days. I'm enjoying this whole process. With each one I get a new idea of where to go. I see them as large color studies. I am thinking of doing some paintings soon also and treating the surface with some texture. I love the experimental aspect of the texture as it adds a whole new element to the work.

Packing my boxes and sending my minis off to Abend Gallery in Denver.

Abend Miniature Show

2011-10-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

Untitled Abstraction
6x6

I've been trying to decide which of my small pieces that I will send to Abend Gallery for the upcoming Miniature Show. I sometimes think doing these small ones are harder than the larger pieces. There is not much room to move and I really prefer large sweeps of color and lines. The small pastels give me the ability to work out some color and composition for larger ones to complete later. I am changing my mind every thirty minutes. I am very happy to be asked to contribute to the upcoming show.

Illusion

2011-10-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Illusion
22x15
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

I know that I keep branching off into new directions. I think what is happening is I'm starting a new series. I'n going to delve into this way of working for awhile because I love seeing what happens. It is unpredictable to some extent. I'm just enjoying this textural element to the ground. This should keep me busy through the winter.

Spectrum

2011-10-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Spectrum
22x15
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

Here is another experiment that I completed today. It may be a little overworked but I wanted to try some colors that I don't often use. I am thinking about dark to light and color changes. Ordering a bigger jar of ground this week and more paper. I'm on a "roll" with this right now.

Transitions

2011-10-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Transition
22x15
pastel on Stonehenge with ground

I'm really enjoying experimenting with the Golden ground. I have left brushmarks on the paper intentionally to create some linear texture. I mixed the ground with some red orange acrylic paints as I really like that color showing through under the pastels. This is also a much more inexpensive surface to work on and this creates some more freedom for me. I enjoy being able to make a broad sweep of the pastel and hitting the top of the texture. I think I'm going to stay with this process for awhile to see where it leads. May experiment with some heavier paper.

I'm a Morning Person

2011-10-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Yellow Abstraction
15x11
pastel on paper with ground

I hardly ever work on my pastels after 3:00 in the afternoon. I am really a morning person. I have a much clearer and focused mind. But, when I am busy all day it is hard to fit that morning time in. Today I decided to work on this piece very quickly after 4:00. I was tired from my day but just had to put pastel to paper. I'm liking how it turned out. Maybe being tired and not thinking does work. I think I will try this some more. I do plan on creating more color studies like this on coated paper. I feel a sense of abandon because I'm not wasting expensive paper. It is all a mental trick sometimes. How can I put myself in a state of mind where I am not self conscious and thinking too much about what I am doing. Thinking too much can cause lots of problems! (in more ways than one)

And Again

2011-10-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Another experiment on paper with Golden pastel ground. This time I added some orange acrylic to the ground and applied to the paper. I laid down some charcoal and washed with alcohol again. Did not use enough black so my values were not strong enough. I do like the underpainting showing through and I also like the texture lines that the brush leaves. I often use the texture to add lines and sections in my pieces. My next experiment will involve a darker ground.

Experimenting Again

2011-10-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am experimenting with Golden ground for pastels today. I dropped off some new work to Iowa Artisans Gallery in Iowa City yesterday and while there visited Blick's for some pastels and other supplies. I have wanted to experiment with pastel grounds on paper. I brushed some ground on a heavy weight paper that I had. Then I took my charcoal made some wide swaths across the paper and some lines and diluted that with some alcohol. After it dried I layered on the pastels. I enjoyed this. Sometimes I just want to experiment without the concern that I will "waste" an expensive piece of paper. I enjoyed this process and have some other experiments I will try tomorrow. I want to add color to the ground and also lay color down first before I put the ground on and see how that will work. It is fun to discover a new way of working. It always leads off to a new or better direction.

"Feel the fear and do it anyway" Part 2 or 200?

2011-09-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

Untitled and Unfinished
12x12

I know that this one is not finished because as I loaded it in the computer and looked at it I can see some areas that need tweaking. One side needs to be lighter and one needs a little more brown and then maybe some blue lines, etc. As I was working on this one I was thinking to myself "Can I work in front of people and do a demonstration?" I will have to learn to get comfortable with this. If anyone else has had this same issue please let me know. Right now I have some "stage fright". But I have also operated with a saying for the last thirty plus years "feel the fear and do it anyway". In my twenties fear kept me from many things. I definitely had a fear of success back then and just when things may have been going my way I would step in and sabotage myself. A real pattern I have had to learn to work against later in life. Now, I'm off to do some workshops and try to show others what I have learned. One of the issues is working in front of others. I cannot predict when something will turn out and when it won't. Sometimes it depends on so many factors such as stress level, trying too hard, did I sleep well, what did I eat, or just - are the planets in alignment? Who knows? Sometimes things turn out and sometimes they don't. Usually at the beginning I don't know but about half way through my energy will kick in and I know I am getting what I am after. And then there are others things I do that are part of my process that I'm not sure I can do in front of others, like I often sing to the music I'm listening to and dance in between strokes of pastel, photograph the work, turn it all around, haul it into the bedroom and look at it in the mirror, sit with it for several hours and ponder what needs to be done.

Anyway, I am scheduled to do a workshop in Atlanta next November. Last night I was contacted by a pastel artist to be a presenter at a conference. The conference is a "big deal" and I don't want to go into it until it is a sure thing. But, to be asked by her was a real honor.

New Horizon

2011-09-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

New Horizon
18x24
pastel on Wallis

I completed this painting yesterday. This was another "redo" as my first effort fell totally flat. I took a sponge brush moistened with water and took off all the pastel down to the underpainting. Did a little more work on the underpainting with compressed charcoal lines, pastel wash with alcohol. I like the alcohol as an underpainting because I don't need to wait long for it to dry. I"m pretty impatient and want to get to things right away. I'm using water less and less because of the buckling. This painting is not linear enough for me but I do like the red horizon line near the top. None the less, it felt good to put on my head phones and get lost in this for awhile. Today I need to clean my studio!

The Adventure Continues

2011-09-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

September Color Study
6x6

I enjoy doing these small color studies. If I haven't worked for a few days doing these small pieces helps get me in "the flow" again. Helps me play with color and to visualize larger pieces.

The Pastel Invitational at Abend Gallery in Denver ends this next Friday. They will keep my work for a few months at the gallery after the exhibit ends. I was happy to learn this as I would much rather have them in Denver, Colorado in a gallery than in Clinton, Iowa propped up against my wall. They were my best pieces and I was so happy all ended up there in one piece. The shipping experience was a first for me.

I am developing workshops now. I will be teaching two in the future. The first will be a four hour workshop at the Figge Art Museum. It will be a basic workshop on exploring abstraction with pastel. The second workshop will be in Atlanta, Georgia at the Art School in Sandy Springs. That one will be a two day workshop to be held November 10 and 11, 2012. I'm looking forward to both of these experiences. The adventure continues.

Mosaic

2011-09-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

Mosaic
24x18 inches
pastel on Wallis
Stewart

Parts of this one came easier than others. Struggled with the lower right side and I think the reason is that I did not take enough time with the underpainting. I needed to darken the underpainting but was too anxious to start putting on the pastels. Sometimes I just have to feel those pastels in my hands and going on the paper. I've been receiving some good feedback for my questions about a pastel workshop. I will be providing some "exploratory" workshops at the Figge Art Museum where I plan to try some of my ideas. I've been receiving ideas from connections on facebook, wet canvas and linked in.

Right now I'm partial to red and green.

Abstract Pastel Workshop

2011-09-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Fluctuation
12x18 pastel

I'm considering giving workshops on creating abstract pastels. Right now I'm in the process of gathering information from many of my social network sites. I'm also brainstorming ideas for such a workshop. I have developed my own way or working and have come to abstraction through a long and sometimes frustrating process. Abstraction was born from frustration and feeling stuck.

Things I've thought about include:

why abstraction?

intuitive drawing techniques

abstraction as an internal process

journaling

analogues

expressive line making

influence of music

movement

utilizing view finders

photographs as source imagery

simplification

finding your own voice

focus and point of emphasis

color theory

value

balance

space

texture

line

composition

different methods and materials for under painting

pastel papers and supports

abstract artists

resources for independent study and exploration

Do you have any ideas for me?

