"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

Pastel Society of America's 42nd Annual Show, Enduring Brilliance, September 2nd through 27th

I have been trying to find the right words to express both my gratitude and excitement for the news that my painting "Why?" has been accepted into the Pastel Society of America's 42nd Annual Exhibition, Enduring Brilliance. Thank you to the PSA and the jurors for this honor.  

The show is in September and is being held at the National Arts Club in NYC. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have my painting displayed in such a beautiful venue alongside so many accomplished artists' works. It is quite an honor, I am truly grateful to the PSA and the jurors for selecting my painting to be part of such a prestigious show..... truly humbled..... The National Arts Club in NYC is a beautiful, historic venue, and this show represents everything about pastels that I love, it is the medium at its very best.  I look forward to viewing the show, it's always a spectacular one.

Congratulations to all the artists that made the cut, it is such an honor to be displaying my work with you.
 
NYC here I come!!!

 

 © by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved

A "Best in Show" award.....

I was pleased to accept a Best in Show award last weekend in an art show held by the Suburban Art League in Syosset, LI, NY.  What a great feeling to win an award like that, I truly appreciate it.

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved

Plein air at my marina, Pastel, 6 1/2" x 10", Painted on Arches HP with Art Spectrum Colorfix primer

I painted this one plein air a couple of weeks ago. I tweaked it a bit in the studio, adjusting the value of the trees and adding color to the grasses. This is the third time painting this scene, and I am finding it to be a good exercise.  As with the pears, painting a landscape multiple times really allows you to study the scene, enabling you to capture its essence. 

I have by no means figured out this plein air stuff, but I do think I have improved a bit.  I'll keep at it.......

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved

Packham's Triump pear #14, Pastel, 6" x 6"

Back with another pear, these aren't going away any time soon... I think I will continue with them, sporadically.....  They are a great exercise, keeps me thinking.

This time I wanted to do a green pear.  Green is always a challenge, anything I do here with green can be applied to the landscape.

© by Christine DiMauro, all rights reserved