SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

CLOUD BURST 5 3/4"h x 3 1/2 w acrylic on wood 9"h x 6"w glass + frame Above is the acrylic painting, Cloud Burst , on a  reclaimed wood block that is on exhibit at The New  Mexico Art League's Small Works & Holiday Show . The show is up till January 5th so just a few more  days remaining. More information by clicking here .

MY CUP IS 1/2 FILLED          DAWN OF PUBERTY 12"h x 12"w pastel                             13"h x 12"w pastel        20" x 20" mat, glass + gilded frame     22"h x 22"w mat, glass + gilded frame I'm so honored to have been introduced by VJ Liberatori  of the  Aux Dog  Theatre  to playwright Mark Dunn in a  collaboration of an original play that merges theatre  with fine arts. And an unique aspect of  Diptych  is that this  production is immersive, with audience participation  within the setting.  This fictional tale is a geography of a Mother -played  by Kathleen Welker- and daughter's relationship.  My art represents the daughter whom is an artist. Dunn's play, Diptych is the featured piece  within ABQ Solofest, an annual festival throughout...

I am so fortunate to be starting off the new year  with a solo show!  Oasis of Albuquerque is exhibiting a new collection  of adobes, landscapes and sunflower pastels. The artist  reception is Thursday, January 10th which coincides  with the opening date of a four-month show.  Above is the pertinent information or please click here .   Do hope everyone in Albuquerque will attend!  

STUDY OF ORANGE SLANT  5" x 5" pastel 8" square archival white mat, AR glass + gold frame *Click on Patrician Design  to contact store for purchase And now I'm in the middle of framing.   Above, Study of Orange Slant,  is a sweet, petite pastel that is going to Patrician Design in Albuquerque.  But do not fear, if you live somewhere else, for you can  click onto  Patrician Design and give them a buzz.  Patti and her gal crew is more than happy to forward this  little one along.  Will be posting soon some very exciting news, that's kept  me so busy (and silent) over here. Ho, ho, ho to one and all!

ZOE WITH TULLE HAT    A REGAL STUDY               4" x 4"pastel                     10" x 8" pastel + gold leaf Once again I've been silent on my end. And it hasn't been  for not working. Between a commission (which I'll be posting  very soon), juried  and solo shows, collaborating on a play and  assuming the 2019 Presidency to the Pastel Society of  New Mexico. Oh, and who could forget there are holidays  coming around quickly!  Pictured here are 3 images that were juried into New Mexico  Art League's  Small Works Holiday Show . The exhibition is  from December 4, 2018 to January 5, 2019. The artists reception  is tomorrow, Saturday the 15th from 5 to 7pm.  Click here for more info at the Art league's website. CLOUD BURST   5 3/4" x 3 1/2" acrylic on wood block 

FEMALE MODEL  pastel on paper This sketch was completed in a hour during a life drawing  session a couple of days ago. Feels so good to be back  onto a schedule here! Time flies and I always seem to have  something popping up, but these drawing sessions really  help strengthen one's eye and hand coordination. And of course, pop of colors always brighten the day! 

MALE STUDY pastel on paper Last Wednesday was life drawing day and the  model was a male. For some reason males are  more difficult.

ABIQUI 5"h x 6 1/4" w pastel Double White Mat, AR glass + Brown Frame SOLD  - PRIVATE COLLECTOR With many thanks to Jezebel Studio & Gallery of  Madrid, New Mexico, for the sale!

PASSING RED  8" Square pastel on Sanded paper AR Glass + Burnt pallet frame Sold - Private Collector Just a swath of red . . . passing through the sky.  Flashes of brightness . . .  illuminating the pale night. Temperament . . . keeping in check.

Blocked in study in pastels On Wednesday I usually go to life drawing.  It's so educational to draw a model from life!  There seems to be a sense of 'freshness' that's  nonparallel to  working from a photo.  Above is my first stage of blocking in the  red-headed model. I underlaid three pastel  shades onto the paper before starting to sketch to give a nice undertone.  Below is a more progressed stage.         