Pictures from an Exhibition

2011-09-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Me in front of Radiant Vista and Memory of Mountains

Looking at pastels by Bruce Gomez

Sandra Burshell's work

Lisa Hale and myself in front of my pastel Passage

Abend Gallery

These are just a few photos(taken with my phone) of the opening reception for the Pastel Invitational at Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado last week. I had a wonderful time, enjoyed meeting other artists and those viewing the exhibit. I was really happy to meet one of my Facebook friends, Lisa Hale. Lisa came by my work on Facebook, became a "fan" and makes comments on my work when I post. That is what makes being on the Internet so fascinating for me and rewarding. It is fun to actually meet people that I have communicated with online. Spent some time talking to Sandra Burshell, Bruce Gomez, Lorenzo Chavez, John Roush and Terri Lombardi. I received so much positive feedback. I just soaked it in. My stay in Evergreen during the weekend was also a wonderful break from the Midwest.

What did I learn and take away from this experience? That I need to do this more. I need to get my work out into the world and get myself out there also. It can become so easy to "hide" in your own little part of the world. Getting out of my comfort zone is energizing. I'm ready for more.

Visualizing Possibilities

2011-08-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

I'm visualizing possibilities in my art and that also translates into life as they are inseparable. I've been sketching out some compositions for larger pieces at least 24x36 and don't know when I will tackle them yet. Until then I will play and experiment with some color combinations. Right now greens appeal to me and I don't know why. I think they are soothing and I may need that right now. Different moods and different times of the year make me gravitate towards different color choices.

I was just contacted by one of the artists who will also be showing at Abend and will be attending the opening this next week. I am just amazed at how much the "social network" has changed my life!

Evite From Abend

2011-08-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share this evite sent to me by Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado. I will be off to Denver next week with my husband to attend the opening of the exhibit. Looking forward to it immensely. I'm also looking forward to spending some time in the Rockies. I'm so happy to be included in this!

A Whole New Look

2011-08-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is not the best photograph because it is evening in my studio. But, I have decided to try a few of my pastels in some different framing. I ordered some small plein air frames from a company called Whole Sale Frames in Connecticut. They came very quickly and had these cool corner protectors that I will save for future use when I transport work to shows or galleries. I'm very impressed with the quality of the frames. I have also used non glare glass for this piece. I'm excited about framing the rest. It looks like a real work of art!

Red, Green and You Tube Video

2011-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Spent some time putting another You Tube Video together today. Might be a little long so I appreciate anyone who views it. Thank you.

Also experimented with some red and green today. Decided to do a different color of underpainting. Used a very bright green pastel, with black charcoal and Gamsol. Did not like the green underpainting but played around with it until I got this image. I do like this red and green combination and think I will do a larger one next.

Voyager

2011-08-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

Voyager
12x12
pastel on sanded paper

Had this posted earlier but made some changes in the piece so it is reposted. Toned down some areas and lightened some up. It looked a little too bold. Used an underpainting of charcoal and pastel with Gamsol. I liked this as it did not warp the paper as water does. I've been experimenting with underpaintings more to try and find something that I like. I have tried many things.

I also ordered some new frames today as I found out yesterday that one of my galleries had sold three in two days and needed more work. I will be framing some newer pieces in gold plein air frames. I prefer white mats with black frames but some do not look good in this format. It will also save some money by framing them in this plein air frames. It'll be great to see how they look.

Cool Greens and Peachy Oranges and Southwest Art Magazine

2011-08-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

Untitled Abstract
12x9

I get a "thing" for certain colors and I just go with it for awhile. Don't know why but they just appeal to me. Right now it is a cool green mixed with turquoise and this peachy orange. I can't get enough right now. Will probably do a large one soon in a landscape composition.

Yesterday I bought the August issue of Southwest Art and saw that my name was included as one of the feature artists in the pastel invitational at Abend. Very cool. I was and am excited to see it in there.

I will list the artists that are included in the show. I am also excited to meet them and to see their work. Here they are: Deborah Bays, Dan Beck, Sandra Burshell, Lorenzo Chavez, Bill Cone, Doug Dawson, Margaret Dyer, Ernie Gallagos, Bruce Gomez, Albert Handell, Ramon Kelley, Terri Lombardi, Janet Manafo, Cuang Nguyen, Connie Renner, John Roush, Sally Strand, Ellizabeth Sandi, Liz Haywood Sullivan and myself.

Talking About Art

2011-08-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Small Color Study
6x6

Small Color Study
6x6 inches

I have two receptions coming up this month and I really need to get my thoughts straight before going. I am not nervous. I have talked about my art now several times but I really want to clarify my thoughts before going any further with this. I think I read in Alyson Stanfield's blog to have a prepared five minute talk about your work. So I plan to look at my artist statement and write some new thoughts down this next week. I may even record myself talking about my art to see how it sounds or at least say it out loud to myself. If I have things clear in my own mind it will help. I know that I need to think about some of the following. Why do I create abstract art? Why do I create abstracts with pastels? I do know that abstract is not as accessible to many viewers. It is not accessible to some of the people closest to me. I think at times it looks very easy and it may look to some like it is not as good as representational art. I know that many viewers need something "real" to hook onto when it comes to viewing art. They may not really understand the motivation behind making, doing or being creative. What do you get out of it? If you can draw realistically, why don't you do it? Isn't that the ultimate goal? So, I know I need to think some things through a little more before going off to both of the receptions that are coming up. When I get some of my thoughts clear I will post what I come up with in case anyone is interested.

Painting Experiments

2011-08-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

Continuance
30x30x2.5
acrylic on canvas

I plan to go back to my pastels now that I have used up the canvas I had sitting around the house. I have enjoyed this "foray" into painting and plan to continue. There are things that I want to be able to do with the painting. I want to be able to develop more of a surface texture in areas of the painting. I also want to have underlying lines show through and need to develop a more transparent layering in some areas. I plan to use my small pastel color studies for the basis of larger paintings. The size of this piece was a little too large at this point. But I do like the speed of acrylics over oils. I do need to keep the paint wet longer so that I can more easily blend areas to keep it from being too blotchy.

Friday I return to pastels.

Art Therapy

2011-08-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

I've been making a gigantic mess in my small studio. I've had this 30 inch square canvas for four years propped up against the wall and I just decided to - do something with it today. I don't have enough room for all my pastels and now these acrylics so I have stuff spread out all over the place. Now I've got paint on my clothes and I think I got some in my mouth. Got into a little bit of a frenzy. Its all experimental and therapy. I've discovered Pandora radio on my cell phone and have been listening to my favorite music - Afro Celt Soundsystem. With painting I figure if I don't like it I can gesso over it and try again. I need material that can be salvaged. And I also need to get myself in the frame of mind to not worry about outcomes.

Some "down time"

2011-08-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Passage 31x31 inches framed and on its way to Abend Gallery in Denver

Effervescent
18x14 inches
acrylic on canvas

I feel like I am on a vacation of sorts right now. I am so glad all my art business work happened during this past month. I was busy, busy. Now I have wrapped up different projects and don't have a large project to prepare for at this time. I am glad as I really need a break right now. I shipped my work to Abend. I did spend quite a lot of money on the shipping and preparation for this show. I know that I could have packed and shipped my work cheaper but instead I decided to purchase the airfloat boxes for all five pieces. Since this is the first time I have ever done this I just wanted to take every precaution possible to ensure they get there in one piece. The top photo shows my largest piece, Passage in the airfloat shipping box. I also purchased glass skin to put on all of the glass to hopefully protect the art from breakage. So, now I feel like I have another new art business job learned and maybe next time I can try to do this a little more inexpensive.

Right now I am mentally winding down. Part of that is playing with acrylics on canvas. I am enjoying the break and exploration into a new medium. It always takes so long to master a new medium. I need to learn how it works, how to manipulate it and how I want to manipulate it. I am still in the learning stage. But I am enjoying it and do think that some of what I am doing is starting to carry over into my pastel works. That is really what I am after. I want a back and forth movement between the two mediums. Anytime I allow myself that time to play and experiment is a value to me.

Ephemera or trying to wrangle the unwrangable

2011-07-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Ephemera

24x18

pastel on Wallis

This piece came about after trying to recreate and allow the same process to happen as my previous two pieces posted here. This is when art is like golf for me. The harder I try to more difficult it becomes. When I let go and try not to control the outcome I do better. But, putting time in is the most important thing because you just cannot tell when the "magic" will occur. Is it today? Will it be tomorrow? It is a hard thing to wrangle and control. Much harder for me with abstract. But, as I've posted before, I don't believe in wasted effort. There is always something to be gained. Some small part of an unsuccessful painting may get carried over to the next. There is a lot of rework on this one. A lot of taking away and scumbling over. The thing I like about this one is a lot of the scumbling and that in many areas there are several layers of pastel that create a glow. The thing I don't like is too much rework and not enough movement.

I"ve spent the last few days getting my Airfloat shipper boxes ready to ship my work to Abend in Denver. I've been obsessing over getting everything just right before I ship. This is another bend in the learning curve for me. I do hope that the next time I ship things will come much, much easier and with less stress for me. I'm assuming it will. I am not nearly as stressed over some things in my art career as I once was so this will also get added to the list of things I've had to learn. It will be a major relief to have these out of my home so that I can finally relax and then get the email from the gallery that they made it there in one piece!

Ephemera means things that are transitory and do not last longer than a day.

Chimera

2011-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Chimera
18x24 inches
soft pastel on Wallis
Stewart

I have done away with the landscape impressions for awhile and am strictly being guided by internal dialogue. I had decided that I was no longer fond of the Belgium Mist Wallis and had 5 sheets of it. So I just started experimenting with it and using a different type of under painting. Like the previous post this one started with charcoal and moved around and set down with a wide brush and alcohol. Then again, I took some compressed charcoal and followed the lines left by the brush marks. This one did not come as quickly as Cascade and I almost pitched it when I thought it just wasn't working. Then after I decided it was a lost cause I started making marks. One thing led to another and another. I continually turned the piece in all directions looking for "something". And this piece eventually emerged. Sometimes things come so quickly and sometimes not.

Someone on Facebook asked me to teach a workshop because she wants to learn abstraction. I'm not sure I could do that actually. This has taken me years and years of trial and error to find my way and at times I loose my way again. It is such a process and is such an internal process. I think all I could do is give someone some ideas and areas to explore and then send them on their way. For me I did not learn what I am doing from anyone. People have inspired me like OKeefe, Wolf Kahn, Franz Kline but no one showed me how to do what I am doing right now. Sometimes I just have to be happy with making a mess and thinking something might come of it someday.

A Sense of Movement with Line

2011-07-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Cascade
pastel on Wallis
18x24 inches
Debora L. Stewart

I don't have a title for this one yet. I need to look at it for awhile and think of what it reminds me of. The thoughts I had before starting this one was that I wanted the dark at the top and movement going down the paper. I took grey Wallis paper and put down some thick strokes of charcoal. Then I took some alcohol and a brush and went over the charcoal. The brush created some textures and I then went over some of these with compressed charcoal. The lines from the compressed charcoal still show through under the pastel. Many times I work from dark to light, but this time I put in the lighter areas first with a light grey and cream pastel and also went over it with the alcohol. I am satisfied with this one. It is beginning to give me some of the effects that I have wanted. I have wanted to bring back some line into my work. The lines showing through the pastel are something that I like. I think it gives it a sense of movement. (decided to title this one Cascade)

Finding Balance and Letting Things Go

2011-07-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have decided to manage my time more this year as far as my art and business of art is concerned. I also think I am settling into a way of working with my art and what needs to be done. I've tried so many different things to "get my work out there" the past five years. I only have so much time and at this stage of the game I just don't have the time to spin my wheels or do things that are time wasters. And some things have not been time wasters but have needed to be done by me to get to somewhere else. I have just picked up another gallery in my area and am happy with this. This gallery does framing (!) and also actively pursues commissions from businesses and corporations for their artists. I am also taking a break from applying for larger shows of my work for awhile. I have two more events in the area to prepare for and then I am going to focus on my work and getting my work to the galleries that carry my work. I felt manic this past year - at times. It has taken a toll on my health also and I need to get things back in balance. It is a challenge to have a full time "day job" and try to be a an artist on the weekends. I'm very fortunate that I have this extended time during the summer when I can regroup and gain some perspective on things. I know that "someday" I won't be working my other job but for right now I need to. So trying to find more of a healthy balance is very important and letting go of things that I don't need to spend time on is very important. My goal for this upcoming year is finding a healthier balance, creating mental space for myself and my art and not "striving" so hard. I have found that trying too hard to bring things about often results in just the opposite. It is when I relax and let things go that opportunities come from somewhere least expected.

Out of My Comfort Zone

2011-07-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Foray #2
24x24 inches
Acrylic on canvas

I've been enjoying my side trip with acrylics this week. I have one more canvas to experiment on. This one was very, very ugly until I decided to try to make it look "encaustic like" and scumble the acrylics over areas that I had painted. I have never really used acrylics very much but I do like their versatility and ease of use. Who knows, maybe this experiment will lead to some better pastels in the future. My experimentation with different papers lately has been a positive one also. I've experimented with some uart lately as Wallis has been unavailable in white for quite some time. Now I've ordered some more uart. It has a different quality but one that is workable. I don't think it eats up the pastels as much as Wallis and I think it may be easier to layer. It definitely does not buckle after using a wash of waterbased oils. This frustrates me with the Wallis as I always have to lay down a wash and then weight it down so it will dry flat. It is good to experiment and get out of your comfort zone.

A Brief Foray

2011-07-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Foray
20x20 inches
acrylic on canvas

I decided to spend some time experimenting and "playing" with acrylics today. I have not used acrylics for a long time but bought some materials last week. I enjoyed myself as this is not going out to a gallery but just staying at home. I will probably paint over some old canvas and do some more. I think it is good to work with different materials from time to time. It helps loosen me up, helps me see things differently. Working abstractly and intuitively is something that I love. My favorite type of drawing when I did a lot of figure drawing was gesture. With gesture drawing you have no time to think, you respond, you go from your instinct, become one with what you are drawing and their movement becomes your movement. Many of my gesture drawings were my best but then I would become so caught up in the detail of trying to accomplish a "finished drawing". Now I thrive on spontaneity and impulse.

Ancient Land

2011-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ancient Land
Debora L. Stewart
21x21 inches
pastel on uart paper

I'm continuing with my mountain theme for awhile. I started this one on uart with an under painting of pastel and alcohol. Did not work so I washed it off. I was not sure how the uart would hold up to the wash off but it did fine. I went back to the underpainting that I prefer which is waterbased oil. I really need that dark underpainting and I really like some of the texture that brush marks leave behind. On this one I also used some pastel pencils after the underpainting was dry and to finish it up. I'm liking the addition of these marks. I'm trying to start with more neutrals right now and waiting til the end to start adding the brighter colors.

Memory of Mountains

2011-06-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Memory of Mountains
21x21 inches
pastel on uart paper

I have some mountain imagery to get out of my system. When I was in New Mexico I spent a lot of time just looking at the mountains and knew I would somehow incorporate this into pastels when I came home. I love the mountains and always have. I do love Santa Fe. Don't know if I would want to live there but would love to take my pastels and spend some extended time there and just let the mystery of the land come through my work. That is my goal for this next year. Not sure when or how, but I need to do that. I would really love to stay in Abiquiu and do some pastels in Ghost Ranch. Great views. Not sure how Georgia OK ended up landing there but it is pretty amazing.

Fire in the Mountains

2011-06-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

Had to put pastel to paper today as I haven't for awhile now. I have thought a lot about the fires in New Mexico and Arizona. Anything seems to set them off right now. I visited a town called White Rock on my trip and did some sketching for ideas. Today I have read that the town is being evacuated because another fire is now heading towards Los Alamos and in this same area. It was very unreal to see the mountains on fire as I had never seen this before. I have always been drawn to mountains and their mystery.

A Fortuitous Meeting

2011-06-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

No art on this entry. I've been gone for a week to Santa Fe - my dream destination for my art. I finally got to meet Elizabeth Sandia. Elizabeth saw my work after an Internet search for abstract art/painting. She is an accomplished and committed painter and pastellist living in Santa Fe. Elizabeth has been featured in Pastel Journal in past issues. She shows her work in Denver, Basalt, Jackson Hole and Taos. I will say also that she is a kind and selfless person and that I very much enjoyed spending time with her. We walked Canyon Road and visited several galleries. She introduced me to some gallery directors and we had some enjoyable talks about the fire in the mountains, movies being shot in Santa Fe, the monsoon (that they are all hoping for) and art. Fun and relaxing talks. Later she came to pick my husband and myself up at our hotel and we visited her studio for awhile and then went on to dinner. At her studio my husband listened as she and I talked art - her art and mine. She showed me her framing, her current paintings and techniques and many examples of current and past works.

I put her photo on this blog because meeting her has been a real "gift". Its been an artistic and personal gift. It has been the result of having a website for the last five years and a blog for the past one and a half years. Images of my work came up after her search for abstract art/painting. She says that although she paints realistically she is drawn to abstraction personally. She printed off one of my paintings to remember my name. Then she recommended me to a gallery owner in Denver for an exhibit and then contacted me to see if I would be interested. From that "chance occurrence" I am now included in the upcoming pastel invitational at Abend.

This has been a very fortuitous meeting both personally and professionally.

