Pink Flowers

"Pink Flowers" Pastel 4" x 8"

Small contemporary floral in pastel.

This piece is matted to fit a standard 11" x 14" frame.  Purchase it from my Etsy shop in time for holiday gift-giving!

Still Life with Lime

"Still Life With Lime" Pastel 6" x 6"

Small contemporary still life in pastel on wood panel.  I understand there's a lime shortage, so perhaps this is the likeliest way to get your hands on one...

Available for purchase via Daily Paintworks auction: click to bid.  Bidding starts at just $12, what a deal!  This piece is matted to fit a standard 11" x 14" frame; just pop it in and hang it up.

Untitled (abstract pencil drawing)

"Untitled" pencil 15" x 10"

Abstract pencil drawing on Canson Mi-Tientes mounted to acid-free foamcore.

This piece is available for purchase, matted to fit a standard 20" x 16" frame.

Abstract in Peach, Purple, Rust

"Abstract in Peach, Purple, Rust" Pastel 4" x 6"

This piece is framed and ready to display on your wall or tabletop!  It may be purchased via Daily Paintworks auction.

Layers of Brown and Turquoise

"Layers of Brown and Turquoise" Pastel 6" x 6"

A small abstract in pastel on wood panel.  The brand name of the panel is Ampersand Aquabord; it's made for watercolor, but the texture is also wonderful for working in pastel.

I'm not really sure if this piece is an abstracted landscape or not...I'm leaning more toward a simple celebration of texture and subtle interplay of color.

Available for purchase via Daily Paintworks auction, it is already matted to fit a standard 11" x 14" frame.  Easy-peasy!

Daisies

"Daisies" Pastel 4" x 8"

A small, contemporary floral in pastel on primed foam core.  This piece was drawn from life, if you can believe that!  Yes, clearly I had my way with it...

The original is available for purchase via Daily Paintworks auction.  It is conveniently matted to 11" x 14", so all you need to do is pop it into a standard frame and it's ready to display!

Tulips and Tumbler

"Tulips and Tumbler" Pastel 4" x 6"

Small, contemporary still life in pastel, featuring a vase of flowers next to a tumbler.  The glassware, not the gynmast...

I've framed this piece in a find from the thrift store, and it is now up for auction at Daily Paintworks.

Little Pink House

"Little Pink House" Pastel 5" x 3"

This little abstract piece began as a sort of monoprint.  I was working on another piece and got a little overzealous on the fixative, so I figured I'd soak up some of it with a primed bit of foam core...the resulting stain inspired this piece.

The original art may be purchased at my Etsy shop, all matted and ready to frame!

Askew

"Askew" Pastel 5" x 5"

A small, original abstract work in pastel...all about geometry, though a bit askew...

The original artwork is available via auction at Daily Paintworks, matted and ready for a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Smokestacks

"Smokestacks" Pastel 8" x 4"

Small abstract urban landscape in pastel.  Working with a very limited, neutral palette...the suggestion of smoke or maybe fog inspired the title.

The original artwork is available via auction at Daily Paintworks, matted to fit a standard 14" x 11" frame.  Just pop it in a frame and hang; easy-peasy!

Totem

"Totem" Pastel 11" x 17"

An original, non-objective/abstract pastel on paper.  The paper I used is designed for use with oil paints, actually, but I thought it offered a nice, subtle texture for pastel.

Mixed Messages

"Mixed Messages" Pencil 16" x 10"

Abstract black and white drawing in pencil.  Some areas were treated with a bit of alcohol wash, some were crosshatched...inspiring the title.

The original is available via Saatchi Art, where you can also order prints on demand.  They also have a really cool feature where you can see how the art would look in a room...

Yellow Brick Road

"Yellow Brick Road" Pastel 7" x 5"

Small, non-objective abstract in pastel.

I have framed this piece and offer it for sale via auction at Daily Paintworks, please take a look!

Storefronts

"Storefronts" Pastel 8" x 4"

A small, abstracted urban landscape in pastel.  A non-objective start with some geometric shapes, it began to suggest buildings...

You may purchase the original artwork via Daily Paintworks auction.  Click to bid; starting at $6.  The piece is matted to a standard 14" x 11" for easy framing!