SHADOWS + REDS 14" x 11" pastel  20" x 16" mat, AR glass and black + silver frame Once again I've been quiet over here, but just because I've been  rocking with work. And so little time, but ever so thankful! Above floral Shadows + Reds will be on exhibit at the Pastel Society of New Mexico's Signature Members' Show which will run from October 6th to November 10th at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Art. Always such a honor to be  recognized as a Distinguished and Signature Member of this  society! Rock on . . . . !

AN ORANGE GOOD NIGHT 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel,  8" square archival white mat,  glass + frame  SOLD - Private Collection of Alex Richardson A day scene and a blazing sunset . . . Two more landscape pastels are onward to  a new home, with many thanks to Alex! BLUE PAST THE CLOUDS 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel,  8" square archival white mat,  glass + frame  SOLD - Private Collection of Alex Richardson

LIGHT RAIN 14"h x 11"w pastel  20" x 16" archival mat, glass and gold frame $550 + $20 Insured shipping - tax inclusive Standing on a ridge . . . while the mist fell  onto my upturned face. Relishing the colors . . .  and smelling the fresh scents. Alive!

A QUIET PLACE  5" x 5" pastel 8" square archival white mat, glass + gold frame I'm reposting this scene just because it's available  and I need to find myself a quiet corner today.  And this looks very peaceful! I just finished up two pastel skies workshops which is satisfying yet emotionally draining. It also creates the opportunity to vocalize my personal artistic techniques  and execution. Yet as an artist, I am very visualize, so many  times it's difficult to articulate actions to take when so much  comes intuitively.  But honestly I get so absorbed into creating that I  forget to speak. That's our secret, okey?

HEAVY WAS THE EVENING pastel on sanded paper  The evening seems so full and heavy after several busy  and hectic days.  Don't get me wrong, for I do enjoy my life, but  just trying to keep up with the pace over here.  So thankful . . . . . . 

REEDS monoprint inks on paper I have been gearing up for two workshops with one  completed this past Monday and Wednesday and the  second upcoming next week.  I really enjoy interacting with others, for at those times  the 'line' between students and instructors become blurred.  By this I mean, that amazingly one learns from one's  student in every session. Their creativity and manner of  execution is so unique, that it touches territories I may  have never thought of. So it's always a learning experience  for all involved! With that said, I'm posting 2 monoprints I created last year  in a workshop at Remarque / New Grounds in Albuquerque.  Love REEDS for it's simplicity and fluidity! Blue Monprint and additional pieces   were created  specifically to use for a future life drawing with graphite.  BLUE MONOPRINT monoprint inks on paper 

 FIRE + PASSION 6" x 6" pastel on sanded paper 12" square mat, AR glass, + gold frame SOLD - Private Collector Preparing for 2 workshops on pastel skies at Albuquerque's  OASIS. Always so much to remember and gather together,  but do enjoy it much! And I'm happy to write that both classes are Sold Out! Soon I'll be posting pics of the 2 events.  There will be another workshop on Unique Pastel Still Lifes in November, so will keep all posted of dates and when  registration opens.

FORGOTTEN TRACKS  10" x 8" pastel black mat, glass + frame SOLD - Private Collector Love this little scene!  Such a cozy and and ethereal evening. The setting is a tiny abandoned house in Santa Fe  along the Railyards, yet these tracks are not functional.  And this petite pastel has now gone onto a wonderful home!  Thank you Tish!

A REGAL LOOK * 10" round pastel on wood panel *detail of image And this is the second piece I worked on  for two hours at life drawing yesterday.  Only about halfway done, but you can see  my layering to build up the image.  The first layer is created with a pastel wash  to build up a mid-tone.Then the top sequential  layers are pastel strokes, alternating between  blunt to broad strokes.   Really liking the wood as a substrate . . .  fun, fun, fun!

