SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

SHADOWS + TREES 8"h x 6" w pastel on cradled wooden panel glass + black frame $275 - shipping inclusive Walking the path while deep in thought . . .  beauty unobserved . . .  a loss.

KIT-KAT WITH STRIPES 9" x 12" pastel sketch I've been playing around with sketches to introduce  new techniques and substrates to my current class.  The kit-kat is on a textural handmade paper - which I  have never  used previously and unsure if I would use  again  with  pastels. It just does not hold up to extensive  layering,  unlike the sanded base I typically use.  Or perhaps  I should change my method of execution?  All in all, it's fun to try new things. 

A BITE 14"h x 18"w pastel framed 18"h x 22"w See . . .  it pays to eat!  Just received notification that this painting was  accepted into Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's 116th annual juried exhibition. The show runs from October 2nd to the 26th at the National Arts Club of New York City.  Such a huge honor! 

PINK FIELDS 10"h x 8"w pastel on canvas panel z - i - n - g! experiment . . .  new paths . . . enjoy class!

Abstract Sketch 4 1/2"h x 3 1/2" w pastel Tomorrow evening begins the series of summer classes at UCSD Extension that I will be teaching. Will be covering a huge range of topics and genres, so definitely will be fun as well as challenging for me. The series starts with creating abstracts while learning to handle the stick of pastel. Opposite is a quick small-scale sketch for my introduction. We'll even have a class of stylized landscapes on communal canvases. Now that's going to be fun!

PEEK-A-BOO RED * 10"h x 8"w pastel  16"h x 14"w glass + gold frame * courtesy of Tirage Gallery Tirage Galler y of Pasadena  -which I'm so proud of their representation! -  just revamped their website and it rocks.   So clean, easy to navigate and a wealth of imagery from national artists.  Check out their new site here . And see what they say about me (oh . . .  I'm blushing!) here . 

ALL MY HEART IN GOLD (detail) 6"h x 4"w  hand print, pencil + gold leaf Subtle with a tiny bit of class . . .  who would believe? Playing with hand printing my little dizzy dolls.  Below are 2 renditions of my Ram / Pig as  Circles + Squares.  SQUARES  4"h x 6"w hand print, pencil + gold leaf CIRCLES 4"h x 6"w hand print, pencil + gold leaf

MARILYN 7"h x 7 1/2" w doll, lizard, wood, pearls, stone + gold leaf It's a tiny world, but nevertheless my world! And in it I play make-believe with found elements. I have been digging on a white palette, so unlike  the colorful world of my pastels. But there was no  way I could commit to a white face for Marilyn.  Au' natural was perfect with the pearls.

BIRDIE 21" sculpture doll legs, wood, glass, wire + fabric SOLD Freedom rings on the fourth - such a lucky Nation! Seems everyone gets wrapped up in the day-to-day minutiae,  that we tend to overlook our wonderful fortune.  And today is the day to remember and celebrate. Happy fourth to all!

BODY PARTS + DREMEL First I must say, forgive me . . . to the people who diligently follow my blog and my pastels.  I will eventually get back to them.  I have  been preparing for my 2 solo shows.  And where have I have been? Busting, cutting, hacking and painting  away at  little sweet  geishe dolls. I'm on a roll here!  Had a little tutorial with my husband and another  friend with hand tools . . .  what every  gal needs!  Amazing what these electronic devices can do. Anyway, I have been working away on little  pieces for my 2 shows coming up and it has  been so exciting working with new materials.  Everyone must try it at least once. Rock on!