SUSAN'S . . . PLAYING AGAIN!

 Fallen Chamisa  -  Sunset + the Ridge  -  Overgrown Beauty $600                       $850                        $600 My three pastels above are included within the Pastel Society  of New Mexico's Signature Show and on exhibit at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos.   The show opened March 25th and runs through April 16, with an artists reception on Saturday, April 1st from  3 - 5pm. Unfortunately I'll be at an art residency at the Mission Street Arts in the Jemez, so unable to attend. If  you're able to attend, the Museum is located at  1504 Millicent Rogers Rd, Taos, NM . I saw the work as I dropped of mine and it's a wonderful show!  To purchase or see a catalog of the show click here.

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.  

 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!