Allan's art in a new treasury.

We end up showcased now and then at Etsy's treasury section, but I don't often mention it here. But Allan's "Drops of Jupiter in Her Hair" pastel painting made it into a pastel treasury, and I was impressed by ALL the art there.
For those of you not actively pursuing art, the word pastel probably suggests soft colors to you. But those tints aren't what we mean when we say pastel painting or pastel drawing-- it refers to a dry pressed powder that combines pigment with a binder such as chalk or oils, allowing an artist to draw with broad, vivid areas of color. It can be layered, blended, hatched, washed-- while it is technically a drawing medium, generally sold in stick form, the techniques of drawing and painting are both usable, and the richness and depth of color makes many pastellists to refer to their works as paintings.

But in art, especially, a thousand words are not as effective as a picture. Please follow the link to see a sampler of pastel works http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d9d07fcd6b36d918e9c8a44/a-pastel-life#4d9d27d52b476d91bacb64e7

Monthly sale

Pink things, 15% off.

Calm Waters

This is my latest, and we've decided this will be the one to save for "Close to Home". It's called Calm Waters, and it's based on part of the Monterey Bay coastline. This area really is a painter's paradise. Mom should think about organizing a plein air class/expedition-- too bad Aunt Alice isn't still a travel agent.
Well, there's always Lodi Lake and other fine sights back home. You'll find beautiful agricultural landscapes in a lot of the Lodi Community Art group's portfolios.

Paintings of the bay

I currently have one done-- of waves crashing on the rocks-- and two in progress. The two in progress are a monochrome acrylic (ultramarine blue shades and tints) and a watercolor, mostly green, of a sailboat with a treelined hill shore in the background.

One of the themes coming up this month is "Close to Home", and I think I should reserve one of the unfinished ones for that theme. I haven't been able to think of anything for the Americana theme. My "Artist at Play" theme will be a self-portrait dancing. And I have some things I could do quickly for the "Homage to Impressionism". Thoughts on Americana, anyone? I don't know if I have the skill for it, but would it technically be Americana if I painted prehistoric America?

Getting Ready for my show...

I've got a lot of new and never-before-seen paintings: meaning on one hand, ones I have just finished, and on the other, ones that I tucked away after painting and hadn't done anything with. The near photo shows some of my works in progress, either for the show or for Etsy. There will be several small works; I'm hoping people will be more inclined to buy something relatively cheap and easy to find a place for. Snowbringer, the left picture, is one I had to retouch due to a bit of smudge from one of Allan's pieces. I like it even better now, and I'm rather proud of how the glimmering paint looks in the photo. I think for some of the special effects I like to do, flash photography actually works better than natural lighting to capture the sheen.

For fiber artists and knitwits

A friend of mine is having a sale on her hand-dyed yarns and fiber batts. I recommend taking a look-- the colors are gorgeous! http://www.etsy.com/shop/laughingrat?ga_search_query=laughingrAT&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

She may be closing shop due to hand issues and other concerns, so you might see it as a last chance thing.

Being productive

I've done a fix-up of Snowbringer, a fantasy piece that got a weird mark on it when put away for safekeeping. I think it looks better now. Sometimes accidents are happy accidents in art, and a good artist should learn how to be clever about fixing problems.

I've also finished some small works: A Topography of Roses, The Ocean in a Drop of Water, and Partners. Next up, Sky-Bird Nesting and a monochrome of the Monterey Bay landscape I haven't got a name in mind for yet. Also Orbit and Moon Launch, a couple of Cosmic Cat pieces. Some, but not all of my new pieces, will be in the February show at the Lodi Art Center. I also need to plan ahead for a few months worth of their theme shows: Treasures From Travel and Artist at Play should be good ones.

Happy New Year

I've been getting busy with projects. I've upgraded Heart Full of Joy, a mixed media painting, and I've crocheted a few new fuzzies. They seem pretty popular around here-- I wore one to my dance class and got so many compliments, and when I brought samples to show, people were just purring over how comfortable they are! I'm showing off my Star Light, Star Bright fuzzy here, and I have lots more I need to list know I know there's a market for them.

Speaking of dance, this is not my creation, but one of my teammates in Fantasy Artists of Etsy has a beautiful belly dance pants for sale. http://www.etsy.com/listing/61353552/teal-velvet-belly-dance-pants
They're a little too small for me, so don't think I'm hinting, but if any readers fancy them, I think they're gorgeous and would probably look good on you. ;)

Merry Christmas, everyone

A picture Allan did... I haven't done much in the way of holiday painting, although every year I mean to.
I've been working on a few new pieces; I'd like to have a few new things to show at the Lodi Art Center show I'm doing in February. It starts right before Spring term starts, so I'll be doing First Friday for it and hoping to earn some textbook money. I'm working right now on an abstract based on particle tracks, a floral, more Cosmic Cat and possibly an astronomy fantasy piece.
I will also try to finish my Lady of the Lake colored pencil piece.

Isis Pyramid

I always love working with new materials, and I knew these triangular canvases were something I just had to work with. As I've also painted on papyrus, I decided to go with an Egyptian theme and paint a tribute to my favorite goddess, Isis.

She's just been added to my Etsy site, along with my Asteroid Belt necklace.