fresh off my dusty easel, pastels by christine dimauro: November 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Tulips for Helaine, Pastel, 9" x 12", painted on Wallis sanded paper

Tulips for Helaine is something I did for a dear friend. She wanted me to paint a floral for her, and she loves tulips. It just so happens that tulips are my favorite flower to paint, so I was one happy camper. I painted this back in 2006.

Three Lilies, Pastel, 19" x 25", painted on Canson paper

This is one of the largest pastels I've done. I painted this on a full sheet of Canson, and it was done about 17 years ago. Another very old painting. What I liked about this were the cast shadows on the petals. I don't work this large anymore. Working this size is fun though, so I'm sure I'll paint something this large again, I'll just have to come up with a good subject!

Bayberry Watering Can, Pastel, 14 1/2" x 18 1/2", painted on Canson paper

I've always loved this can. During Christmas I decorate it with a red plaid bow, and it becomes so festive. I think it's a combination of the shape and color that I love. I bought it years ago, and I remember that I painted it right away. This pastel is another oldie, probably painted about 18 years ago. I was trying to go for the "suspended, yet grounded" look.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Some thoughts as I post these older works.....

As I sit here and post these older works, I am finding that this really shows the inevitable evolution one goes through when on a journey like this. As the years have gone by I've learned and continue to learn so much about this beautiful, yet sometimes mysterious medium. Pastels have so many different means of application. One can use sanded paper, textured conventional pastel paper, watercolor paper, you can apply a gritty primer to any type of archival paper that accepts water, the list goes on and on. The ability to experiment is endless, and always exciting. As a result, styles change, as does the approach. My style has changed enormously due to my experimenting, and you will see this when I start posting my newer works. I find it to be a good thing, I believe change shows growth.

I'm still not quite finished posting these older works, I just thought I would share what I was observing as I go through this process. Even my photo-taking skills have improved (thank goodness!).

Tulips for Mrs. D., Pastel, 21" x 13", painted on Canson paper

Mrs. D. was a Pre-K teacher of my daughter's. She went to a school that relied heavily on donations, and they had a fundraiser every year. That year Mrs. D. put in her order. She wanted a painting of tulips, "longish in size", with a light wood frame. Too funny, so I decided to paint her request and put it in a Chinese auction. She put so many tickets into the basket she actually won the painting! She was excited, as was I. I'm not sure how much she actually paid for all those tickets, but the school got the money, she got the painting she wanted, and everybody was happy! I painted this in 2000.

Karen's Poppies, Pastel, 12" x 24", painted on Canson paper

This was another commission I painted for a client's wedding anniversary. He wanted to give his wife a painting, and somehow I had to incorporate the cool green you see in the leaves. He didn't care what flower, or what color the flower was, he just cared that I used that cool green in the painting somehow. This is what I came up with, and I believe he was pleased with the result. This was painted about 16 years ago, my how time flies!

Helen's Flowers, Pastel, 14 1/2" x 18 1/2", painted on Canson paper

I really enjoyed painting these bricks. I've always wanted to paint bricks again but I just haven't gotten around to it - it's been over 15 years, so I guess I've been busy! All my still life is done from life, and the bricks had such great texture and color. I've got to add bricks back on my list of "must do again". This painting has been sold for a very long time. I've always liked it, and was happy it went to a really lovely woman.

Coastal for Rochelle, Pastel, 16" x 20", painted on Canson paper

Coastal for Rochelle was a commission I painted for someone about 17 years ago. The request was to paint a still life using this wine bottle the label said "Coastal"), having it reflected into a wine glass, and having it sitting on a wood table. Anything else I added was fine, but the painting had to have those elements. I added the pear, rose, and the reflections into the table. It's hard to see in this photo, but the wine bottle is reflected into the glass, some tricky setting-up of the still life was necessary. Rochelle was the person this painting was being given to, thus the title.

The reason for the specific items was that the couple, when on their honeymoon, saw a painting with those elements in it. They couldn't afford the painting, and when they came home they found me and asked if I could do it for them. Of course I said yes, and of course I made it affordable for them. How could I not? I'm a sucker for a great honeymoon memory.....

Three Pears, Pastel, 5 3/4" x 8 1/2", painted on Wallis paper

Pears seem to be a favorite subject of mine, there is something about their shape and color that I find fun to paint. This painting was done about 15 years ago on a scrap piece of paper. It started out as a "practice piece", just a scribble to loosen up. It was a good thing I painted it on Wallis paper. Motto of the story: never paint even a scribble on bad paper, you never know when you'll get something good. Tiny as this is, it won a "Best in Show" ribbon that same year. I was so surprised, whodathunkit?

