SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

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!

  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!

 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.  

 Green + Orange Bushes     Blue + Orange Study             Sanded paper           Canson drawing paper    I always end up working with different techniques  and styles when teaching.  Not that I don't use  mark-making, but tend to get into a 'groove' with  using the same execution. So now I'm doing Southwest landscapes utilizing  complimentary colors and marks. Green + Orange  Bushe s is a completed and framed pastel, whereas  Blue  + Orange  Study is created on drawing paper for  an example to my upcoming class on Friday. Just so much fun!

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!

 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 PATH * 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" pastel 8" square mat, glass + frame Private Collector Calling for the final sign-up of the 3-days workshop, The  Expressive Landscape in Pastel ,  at the New Mexico Art League in Albuquerque. Emphasis will be on compositions, rendering, complimentary colors while capturing the movement  of clouds. The class runs Friday, June 17th thru Sunday, June 19th  from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. More information by clicking here .  * This little pastel had gone onward to a new home quite some  time ago, however is still one of my favorites. 

  VIEW ATOP 9"h x 6"w pastel Sold - Private Collector So happy this Southwest Landscape went onto a good home! And I love seeing where my little ones travel to.  Thank you so much to all who have supported my art  throughout the years!