Desmond O'Hagan workshop- 1st day

Desmond O'Hagan is a terrific painter and is giving us (the Austin Pastel Society) a three day workshop at the Windberg Art Center.

Jo Castillo took this photo of me working on my first painting of the day.

Perfect Lemon, 9x12 pastel

After the above painting, I did another 6x6 pastel of Casa Rio on the Riverwalk, then started an 8x10 pastel of my parents (from behind) as they walked through Walmart looking for gloves. Desmond has given me his permission to work in oil, too, during the workshop, so I think I will switch to oil after the painting of my folks. Desmond's focus is painting more simply, more loosely, which is always helpful to attempt. I'll let you know how I do.

Spiritart Sarah Skype painting

10x8 oil on canvas panel

Well, that was extra fun. Sarah was a pleasure to paint. I had some sound and other technical glitches, and forgot to record when I finally got things up and running again, but otherwise, things went well. Ha!

Progress on painting of John Pototschnik

I worked on this painting (in the company of the fun artists who showed up to hang out with me) for 3 hours last night. My objective was to correct a problem with proportions in his face and then to see how much of the white canvas I could cover. Helen Van Wyk said that you're not painting until you're painting on paint, so tonight I might get to start painting! Come visit the broadcast at 6 CST tonight... you'll enjoy the company. I know I do! www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin

Beginning of 24x18 oil portrait of John Pototschnik

Well, that was fun. I enjoyed this session very much. John even tuned in and watched on and off throughout. I sketched it out with one tiny brush and then painted the rest with one large flat natural bristle brush about half an inch wide. Not sure when I'll get back to this painting, but I have high hopes for it.

Reference for online painting at 6 - John Pototschnik

This is John Pototschnik, a wonderful painter, mostly of landscapes, and a very, very nice man. I've had the privilege of watching him demonstrate at the Greenhouse Gallery here in San Antonio twice, a year apart. He was gracious enough to let me take a couple of photos of him last Saturday after his demo. The painting on his easel is what he did in about an hour or so. Amazing. John is very down to earth, approachable, and generous with sharing his skills and knowledge.

Why don't you come hang out with me as I start on a 24" x 18" painting from this reference? Of course, it won't be done in one session, but let's see what I can get accomplished this evening... 6 p.m. Central Time. www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin

Marathon finish

Whew! I worked on this from 9:30 yesterday morning until 2 a.m, slept four hours then finished it up around 8 this morning. I think. Still waiting to hear from the commissioning party. Give me a portrait any day. I do hope the people to whom the painting is being presented will enjoy all the thought that the commissioners have put into this, and all the little vignettes that represent events and customers along their company's path. Now, I sleep.....

Cute Boy

This is a little painting I did during the workshop I gave at Hill Country Arts Foundation this week, in between helping the students. I think my camera over-emphasizes the blues as they aren't this bright, but it's close enough, I guess.

Today I'm home painting, finishing the large allegorical commission. Lots yet to do and I may do some of it online later in order to have some company. Right now Daniel Greene is talking to me as he paints Erin... on video. I might pick up some helpful tip as I paint, right?

Pix from the party last week

My friend Karen Wagoner brought heart balloons for the party, since Valentine's Day was the next day....

Julie, Martine (and Martine's parents, who were visiting from France) came too.

We decided Laura Pitts (on the right in black) was really my sister. Alrighty! That's Bonnie and Marilyn behind the counter.

Linda Clapp played violin for us. Lovely!

Visitors browsing Kim Shields' and Marilyn Moore's paintings... Kim Shields looking uncharacteristically serious...
Bonnie Mann, in mid-giggle...

Jo Castillo and Marilyn Moore (having a serious moment herself...)
Jo Castillo's husband, Gene, on the left. Regina Calton Burchett and her husband, Larry, on the right.

Jo Harris and her husband won the prize for coming the farthest... from Kansas!

Jo Castillo and Regina Calton Burchett both thrilled me by each buying one of my pastel paintings, since they are both excellent pastel painters themselves.

I got to see several people I hadn't seen in quite a while... so nice.

Thank you to all who came!

Further allegorical commission progress

I had no way to know this painting would involve so much time and so much of a stretch of my imagination. I've gotten so comfortable with having references, that drawing on my imagination is almost painful. Back to work....

Fairy Tale landscape commission progress

The Open House was so much fun. It was great to see everyone! I'll post pictures very soon. In the meantime, Jo Castillo has posted a few...

Over a couple of online sessions... broadcast, but not recorded... I've made some progress on this commission. I have a two day portrait workshop to give starting tomorrow, so I'll resume work on this painting after that. Thank you to the good folks who've kept me company as I worked on this!

Allegorical commission progress

This is the result of a full day painting online with great artist friends keeping me company as I went along. It's SO different than what I usually paint, that I feel a bit like I've walked off the edge of a cliff.

