Day 26 "Pisgah Pike Evening"

Pisgah Pike is one of my favorite country roads in the central Ky area. This image is the corner next to the Pisgah Presbyterian Church in the evening as the shadows begin to envelope the landscape. I created this drawing to go with "Bluegrass Fences-Day 10" for my friend Terri.

"Pisgah Pike Evening" 7" x 10" pastel on textured pastel paper

Day 25 The missing dog

"The Sheep Herders Pasture" is from my trip to Italy (the big art) and the missing dog was a Great Pyrenees. We stopped beside this pasture to photograph the herd of sheep and noticed the large white dog standing guard over the sheep - just one big dog. I called out to the dog, "hey doggie doggie, aren't you pretty" and at that point he charged after the car and then 5 other dogs appeared from the herd of white fluffy sheep and started chasing the car. "Let's get out of HERE, Laurey."
In my photograph I loved the light and shadow plus the house in the background but placing the one white dog in the foreground would command too much attention. So that's the story of the "missing dog."

"Sheep Herders Pasture" 8" x 12" on Wallis sanded paper

Day 24 "Elkhorn Creek"

"Harry's Law" is on (my new favorite TV show) so let's make this quick.  I'm drawn (ha-ha) to this image because I love the backlighting effect. It wasn't that pronounced in the reference photo but I increased the effect in the drawing because I remember it that way.

"Elkhorn Creek Backlighting3" 8" x 12" pastel on Uart paper with oil wash for underpainting

Day 23 "Corn Rows"

This design seems disconnected from the more realistic landscapes. My artist friend, Pat Lawrence, and I are creating images for a show and "Corn Rows 2" will be part of that exploratory show.

"Corn Rows 2"

 Pat and I assign ourselves subjects for the show and the first subject was "Chickens," although mine are apparently roosters.

"The Flock"

Day 22

"The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through." Jackson Pollock
Today was my demonstration day at Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea which is a fun experience. Gwen Heffner organizers the event and produces great PR plus they treat me to lunch and pay a small stipend for me to work on new pieces and talk to visitors.
"Pisgah Pike Fall" was completed at the Artisan Center today. Looks like I need to finish the left side.

"Pisgah Pike Fall" 8" x 12" pastel on LaCarte sanded pastel paper

Now back to yesterday's problem child. When I'm frustrated with a piece sometimes I crop it tighter to focus on the point of interest. Maybe "Grassy Springs1" should be a 6"x6".

"Grassy Springs 1.5"  6" x6"

Day 21

Isn't this fun. Today you get to see another failure and hopefully a "save". (Jan. 28-Day 14 was the other problem pastel in need of changes and Jan. 30 Day 16 was the correction)
Here's "Grassy Springs" and "Grassy Springs Sunset". Which do you think is the failure?

"Grassy Springs"   8" x 12" pastel on LaCarte sanded paper

"Grassy Springs Sunset"   8" x 12"  pastel on Wallis sanded paper

Day 20 Browns

"That painter who has no doubts will achieve little." Leonardo da Vinci
I don't work with browns very much but in search of other color combinations that convey light and shadow in this hayfield, I decided to try warmer colors in the shadow area which may occur on a very warm summer evening.

"Knob Meadow Browns"   8" x 12" pastel on Wallis sanded paper