The art just whooshed off the wall - SOLD

woohoo! What a glorious way to celebrate the start of summer.

A torrential downpour A juicy art sale Catching up with old friends Making new ones And driving home in a brooding stormy sunset with the horizon on fire

Thank you for braving the weather to visit the opening of "Artscapes" at the Summit Medical Center.

And a very big thank you to Elaine and Steve, who fell in love with "Whoosh!" and will be taking it to a new home after the show closes. So stop by and see it this summer, on it's first ...and last public appearance.

And as we all know red spots have a habit of multiplying (well it is a Medical Center). Two more red SOLD spots had emerged by the end of the evening as Netté Thomas and Roberta Reynolds both sold pictures too.

You can enjoy a taste of summer at the Exhibitors' Co-op website www.exhibitorscoop.com/summer.html

And for the full experience visit :

The Summit Medical Group Lawrence Pavilion : Lower Lobby Gallery 1 Diamond Hill Road Berkley Heights, NJ 07922 www.summitmedicalgroup.com

The show runs until September 12th and seems to be selling fast, so stop by soon!

Colored Pencil Art Work in Progress : Shopping Bags 3

Well this one really is getting colored in fast. But I'm not sure if the matching top and bottom triangles of color are going to work, or whether they will be too distracting. They might end up forming a giant arrow out of the picture, with no way for you to get back in.

I'll have to live with it for a while.

At the Scrumptious Purple Pastel Tree

Something new and fun this weekend. Scrumptious Purple Pastel. I combined the purple with powdered sanguine red chalk and charcoal to create this woodland landscape.

I have always been a bit wary of using pastel chalks because of the dust involved, but I found something new at the art store this week - Pan Pastels. I initially went looking for them because the applicator was recommended for using with charcoal, but I was seduced by their delicious array of colors. There is something very satisfying (and irresistible) about seeing a rainbow of colors arranged in order.

If oil pastels are like drawing with lipstick, then Pan Pastels are like using eye shadow. The palette knife shaped tool has a little sponge hat (hand washable) that you can swirl around in the the solid color and then smear on the paper.

Just too much fun to be considered "work"

Artscapes : A Celebration of Summer Art Show

Are you Missisng the Sun? With hot beach landscapes, juicy mouthwatering colors and delicious shady retreats - it may just be the only summer we see in New Jersey this year!

So join me for the opening of Artscapes : A Celebration of Summer this Wednesday evening and let's see if we can't encourage the sun to put in an appearance.

Just 2 minutes from Rt 78 exit 43 Opening Reception : June 24th 5 - 8pm June 24th - September 12 2009 The Summit Medical Group Lawrence Pavilion : Lower Lobby Gallery 1 Diamond Hill Road Berkley Heights, NJ 07922

www.summitmedicalgroup.com

Fried Chicken Bones and a Beer : charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprint #16)

chicken bones and napkin : charcoal still life drawing

Lulu is rather fond of this drawing. She would occasionally wander into the studio; stand under the still life table; sniff hopefully and put on her cutest face.

Poor Lulu. I had to give her crispy chicken skin for lunch, to ease my conscience.

Description: Charcoal and chalk combine in this still life drawing of chicken bones wrapped in a paper napkin with a beer bottle cap : all that is left over from a delicious late night dinner.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series

Used Teabags and Spoon : charcoal and chalk drawing (Carbon Footprint #15)

charcoal drawing of used teabags and spoon

Something a little new. This week I have added white chalk to the charcoal to create the crisp white string on the teabag and the silver spoon.

Now I have some experience under my belt, I have been re-reading the book that started me on the charcoal drawings - Drawing With Charcoal, Chalk, and Sanguine Crayon - to get some more tips and techniques. I like to read my favorite art books again and again to refresh my ideas.

And yes, I really do drink this much tea. In fact, rather more. This pile only managed to get me to lunchtime, before they were needed for the still life.

Now, spot of afternoon tea anyone?

Description : Charcoal and chalk combine in this contemporary still life drawing of used teabags and a teaspoon. Everyday objects transformed into art.

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series

Look What Lulu Found in the Garden - Oh Deer

Nestled in the weeds at the side of my driveway, sheltering from the drizzling rain, the spindliest wobbliest little bambi.

Now I know it'll grow up to strip my garden faster than an all-you-can-eat buffet in a college town, but I'll gladly trade my hosta for such a joyful surprise on such a grey morning.

I'm so glad that I have reclassified my weeds as "volunteers" and left them to flourish and bloom in the autumn.

Colored Pencil Art Work in Progress : Bags 3

Phew!

I got a cracking good start on this one today. No interruptions all day.

Lovely.

I really like the warm delicate pinks and soft oranges in the bottom bag.

Old Potatoes Sprouting : charcoal still life drawing (Carbon Footprint #14)

old sprouting potatoes still life charcoal drawing

Boy these were fun to draw - wrinkly slack skin, weird sprouty tentacles and worm holes. What were these aliens doing in the back of my cupboard?

Description : Old potatoes have sprouted into sculpture in the back of the cupboard. This charcoal still life drawing captures all the textures and sculptural nature of sproty spuds. Art from Garbage

This charcoal still life drawing is part of the “Carbon Footprints” series

Oil Pastel Painting: Magical Realism ~ Woodland Sparkle

Such a juicy rich purple and a mouth watering acid green. Delicious. You can see the original at "Artscapes" this summer.

June 24 - September 12 2009 Opening Reception : Wednesday June 24 5 -8pm Artscapes : A Celebration of Summer

Summit Medical Group 1 Diamond Hill Road Berkeley Heights, NJ

www.summitmedicalgroup.com

Juicy jewel tone colors combine in this oil pastel painting to create a magical realism, where two deer wait in a shaft of sunlight at a bend in a woodland path

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