Baking batches....working in themes...

I usually find if I have a bee in my bonnet about a certain theme to paint, ie Scottish landscapes, or Venetian cityscpaes, I do a 'set' of them at once. I find it helps to keep a unity through the work if it is going off together to an exhibition. My latest 'batch' are Little People ie children doing things on beaches. Maybe it is the summer theme that is catching on to me, but i am often inspired by what is around me at a particular time.... going to Venice, then Tuscany soon so watch out for the next 'batch'!

'Cuillin Orange'

The half way stage, and the final stage of what is now titled ' Cuillin Orange' Keeping it all as loose as possible now, as i build up layers of painterly marks...and running through my delicious box of 'Great American Artworks' pastels, which are fantastic...and of course, my own selection of colours!! See www.greatpastels.com I selected rows of basic colours as you would in tubes of paint, then added a row of lights, another of darks, then neutrals. The result...a box worth buying!!

Galashiels Workshop Scottish Borders

1-day workshop at Galashiels demonstrating wet techniques with Pastels on Colorfix papers....

Just wrote a whole new post and it lost in transit...blast!

New Inspirations

It always inspires me when I go to the iAPS Pastel Convention in New Mexico - apart from the fantastic surroundings, which I actually got to paint this year, as I taughtt the Plein-Air Workshop, meeting and watching all my favourite artists fills me with new ideas. This year I treated myself to attend Elizabeth Mowry's 'Moods & Mists' demonstration, and it was not only useful, but appropriate to my lovely Scotch Mist I like to paint, so I have just finished off these 2 paintings since returning....more mists to follow!!

Inspiration round every corner!

Not had time to post any of the sketches done in Sardinia last week, but the photos have left me with numerous exciting prospects for new work...I loved the town of Bosa where we stayed and the coves and beaches are stunning. Can't wait to go back, thanks to www Bella Sardinia.com Going to Malta in October with them - THE best organisers i have ever had the pleasure to work with!!

Trying my luck for PSA?

Well - I must try again...I am a proud member of PSA and must face the failure as well as the success...see if I can get into the annual exhibition with either of these...going for a theme this year instead of Scottish Highlands....I DO do other things!!