Pastel Painting Commissions

For the last 6 weeks I have been working on a series of commissioned paintings for new collectors in San Francisco.  With the 3 paintings successfully completed, approved and now being framed I am now in the preparation stage for the next commission.   My San Francisco patrons have been wonderful to work with and the process has gone as smoothly as I could possibly hope for.    I promised them at the onset that working with me to have their fine art dreams realized would be a rewarding adventure and I did not want to disappoint.   When creating paintings for clients I try to zero in on just exactly what it was that drew them to my work in the first place.   Was it the sense of color, mood, the texture of pastel, a particular composition,  the dramatic use of light, a sense of stillness in a particular painting or was it simply all of it.   Understanding what  evokes and inspires an individual or a couple about my work is very important when I am given the opportunity to create something new for them.    My San Francisco collectors, as a couple had different points of view and likes about the direction to take with the series.   My job as an artist was to stick to my own vision while being conscious of my client’s wishes.   Many artists find this idea daunting.      I myself, love the challenge of delivering something beautiful and special to the people who entrust me to create for them.   Commissions are a specialty of mine and I have been doing them for my entire 2 and a half decade career.   Here are  two of the paintings for the San Francisco commission.   These garden paintings will be featured in their dining room .   I am also including a picture of one of the walls the paintings will appear on as well as the framing choice.   We are using a distressed silver moulding from Max Moulding with an umber wash (that warms it up.)    Linen wrapped mats with hand painted bevels will set off the paintings.   Custom framing will be completed at Art Brokers Inc. in Sausalito, CA.

French Garden

"French Garden"

"Tangled Up in Blue"

"Tangled Up in Blue"

Dining Room Wall

Dining Room Wall

Max Moulding 923S

Max Moulding 923S


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Back to the Rich Colored Landscapes

Artists are always evolving and hopefully their work evolves as well.   Its interesting to reflect back on previous work and what was the impetus that inspired it and moved it forward.   When I look back on this past year (I tend to think in terms of years ending at Labor Day….something to do with the school schedule….)  I was clearly in an introspective time.   My landscape paintings were more intimate and focal, the color was rich yet not as saturated.   I am proud of the work I did but am ready to move on again, or should I say back a few yards to more vast views of the landscape.   Travelling in the Pacific Northwest this summer I was inspired again by our beautiful northern vistas, hills and valleys, our vineyards and farmlands, and the rich color palette that our eyes are lavished with.   I’ll be continuing with pastels and also with oils.   I’m ready for summer to simmer so to speak and to roam the valleys for places to paint.   August has already been fruitful so  check back.

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Pictures from the Show

Thank you to everyone to came to the opening of my show at Art Brokers a few weeks ago.  The show looks great and everyone at AB did a wonderful job in every aspect of putting this show together.   I managed to get a few pictures when we arrived…..or I should say my husband Bruce did.   That’s him inspecting his favorite painting.   The show will be up officially through the end of April and unofficially through mid-May so if you haven’t been to see it yet drop in.

Now its back to the studio to work on new work.   I have new pastels in progress and plan on returning to oils next week.   I’ll have new images to post soon.   

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“Nature’s Way” Solo Show at Art Brokers, Inc.

 

"Harmony"  20x27"  Pastel

"Harmony" 20x27" Pastel

 

 March 27-April 26….New Pastels at Art Brokers Inc., 2660 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA

 

Opening Reception:  March 27 from 6-9 PM.    Please come celebrate with me.   This latest body of work is a decisively more intimate view of the landscape with emphasis on painterly images of streams and other waterways, a commonly explored theme in my work.   New prints will also be unveiled at this show.

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My Continuing Love Affair with Water

 

"Winter Wildflowers"  23x31

"Winter Wildflowers" 23x31

Artists have been drawn to images of water, with its aesthetic and evocative qualities since the early cave man drawings.  There is a soothing quality to water…and evidenced based studies have shown that images of water create a calming, restful environment in healthcare settings.     

 

I was drawn to this composition  because of the strong blue  sky  reflection in this closed in waterway near my home in Eureka.   The winter brush and spent wildflowers had an amazing depth of color to play with.   This is one of the paintings that will be featured in my upcoming show at Art Brokers in Sausalito.   I will post additional images from the show in upcoming days.

I’ve wondered why I rarely paint seascapes since I’ve lived on the Pacific coast for the past 7 years.   I think I should make that be one of my challenges…

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Victoria Ryan