The Both

"The Both" Pastel 6" x 4"

Small abstract in pastel...began as a non-objective piece and started to suggest two pieces of fruit...Granny Smith apples, perhaps?  Composition rules say that odd numbers look better, but I think two is just right.

As far as the title, since I'm a fan of the collaboration of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, also I may or may not have heard their song "Milwaukee" during the creation of this piece, I figured it was apt.

The original artwork is up for auction, matted and ready to pop into any standard 8" x 10" frame.  Click to bid; starting at only $6!

Still Life with Tulips (Orange and Blue)

"Still Life with Tulips (Orange and Blue)" Pastel 6" x 6"

This small, contemporary still life was created with soft pastel on Ampersand Aquabord, a panel made for working in watercolor.  (That is the brand name, hence the misspelling of "board.")  I thought the textured surface might work well for pastel, and I was not disappointed.  I do love working on my homemade surfaces, but sometimes it's nice to change things up...

A giclee reproduction print of this work is available at my Etsy shop, or click to bid on the original artwork up for auction.  The artwork is matted and ready to pop into a standard 11" x 14" frame.

Red Fields

"Red Fields" Pastel 8" x 4"

Considering how difficult is is to accurately capture the reds and oranges in pieces like this and Abstract in Red and Orange, you'd think I'd move away from using those palettes...

This original abstract in pastel is available for purchase at My Etsy shop.  It is conveniently matted to fit a standard 14" x 11" frame: no fuss, no muss!

Square Foot Show

"Chance Meeting" Mixed Media 12" x 12"

"Distance" Mixed Media 12" x 12"

These two pieces will be on display and available for purchase at the Bismarck Art & Galleries Association Annual Square Foot Show August 5 - 29, 2014.

Patchwork II

"Patchwork II" Pastel 6" x 5"

Another small abstract in pastel.  A little more organic, perhaps, than the last Patchwork piece, and a subtler palette.  Starting to suggest trees, maybe something in the birch or poplar family, with the splashes of white...

This one-of-a-kind, original artwork is available for purchase at my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking!

Patchwork

"Patchwork" Pastel 4" x 6"

Small abstract in pastel, all about geometry.  The palette is a little all over the place, but I like how it came together nonetheless.

I've popped this piece in a thrift store frame and offered it for sale at my Etsy shop; I'd be thrilled if you'd take a look.  Thanks in advance!

White Flowers

"White Flowers" Pastel 4" x 6"

A small, contemporary floral/still life pastel on Sennelier LaCarte.

This piece was 100% completed in one day, from creation to framing; I felt so productive!  It might have something to do with the small size, but I'm sure Jedi Master Yoda would disagree...

You may purchase the original artwork, framed and ready to display via DPW auction for as little as $6!

Fields

"Fields" Pastel 6" x 4"

Small abstract landscape in pastel...thinking about farm fields seen either from a distance on the ground, or perhaps from an airplane.  Who doesn't love that?

This piece started out with a layer of reds, over which I added greens and blues...I like the areas where the red is still peeking through and sets off the compliments.

The original artwork is now available for purchase via my Etsy shop.

Abstract in Blue and Brown

"Abstract in Blue and Brown" Pastel 8" x 4"

Small abstract work in pastel, complimentary blues and browns, with just a little purple thrown in for fun.  Playing with geometric forms, and some interesting effects from the under-painting.  By "under-painting" I mean a layer of pastel that was sprayed heavily with fixative and allowed to run.

You can purchase the original artwork at my Etsy shop; thanks in advance for checking it out and spreading the word!

Meadow

"Meadow" Pastel

This piece has been lingering in a drawer for a while, one of my very first forays into abstract work, inspired by the colors I found in a pile of pastel dust sitting below my easel.  I sprayed a scrap of black pastel paper (Canson Mi-Tientes, to be exact), with fixative, then pressed it onto the pile of dust to make a sort of monoprint.  After tweaking some of the values and shapes, it became this abstract landscape.

Hacienda

"Hacienda" Pastel

Abstract pastel on paper, using a "hot," southwest-inspired palette.

Winged

"Winged" Pastel 6" x 6"

A small, abstract piece in pastel on a heavily textured surface.  I started to see wings forming, and maybe even a Phoenix...?

You can purchase the original artwork for as little as cost via Daily Paintworks auction.  Prints are available at My Etsy shop.