Online Retrospective

2011-06-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting older works this month on my page titled "Online Retrospective". I've decided to clean house. I will not be throwing all of the works away but I need to make some decisions on which older pieces to keep. I"ve thought about putting some things on ebay, but I really don't need one more thing to do. So I think after keep some things for twenty to thirty years in a box or stored under the bed - it is time to go.

Luminous #2

2011-06-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

Luminous #2
Debora L. Stewart
14x14 inches
pastel on paper

Two entries in one day. You can tell I have a little more time than I usually do. I now enter that time of the summer where one creative thought CAN lead to another instead of waiting till weekends only. I've been waiting for this all year. Maintaining my other career and my art career has become quite a stretch as of late. I live for those uninterrupted periods of time. I would imagine my blog posting will increase in the near future, but probably not two a day, like today.

This is another on the very textured paper I have been experimenting with. It doesn't have the same painterly feel that the sanded paper has but the texture is interesting to play with. It has a whole different look. I think it lends itself well to abstracts. I think one would have great difficulty with trying to add any type of detail. It is very difficult to blend with fingers also. The pastel just hangs up on the texture and really doesn't blend. So if you like a real atmoshperic look, this paper is for you. When it is all used up I don't know if I will purchase anymore.

Opening Up to the Flow

2011-06-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

This is the first good health day I've had in the last two weeks. Anxiety over positive things and too much bad food at the end of the school year taking its toll on my stomach. And even though I received a lot of excellent information on shipping my work I decided yesterday that I would ship my five pastels to Abend Gallery and let them frame them all. When I figured out the cost, my time and anxiety level I decided it was worth it. I will purchase one of the shipper boxes in the future and ship one where ever it needs to be when the time comes. Creating the work is the easy part many times. It is the getting it "out there" that is the stressful part of the artist's job. And it is a job. So, today I am finally relaxed and able to concentrate on the creating part. I am back to experimenting and probably will just focus on this during the next week. Anything that I do within the next month does not have any place it needs to be right now. I don't have any major framing that I have to do. I need this in order to let things lead to where they need to go. And that just brings me to my present state of mind - today- allowing my art and my life to take me where I need to go. I'm not sure where that is right now but I feel like I'm in the middle of a process. I'm trying to open up to the "flow".

Experimenting with Uart Paper

2011-06-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Today I've been experimenting with some Uart paper. I've never used this before and thought I would try it out. I've become addicted to the Wallis paper. Its good to try others as they all have their own unique properties. Uart is easier to blend with your fingers and is much smoother than the Wallis. For these I tried using a pastel underpainting with alcohol. Someone on Wetcanvas suggested it. I like the color combinations on all three of these and may try a larger one with same colors. The Uart paper doesn't seem to eat up the pastels quite as much as the Wallis. Possibly a little easier to get some subtle color shifts. I like doing these small studies as it gets me warmed up for larger pieces when I'm not quite ready to tackle those yet. I like the possibilities in the top one and the colors and I can see trying a long abstracted landscape with that one. That might come next.

Departure #4

2011-05-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

Departure #4
pastel on paper

Another pastel on Richeson coated paper. I"m enjoying this side trip with this paper now. Much different than the Wallis as I've said before but enjoyable. It seems to work much quicker for me. I have enjoyed spreading the initial underpainting of pastel around with a wet sponge brush. That has been fun and I haven't had to wait for it to dry as long. It also dries flat after it has been wet which I do like. Who knows I may decide to create a series on this paper. I think I have four now.

Culmination

2011-05-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

Small Abstract Landscape

I have spent the day "recovering" from what I don't know. A long day yesterday I suppose and some not so good eating. I enjoyed the opening at Quad City Arts last night. I very much enjoyed talking with other artists and visitors about art, the weather, our lives and more. It was fun to share, get to know others better and to laugh. I really enjoyed seeing my work along side of the other artists' work. A culmination of sorts and a good feeling. But, today I'm worn out. I spent the day at my school and it is the end of the year. Came home and changed and went to the gallery for two hours. I talked to adults more than I usually do as I am used to carrying on a "conversation" with eleven or twelve year olds. I had hoped to get more accomplished today but reclining on the couch has been about it. I think that sometimes I try to juggle so many things and use every spare minute that it catches up to me. Culmination is the word of the day. Many things are coming to a culmination point right now.

Departure 3

2011-05-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

This was a very quick piece that I did on the Richeson paper. I still have several sheets left so I plan to experiment with all of them. I have tried a technique that I read about on a blog. I started with some random charcoal lines and then put violet pastel on top. I then took a wet sponge brush and washed the pastel around. I took what was left and used that as my point of departure. I love experimenting and think it is such an important part of the process for me. Today I have felt such a relief to have my work at the gallery for the upcoming show. Now I can work with a sense of abandon for awhile. I"ll be going to Santa Fe soon on vacation for the second time. I was so inspired last year that I am really looking forward to it this year. I"ll take a sketch book this time but only to do some pencil or charcoal sketches and idea generation. It will be wonderful to come back home and have a lot of creative energy again.

Transporting My Art

2011-05-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

I am still in the process of learning how to transport my art to exhibits. I get new ideas each time I do this and I learn from mistakes. Today I realized that I need to save all the large bags from art stores or buy some extra from them so I can put each painting in a bag when I transport. That will protect the frame from scratches. So, that is my next goal. I had to buy a car that would transport my work because I had a sedan when I started this. Now I have a Rav 4 which is much better, but if I go any larger my work will not fit in this car either. And I do tend to go larger and larger. I bought a strap at Home Depot to hold everything in place while driving. Before this my husband had to hold out his hand at stop signs. This was not working as he hurt his arm. Now I also save all flat pieces of cardboard and use these to sandwich between pieces to protect. And I also have been wrapping the frames and especially the corners (til I buy some of those corner protectors). That is also on my list. And today it is going to rain. So, I do have the extra bags just in case it is raining when I get to the gallery. The other thing I have stopped doing this time is putting the title on the back of my work. I am only putting my name, website, email address and phone number. This way I don't have to get new pieces of foam core when I re frame a piece.
You know - this is all alot of work!

Getting Ready for an Exhibit

2011-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready for an upcoming exhibit at Quad City Arts in Rock Island, Illinois. I will be showing with two other artists Corrine Smith and Jay Stratton. Smith is an abstract painter and Stratton creates wonderful wood furniture and sculptures. I'm looking forward to the exhibit and the opening. I need to be around some artists. I mostly communicate with fellow artists online of late. This is good but it will be nice to have some "face to face" conversations. But I do depend on all of my online relationships with artists and art appreciators. I know if and when I meet some of them in person it will be very nice. And I'm looking forward to meeting some of the people that I have become acquainted with on facebook and my blog. A few have said they plan on being at the Abend Gallery Pastel Invitational and that will be really exciting and fun to meet the other artists and Facebook friends.

Framing is work. I do not find it fun but it must be done. And when things are framed I just love how they look. I want to keep them all but I also want to sell some of them because I need the money for more frames! Anyway here are a few of my framed pastels ready for the show. And just in case anyone in the area reads this post the exhibit opening is on May 27th and is usually at 7 p.m.

Departure 2

2011-05-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Departure 2
pastel on paper
(c) Debora L. Stewart

This is the second of my pastels done on the Richeson paper. I had this one posted yesterday but took it off to make some changes in it. I like working on the Wallis paper so much better because for me, it is much more like painting. This paper has been interesting and an enjoyable diversion. I received it as part of the Pastel Journal award this year so experimenting on it is a good thing to do. Maybe I will take something from this and put it to the next pastels that I do on the Wallis. I've been wanting to get some more lines into my work so this is a good opportunity to explore this.

Studio Wishes

2011-05-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a little framing today but not really feeling up to it. And to "top it off" I put a large frame together wrong and now have to order two more frame strips. That is what happens when I'm not totally organized and I have to be when I do framing. I have gotten better at it and it takes less time, but it is still not my favorite thing to do. But I love how everything looks when it is framed. My working space has frustrated me today as I have things all over the house. Wishing I had a big studio where I could have everything that I need in one space. Instead I have things spread all over and when I'm organized it is okay but not today. So I put it all away for another day, when I get the new strips and a different table to work on and decided to experiment with some Richeson paper. I really prefer the Wallis but it is the only sanded paper that I have used so it is time to do a little experimenting. So I started this with some black charcoal lines, then some pastel and got out a wet foam brush and spread the pastel around to see what would happen and then went with what happened.

Interview on Mary Zeran's Blog about Iowa Artists

2011-04-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is my interview on Mary Zeran's Blog about Iowa Artists. I'm never sure how much to say about my personal life. But my life does influence my art - of course. So here it is if you are interested in reading it. She has a very nice blog and I'm pleased to be a part of it. Thanks Mary.

http://maryzeran.blogspot.com/2011/04/debora-stewart-artist-interview.html

Luminous Vista

2011-04-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Luminous Vista
14X24 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

I started this new pastel with a dark red/orange underpainting with some ultramarine blue lines. It had a general landscape composition to it. This is also a follow up to the pastel that I posted yesterday where I began to experiment with the yellow green earth pastel that had been hiding on my table. I'm glad that I discovered this color. I also don't tend to use yellow very much but the yellow green earth really calls for a little yellow also. I'm finally beginning to like working with the white Wallis as long as I have a very dark underpainting with oil paints. I have also been sketching out compositions from memory. I think this will be one of my pastels that I will ship to Abend for the Pastel Invitational exhibit.

Walking, seeing and sensing

2011-04-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Luminous
(c) Debora L. Stewart

Someone asked on my face book page "what is the source of your inspiration?". I've thought about that this week. The source of inspiration has definitely changed the last couple of years. And it has been a gradual shift. I started to notice that my walks and what I experienced on my walks were influencing color choices. This was not an intentional influence on my part but something that came about. Now I am much more attuned to what I am experiencing and seeing when I am out walking. I really try to experience what is around me, notice the changes in trees, sky, river, atmosphere, smells, etc. I'm not where I want to be yet with all of this but believe I am moving in this direction. This week I have noticed the light yellow green against the grey sky and this contrast of color struck me. So I have had yellow green in my mind all week - wanting to use it in some way. I wonder what some people might think if they realized that when they are talking to me I am thinking "yellow green"?

Prelude

2011-04-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Prelude
12x9 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

Today I have been playing with some of the pastels I received from Richeson Co. for the Pastel 100 award that I received for the second place that I received. I requested a set of greys and natural earth colors. The greys are just wonderful so I decided to experiment. It seems everything has a landscape feel to it lately. And that is because this is what I have been focused on this past year. I am not setting out to intentionally create a landscape, but I have the general composition of land, sky and water in mind when I begin. Then things just happen. Come about.

Thank you Marla and Barbara

2011-04-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

Radiant Vista
18X24 inches
pastel on sanded paper
(c) Debora L. Stewart

I will be so happy to see summer come when I can work on my art day after day instead of waiting till the weekends. I need to have that flow of creative ideas instead of starting and stopping. But I'm certainly enjoying the process right now and am not struggling as much right now as I was with my direction. I still never really know what is going to come about. I liked the shape of the last one that I did and while working on it I was thinking that I would like to have another in the same format with some turquoise. So this is it. One piece leads to another.

I received some great advice from two fellow pastel artists this week on shipping. I emailed Marla Baggetta and Barbara Bennetton Newton and received excellent advice from both. They are both excellent artists that I admire very much and this is why I contacted them. I have never shipped artwork and just needed some expert advice. I am less afraid of shipping my work with glass after their emails. Marla sent photos of a pastel that she is in the process of shipping to the IAPS exhibit and that helped alot. So great of both of them to take the time to email me back with suggestions. I have received so much from others. I think its time I start giving back more often. I find that I really depend on the connections I have made with other artists online through my blog and facebook. As I've said before in this blog, the internet has changed my life as an artist. I would be lost without it.

This piece may have some changes coming. It always helps to see my work on my blog so that I can judge and see what needs to be done to finish it up. I know I will make a few adjustments tomorrow but am putting it away for today.

Landscape of Memory

2011-04-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Dream Horizon
14x24 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

This is a new format for me that I have not used before. Slightly longer and I did crop it because I thought the bottom of the piece was dull and just did nothing for it overall so I cut it off. I do like it but may lighten it up a bit in some areas. I started this piece with a wash of water based oils in sienna, orange and black. I did not use any type of preliminary drawing for this one. I also incorporated some of the marks left by the brush.

I'm very anxious to see some New Mexico landscapes again to become inspired. I was so excited by the land outside of Santa Fe and felt like I was on the moon. It is so unusual and nothing I've really seen before. I have some kind of vague images of landscapes in this long horizontal shape that I want to play with.

I've really left the plant/flower source for more of a landscape of memory inspiration.

Starting Over

2011-03-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Landscape with Orange
(c) Debora L. Stewart
18x12 inches

This one came about quickly and there are many things about it that I really like. It has all the colors that really appeal to me. Of course it is my second attempt because the first attempt had a watercolor underpainting and the pastels that I chose were too light. So once again I washed it all off and started over. Then I painted the underpainting again but with sienna and black waterbased oil paints. Then it was easy to lay down the pastels that I wanted. Starting over. Trying again and the first attempt. This is what is driving my art and my life right now. Starting over, readjusting, changing my mind, changing my life, charting a new course. All of these things are causing me a good deal of stress right now but I'm trying to - once again- "feel the fear and do it anyway". Many things right now are contrary to previous beliefs.

Dream Land

2011-03-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

This one felt good to get into. I may make a few changes. I never know what is coming when I get into it. This one was another salvaged sheet of Wallis that had something on it from a couple of years ago. It left traces of turquoise so I incorporated that color into the piece. I like the way turquoise looks from underneath ochre. I decided to title it for now "Dream Land" because the last couple of days I've been looking forward to my Santa Fe vacation this summer. And looking forward to going back to Bandalier and some other destinations outside of the city. Thinking I will take a small sketch book and do some quick drawings more than photographs. And a lot of journaling also. Working from photographs just doesn't "do it" for me. For me, it is too removed. Seems anymore that I need to get out of the way and let whatever emotional connection I have made come out through what I am doing. That is most important. Also the intuitive interplay between all colors and marks. One color and mark leads to another. I find it so exciting to not know where something is going and just get lost in the process.

Amazed and Thankful

2011-03-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Undergrowth Second Place Abstract/Non-Objective Pastel 100 Competition
24x18 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

Vestiges of a Journey Honorable Mention in Pastel 100
18x18 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

This whole "journey" I"m on was reborn from reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron when it was first published. Still have my copy with notes written in the margins and things underlined. It really made an impression on me. I knew that I needed to bring art back into my life - because art had always been my life - but I had let it go for other directions. I knew I wasn't being true to myself but did not know how to bring art back and what was art's purpose in my life? It has been a long journey and I am still on that journey and always will be. But I can finally say that I am an artist. I always felt like an impostor saying that before or that it was wishful thinking. And I can finally say that I am being true to myself. Couldn't say that for years and years. And as I have taken each step into my art I am also stepping into unknown territory. Where am I going? What will my life be like as I live more and more in art? I don't know. But I do see possibilities where I did not see any for so long. Each step opens up into another direction.

These are my pastels that are included in this year's Pastel 100 Competition of Pastel Journal Magazine. This is the second year that I entered and I was included both years. I had never entered a competition before so it was pretty amazing to be in both years. I actually did quite a lot of screaming after the phone call from the editor this year! Now I am waiting for the magazine, award certificates and gift certificate for Unison pastels. Wonderful. And then yesterday I received notification from a gallery that I will be included in an invitational exhibit in Colorado. Another artist saw my website and recommended me to the gallery owner. This artist has been very encouraging and helpful. I have appreciated all of her help and am looking forward to meeting her this summer on my trip to Santa Fe.

I am pretty amazed and thankful.

The 12th Annual Pastel 100 Competition

2011-02-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

This video shows the major award winners in each category. See the upcoming April issue of Pastel Journal Magazine's Pastel 100 Competition for all winners. Two of my pastels are included in this year's competition. I will write more about this in an upcoming post.

Exhibiting, Signing and Cardboard Corners

2011-02-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

I had not seen my show at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics since dropping my work off outside and loading it onto a cart. It was a lot of work putting it together. The more I worked on it the more things I thought of to do. And now that I have seen it up I have thought of more. One of the things I know that I will have to do is invest in the cardboard corners to help protect the frames. One large one has a noticeable ding in it which was not good to see. Live and learn. I was happy to see that they have held up pretty well under the Plexiglas. I wasn't sure how the plexi would do as I do not use any fixative on my work. All of my pastels are glued to an archival board. I attach foam board spacers to each mat to hold it away from the pastel. I usually leave a border around the work and sign my name to the pastel. For quite awhile I have signed my name on the lower right hand side of the board instead of the pastel work. Boy, this is always a dilemma for me. But now I'm signing the actual work and I'm using a pencil. I don't like the look of a large signature or the use of a pastel pencil. I really want the signature to disappear into the work and not be obvious. It was good to see it all up and some sold stickers. It will come home and then I will have another show to prepare for and more work to frame for that one. And some cardboard corners to purchase!

