SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

 BLUE  soft pastel  SOLD This is another petite pastel that sold recently.  Many thanks to the collector!

A Mist + Clouds SOLD  So fortunate for had a few sales, that I'll be posting  this week. So honored when someone loves a piece  I had created and it goes to a lovely home.  A Mist + Clouds has  always been one of my favorites,  and off it went! And so appropriate too, for the  past couple days it's been raining with misty skies.  Thank you!

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!

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!

BRUSH STUDY 10" x 10" pastel on sanded paper I've been teaching a lot lately, which is always a challenge for makes me think . Amazing how much artists create intuitively! So now I have to think of the words to express the technique and thought process. Above, Brush Study , is a work in progress of a Southwest landscape created during a class at the New Mexico Art  League. It was executed with a alcohol wash underpainting. Still a ways to go, but progressing!

 SUNSET + MOUNTAIN 12" x 12" pastel on sanded paper Sunsets in New Mexico are so magnetic and dramatic!  Sometimes hues of oranges, or purples or pinks, but  nevertheless mesmerizing. And typically the mountain range is daunting, yet looks  so diminutive under a blazing sky.  Enjoy the hot colors!

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.  

SUNSET + RIDGE 12" x 12" soft pastel Above, Sunset + Ridge , shows the finished soft pastel on  the left and the beginning sketch on the right. Of course  there's many interim layers that have been applied, but  for brevity, I'll just show you the beginning and the end. I just love the sculptural process with building and layering  soft pastels!  

PURPLE + YELLOW TREE 8" x 8" soft pastel on sanded paper 12" white mat, glass + black frame $275 - tax + shipping inclusive  With the new year, I'm off to a fresh start! I've been absent much on my blog, for life has thrown so many twists on the day-to-day events.  But I've missed all, so this year I'll be more present.  Above, PURPLE + YELLOW TREE is a pastel I've created for my upcoming class at the New Mexico Art League that begins this Friday, the 6th.  PURPLE + YELLOW TREE is a sample of utilizing bright complimentary colors in a scene. Below, is  an image of the 2 pastels I've created with one using  subtle complimentary colors and the same scene with bright colors and a more graphic approach.  And the scene is from the Desert Dairy Farm's oasis where I was so fortunate to have a residency in 2021+ 2022! Love that place!

EVENING FIRE 2 6" x 6" pastel on sanded paper AR glass & Black frame $375 - free shipping* (15% discount available - just ask!) Contact Randy for purchase @ #800-506-7624 or support@kingofframe.com The eve of Christmas and the sky was blazing red.  

 PURPLE DELUGE 6" x 6" pastel on sanded paper $295 - free shipping CLICK - purchase Purple Deluge is my second pastel on Randy Higbee Gallery's 2022 6" Square Online Exhibition + Sale. I do have two more juried into his gallery show, which  I'll be posting soon.  Art is a wonderful xmas gift! Consider on purchasing, plus tell Rand 'Sue says give a 15% discount on top of  t he purchase price!' And the shipping is inclusive. So click here , to see additional information and purchase.

 HEAVY WAS THE CLOUD 6" pastel on sanded paper unframed $295  - free shipping click to purchase The above pastel, HEAVY WAS THE CLOUD, is one of  two juried into Randy Higbee's 2022 6" Squared Online  Exhibition and Sale.  This is the second year of the online exhibit with excellent  deals. AND with interest, you can tell Randy 'Susan says  you can have 15% off the listed price!' With free shipping the painting makes an excellent  xmas gift! Click here to see the 2 pieces and / or purchase:

CROSS OF REDEMPTION 12"h x 9"w soft pastel + gold leaf 22.5"h x 18.5" glass, mat and gilded frame $725 This Saturday, the 12th is the reception at New Mexico  Art League's Beyond Ordinary -the Still Life - from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. I will be here! The above pastel, Cross of Redemption , is one of the three within the exhibit. To read more about the show or purchase, please click here.    

 The Ridge - Orange + Purple Sunset - Swirl of Clouds Each is 6" x 6" acrylic Floater frame - Dave Roden's recycled painted  pallet wood frame $225 Each Honored my three acrylics were juried into the  miniature division of  the 27th Annual  Gateway  to the  Rockies Art Show . The exhibit opens Friday,  November 4th with a reception from 5 to 7pm  at the Community College of Aurora, Colorado.  Unfortunately I won't be in attendance, however  will be there in spirit! Please stop bye if you live  or visiting the area. The show will be up till  December 9th and miniatures make lovely  Christmas gifts!

A PINK DRAPE + GREEN APPLES 10" x 8" pastel 14 1/2" h x 12 1/2"w mat, glass + ornate silver frame $525 Pleased to announce that A Pink Drape + Green Apples  is the 2nd of three pastels juried into New Mexico Art League's  Beyond Ordinary _ the still life. The exhibit will up for viewing till November 26th with  an artists reception on November 12th from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.  And I will be in attendance!  Hope to see you there!!  Please click here for additional information or purchase.

  SHADOWED POSEYS 12" x 9" pastel  18" x 15" frame $550 Shadowed Poseys is one of the three pastels on exhibit at New Mexico  Art League's Beyond Ordinary - the Still Life- which opened October 25th.  The Artists Reception is on Saturday, November12th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  I will be there too!  Below, is the formal invitation:

 AND THE CLOUDS DANCED pastel Private Collector  Catching the movement and speed of the overhead  clouds . . . as the summer wanes. Blue is the sky, colorful  are the  clouds . . . in the bright day.  Beautiful!

PINKS + PURPLES 5" x 5" pastel 8" square gold frame, white mat and glass I'm not really a pink and purple person yet find these colors  soothing. Onset of a sunset when all is saying good night.  

 RED, RED, RED . . .  TUMBLE 10" x 8" pastel This little delight will be hanging with Tirage Art , one  of my favorite galleries! So happy they have represented my pastels for years.  Please click here for additional information.

A FOREST 11" round mixed media on wood  Do you have days where you feel as if you're deeply  in a forest, lush and green, yet the path is lost? Which  direction should be taken to regain your footing? Which opportunities should you grab?  Or do you look at it as a forest comforts and ensconces  you from bad happenings? A deep, green womb. Or do you feel your life is so stressful and overwhelmed, thus you're lost in a forest?   So many alternatives . . .  frankly, I'm seeking comfort.