SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

CLASSES, TEACHING + PAINTING   I have been so busy teaching as well as painting! Above are two abstract pastels created for demos during  two classes at Oasis / ABQ.  On the left was created at the first class in May and the  right was from this past week. The classes were learning  of representational and non-representational abstracts.  They had vases of florals for inspiration.  Now I have upcoming eight-week classes at the New Mexico Art League on the dynamics of strokes and substrates.  Fun, fun, fun!

  BEAUTY - Abstract 2 soft pastel on sanded paper It's been so long since I've posted, so playing catch up now.  I've been so fortunate and awarded a residency in April - more  about all of this later! - had a solo show at Harwood Art Center  in Albuquerque, and classes at Oasis / ABQ and the New Mexico  Art League .  Guess I'll start with that first, so above is one of my demos at the Art League with the class of 3 Stages of Abstraction. Was fun, to think outside of the box with abstracts.  

So what's this?  This is the beginning of an abstract painting. It has been a busy week and hasn't quite ended.  I've  been teaching at three different places with different topics at each.  Above is the start of an abstract pastel that I demo'ed  at Oasis / ABQ, showing the blocking in stage. We  did have three vases of fresh flowers in the room  for inspiration, plus it smelled so nice! Once the painting  progresses, the flowers will not be so noticeable.  I'll post once this is completed, so stay tuned!

ORANGE BEAUTY 2                     2 LEAVES 6" x 6"                                        7" x 7" Thinking in two realms, yet there's is still a  commonality between these two pastels. Orange Beauty 2 is a simplified sunset with use  of bold colors. The medium is applied in an  extensive layered patterning. The representational abstract, 2 Leaves , again uses the same bold colors, yet with a different  execution. A wash is applied to the primary base  and then colors applied in a layered fashion.  Funny how I have to really focus when changing  genres.  

  one  7" x 7" pastel 10" square white mat, glass + white frame $175 + $15 shipping - tax inclusive Light  airy free fall  . . .  loose your emotions.

  two 6" x 6" pastel  10" square white mat, glass + frame $175 + $15 shipping Well, ashamed to say it's been so long.  Even though there has been silence I've been working away. I finally returned to in-person teaching! That was a trip,  but a welcomed venture. Almost forgot to how-to-do it.  And I've been working on different projects, techniques and styles.  Above, two , is one venture. Abstracts with a focus onto  harmony, balance and rhythm. Also mark making. Will be  premiering several the next few days. And I've been working on a huge project which really has really   consumed my time! I'll be traveling to my art residency again in  a week to the Desert Dairy Farm, where I'll be focusing on this project.  More to come and promise I won't be so silent!

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!