"Imagined" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 3.5x2.5"

This piece was for two experiments:  scratching to create trees, and working on black.

I am happy to report to those who read yesterday's post that I now have clean socks!  Thank you  kindly for your concern...

Lovely day here in the mountains...we enjoyed near 60 degrees today!

Happy Painting, and thanks for Watching...

"Friends" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 2.5x3.5"

$15 plus shipping

Purchase Here

I am out of clean socks.  And now I need to go to sleep.   You 30 in 30ers will know exactly what I mean!

I'm going to have to talk more about open hearts (see yesterday's post) another time.  Right now, we're talking socks.

Before I bid you a goodnight, I want to comment that this image looks a lot like the actual painting--never let it be said that I missed an opportunity to not complain about a photo of one of my pieces!

And to all, a goodnight... (literally falling asleep at the computer here)

"The Valley" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 4x6"

SOLD (thank you!)

The good thing about my not knowing what I am doing with these Oil Pastels is that nobody else could possibly know what I am doing, so no one can really tell me that I  am doing it wrong--unless one of you happens to figure out what I am doing... :-)

Thanks for being here...I love you guys.  And I have come to realize that this 30 Paintings in 30 Days gig is more about opening hearts than counting paintings!

"Open Arms" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 4x4"

SOLD (Thank you!)

This is the one I talked about yesterday, that appeared horrendous when I scanned it.  Today I photographed it.   I would say the photo is marginally better.  I actually really like this little painting...not so sure about the photograph!

I am really glad I have a blog--for most of you, it is the only way I would ever be able to show you my art.  But times like these I really wish I could say, "Come on over to my studio and let me show you what I've been doing."   Ixnay on the digital images!

Anyhow, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

I am blessed to have people who follow and comment on my art.  Today, I would love to encourage everyone to go check out the offerings from the rest of the 30 in 30 artists on Leslie's blog.  Perhaps you would be willing to go find some new art you love and go let the artists know on their blogs. I think the other artists are already checking each other out, so I am mainly talking to my non-artist friends.

At the bottom of Leslie's posts, each of the artists in the 30 in 30 posts a small thumbnail of their painting for the day.  The later in the day you go to Leslie's blog, the more paintings will be there (obviously!).  You get to the blogs by clicking on the thumbnails.  If you are in Firefox, like I am, a new tab will open with the artists' website, blog, or FB, whatever they put in the link on Leslie's blog.  A few artists don't put links, so clicking their painting won't get you anywhere.

And, as always, I thank you for being here...

"Winter's Exhale" Oil Pastel

Oil Pastel 5.5 x 5.5"

Well, for the sake of the 30 in 30, I am showing you this one, but I just cannot bring myself to sell it until I can get the image accurate enough to the painting.  I tried three different photo editors!  So, I give myself credit for trying, anyway.

This is an extra one I painted the other day.  I was looking forward to showing you the one for today, but the scan was SO OFF, that the above one actually looks relatively accurate!  

Apparently, using the scanner for Oil Pastel Paintings is going to be a bit more iffy than using it for Acrylic Paintings.  I will be looking for a Plan B.

Happy Painting, everyone!

"Tree Dance" Oil Pastel

Oil Pastel, 3.5 x 2.5"

$15 plus shipping

Purchase Here

Now that we are "over the hump," I want to ask my artist friends, "How are you doing?"  Is everybody ok?  Still taking good care of yourselves, body and soul?

How are you doing with your painting?  Are you painting what you really want to be painting?  Taking risks?  Learning new things?

Are you giving yourself the freedom to be the painter you truly want to be?

These are the things I've been wondering...

"Forest by Moonlight" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 3.5 x 2.5"

SOLD (Thank You!)

I am now utterly fascinated with this incredible medium of Oil Pastel.  I know I'm a beginner, but I have a tip to share.  If you're going to scrape with a razor blade like I do, put some tape on the holding end before you start.  Once you start using the blade, it gets dirtied by the colors and it's hard to know which side is the sharp side if you put it down and pick it up again.  I have a bunch of teeny little cuts on my blade holding finger.

I said little cuts, Mom!  No blood involved...

And now, with my mother hopefully sufficiently reassured, I bid you all a good night's sleep and Happy Painting!  And as always, thanks for Watching...

"Sunburst" Oil Pastel

Oil Pastel, 3.5 x 2.5"

$15 plus shipping

Purchase here

I just LOVE painting these teeny ones.  I highly recommend anyone learning to use oil pastels (or soft pastels) try painting these minis!

This just in:  I have learned that no one in my family understood the significance of yesterday's image!  All these years, I thought it was a shared memory, that we had witnessed this miraculous even together...I mean, my niece glowed!  Apparently, I'm the only one who noticed...

Happy Painting, fellow 30 in 30ers...

"The Child Glowed" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

Oil Pastel, 8x6"

I hope my family will recognize this moment, because it is a moment I will never forget!

I created this piece on what many artists would consider one of the best surfaces for oil pastels and soft pastels--sanded art paper.  However, for my methods, sanded paper is one of my least preferred surfaces for oil pastel painting, at least at this time in my development with the medium.  I realize this image deserves another go on another surface.

Even though the results were less than what I was aiming for, I still feel accurate in saying that at least on my screen, the photo doesn't begin to do justice to the painting!  The contrast is off and there are color subtleties that aren't even showing.

Anyway, this is my offering for Day 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, January 2015.  All is calm, all is bright...

Happy painting, everyone!

"Moonlit" Oil Pastel - 30 Paintings in January 2015

 Oil Pastel, 6x6"

$50 plus shipping

Purchase Here

Did you all see that big moon the other night?  This painting was actually inspired by a morning view from my office. 

It's getting so I can't paint without a razor blade (oil pastelists may know what I mean).  Pretty soon, I may need a heat gun!  Watch out!

Happy Painting, everyone!

Thanks for visiting...