Two Pears, Pastel, 12"x12", painted on Canson paper

I broke the rules again with this painting. Two objects, supposedly a no-no. It is off center a bit, and I do think the reflection gives another dimension, making the composition work. This painting was sold the first time it showed, and it won a first place ribbon. I remember I was thrilled for the ribbon, and thrilled yet sad for the sale. I am glad I sold it though, it's always a nice feeling when someone buys a painting because they like it.

Tea with Cranberries, Pastel, 11 1/2" x 17", painted on Wallis sanded paper

I have a small collection of enamel teapots from the 50's and 60's. I like the colors and shapes, they make nice subjects in still life. This teapot is a fire engine red, and I thought that by combining it with greens and golds it would give a feeling of Christmas. I used this painting one year as the image on my Christmas card. Much to my surprise, it also won an award that year in a local art show.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Lemon Lime, Pastel, 9" x 9 1/2" painted on Canson paper

This is a painting that I like for its simplicity. There's not much to it, and I probably broke all kinds of rules (like you shouldn't paint things in two's, don't put your focal point in the center, and who knows what else). I think what saves it is the reflection, I consider it an important element in the painting, almost another object. I've always liked this painting, and it actually one a first place prize in a local show back in 2001. I guess simplicity has its place.

Workshop portraits - these are two of my favorites, painted on Canson paper

Here are two more workshop portraits. They are some of my favorites. One is of a friend, and the other I just like because, well, I do!

Some sitters names I remember, and this girl's name was "Colleen". This is extremely loose for me, yet I feel I captured her essence, as well as a pretty wild skin tone. I think I went a bit crazy, but I like it. It certainly wouldn't be the way I would paint a commission, but again, trying different things in this type of environment enables me to feel confident enough to try something interesting in a commission. Size is 11" x 16 1/2".

Michael is a dear friend. He is a fellow artist, and a wonderful portrait artist at that! What a great face to paint, this was probably the most fun I've had doing a workshop portrait. I felt I really captured his personality, as well as a likeness. It's not often I frame one of these portraits, and this one is framed. Size is 11" x 16 1/2". I call this one "Our Michael", because he is our Michael, he is well loved in our art club.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Some workshop portraits, all painted on Canson paper

I thought I would share some of my workshop portraits. I belong to a local art club called Wet Paints Studio Group, and we meet every Tuesday evening. Twice a month we paint portraits from a live model. The model sits for three 20 minute sessions, with 15 minute breaks in between. So it's a total of about one hour's painting time. Sometimes it's more, but not by much. Occasionally I get something reasonable, you just never know when painting from life, it's always hit or miss. I paint all my workshop sketches on Canson paper, and I use pastels from what I call my "junk box", which is a mix of Rembrandts, Giraults, some old Grumbachers, and NuPastels.

I find I like leaving areas in my sketches unfinished. I try to concentrate on capturing a likeness and getting the skintones right. One hour isn't much time (at least for me it isn't, I'm not known to be a speedy painter), and I've found that by leaving unfinished areas, it causes the viewer to fill in the blanks so to speak, and I kind of like that. You'll see that most of these portrait sketches have unfinished areas, now because of design, as I like the effect.

I call this one "Sombrero", for obvious reasons. The size is 11" x 16 1/2", and it was painted back in 2004.

I painted "Reggie" probably back around 2004 also. Size is 11" x 16 ". Sorry about the flash of light at the top. I've gotten better at taking photos, thank goodness!

This is "Chrystal", painted back in 2004. It seems that was a very busy year for workshop portraits for me. I was experimenting with green in blonde hair, I find that it works, though I proably should have been a bit more subtle in this! Size is 11" x 16"

I call this one "Pixie", I don't remember her name but I did like the sketch I ended up with. Again, I like line work and unfinished areas, this time it was her hair and her clothes. Size is 11 1/2" x 15".

This fellow is fun to paint. I call this one "Sayville Santa". I've painted or drawn him several times, he has such an interesting face. Over the years he as played "Santa" in the local downtown parade each Christmas season. He sat for us wearing an unusual hat and Santa outfit. I almost wish he didn't have that hat on, I really liked the skin tone I got, a hard thing to do in an hour. Like I said, most times you don't get a keeper, but once in a while you do. This was a keeper, if just for the skin tone alone. Size is 13" x 18"

"The Pilot" was just that, a pilot. He sat for our group a few years back, and I remember he sat so still, a great model. I was experimenting with blues in the face, I might have gotten a bit carried away with it but I still liked the outcome. That's what so much fun about workshop portraits, you can experiment to your heart's content, and not feel you have to explain anything. The size on this one is 11" x 16 1/2".

