I am in the 42nd Annual PSA Show, Enduring Brilliance, and I won an award!

The feeling you get while wondering who won awards at the 42nd Annual PSA Show, Enduring Brilliance, that you have a painting exhibited in.......... anxious....

The feeling you get when the caller ID on your phone says "Pastel Society of America"....... utterly blown away, butterflies in your stomach......absolutely stunned...... excited.......

Needless to say I am so very thrilled, and honored to accept the Pastel Society of the West Coast Award for my painting "Why?". For me this is the fourth time I've exhibited in this show, but it is the first time I've won an award. I am utterly blown away, totally excited, and absolutely honored to have my painting surrounded by such incredible pastel paintings.

Thank you to the awards juror Marjorie Shelley, the Sherman Fairfield Conservator in Charge, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also, thank you to the Pastel Society of the West Coast for sponsoring the award, I am so very honored. And thank you to Jimmy Wright and all the members of PSA that helped to organize this amazing show.

Yup...... I'm excited!!!!

 

Here is my painting "again", I know I've posted it here, but what the heck!!!!
 

 

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved

"Sunken Meadow Creek", Gouache, 5" x 7"

Another gouache, this time it's of Sunken Meadow, a local park on the north shore of  Long Island.  This creek is part of the bird sanctuary.  Such a beautiful spot, the opportunity to view nature at its finest.

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved



"Lavender by the Bay", Gouache, 5" x 7", painted in my Stillman and Birn sketchbook

I enjoy playing around with gouache.  I find the colors can be intense when you want it, yet you can easily subdue them as needed.  Much like pastel really, as they are opaque.

This is of a lavender field which is not too far from where I live.  It does take about an hour to get there, but it is so worth the drive.  The photos I get are gorgeous, and I have a hard time deciding which one to paint.

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved

"Dusk", Pastel, 5 1/2" x 10", Painted on Arches hot press watercolor paper, primed with Golden fine pumice gel

I haven't been painting much lately ..... sailing every weekend has been my "escape"). Not a bad thing, but I do miss my pastels. I did this small one about two months ago (has it been *that* long???).

This really is just a sketch, done... quickly while teaching a class. I have to admit it's not my favorite surface to work on, but the more I use it the more I like it for quick sketches. I take my hot press Arches watercolor paper and cut it up into useful sizes for plein air work. I prime it with Golden fine pumice gel to get more tooth, and I usually tone it with pan pastels so I'm not working on a white surface. I have a lot of watercolor paper, and my thinking is if I get a good sketch while plein air painting, at least it's on great quality paper, and it's a good way to use it up. The way I plein air paint, it will take me a long time to use up what I've got.....lol.......

This one was done in the studio though, not plein air.

 

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved