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.
Favorite Time of Day
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....
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
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!)
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
Pastel Baby and Girl with Blue Bow
Not the best photo, but here's the finish on the commission of the adorable baby in pastel. 11 x 14 on Pastelbord.
I had fun working in pastel for a change. I think I had it in my eyebrows, not to mention up to my elbows. Funny how I'm so much tidier working in oil.
Below is where I've left off on the commission of the beautiful girl with the blue bow. Still have a ways to go- the size of her eyes, especially. I cut in all around them on the last session and have to widen them back to their normal size. Lots of details yet to do, too.
I've got such a positive expectation for 2009. Love abounds. Any problem is out-weighed by well-being. I'm so grateful for this sweet community we've made via our blogs. Thank you!
Hi ya'll,
I’m already getting excited about 2009 and seeing what we’ll paint this year, aren't you?
I’ve got three things happening soon I thought you might want to know about:
1. As some of you know, I do an online painting show on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin . Last Tuesday I started a pastel portrait of a little one year old boy. This coming Tuesday, December 30, I’ll be continuing to work on that painting. Last Tuesday’s recordings (2) are at that link above, if you’d like to see them.
2. I’m doing the demo for the Central Texas Pastel Society on Saturday morning, January 17 at the Windberg Art Center. The demo is free to all, and non-members are welcome. I’ll be demonstrating from 10:30 - Noon, then giving a Mini-Workshop on painting the figure in an interior setting from 1:00 -4:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $35. We’ll be using a photographic reference I’ll provide. The workshop will be open to non-members if space is available. There’ll be space for up to 20 participants, with members getting first shot. Easels are provided. Let me know if you want to come and I’ll send you a supply list.
For more information contact cntxpastel@aol.com . Meeting from 9:30 to Noon at the Windberg Art Center in Georgetown.
http://windbergartcenter.com/
Directions: From Georgetown/Round Rock: Take IH 35 North and take the Walberg/972 Exit 268. Continue North on the 2-way feeder road for about 2 miles until you reach the Windberg Art School on the right.
3. I’m giving a two-day portrait workshop for artists who work in either pastel or oil February 17-18, (Tuesday and Wednesday) at the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, TX (5 minutes from Kerrville) $230. for non-members. Modeling fee is included. We’ll work from photographic references the first day and from the model on the second day. If you’ve wanted to work on seeing and painting values a bit better, I’ll be making that an emphasis during this workshop.
I hope to “see” you Tuesday on my online broadcast and perhaps in person at the Central Texas Pastel Society demo and at the workshop at HCAF.
Paint happy, Ya’ll!
Susan
210-655-3590 home
210-602-8562 cell
210-226-3992 gallery
susan@susancarlin.com
http://www.susancarlin.com/
http://susansartjournal.blogspot.com/
A Christmas present from the Universe...and Broadway Bank
On Monday I was surprised when I was suddenly tearful when talking with my good artist friends Donna Good and Mary Shepard. I was saying I might need to buy myself something so there'd be a present under the tree to unwrap on Christmas morning. My self-pity lasted just a few minutes and soon I was back to thinking my usual thoughts of abundance and how the world is full of love and well-being. Donna and Mary encouraged me to buy myself a toy anyway, bless 'em.
On Tuesday I got a call from my bank saying I'd won an iPod iTouch! Broadway Bank here in San Antonio was having a little sweepstakes to encourage people to check out their new website and you could enter to win one of five iTouches. I went down to pick it up today (Wednesday) and they took my picture holding it. Of course, it's not on because it hadn't been charged up or synched to my iTunes yet. But as we speak, I'm downloading a movie rental onto my new iTouch. So tomorrow when I'm riding the bus back and forth to the gallery, I'll be watching The Prestige with Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson. At 15 minutes per bus ride, I'll be watching the movie over a few days, but how cool is that??!!
They're going to have photos of the winners on that newsletter thingie that goes out with the bank statements. Except for that errant curl sticking out into mid-air, I don't think the picture's too bad. Thank you, Universe and Broadway Bank!
Thanks to those of you who hung out with me online last night. Ustream had a meltdown toward the end, so the second video clip ends abruptly. Sorry about that. I'll try to work on the little girl again online soon.
Finished Landscape
I had several landscape angels who helped me with advice on this painting. I'm pleased with the results. I also finished the little Renaissance girl today, but didn't get decent photos, so will post it tomorrow.
Landscape progress
I moved this further along today. Still lots yet to figure out. Thank you for your confidence in me!
Me? Paint a LANDSCAPE???
This is an 18 x 24 oil on stretched canvas, and I'm painting like mad. It needs to be finished and in Oregon in time for Christmas. I'll post images along the way...
I'm painting online tonight, a bit later- 7 pm Central
Hope you'll come by and join the fun! www.ustream.tv/channel/susancarlin
Renaissance Girl Progress
Had an itch to paint last night, so called an impromptu session on Ustream.tv- and several friends showed up to keep me company. So nice!
The painting is coming along, but the features aren't right yet. Like most artists, I have to walk away and come back to see the corrections which need to be made. I'm liking it better and better, though.
Renaissance child - a start from the online "show"
11 x 14 oil on stretched canvas
This is the two-hour beginning from yesterday's broadcast of my "show."
The drawing gave me fits for some reason. I still have much to rearrange. I'll post progress photos once I've made progress! The artists who meet up with me on Tuesdays there make it so much fun for me. Joan asked if I would talk about ideas for getting commissions, so I spent the last 20 minutes of the second video from yesterday offering what I could.
Thanks again to those of you who come to play on Tuesdays!
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