I think I started around 12:30 and stopped around 8:30 or 9 p.m., with a short break around 4:00. It's 30" tall, 40" wide, oil on stretched gallery-wrapped canvas... a commission to depict the life of a 19 year old company that was begun by a husband-wife team in their upstairs bedroom and now employs many people, some of whom are continuing on with the company after its sale. The couple will be shown as a queen and king arriving at their castle at the top of the painting, after traveling a long and twisting road along which are their major clients and triumphs and difficulties. I'm pretty surprised how much was done today, but owe it all to being kept good company by several terrific artists over the hours I painted.

I'll work on it the next two days at the gallery and then again Wednesday evening during my next broadcast. Stay tuned!

If you're within traveling distance to San Antonio, please come to our celebration of the gallery being open a year now! Friday, February 13, 2-7 p.m. La Villita, Building 14B. Gallery phone- 210-226-3992.

Skype as a way to view your model!

This is the lovely Barbara Muir from Toronto, Canada. She introduced me to Skype (I downloaded it at 4 p.m. today) and she modeled for me at 6 o'clock for an hour of my broadcast -from her bedroom in Canada! Is that not the coolest thing? I love Barbara's work- so powerful and sensitive and completely fearless. Thank you, my friend, for playing along so beautifully!
The video recording is at www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin .
I did play with a few details afterword, using a screen capture that Barbara took and emailed to me.
I'd LOVE to get to paint from life more often. But hey! Does looking at a webcam broadcast on Skype qualify as working from life???

Below is what I worked on after Barbara's portrait. I'm calling it Karen's Favorite Time Of Day. I'd needed to add some warmth and light to the tops of the sofa and cushions before I send the photo off as my entry to the Texas Pastel Society's first juried competion. TxPS is celebrating its first year anniversary this month, and already it has the honor of hosting Lorenzo Chavez as its first juror of its first competition. Way to go, TxPS!

A few refinements

I'd been looking at this painting since Wednesday, wanting to fiddle with a few things, so called a spur of the moment session on ustream in order to have some company while I did that tonight.

Some great folks showed up!

I like this version somewhat better after working on it tonight.

Still don't know what I'm working on Monday night's session... It'll be a surprise even to me!

Wednesday night's painting- Profile

I think the colors in this image are just a bit off from the original, but are close enough to post.
This painting was such a pleasure to do. It went fairly smoothly and the company was excellent.
With Barbara Pask's help, I actually managed to record the painting of this one in three videos at www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin . If you're new to the site, you might need to know to scroll down a bit until you find the video you want to play, double click it then scroll back up to watch it.

I told everyone I'd be painting again next Wednesday, but was reminded that I have a commitment to paint for the Randolph Art League next Wednesday, so I'll paint online next on Monday, February 2nd. I hope you'll come by and join the fun!

Reference for painting session January 28th

This is a fellow who was in my mini-workshop a couple of Saturdays ago. I'm thinking of painting a larger painting of him at his easel, but thought I'd do a smaller head study tonight...

Hope you'll come by... www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin

Updated website & online painting schedule change

Last September, I think it was, I boldly stated a goal of revamping my website. Still haven't done that. But I did stay awake all night a couple of nights ago and updated the website I have. Same old website design but newer paintings and news page. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.susancarlin.com/ Responses? Suggestions?

I'm going to try painting online on Wednesdays for a while. I know that's a conflict with other online painters, but I hope some of you may still make it over to hang out with me a while. No session tonight (Tuesday), but I'll be painting tomorrow (Wednesday) at 6 p.m. CST.
www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin Come visit with me!

Favorite Time of Day

I worked on this during the online broadcast last night, but the stomach bug I'd picked up was getting worse, so I ended early. I'm sure the viewers were grateful due to all my moaning and whining. I had a rough night but feel better already. Water is all I've risked drinking this morning, and then just a little. I forgot to hit the record button, so there's no recording of this session at Ustream.tv. Sorry!
I see a few things I might want to do to this painting before getting it under glass. I think there could be a bit more light and heat on the tops of the sofa and pillows where the light strikes. The colors please me, and the simplicity of the drawing.

Saturday with the Central Texas Pastel Society

This pastel painting beginning is from yesterday's demo and workshop for the Central Texas Pastel Society at the Windberg Art Center. I'll continue work on this painting during my Tuesday evening session (6 p.m. Central) at www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin

No, I'm not waltzing with an invisible dancer- I must have been offering one of my fervent opinions.
I do have a few.

There were perhaps 40-50 people at the demonstration in the morning and, as I painted, the image of my painting was projected on a huge screen so all could see. I worked from an image on my laptop, which also was projected.

This is during the sketch...