I call this "Side Swept", she kept her hair covering her eye throughout the entire sitting! It made things easier, just one eye to paint. I liked the drama of this, with her eye covered and her hair unfinished. It's not my best workshop portrait, but there is still something I do like about it. I guess that's what it's all about when painting in a workshop, achieving some level of success, even if I feel the entire painting isn't a success. Small steps lead to big light bulb moments, so I keep on doing these sketches. I find I learn so much each and every time. Size is 10" x 15"

Another portrait, person unknown. I don't remember her name, though I do remember she was very serious while sitting for the group. I guess it can be a bit daunting to have so many eyes staring at you, and you cannot see what it is they are painting. I remember she was a very good model, keeping still is a good thing when someone is trying to paint you! Size is 11" x 16 1/2".

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Kitchen Memories, Pastel, 15" x 19", painted on Wallis sanded paper

I have a fondness for kitchen gadgets from the 1950's and 1960's. I collect dishes, enamel ware, tins, ceramic pieces, anything that looks like it would be fun to paint. I like the colors and shapes, they make nice subjects for still life. I painted this from life, and because nothing really could rot, I was able to take my time! This was done back in 2004, and much to my surprise it was accepted into The Pastel Society of America's annual show that year. Again I was giddy and excited, it is such an honor. Over the years this painting has won some nice awards, it has served me well.

Yellow Tulips, Pastel, 12" x 15", painted on Canson paper

Tulips are my favorite flower, and these yellow ones were beautiful. I painted them from life, so I had to move quickly. One sitting was all I got, after a day they really start to change and droop. I painted this on Canson paper back in 2008.

Cosmos, Pastel, 3" x 4 1/2", painted on watercolor paper with Colourfix primer

Here is another teeny tiny painting, done on sanded paper. It was painted in 2008. I liked the colors and the bit of sparkle I got. I enjoy painting small, they're quick and easy to frame!

Zinnia, Pastel, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2", painted on Canson paper

Staying on the flower theme, here is another. It is teeny tiny, and I painted it on Canson paper, dark blue I think.

Rhodies, Pastel, 10" x 10", painted on Canson paper

I don't paint flowers very often, this is one of the few I've done. I think this was done about 5 years ago, I painted it on Canson paper. I don't know why I don't paint them, they are so beautiful. I guess I have so many ideas floating around in my head that flowers just don't come up as a first choice. It is nice to do something different though, and for me this was different.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Fruit Salad, Pastel, 14" x 23", painted on Canson paper

Another oldie but a goodie that goes back to 1996. This is painted on Canson paper, I believe I used the paper color as the background. This was more of an evolution, starting with the grapes coming out of the wood bowl. The whole setup was not on the table, just the grapes and bowl (the bowl was leaning on a kneaded erasure so it would stay tilted - no bananas yet). I looked at it and thought it was okay, so maybe I'll add a couple of bananas, in they went. I then thought it needed some height, so I added the jug. More balance was needed, so the melon was added with the cherries. Then I wanted more red, so the apple and strawberries were added. Believe it or not, the fabric was done last, I don't know what I was thinking (I wasn't thinking, I was just painting). I know I had to replace the fruit along the way, I do remember this took a while to paint. Those are the perils of painting from life, your subject starts to rot pretty quickly, and I didn't paint fast in those days. I'm still not a speedy painter, but I'm faster than I was back then. This painting won a First Place Ribbon in a local show. I really feel like I'm walking down Memory Lane right now!

Just a Slice, Pastel, 8" x 8 1/2", painted on Canson paper

A small painting that seems to be a favorite of many. I think it is because of the subject matter, who doesn't like watermelon? This really is a sketch, done on Canson paper. I remember it just took an hour or so to complete, it's not often that a painting finishes up that quickly for me, when it does I'm always surprised! This has won a couple of ribbons, little as it is.

Stoplight, Pastel, 12" x 16", painted on Wallis sanded paper

My daughter went to a private school that relied heavily on donations. Each year they held a fundraiser with prizes auctioned off. I donated this painting to one of those functions back in 2004. I painted this specifically for the event, so I really didn't have it for very long, just a week or two before it was donated.

