SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

CRESCENDO 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold scroll frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping Slowly, the hypnotic beats pulsed. With eyes closed, I let the sounds carry me away as the interplay of the instruments embodied my soul. And the sounds swelled as the colors raged.  Memories of yesteryears... 

A JOURNEY OF HOPE 6" square, glass + gold frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR The darkened clouds cascaded down .   Determined  yet with hesitant steps  I traveled the road. Questions and doubts were quickly erased  as  the orange glow caressed me.  Hope....

ANTICIPATION 14" x 10" SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTION The holidays... are... slipping... by...  and a brand new year is so exciting! Wishing abundance, joy and happiness for all.

VANISHING 10"h x 8" w pastel + gold leaf PRIVATE COLLECTION OF DEBORAH AMMAR Regardless of one's religious beliefs,  may each and everyone be rewarded  with tolerance, love and happiness.

Who would believe all those grapevines would come to good use?  Silly me - just assumed they supported the grapes for wine. So here's my teeny-tiny grapevine tree for a rocking xmas time. Happy holidays everyone!

Now who wouldn't want an extra pair of hands? Definitely would help wading through the turmoil  of the frantic holiday rush, huh?  I received the most fantastic gift from my dear friend  and doll playmate, Joel ... hand earrings .  Lucky me -  Love them!!!!!

FRAMED 6" square pastel archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Just a tiny reminder that there is just one more day to see  Randy Higbee Gallery's infamous 6" squared juried exhibit. Framed is one of the many accepted paintings,  which was a supreme honor.  This was THE show to see in 2010!

RACING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS 8 1/2 X 11 1/2 (fr) pastel $275 * * Courtesy of Tirage Gallery It's a mad dash till the day. Are you ready? Ho, ho, ho.....

ALMOST A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" gold scrolled frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR * Courtesy of Tirage Gallery Okey, I can just hear you... What partridge, what pear tree? Well, what can I say?  Almost, but not quite.... Twelve days of Christmas, here I come!

SKY OF SPLENDOR 6" square pastel Race, rush and dash through life.  The pace accelerates greatly as the days whirl by. Stop... breathe.... and gaze upward.  Now smile.

PURPLE HAZE  6" square pastel, glass + gold leaf frame $295 (tax and shipping inclusive)  The morning air was crisp.  And marveled at the mass of clouds as I gazed into the distance. Deep, purple pockets that soared and billowed upward.  Subtle yet beautiful.

TWO 6" square pastel + gold leaf frame $295 (shipping + tax inclusive) Good times..  cherished friends..  and memories.

BLUE TRUFFLE 3" x 3" pastel glass + 3" square gold scrolled frame (no matte) private collector Feeling a bit guilty after seeing all of Malcolm's holiday spirit. (He told me to get with the program ... sigh) So I created a truffle treat for a sweetie.  Almost bite-size too, as a petite 3" square. The best part is all shipping and taxes are  inclusive - cheers!

PARTYING MALCOLM Didn't I tell you?  Well Malcolm definitely got me into the holiday spirit! 

MALCOLM I met this little gentleman over Thanksgiving  and he definitely was a charmer! First he scoped out my joint, then decided  he wanted to join me playing with my  dolls - so very artistic! And definitely was a party-kind-of-guy ( see above ) .

A TOWN AT NIGHTFALL 6" square pastel A TOWN AT NIGHTFALL  is my second pastel juried  into the 6" Squared Show at the Randy Higbee Gallery,  102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, CA.  The first Artist's Reception is tomorrow evening, Saturday,  December 4th  from 4 - 9 pm, with the second on Sunday, December 5th from 12 to 5 pm.  Additional information can be viewed at  here . 

EVENING'S SWIFT MOVEMENT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame The motion was circular as the clouds raced. Barely touching the mountaintop  and the tips of the trees.  Mesmerized, I watched the movement swell then drop.

FRAMED 6" x 6" pastel Framed is one of my pastels juried into the 6" Squared Show at the Randy Higbee Gallery, 102 Kalmus, Costa Mesa, CA.  Please join us for the Artist's Reception Saturday, December 4th  from 4 - 9 pm and Sunday, December 5th from 12 to 5 pm.  Additional information can be viewed at here . 

PASSIONATE PINK 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame  Miss Contessa of Cupcakes had a trifecta  with her cupcakes and sold all three - way to go! There's frosting all over my studio now, Kelley .   And she's so right, I retaliated with a bit of pink passion. 

ART WALK FOR ANNIE DRIP + DRIBBLE (left) and WHIPPED + STICKY  PEANUT BUTTER (right) 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 pastels 8" square archival white mattes, glass + scrolled gold leaf frames Annie Salness is a wonderful artist and blogger that  resides in Portland, Oregon. After experiencing a  stroke several weeks ago, friends coordinated to aid  with the medical expenses a silent auction -  Art Walk for Annie  - to be held on December 7th. I have so much fun flinging frosting with the Cupcake  Contessa Kelley MacDonald ,  as well as shooting  Donut War paintings across the Nation, that felt it was  fitting to donate some tasty morsels for Annie's cause.  To learn more how to rsvp for the Art Walk, or purchase  and donate art to help Annie click here . 

REECE 4 3/4" x 4 3/4" pastel SOLD- PRIVATE COLLECTOR Such a gala, with celebrating Thanksgiving!   Family, friends and food... who could ask for anything more? Now back to the grind. 

ROAD OF HOPE 6" x 6" pastel 12" archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame $300 + $25 insured priority shipping  Ahead I see a well-worn journeyed road.  D ays as well as nights of each season,  many have traveled. The light glows ever so softly, yet all  seem acclimated to the twists and turns.  Hope... washes away times of trouble.

