SUCCESS – We have a Blogsite!

What an intensely focused few days I’ve had. Starting with the unsolicited, much appreciated and extensive help from my good friend Sheila and her husband Paul, a smart web wiz from academia, I have now successfully moved  my entire website over to this blog.  Actually Paul moved it but I helped!  Isn’t it cool? With this new site I will be able to add new images immediately and News and Events will be updated instantly instead of sporadically.  There are several ways to view the images and soon I will be adding an ecommerce option as well.  But for now, the major work is done and I am a happy blogger.  Major thanks to Paul and Sheila.  I could not have done this without you nor would I have even tried.  Be sure to visit Sheila’s “blogsite” as well at www.sheilaevans.net and view her gorgeous pastels and oils.

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SHOWTIME!

Trees on a BluffI have been completely enjoying fall and winter, the months I get to just paint paint paint.  It is akin to hibernating.  I travel a lot in the months from May through September but the colder months are usually spent here in Eureka where I show at my favorite local gallery, Art of Wine.  Started by some friends of mine several years ago, Art of Wine has become a beacon for many to hang out, sample wines, and enjoy some great art from local artists.  Every first Saturday of the month, Art of Wine is packed for Eureka’s Art’s Alive.  I realize many small towns have Art Walks and Friday Night Art Openings but I have to say, living here, in this little berg, ours is the best.  EVERYONE comes down to our waterfront area of Old Town and in addition to the galleries, local businesses sponsor artists.  On Every street corner you’ll find musical talent from established bar bands to fiddlers to Native American music makers, to fiddlers with their babies in tow…it always reminds me why I love living here.

But now it is SHOWTIME. I just confirmed a solo show for March 27-end of May at Art Brokers Inc. in Sausalito.  No pressure!   I’ve been working on several different series though so putting together a cohesive body of work and editing will be the challenge.  That and the recent series of oils I have been working on, hmmmmm.  An opening reception on Friday March 27 will be open to the public and of course, to my wonderful legion of collectors!  Hope to see you there!  Now, back to the studio.  Here’s a little something for the upcoming show.

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Substrates Part II

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One of my favorite new surfaces to work on is UART sanded pastel paper. Similar to Ersta, which was not ph neutral and therefore not a suitable choice, the UART has a great sanded surface that holds pastel well.  Unlike Sennelier LaCarte, which is great for slowly building glazes of color, the UART creates a painterly surface.  Many layers can be developed with thick applications.  It is a completely different way of working than with the LaCarte and I love the abillity to chance course.  Especially since I have started working in oils again since last year, working with the UARt really opens up a new experience in painting in pastel.  These paintings are from a series I am developing from a trip to Ashland Oregon in November.  The light on the river running through Lithia park made for a plethora of great views to explore.

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Images of Water on Different Substrates, Part I

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I’ve been focusing much of my energy, in spite of the occasional detour, into exploring images of water in various settings.  Water as a theme opens up the opportunity for creative exploration as well as its metaphorical and contextual meaning.  Last week I was back in love with my LaCarte pastel card as a working surface, especially when I executed this painting of an irrigation ditch here in Eureka.  The fog was rolling in in the distance but there was still some waning sun at my back that was opening up the color.  It made for quite a beautiful spectacle.

Choosing the substrate to work on is not always a straightforward proposition.  In this case I knew I wanted to build soft layers of color incorporating a soft yet controlled touch as the composition drifted into the distance.  I could not have been happier with the outcome.

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Victoria Ryan