Pitcher with Lime, Pastel, 13 1/2" x 19 1/2", painted on Wallis sanded paper

This was another of those frantic paintings I did to get into a show. The show date is looming, and I have nothing new that I can enter. So, off I go to paint something. I set this up in my studio and painted it from life. It is the only way I paint still life, I don't like using photos. I painted this back in 2001.

Canteloupe Reflections, Pastel, 12" x 14", painted on Canson paper

The photo on this isn't the best, but I thought it was worth posting. I painted Cantaloupe Reflections back in 1996. I think there was a long period where I was enamoured with anything fruit or vegetable! This painting gave me my first acceptance into The Pastel Society of America's annual juried show. It was their show in 1996, and I was so excited! You could have knocked me over with a feather, there was no bringing me down from that thrill. It is such an honor to be accepted, and I was floating on a cloud. Since that event, this painting has won a "Best in Show", and some First Place ribbons in local venues. Every time I look at it memories come flooding back to me. It's just a painting of fruit, but for me it was a milestone.

Seven Peppers, Pastel, 13" x 18", painted on sanded paper

Seven Peppers was painted back in 1999. It is my first painting on sanded paper, and it has served me well. It was accepted into The Pastel Society of America's 1999 annual juried show (it is such an honor to get into that show), was published in the now gone (but excellent) Pastel International Magazine as a finalist in one of their competitions, and has earned me numerous awards locally. It is still one of my favorite paintings.

Going for a Ride - Vanessa and Blackie, Pastel, 16" x 24", painted on Wallis sanded paper

Blackie was a cat that I painted for a client back in 2000. The client contacted me in 2008 and asked me to do another painting for him. This time he wanted me to paint his daughter that was now 6 years old, along with Blackie. He had no photos of the two of them together, and Blackie had passed away. There was no way I could sit them down for a photo-op. What he really wanted was a portrait of his daughter at the age she was when Blackie was still alive. He had this photo of her (at about the right age) riding a toy, and I added Blackie on her lap as if he were going for a ride with her. It was a challenge, as I had to make his pose believable with no real reference to work from. Thankfully, the client was thrilled with the results.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Pumpkin, Pastel, 11" x 14", painted on Canson paper

Pumpkin was a beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I painted her for a friend of mine back in 2005 (I think). She was special, and quite an accomplished show dog. She won many ribbons, and deservedly so. This was painted on gray Canson paper.

Summertime Treasure, Pastel, 14" x 16", painted on Wallis sanded paper

This is a painting I did back in 2000, done on Wallis sanded paper. I have no idea who the child is, but I loved his pose, kids always have that cute little squat when they bend down. I added the starfish because I had no idea what he was looking at.

My Girl, Pastel, 12" x 15", painted on LaCarte pastel paper

I painted this back in 2001, and I believe I did it on LaCarte paper. I remember I won a People's Choice Award for this the same year, 2001. It is my daughter when she was just two years old. She was fascinated with dandelions, and would pick them and play with them all the time. It almost looks like she was talking to this one, telling it a story. I remember taking the photo, for some reason it is etched in my memory. When I painted this, the experience I had was almost magical. I was in the moment, just happily painting along with no sense of time or place. For some reason, painting my daughter always seems to do that to me. It may be time to do another portrait of her, they grow up so fast.

I never took a photo of this painting before it went under glass. It's too bad, because the glass really fuzzes the image I think. Maybe someday I'll remove it from the frame so I can take some proper photos. Many of these older works are photographed under glass, I just never took photos before framing back then. Digital cameras weren't common, and slides were the way I kept records. The slides were taken without glass, I wish I had taken photos before I framed them. Many are sold, so I can't even take new photos. I think I'm spoiled with the new technology!

Can I Help?, Pastel, 23" x 22", painted on sanded paper

This is a painting I did back in 1999, on some kind of sanded paper. The children were originally leaning over a basket of eggs that they collected from the chicken coop. I changed it to a snowman in the making. I also added the shadow of the tree, as well as the fence with the snowman's scarf, hat and carrot. I used this painting for my Christmas card, and it was a big hit that year.

This blog features mostly pastels, however I do enjoy working with gouache, watercolors, inktense blocks and pencils, charcoal and graphite pencils. My easel is always dusty, but that doesn't stop me from experimenting and trying new things. Keeping a sketchbook has become my new second passion, and these other mediums allow me to sketch in color; pastels are not the best medium for sketchbooks, so I had to find something else.

As long as I am creating art I'm happy. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy creating it.