FACIAL STUDY  6" x 6" pastel on canvas Wednesdays have been my day of life drawing. And lately I've been playing with different bases to  study the effects with texture and application of color. Above ' Facial Study ', is my preliminary exploration of the model to work out positioning of her facial  features and shadowing, while executing onto a  square piece of canvas. The canvas is quite textured creating a "pebbly" effect with a subtle tone. I had spent about 1 1/2 hours on this before venturing  onto a larger wood substrate. I'll post that tomorrow so you can see the difference in color and texture.

MASSIVE YET LIGHT * 6" x 3 1/2" acrylic on recycled wood block * wall hung yet unframed $75 - tax + shipping inclusive The storm traveled on as the sky opened up. Billowy white clouds raced . . .  and backdropped by the brilliant hue of blue. So light, so airy, so uplifting!

CLOUD BURST * 6" x 3 1/2" acrylic on wood block * wall hanging &   unframed Sold- Private Buyer Blue were the skies . . . and pregnant was the cloud. And the purple mass was heavy and swollen with moisture. With fascination I gazed upward as the rain drenched my face . . . cleansing all.

PURPLE MOVEMENT * 4" x 6" acrylic on board /  * unframed SOLD - PRIVATE COLLECTOR Fast and fluid . . . the purple cloud flew as the pastel  colors tumbled and rolled.  Light . . . were my spirits.

ROLLING + MOVING CLOUDS * 6"x 6" pastel,  10" white mat,  glass + burnt wood frame - $295  * Courtesy of  Jezebel Studios  Rolling + Moving Clouds   is one of the many pastels  now hanging at Jezebel  Gallery  of Madrid, NM. Madrid is on the Turquoise Trail leading on Albuquerque's eastern side of the Sandia  Mountains to Santa Fe. Quite scenic with a  cruise through some old mining towns.  So two months ago Jezebel Gallery begun carrying my art, with focus on my skies and animals. All are framed in burnt pallet wood frames created by my husband, Dave Roden. If you can't make the trip, then please check out  Jezebel's online site here .

LOVELY (Huntington Gardens) *Courtesy of Tirage Art SOLD Here's another pastel that had been sold during   Tirage Art's Retirement Sale .  So grateful  for the many years of representation!

YELLOW 10" round pastel on wood Wednesday is a day I typically go to life drawing.  So wonderful to be immersed in the art of painting  from life! And I enjoy immensely on trying different  supports and techniques.  Above, YELLOW , is a sketch completed in 45 minutes.  This is on a wooden base and executed with underlying  pastel washes. I've been playing here for am giving a class in November at Oasis on pastel washes with still lifes. More about that coming up later! Below, RED CROSS ,  is the warm-up sketch I created  during the same session. This is the 2nd and the  wood substrate measures 7" x 4 1/2". This was created as a preliminary facial study and to see the effectiveness of washes onto the wood base.  Really like what I have going on!  RED CROSS  7" x 4 1/2" pastel on wood

PARASOL 12" x 9" pastel on paper Wednesday was a morning of life drawing . . .   so relaxing of a day! Paraso l is one of the 2 sketches I created  at The Artists Studio in Albuquerque. And such a great model!

BUOYANT CLOUDS 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" pastel double mat, AR glass + gold frame 'Buoyant Clouds ' was accepted into the Land  of Enchantment Show sponsored by the  Pastel Society of New Mexico and on view  at the Community Gallery of Santa Fe.  All accepted pastel paintings were to depict New Mexico, so here's my imagery of state's  vibrant clouds bursting from the landscape. The exhibit is on view from July 6th to the 25th,  yet only open to the public till the 16th. So there's  still 4 more days to see the show!

LILIES + PADS * SOLD * Courtesy of Tirage Art Discovery of many sales upon arriving at Tirage Art  last week. Lilies + Pads is one of the sixteen  pastels that went onto a new home. Bittersweet to say good-bye as I passed through  the doors for the last time. The gallery will have an internet presence, so please continue to follow online.  