Tree Line

"Tree Line" Charcoal and Pastel 5" x 3.5"

An abstracted landscape piece that began as a non-objective drawing...took some fussing and fighting to get this one to develop.  Very limited palette for this piece...

Pale Flowers in Pot

"Pale Flowers in Pot" Pastel 4" x 6"

Small, contemporary still life in pastel.  This one come together very quickly; I did not have a specific subject or reference in mind, rather just some random scribbles of charcoal and my imagination.  I just love when a piece sort of draws/paints itself!

Mesa

"Mesa" Pastel 6" x 3"

A small abstract landscape in pastel.  This began as a non-objective piece with some random scribbles of charcoal, which I heavily sprayed with fixative to create a wash.  I developed the values a bit more, added some subtle olives, browns, and rusts, and discovered this landscape hiding in the work.

The surface is acid-free foam core board treated with pastel primer to give it some tooth.  I love the textures I get with homemade surfaces...well worth the extra prep time.

The original art is currently up for auction and can be yours for as little as $6!  Click to bid!

Purple Flowers

"Purple Flowers" Pastel 3" x 6"

A small, contemporary still life pastel on a home-prepared, textured surface.  I referenced the shape of the vase in the flowers themselves, giving a rhythm to the piece.  I love the complimentary combination of purples, greens, and yellows...

Still Life With Violets

"Still Life With Violets" Pastel 10" x 8"

The largest of the contemporary still life works I've created lately...I used a different approach here, first creating a sketch, then printing that sketch on drawing paper.  I then mounted the paper to a piece of acid-free foam core, and coated it with a layer of clear primer.  The primer is textured to give me tooth for the application of pastel, but I could still see my sketch beneath.

It was a nice way to work, although I'd say I do enjoy the spontaneity of sketching right on my drawing surface and taking it from there.  Still, I may play around more with this method.

This original, framed artwork can be yours for as little as $14!  Click to bid.

Red Flowers II

"Red Flowers II" Pastel 3" x 6"

Not to be confused with my first "Red Flowers" pastel...

This was one of those magical pieces that seems to create itself; everything came together so quickly and so well, gives this work a wonderful sense of freshness and spontaneity.

Surface is primed, acid-free foam core.

Lean-To

"Lean-To" Charcoal and Pastel 3" x 6"

It can be a bit of a challenge to come up with titles for abstract pieces sometimes.  This piece was starting to look a bit forest-y, but not quite...so I guess it started to suggest a primitive structure one might construct in a forest...?  It's mostly done in grays, but there is some subtle brown and sage green in there, too; each monitor is a bit different so hopefully you can see that bit of color in yours...

Flowers and Fruit

"Flowers and Fruit" Pastel 6" x 6"

Small, contemporary still life in pastel...can you tell I'm influenced by Cezanne?

Bottle, Fruit, and Flowers

"Bottle, Fruit, and Flowers" Pastel 5" x 3"

Contemporary still life in pastel, a study in complimentary blues and orange.  The round shapes of the fruit and flowers create a rhythm across the piece.

The surface is hand-prepared with a textured pastel ground applied to acid-free foam core.

This original artwork is up for auction on Daily Paintworks; it can be yours for as little as $12!  Prints are available at my Etsy shop.

Abstract in Red and Orange

"Abstract in Red and Orange" Pastel 5" x 5"

A small, non-objective, relatively monochromatic piece in pastel.  I used Sennelier La Carte for my surface, which has a lovely sanded surface and comes in wonderful colors; some of the base color shows through in spots.

While I enjoyed working with the limited palette, it was very difficult to adjust the scan to accurately represent these colors.

Flowers and Lemons

"Flowers and Lemons" Pastel 5" x 3.5"

Small still life in pastel...I'm calling this style "contemporary."  It doesn't depict any real objects, more a sense of a familiar scene with a focus on simple forms, color, and texture.  My favorite happy accident in this piece: the way the two strokes of yellow on the bottle begin to suggest a label.

The original artwork, all framed and everything, can be yours for as little as $12!

Geyser

"Geyser" Pastel 3" x 6"

A small abstract landscape in pastel, just sort of playing around with colors and the different results I got as I layered them together on my textured surface.  I like how the little bit of rust color peeks out from the olive areas.

Tangle

"Tangle" Charcoal and Pastel 6" x 4"

A small, abstract drawing in charcoal and pastel.  Like most of my non-objective pieces, it began with some random scribbles.  Eventually they developed into something that reminded me of a tangle of branches.