EVENING GLOW 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping Rain slashed periodically throughout the sky,  leaving the  air damp and frigid.  And t he chill was cutting.  Much later  I gazed upward and embraced the warmth  that radiated by the drop of the  setting sun .  A beautiful evening!

GOLD BALLS + A WHITE CHRISTMAS 11" X 14" pastel + scrolled gold leaf frame $650 The Holiday Salon officially opens   Saturday, November 20th with a  reception from 5 to 9 P.M. Lets celebrate! The gallery is located at One West California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105 

THE ULTIMATE GIFT 8"h x 5" w PRIVATE COLLECTOR What is more precious to give for the holidays than one's love? This is one of my pastels on exhibit at Tirage Gallery 's  Holiday Salon, with the opening reception Saturday the  20th, from 5 to 9pm.   The gallery is located at One West California Blvd, Pasadena, CA  and will be on view till January 6, 2011.

HOLIDAY SWEETS 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + scrolled gold leaf frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping So many artists are painting and preparing for the  holidays, so one can't help but get into the spirit of it all!  But after the Donut War  and  Flinging Frosting   with my favorite artist, Kelley MacDonald , I have  had to watch the pounds for they are creeping up quickly.  So I'm jump-starting the holidays with sweet ornament  and served on a plate - enjoy! 

WHIPPED + STICKY PEANUT BUTTER 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Even though the Contessa  (she has her head in the  skies  for  now) and myself are back in a  Cold War,  I had  to get  back  into flinging of frosting for  a  very  good reason.  No,  not to  eat.... but to celebrate  tomorrow's event. I'm the  entertainment  at a Wine, Potluck + Art  Party   hosted  by my friend, Cathy.  We coordinated a successful  one  last  year  and was  asked  to return. So tomorrow I'm  bringing  the  dessert and you  guessed it - cupcakes!  But  we're going  to  paint them first. Such fun!    Oh, this cupcake was from Cupcakeology in  Albuquerque - peanut butter! Isn't the tiny slice  of pie on top the cupcake amazing?

CARUMBA! A CARROT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel  8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame SOLD  - PRIVATE COLLECTOR The Contessa struck once again and - S P L A T ! -  I got  struck  smack  in  the face  with jelly.  That  Kelley is so darn good with jelly donuts that  it  leaves me  quivering. So now I'm sitting and thinking how-to-counterattack.  Well inspiration struck, for a dear friend, Valorie dropped  off  a gem of a  cupcake . And so healthy with a carrot.  Nothing like taking the guilt away. Take that Contessa !

THE WALL 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping I just received my November issue of American Art Collector ,  which features an article on Small Works & Miniatures .  Daily Painters Originals - and am proud to say I'm one of  its 30 members from the United States, Canada and the  Philippines - is profiled within this article on page 83.   A group ad is on page 87 featuring 20 members images  of their paintings. My painting The Wall -  pictured  above - is included.  Incidentally, my painting is just 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches! Tiny, huh?

YELLOW PATH ALONG MIDDLE RANCH COLORS OF CATALINA   TIRAGE FINE ART GALLERY OCTOBER 9 - NOVEMBER 6 http://www.tirageart.com/ ONE WEST CALIFORNIA BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91105 626-405-1020  Saturday, the 6th, is the last day to view artworks of Catalina Island  by 50 renowned artists from four Pasadena Art Association galleries. A 10% donation of sales benefits the Catalina Island Conservancy  towards their conservation, education and recreation programs.    

DRIP + DRIBBLE 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Thought you were so tired of chanting Trick or Treat!   even though the stash of candy was incredible? And now look ... it's all gone  and all you have to show for it is a chocolate mustache. What's one to do?  The Donut War strikes once again!

SPIRITS OF THE CLOUDS   4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping The flowing currents moved. Up, down, swirled and around the patterns crisscrossed. Alive spirits akin to ghosts ... boo!

COLORFUL JOURNEY 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel Rippling and falling, the colors cascaded downward.  And a periodic bright flash amongst the subdued  palette illuminated the evening sky. So many colors, so many layers... one could easily get lost within.

MEXICAN DELIGHT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame $150 + $15 insured priority shipping It is hard to believe, but I'm really not into the  sweet icing - even though I have had great fun eating my props lately. And of course, there's the flinging of frosting across the nation  at the Contessa !   Honestly, I must say that my downfall are huge  donuts, but decided the need to put this Mexican sweet  next on my list. This luscious pastry was from the  Golden Crown Panaderia , famed for their turkey bread sculpture. Something to consider for Thanksgiving!  

GOLDEN CROWN PANADERIA When in Albuquerque last month I discovered the quaintest  panaderia with so much charm! Golden Crown borders along  Old Town and is known for their turkey bread sculpture - no lie! They make a loaf of bread shaped as a turkey. Plus they make wonderful pastries, such as the ones pictured above.  Check out my rendition in the following post (had to  take a break to eat one of these before painting!). 

ORANGE OPULENCE 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Love rainy days which is such a rarity in San Diego. But this has gone on for several days and have  had my fill of soups. Is the Contessa and myself still in the Cold War?   Really don't know, but what better way to lift one's  spirits than to eat a sweet treat!  This little cupcake was filled with chocolate - at least that is what my husband said - and made at Heaven Sent Desserts .

TUMBLE INTO THE NIGHT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white matte, glass + gold leaf frame As I walked, the mist of rain fell onto my face. A fresh, clean scent lingered in the air. By nightfall a heavy mass of clouds filled the sky.  With an altered dark mood.