The Roots of Abstraction

2011-02-16T04:29:00.000-08:00

I was looking through an old data stick yesterday and discovered these photos of works that I did about six years ago. I think they are a good example of how I have progressed and the steps that I have taken to move in a more abstract direction with my artwork. I still have all pieces - somewhere. Not sure where they are stored at this point. The large basket flower drawing was from a photograph. I have never liked drawing from photographs. I have always preferred drawing from life. The other pieces in this post were all done from photographs that I cut apart and rearranged. The last two were from photographs of leaves on the ground. I was looking for a different way to portray nature, leaves and flowers. Not sure where I was going but the cutting of the image and the rearranging really led me to where I am today. As I cut them apart and worked on the small sections I realized that each one could be its own small abstraction. Finding these has also helped me to realize that I really have moved in the direction that I wanted. As I was working on these I did have a vision in mind of where I wanted to go. I'm still moving in that direction. It does involve creating some large works and
possibly two or three panel pastels. I would love to get that large.

Winter Landscape

2011-02-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

Winterscape
(c) Debora L. Stewart
12x9

I have noticed this winter that there really is a lot of color in the winter landscape. I think it allows for a lot of freedom in color choices. Anything that I do that has a landscape theme is purely an emotional and intuitive response to what I have seen. I am always looking and noticing colors of the sky, reflections of color on the snow and barren trees. I'm really loving this lavender/blue violet lately with splashes of pinks. Even if I cannot immediately create what I experience I tend to carry it with me until I do have the time. Then it can come very quickly as this one did.

I'm looking forward to my order of pastels and more Wallis paper coming in the next couple of days. This is always exciting. I"ve ordered a few more Townsend Terrages because I really love the shape. I'm pondering doing some larger abstracts of winter landscapes like the one posted here and trying some color variations. I am also running out of storage space for all of my work so I either need to find a gallery soon or add another layer to my flat file.

My Artist Portfolio

2011-02-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Creating an artist portfolio has been a lot of work for me and I continue to change it as I go along. I am hopefully making it better also. I have read many different books on portfolios and have had some good places to start. I thought I had done a very good job last year putting together ten portfolios. That took me so many hours but I have to remind myself that there is no such thing as a wasted effort. This was a previous blog entry that I made. Now I am revising and submitting again. I also know now not to expect to get them back even if I do put a self addressed stamped envelope inside for their return. I received half back last year and not the other half. After listening to a presentation by Jason Horejs of Xanadu Gallery on portfolios I decided to make some changes. He has some wonderful webinars on his site for artists and I highly recommend them.

Now in my portfolio I have included and in order:

An introductory letter on my personal letterhead
A letter of support from a gallery director that I know ( I would love to add a letter from an artist in the future)
Twelve full page color photographs of my current work
One page with multiple works
My artist biography
My photograph
Artist Statement
Artist Resume
Materials and process
Price List of works on corresponding compact disk

I have put all of these into a professional Itoya portfolio that I purchased from Blicks Art Supply and have put a printed label with my name on the binding.

All of these items have required a lot of work on my part. I have to continually update and revise biography, statement and resume. I print out my own photographs from my computer with my own printer. I have thought about designing a book and having it printed but Horejs does not recommend this as he says as soon as it is published it is often out of date.

This week I am sending one to a gallery for an invitational exhibit that an artist has recommended me for (I'm really hoping to be included). And I'm sending five off to other galleries. One of these days all of this effort is going to be worth it. My main goal in all of this is getting my work out of my area and farther away from home and to obtain gallery representation.

Plowing Through the Snow and Fears

2011-02-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

Abstraction with Pink
(c) Debora L. Stewart

This is a small (12x9) pastel color study as I've been wanting to experiment with pinks lately. I looked at this all week and it just didn't look right so I made a small change in it this morning and now it is much better. I may do a larger piece with some of these same colors.

I'm really starting to feel snowed in lately and a little stagnant. The "art business" part of my life is taking more and more time. When I read maybe four years ago that the business part of an artist's life should take at least as much time as the creation of art I had a hard time understanding this. I wondered what people were doing that took so much time. Now I"m starting to understand this. I know my husband wonders how I spend so much time on the computer and what I am doing. I do waste a certain amount of time on it and sometimes I just turn the computer off so that I will not be so preoccupied with it. I am so glad that I do not have a computer in my studio. That would be such a huge distraction for me. The only thing I have in my small studio is a stereo and a flat file that is getting more and more full all the time.

What have I done this week with the business part of my art life? I have listened to a webinar on websites from Xanadu Gallery, finished up a grant submission and mailed it, working on an updated portfolio for gallery submissions, beginning a new grant submission, designing a workshop that I will be giving on creating abstract pastels, tweaking my website and blog, emailing some contacts for a possible exhibit and writing letters to legislators.

The more I do, the more there is to do. I wonder where I'll be a year from now with all the energy I'm putting into this part of my life?

I"ve also been reading the book again on Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. This really is the focus of my life right now. I have a life long tendency to get a lot of anxiety over success. Trying to plow through that fear and just keep going anyway is what I need to do right now. Plowing through the snow and the fear is my current state of mind.

Dream

2011-01-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

Dream
(c) Debora L. Stewart
24x18 inches
Pastel on sanded paper

I had a large sheet of grey Wallis left. Now I have none. I love the grey as it works so much better for me. I tend to go way too light with the white even when I paint it. I have taken to using a large house painting brush to paint on black water based oil paints and I like this because I can put on a wide expanse of paint. I am no longer using resource drawings to find compositions. I have totally transitioned to creating compositions abstractly. Many are now diverging away from plant based lines to more of a landscape feel. And I do have colors I just gravitate to. For this one, I just wanted a large expanse of turquoise and then what ever colors I could choose that would go with it. I do love all dark purples and also love to put in pops of orange here and there. I developed a "silent migraine" while working on this, because my brain has just been so full of speculation, planning, anxiety and excitement lately. I have titled this one "Dream" because that is what has been on my mind quite allot. This dream of going beyond where I'm currently at in life.

Go Beyond

2011-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

Landscape
(c) Debora L. Stewart
12x9 inches
pastel on sanded paper

One of my goals this year is to "go beyond" and get out of my comfort zone. Stretching and reaching into the unknown is stressful but not doing it causes me even more stress. There is a "possibility" that I may be showing outside of my state which is a goal that I have had. Whenever I have a setback of some kind it is frustrating but at the same time I say to myself "cast a wider net". That is what I am trying to do. I want to go beyond limiting myself and my perceptions and have a more expansive vision.

I'm also working on putting together workshops for adults. This is something that I have done before and know that I can do a good job at it as long as I start small and work my way up. I'll be providing a workshop in my hometown this next month. I also have a proposal for a college workshop that I hope to do soon. I have taught art classes for adults but this will be the first time that I will incorporate my own art into a workshop format. Should be an interesting experience.

I have also mailed off a new grant proposal today. One thing leads to another. I also really enjoy teaching adolescents. Actually they are my favorite age to teach. I love their energy and openness to experiment. If I receive this grant it will be for me to create new works and also provide an Expressive Drawing Workshop for young people at our community art center.

Going from OMG to Om

2011-01-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Intensity
(c) Debora L. Stewart
18x18 inches
pastel on sanded paper

This is a total rework (washed the other one away with water) and my emotional state of mind while creating it was "intense". I've had a very interesting week. Its been a very good week. But every time something positive comes about for my art I become very stressed and have to "regroup" and get my balance again. My exhibit at the University of Iowa Hospitals has been up for three weeks and I have already sold five pastels. The hospital has purchased four for their permanent collection. That caused a great deal of euphoria on my part. Then an artist in the southwest emailed me asking me if I would like to be included in an invitational exhibit. And she also offered to help me in other ways by mentioning my name to galleries in an area of the country that I would love to have my art. I have quite a lot going on right now and am just trying to keep things all in perspective. I find myself having to go from OMG to Om and sometimes getting there is a real stretch!

Time for a "makeover"

2011-01-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

I decided this morning that it was time for a "make over" of my website and my blog. I've had a very dark background for as long as I've had a website. I looked at it this morning and just didn't like it anymore. I thought it made my work look garish. So I've gone for a lighter look and think I like it much better. I think it shows some of the subtlety in my pastels that I am trying for lately.

The pastel in this post is a "redo" or "make over". It is the same pastel listed in my "no such thing as a wasted effort" post. Washed it all off - again. Took a large house painting brush and used black and sienna water based oils to it. Worked over the top of the oil after it dried. This may be one of my favorite pastels now.

What do you think of my "make over"?

See the Possibilities

2011-01-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

Pathway
6x6 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

I do have to fight past discouragement at times. Things don't come in the "art business" world fast. And because I am older I know that I am in a rush at times to make things happen that I did not do when I was younger - for a variety of reasons.

