SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

ZIG-ZAGS 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square archival white mat, glass + black frame $150 + $15 insured shipping Love the title!  Not only indicating the lines of the drapery,  but also how I've been feeling lately.  Pretty hectic around here. But nothing a good ole' chocolate donut can fix!

SKETCH OF CECELIA .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  SKETCH OF ME charcoal+ pastel As I had wrote in a previous post, last week the beginning drawing class had been drawing each other. "SKETCH OF CECELIA" is my class demo and "SKETCH OF ME" which I did about a year ago, was shown as  another example. My . . . I look serious huh?

PINK FIELDS 12" x 9" pastel on canvas panel PRIVATE COLLECTOR I'm teaching "Introduction to Pastels" once again  at UCSD Extension this summer and will be covering  a whole array of techniques from washes, to layering  and strokes and in various genres. "PINK FIELDS" was  the demo piece in illustrating washes on textured panels  in an impressionistic style.  So if you want to learn more on this medium, as well  as have a barrel of fun, please click here to read more  and sign up.

CRISS-CROSS 8"h x 10"w pastel on canvas panel* *no mat nor frame $275 + $10 insured priority shipping - tax inclusive I'm in the middle of teaching an introduction to pastels at UCSD Extension, which is always fun for me.  Not only do I instruct the wonders of the medium,  but also refresh myself of other techniques and supplies. Above is the demo piece on priming canvas panels, with an under-wash base of acrylic as well as blocking in the composition with pastel. So much texture which really changes the finished appearance.  Above, CRISS-CROSS is my interpretation  of the movement of clouds at sunrise. 

CHARCOAL SKETCH Sketching here and there as samples for my Thursday evening drawing classes at UCSD Extension. Fortunate to have such a small, intimate and fun-loving  group of adults! This past week they drew each other in 12-minutes spurts. Interesting to see their developing individualistic styles!   This is a 10-minute sketch of myself as a prepared sample. 

SUSAN 12"h x 9"w pastel sketch Very intimidating to paint oneself. After all, do you  think we perceive ourselves as others? I look so serious! Hmmmmm . . . . .  Need to expand my knowledge for the students in my  upcoming pastel portrait workshop at the San Diego Museum  of Art and the Intermediate Drawing classes at UCSD Extension.  So have been plugging away and revisiting with different papers and styles of execution.  Too easy to get cozy with a constant style.  So let's experiment!

SQUIGGLE TREES 12"h x 24"w pastel on artist canvas  Created by: Olcay Boz,  Penny Clews +  Janetmarie Colby    Here are 2 of the pastels created in the summer class I taught this summer at UCSD Extension.  Above, the artists Olcay Boz, Penny Clews and Janetmarie Colby worked jointly on this piece for 2 hours. And below, the artists were Amy Briere, Amber Francis and VC Groves.  They are on exhibit at Ray Street Custom Framing + Gallery of North Park, with the first of two public receptions this Saturday from 6 to 9 pm.  100% of proceeds will benefit The Monarch School in San Diego, for children impacted by homelessness.  RED + GREEN LANDSCAPE 12"h x 24"w pastel on artist canvas  Created by: Amy Briere, Amber Francis + VC Groves

FREE SPIRIT The summer pastel class I taught at UCSD Extension was  amazing! Everyone worked so very hard and created  exceptional art. Above, Free Spirit , was one of the communal  pieees. We played musical art to give all experience  working on a variety of substrates. After a set time,  the board was passed to the next person to continue.  And now most of the communal pieces will be  framed and sold for a fundraiser to benefit  San Diego's  Monarch School for homeless kids.  The event will be held and on exhibit at Ray Street Custom Framing & Gallery in North Park.  I'll be posting several of the pieces of the art,  as well as additional information of the event in upcoming posts. Stay tuned!

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!

BLUE HAIR 8"h x7"w pastel on canson paper 12" square archival white mat, no glass nor frame $55 + $5 insured priority shipping I just LOVE being an artist, for I can justify everything I create . . .  and just because. And who says I can't make blue hair? Pretty punk, huh? Actually this was a sample for my upcoming classes at UCSD Extension. Blue Hair is an old  sketch which I drew from life, so decided to play  with it. Previously, the features of the young girl  were undistinguishable, so I blended, drew,  washed and stroked for the above piece.  Oh . . .  for the record my pastels I exhibit are  never blended. I create them by extensive layering  and will cover this technique as well.

PASTEL CLASSES sketch                                  blocking-in It's official! I'll be teaching a pastel class at UCSD Extension.  I have taught there previously and so honored  to be invited back.  So if you live in San Diego County with a desire to learn various pastel techniques, then this is the series to take. The focus will be on the varied  applications of pastels, from sketching, blending,  tonals, layering to washes, through hands-on exercises.  Click here to read more.