Folding Fences

"Folding Fences" Charcoal 8" x 8"

An abstract drawing in charcoal.  I'm not sure exactly how or why one would go about folding fences, but I perhaps this is what it might look like...

Maybe I was thinking about the final scene in the movie Poltergeist (spoiler alert!), where the house folds in on itself and disappears in a tiny spark of light...could happen...

Blue Abstract

"Blue Abstract" Pastel 8" x 8"

I'm starting to take the abstract drawings out of the sketchbook now!  This is a monochromatic, non-objective pastel drawing on paper.  I suppose I started thinking about windblown grasslands and nests when I was working on this one.

Red Flowers

"Red Flowers" Pastel 3" x 6"

My current work is going in two main directions: non-objective/abstract work and still life subjects constructed from my imagination with a contemporary style.  This is one of the latter, of course.

After being tied to photographic reference for so long, it's very liberating to work more intuitively...its quite magical, really, creating scenes and objects from nothing.

This piece is available for purchase via auction at Daily Paintworks.  It is matted to fit a standard 8" x 10" frame.

Strata

"Strata" Pencil Drawing

Another non-objective pencil drawing from my sketchbook.  By non-objective I mean that I don't have a subject in mind when I'm working; I'm not representing a specific thing in the piece.  It's sort of art about nothing...Seinfeld fans should love it!

As I develop these drawings, they do begin to suggest forms, objects, or scenes.  This one reminded me of layers of rock, that one might find in a canyon...

Upcoming Show: Less is More

"Pear" Pastel 4" x 5"

My pastel still life, "Pear," will be on display at the upcoming juried show "Less is More," in Annapolis Maryland.  If you should find yourself in the area, I highly recommend checking it out!

L>M

less is more: small works in a great space
The Mitchell Gallery - St. John's College - Annapolis, Maryland
May 29-June 15, 2014
Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday. Free Admission.

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This exhibition of small works, no larger than 8 x 10 x 4", includes 272 pieces of art by 186 artists from across the nation. Distinguished juror Domenic Iacono selected paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, artist's books, collages, mixed media, photographs, jewelry and small sculptures. Domenic Iacono is the the director of Syracuse University Art Galleries. In addition to having curated several exhibitions, and written numerous print catalogs over the years, Iacono teaches in the graduate museum studies program at Syracuse University, where his area of special interest is the history and curatorship of prints.

All works will be for sale and can be viewed in the online gallery http://themitchellgallery.org/sales. Online sales begin May 29.  All proceeds benefit the educational programs of The Mitchell Gallery.

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Premiere Opening - May 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Guests of the Premiere Opening have the first opportunity to purchase the original artwork on display at the exhibit. Tickets are $100 per person, with special pricing of $75 until May 15 for St. John's College alumni, exhibiting artists and members of The Mitchell Gallery.
 

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Reserve tickets: http://community.stjohnscollege.edu/lessismore-2014
Visit us on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-mitchell-gallery/200905343310822

Reflections

"Reflections" Pencil Drawing

From the sketchbook, a small pencil drawing that began with the stone shapes, but they were a bit too...direct?  Specific?  Anyhoo, I took my eraser to it, which suddenly suggested ripples in water.  I just love those happy accidents when I'm working!

Fronds

"Fronds" Pencil Drawing

From the sketchbook, a non-objective drawing that developed into organic, fern-like shapes.  The title "Fronds" seemed as appropriate as any.

My non-objective drawings start quite literally with a bunch of scribbles...I scribble some more, erase, smudge, hatch, etc., until a suggestion of form develops.  Usually these drawings start to resemble landscapes or images of nature.  I enjoy working this way a great deal; it's wonderfully meditative, and keeps me in touch with my artistic voice I think...

Woven

"Woven" Pencil 6" x 4"

From the sketchbook, titled as the forms seemed to weave themselves together.

Some interesting results from my sketches lately; I will have to play with some image transfers to create some larger, finished work...

Leaves Or Fish?

"Leaves Or Fish?" Pencil 6" x 4"

From the sketchbook, forms that are swimming or floating...or both?

Three Trees

"Three Trees" Pencil 7" x 4"

Something from the sketchbook, random scribbles becoming a misty landscape.