I have learned some things about taking risks and chances though.

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket

Don't apply to one gallery and wait for their response. Apply to several and keep applying.

Don't personalize "rejections"

I don't look at them as rejections anymore. Maybe the timing is wrong. The work may be good but not the right "fit" at the time you are applying. Its not all about me! (really?)

Keep trying and never, never, never give up

Take a break if you need to but don't stop trying. Right now I am taking a mental break from applying to galleries for representation out of my area. Yes, this is my goal but it doesn't seem to be happening right now. I will not stop trying to do this as I do expect it to happen but don't know when.

When one door closes another may open.

I have found this so true. Last year I applied to two exhibits in the area and did not get in either one. I was discouraged because I thought my work was good enough for both. Soon after I received confirmation from Pastel Journal that one of my pastels was chosen for the Pastel 100 Competition. This was actually better news for me than getting into the two exhibits that I was rejected from.

Visualize achieving your goals and expect success.

For years and years I visualized just the opposite. I visualized myself as not good enough. As I began to take risks with my art, my confidence grew. One positive lead to another and another. I started practicing visualization techniques. Seeing myself with an exhibit when I had not done this. Seeing my work in a certain location when it had never been. Seeing the possible.

Let things go.

I've learned and relearned that I cannot make things happen by force of will alone.
I learned many, many years ago in a twelve step program to do the work but leave the results to my higher power. Maybe what I think I want is not the best thing for me at the time.

Be grateful

I have learned and also had to relearn to be grateful for what I have at the moment and that it is enough. Instead of whining about "why doesn't this happen or that happen", I need to look around me and be grateful for what I do have. I also learned in this twelve step program "be careful what you pray for as you just might get it".
I've also learned from reading the Secret that expressing gratitude makes me happier and brings many more positive things my way. Its not a "trick" it just works that way. If I am whining and negative I don't notice the positives.

So, I write all of these things in response to my exhibit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. This is a place where I also see a doctor for personal reasons. And several years ago while going through the hospital and looking at the artwork I thought to myself "how can I get my artwork in this hospital?" I was not ready at the time. I applied about three years ago and was not accepted. Then I applied again this past year and was accepted. My exhibit of twenty pastels is there now for three months. I learned this past week that the hospital has purchased two of my pastels for their permanent collection.

Try Something New

2011-01-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

I decided to experiment with some cheap acrylic paints on paper today. I'm going to spend some time going through the exercises in the book Expressive Drawing by Steven Aimone. I like the book and the exercises and think it would be very helpful to me at this point and possibly help me to expand my vision for my pastel work. I have two roles of large paper left over from the Intuitive Drawing workshop I attended so I cut a very large piece. I used a large paint brush, the acrylic paints and added some watercolor to get the yellow as I only had black and white paint. (so I'm reverting back to the Franz Kline influence for awhile) I would also like to create some pastel diptychs. I had fun and I think it is a good idea to break out of what you are used to and try something new.

Be Open to Surprises

2011-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Trail
(c) Debora L. Stewart
12x12 inches
pastel on sanded paper

"Do not begin a work by visualizing the solution before you begin. If you know what a work is going to look like before you begin, why start?" Steve Sorman

This statement becomes more true for me the more I work abstractly. I may have some general idea but it never turns out the way I had thought. Turquoise Trail started as a type of river abstract and I was looking to use some greyed colors but it did not turn out that way. Some of the greyed colors remain but it took on a more intense feel. After I was finished it reminded me of colors of the Southwest and that is why I titled it Turquoise Trail.

I'm winding down from my intense work period right now. I'm needing to find that balance again. I've had a real tunnel vision with working at my "day job" as a teacher/counselor, framing my work for Project Art and trying to fit in as much creative time as I can. Now that the show is up I feel I can relax and "regroup" for awhile and devote some time to other things in my life.

I have been considering providing a workshop on Abstract Pastels. I have made an initial contact on this and it wouldn't be until next fall. So, for anyone reading this, I would appreciate any thoughts on this. This is something I think that I would like to do in the future.

Working Intuitively

2010-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

Untitled Abstraction
(c) Debora L. Stewart
18x12 inches
soft pastel on sanded paper

I think from time to time I will write about what it is like to work intuitively (for me). It is probably different for others.

Let go of results
Try not to control the outcome
Use music to loosen you up - I love really loud rock music
Practice on other surfaces that can be thrown away
Look for your natural mark
Spend time just making marks
What colors speak to you
Interact with the artwork
Just start and let one mark and color lead you to the next

I found the process of abstraction through much trial and error. It has been a natural "outgrowth" for me after years of representational drawing and painting.

Cut or tear up a drawing and use small sections
Use a view finder to look for sections of a previously completed drawing that appeal to you
Do small drawings utilizing only line - see examples of this in Betty Edward's Drawing On The Artist Within

The piece in this post came very quickly for me today after a frustrating day yesterday. I started it as I always do with a black waterbased oil underpainting. It started in one direction and ended upside down as I finished it. I will title it later after I have time to look at it and see what it reminds me of.

Kissing Frogs

2010-12-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

Down Deep
(c) Debora L. Stewart
12x12 inches
Pastel on sanded paper

This is somewhat overworked and took on many different forms till I decided to stop. But, I started with an old pastel done last year at this time and always feel it is a "freebie" when I take an old one, wash it down the sink and just play around to see what happens.

I find working abstractly a real challenge as I never know what I"m going to get in the end. I find myself remembering what artist Clive King said in his Intuitive Drawing workshop. "You've got to kiss a lot of frogs." I should really make a sign and post this in my studio.

I'm not sure this one works or not but I always take something away that is useful and on to the next one. There are aspects of this one that I like. I put black oil paint down with brushes and foam brushes and let it dry. Then took pastels that appealed to me. Looked for the dark and light areas. Choose colors from my pastels that I felt I could use in those areas. One thing I am striving for right now is to have a light or dark area but have other color variations within it. So I am looking for multiple colors within a value range that I can use. Withing a light area I would like there to be some yellows, creams, pinks, blue violets etc. I am looking for some depth and variation in color right now. As I work I take photos, turn the thing in all directions, wash parts off and start again. Sometimes things come quickly and sometimes they don't. On those days when things come quickly I believe it is a "gift" or the result of those days when I was "kissing frogs".

Journaling About Art

2010-12-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

Destination
18x12 inches
(c) Debora L. Stewart

I have been journaling for a long, long time. When I first started it was not an "art journal" but a personal journal to help me navigate my way through some serious changes I needed to make in my life. Then I took a break for several years and found after awhile that I needed to return to it. Dissatisfaction again led me to find Julia Cameron's book on the Artist's Way. I again started keeping what she refers to as "morning pages". Now, I have been keeping a couple kinds of journals on an ongoing basis. I may not write every day but I do write at a minimum two times per week. It is different than writing on a blog. My journaling is for me to help me clarify, visualize, set goals and see where I've been and where I'm going.

Some of the things included in my journaling are:

words that may be used for possible titles
sketches for new pieces
short term and long term goals
writing about art
affirmations for myself
ponderings and musings

I find that the act of writing helps me to think. It is not the same process for me as it is to type something into the computer or a blog. It is much more meditative. When I look back through my journals I can see much more clearly where I've been and it helps me to see where I would like to go. Destination.

Winterscape Rework

2010-12-24T12:52:00.000-08:00

Winterscape
(c) Debora L. Stewart
9x12 inches

Did this without much fore thought. I've been walking in our park by the river with all of the snow and barren trees. I've been thinking and noticing the colors of winter. There are many subtle colors of the sky, snow and baren trees. I will do some larger pieces soon that have more space at the top and bottom. I'm finding the smaller size is not enough room to play with right now.

I hope to make some chages to my blog this next year. One goal of mine is to develop a series of posts. I would like to write several posts on the process of working intuitively. I want to create a blog with more depth and the exploration of a few subjects such as working intuitively and abstractly.

Titles and Naming

2010-12-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

Juncture 2009
Debora L. Stewart
12x12 inches

Finding titles and naming my abstracts has been a process in discovery. I don't set out to create a work that reminds me of a title. I don't have a title in mind before I begin. But titles and naming have become very personal. When I first began to create abstract pastels I looked at books that I had been reading to see what words spoke to me. I was reading books such as Trust the Process (excellent book), No More Second Hand Art, The Artist's Way and The Zen of Creativity. I had underlined sections and words and used these for many of my titles. The words were what I was striving for. Now I look at a work when it is finished and ask myself different questions. What does this work remind me of? What was I thinking and feeling as I created it? Where am I "at" currently? What am I struggling with, striving for and where am I going? The answers to these questions lead me to the naming. I often start with a word or phrase such as "turning point" and use the online thesaurus to find other words with more appeal. Turning Point leads to convergence or juncture. I think "yes, juncture" because that is where I was at as I was creating this. It was a point where things changed and when I went a different direction. It says something about the piece and something about my experience.
http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Process-Artists-Guide-Letting/dp/1570623570

Needing Some Zen Moments

2010-12-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

Abstraction
Artful Home Studio Sale

I've been working very hard lately and am really needing some balance right now. It seems that I am scheduled very tight right now but I do see the end in sight. I think. And I've lost my creative "flow" right now and am needing to get that back and I know that I will. It is hard to fit that in to spare minutes between my "day job" and all the framing and art business that I have had to do. And I suppose this is why I have had two migraines lately. I have not had one for over fifteen years and I have had two in the last three weeks. Thankfully they are not painful but only the sparkly light kind. So, stress is catching up with me right now and I need to find some balance and some zen moments. I have four or five more pastels to frame and then take them for the exhibit I have for three months. I've also been working on learning how to order giclees so that I can add them to my Artful Home site and I needed to retake photos of older works for a Studio Sale for Artful Home. I've done allot of things this past year and have become much, much busier with my art.

Once my work is delivered and I can rest I will do some exercises to recapture my creative "flow". Drawing usually helps me find my way again. I will do some blind contour drawing and then some rapid, frenzied intuitive mark making. That always fires me up and gets rid of physical and mental stress.

Make Big Art

2010-12-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

Canyon Land
(c) Debora L. Stewart

I discovered a blog by artist Lisa Call this week that I am really enjoying. She is also an artist with a full time job like myself and trying to juggle it all. I have enjoyed reading about her thoughts about working and trying to make the decision to leave her employment and go for her art full time. This is a difficult decision and I am struggling with the same one. I find myself back and forth so many times. I have not made enough money at my art yet to justify my giving up the security of my regular paycheck. I still have house payments and some debt that needs to be taken care of. And I need health insurance. I feel like I have my feet in two worlds. I am more committed to my art than I ever have been. I'm trying to find a way to transition where it won't mean giving up my regular paycheck but giving me more time for my art. That is the option that I really would be comfortable with right now. Working in my "day job" three days a week would be ideal and would really allow me to make a transition in my work as an artist. So my thoughts go back and forth between "should I risk it?" or "should I continue doing what I am doing?" I don't see a clear path quite yet. I'm trying to get my work "out there" and I am but will the timing ever be exactly right? I learned a long time ago and need to remind myself that I need to "do the work and leave the results to my higher power".

Click here to go to Lisa Call's blog http://www.makebigart.com/blog

Cadence in Turquoise

2010-12-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

I took an old pastel that had been stored up against the wall and washed most of it off with a sponge brush. I liked it last year but not this. Decided to just "play with colors" and see what happened. Sometimes creating with intention or outcomes just doesn't work for me any longer. It did when I was working realistically. I could more often predict results but not working abstractly. Trying for outcomes just seems to stifle me. I'm really wanting to do some larger pastels again. But I do need some blocks of time in order to do this. Right now, because I have a full time job besides my art I only have weekends to work. Its just not enough time for me to get in the "flow" in order to pull off large pieces. I need several days of play in order to make that happen. Right now my schedule is so full. I'm hoping that I can change my time commitment in the future but it depends on so much. But I am trying.

My schedule now is to work on paperwork type things during the week and in the evening. Updating things like artist statements, bio and resume. I order supplies and make contacts during the week. I also do work in some time everyday to just play with ideas for pieces. I often do small studies in spare 15 or 30 minute periods of time. I'm always thinking about my art even if I'm not actively engaged in it at the moment. Of course this does lead me to often forget kids names in my school! A brain can only hold so many things and mine is pretty full. On the weekends I work both days and right now am sticking to small to medium size pieces. I may rework something I did before. I'm playing with color combinations. On weekends right now I'm also framing my pastels for an upcoming show at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I also spend time on my blog, like right now because I have time to photograph and think.

But I did realize this morning as I looked through my "art journal" that I have come a long way in the last 5 years. I committed myself. I set goals. I set more goals. And I have reached them. I'm working on my next goal - of devoting more of my time to my art.

Cadence

2010-12-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

I titled this one Cadence. I took an old piece that had been painted a couple of times. Washed it off - again. Just started putting down pastels and mostly new ones that I had purchased this past week. With no care of how it would turn out. Turned the music up REAL loud. Van Halen. Danced and sang as I worked on this one. Sort of danced with it actually. This is when I'm really doing what I want to. Not caring about results - just doing - just being. And then it flows. I used to work with real meditative almost yoga music. But now it has to be something with a driving beat. Something that encompasses me and envelops me as I work.

Learning About the Business of Art

2010-11-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

I'm constantly learning more and more about the business of being an artist. This is something I didn't even have a clue to before. How did I miss this? There was no guidance on this when I went to school back in "the day". No mentors and the business of being an artist has changed so much anyway. The last three years I have read several books about business issues for artists and I have tried to implement all that I have read. I've read blogs and have learned so much.

Now I'm needing to learn as much as I can about shipping my work. I'm also learning about making prints of my pastels. Both of these issues are causing a good amount of stress right now but I keep telling myself that I will manage when the time comes. Every time that I reach a goal or have an achievement with my art I become stressed for awhile. Then I have to acclimate and readjust my thinking, expectations and reality.

Grateful and Busy

2010-11-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

Misty River

This has been a "week" for art business. My life as an artist has changed quite a lot as a result of the Internet and online connections. Twenty years ago I was creating art and much of it was put under my bed or leaned against the wall with no place to go and few opportunities to exhibit. I'm very grateful that I have been able to benefit from the Internet. It really has changed my life. I have made connections with others and really do believe I have an online artist support group. I've learned about opportunities, competitions, galleries and other artists from being online. I have learned a lot from other blogs, pod casts and online webinars about the business of being an artist. I did not have a clue about any of this and now feel I have really been given direction and I have tried to follow and implement all I have learned.

This week I received confirmation from two venues that I submitted applications. I am now represented by Artful Home and will have my work online as originals and prints. I think Artful Home has high quality work so I am thrilled to be included. I also received notification that I am represented by Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. This will be in the Studio Artist section which is strictly an online venue. But this is another juried opportunity like Artful Home that has high quality work by artists from around the country. I am so much more optimistic than I ever was before. Twenty years ago I often felt like "what is the point?". Who is ever going to see my work? Why do I keep doing this? Now I know why. Its in my blood for one thing. I have to.

Looking forward to more opportunities. http://www.xanadugallery.com/ http://www.artfulhome.com/

Magenta On My Mind

2010-11-20T13:03:00.000-08:00

I'm always excited to get some new pastels and am trying out some new ones today. I've had magenta on my mind this past week. This piece began with a red violet oil under painting. I may add just a little more dark to the left side. We went for another walk today through our city park. At one point when you look across the Mississippi it looks like a huge lake it is so wide. It may be one of the widest points on the river. Today there were eagles soaring and playing overhead. Decided to just come home and try to do something from memory as I took no photographs and seldom work from photos anyway. And, my way of working seems to be changing as I'm moving into this landscape/river series that I am really enjoying exploring.

Looking for Subtlety and Expansiveness

2010-11-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

This week I created several small studies utilizing water based paints to explore color. I intend to use my studies in paint to create some new pastel paintings with a river theme. I need to go "beyond" my current place with color and explore new combinations and subtle variations including greys. I love greys that have a color tint of greens, oranges and turquoise. It is so much easier to get them with paints and not as easy with pastels but that is one of my goals for this winter. I want to bring some subtlety and expansiveness to my work.

Sensing the Energy of Nature

2010-11-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Honor mystery and ambiguity

Sometimes I work on a piece and really don't know where I'm going with it at all. I work and go through the motions only and the result is not as good as I wish. But I know that the process itself is worthy. I cannot predict that I will have a successful time spent in my studio and come out with an end result that I am happy with, but I "do" anyway. I am much happier with unpredictability and not knowing. I know from past work that a good direction often comes from a period of frustration and trying to bust through that into another way of working. I really don't beat myself up or get that frustrated any longer. I say to myself "this isn't working but stick with it anyway".

I know that right now I'm very attracted to landscape. I know this will come out somehow and that it has before. I really never thought before about using landscape as a subject because I usually look pretty close to the ground but lately I'm seeing landscape and am attracted to artists with abstracted landscape. And I suppose it makes sense that I am as my happiest and most centered times are when I'm walking, feeling the space around me and sensing the energy of nature.