FLORALS ON WOOD 10"x10" pastel / wash on cradled wood panel Just returned from California for the closing  of Tirage Art. Sad . ..  sad . . . sad. Now working on imagery for an upcoming class  at OASIS of Albuquerque. This class will be held  November 12th and 14th.  FLORALS ON WOOD is a sample illustrating the  use of base washes onto a wooden substrate. Looser,  sketchy, and a visual blended appearance. 

LINGER * 6" x 6" pastel 10" x 10" white mat, glass and gold frame * Courtesy of Tirage Art Original Price $250 SALE PRICE $125 Today is the final day before the doors shut at Tirage Art  of Pasadena, CA. I've been with the gallery for over 14 years  and loved every minute! Honored to be part  of this esteemed gallery and will miss them greatly! Still opportunity to purchase original art from national artists  online or in person. Click here to go online for additional  information. RAINY DAY * 11" x 15" pastel on paper SOLD - *Courtesy of Tirage Art

HIDE-N-SEEK* 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" x 8" white mat, glass + gold frame SOLD! * Courtesy of Tirage Art And the days roll down . . .  now you see them,  and then you don't. Please click here with interest of purchasing and / or  to see remaining art to buy.

FESTIVE SETTING *   20" x 16"pastel on paper 24" x 20" white mat, glass + gilded gold frame  * Courtesy of Tirage Art Originally $1,300 / Sale price $650 Well just 2 days remaining for Tirage Art gallery's  50% retirement sale and for the gallery to close. Above, FESTIVE SETTING , is one of the remaining  pieces of mine available. With interest, please click here   to purchase or view remaining art available.

RED, RED, RED TUMBLE * 10" x 8"  pastel on paper framed: 16" x 14" $500 / Sale price $250 * Courtesy of Tirage Art Gallery Countdown for the final week at Tirage Art Gallery.  Click here to go to the gallery's site for additional info  or purchase. And the apples are tumbling down!

PEEK-A-BOO RED * pastel on paper * Courtesy of Tirage Art Ridiculous sale of 50% off original art at Tirage Art Gallery ! PEEK-A-BOO RED is one of my pastels available. The gallery's  retirement sale will be ending on June 16th and any remaining  paintings will then return to original pricing. Since there is a limited time, I will be posting a few more  pastels this week included within Tirage's sale.  With interest, either drop into the gallery at 1 W. California Blvd, Pasadena, CA or click here to go to their website for an online directory and / or contact info.

Model on 6/6/18 pastel on paper I really enjoy drawing from life!  Not only to capture the model's personality  and demeanor, but also the opportunity for  me to phase-out life. Amazing how everyday's  turmoils and chores muddle the brain.    

FIRE + PASSION*  pastel on paper * Courtesy of Tirage Art Sold - Private Collector The days are drawing near when the doors will close  at Tirage Art  of Pasadena, after 35 years. So honored  to have been represented by them for over 14years!  The gallery is having a limited retirement sale, which includes my pastels. Wonderful time to get original art  at record-breaking sales. Above pastel, FIRE + PASSION  is one that is available. Click here to go to Tirage's  website for contact info.  Here is one of their recent sales, RAINY EVENING.     

PROFILE OF A MODEL pastel on paper Playing some more during a life drawing session.  Think she has an attitude huh?

BLONDE MODEL pastel on paper Difficult but pleasing to draw from life. 

YORK * 7" x 9" pastel $350 Sale price $262.50 Contact Tirage Art  DOTS  * 7" x 9" pastel SOLD  Courtesy  + Sale by Tirage Art GET YOUR CANDY ON PEOPLE! Tirage Art Gallery of Pasadena, CA is closing after 35 years  and is having a huge sale. Above my pastel, YORK is available whereas DOTS has been sold.   What better way to enjoy candy without gaining any weight?  Go for it you sweet-tooth junkies.