I'd taken some photos of Karen reading the evening before and showed the members how to take a poor photo and, with cropping and the adjustment of brightness and contrast, have something worth using as a reference.

I was so impressed by the members of CTPS... all were positive and supportive of each other, and those who participated in the workshop worked their tushes off. I respect that.

This is Bob Douglass, CTPS President. He sets a joyous tone for the group, I could tell.

This is Jeri Salter, Program Chair and past president and also a member of Austin Pastel Society, who arranged for me to give the demonstration and afternoon workshop on painting the figure in an interior. Thank you, Jeri!

Artist Mike Windberg was a whiz at setting up all the electronics and such a gentleman in helping at every turn. His father, artist Dalhart Windberg, has created Windberg Art Center- a beautiful workshop venue and oasis for emerging artists.

Thank you all for a wonderful, exhausting, satisfying day.

More Puzzles

Ok, it IS addictive. Here are some links to more puzzles using some of my paintings....
Braids puzzle Jigsaw Puzzle
Cowboy puzzle Jigsaw Puzzle
Creating puzzle Jigsaw Puzzle
Watching Birds puzzle Jigsaw Puzzle
Cat In Bowl puzzle Jigsaw Puzzle

Autumn Baby puzzle

I came across this site that will turn your image into a jigsaw puzzle. Had to try it...

Borders

It was a race to the finish, but with the wonderful company of several artist friends (Barb Pask, Frank Gardner, Mary Spires, Pat Schultz, Rosemary, Ruthie, Renate, Jinx, Dave from Las Vegas, Josh Kadtke and others my brain won't remember right now) on ustream.tv, plus the assistance of Libby Peters, Jo Castillo and Regina Calton Burchett in uploading the photo to the Austin Pastel Society website, I completed this painting and beat the midnight deadline by an hour or so last night. Whew. Thank you, everybody!

What makes me happy...

Some of you may remember my progress images as I painted this commissioned portrait in August for a woman who saved it until Christmas to give to her husband. (I never could have kept the secret that long!) She was so thoughtful and sent me a photo of him opening his painting. And this note:

Susan:

I made it until Christmas morning with the help of my cousins. They kept the painting so I could not break down and give it to him early! These are pictures from Christmas morning. Thai was thrilled!

Happy New Year! When we visit San Antonio, we will stop in to meet you in person.
Thank you for making Christmas so special this year!

Best regards,
Cindy Hoang

Wow. Love that!

Now, remember this portrait from December? Three siblings commissioned it for their mother's Christmas. I got the wonderful email from Mary right after Christmas:

Hi Susan,
I can't even begin to tell you how much that painting means to my mother! She opened it up, took one long look and started to cry! Not only does she love it beyond words, she took the painting to her best friend's house today and is also getting it framed TODAY. Couldn't wait one minute to protect it. She spent quite some time marveling about the intricacy and detail of the painting -- noticing Tavy's exact hair shading, the precision of the collar, the tags. It's the best present anyone has ever given her in her whole life, she said! Wow! I was struck by how much she studied that painting, noticing details that I never would've, and how that painting pitted hair for hair against the actual Tavy, soared past every test. She just loves it. We can't thank you enough!!! Clearly,the care you took to really capture Tavy paid off.

This painting was the best part of our Christmas. I hope you found as much joy in your holiday!

Mary (for Theo, Theresa, too!)

It was so thoughtful of Cindy and Mary to send those notes, don't you think? I get so much pleasure in the painting of portraits- figuring out the puzzle of it all and trying to make ever-better paintings in the process. It adds SO much to the pleasure to know that the paintings will be enjoyed by those who commission them or those who receive them. I've gotten many emails and phone calls this year thanking me for my work. That makes me very happy.

A finish and some progress

This is after another couple of hours working tonight online with a few sweet folks keeping me company. Boy, I was feeling chatty and most everyone else was feeling quieter, I think.

This is the finish of the Girl With The Blue Bow. Got to spend some good long time with her today and found that "interesting place" where I could call it done.

Hope you all are painting fun things these days!

Borders..some progress

This is where we left off after the broadcast tonight- Wednesday. Below is where I stopped on Tuesday. The last hour of our broadcast tonight somehow didn't get recorded. Drat! As always, it was a lot of fun hanging out with such interesting artists from all over.

Painting tonight at 6 Central...Come on by!

www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin
I'm starting a largish pastel tonight. 18" x 24." I've waited until the last minute to paint something for a competition entry, so it's now or never. This afternoon I ran first to Starbucks and then to Borders to see if I could find a subject. It made for awkward conversations, but people were accommodating, if baffled. I've settled on a couple at Borders reading magazines in the cafe. Wish me luck, or better yet, come by and keep me company tonight as I get it started. It's due on Sunday, for goshsakes!
www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin