SCRUMBLE - A Blog About Pastel Art

Finish It, Then Enhance It

Talking About Ticonderoga

Which is better, the painting with the plain stone wall in the background or the one with more information in the background?

The Ticonderoga guide seemed to be pretty good,but there was nothing in the painting defining WHAT he was. Now the knapsack and coat suggest the historical element, and the 1775 plaque carved into the stone help to tell the story. I made the table longer and added the wooden stairway to push the wall back. Slight adjustments in color in his face, and I was finally satisfied. If something in a painting bothers you, as an artist, you know you will never be satisfied with the painting unless you fix it.

Flowers and Color Imagination

If It Were Fall

"Take a look at this." My mentor friend showed me a fantastically colored painting of a flower — oversized, in imagined color, but absolutely as recognizable as if it had been painted in its local color. Seeing the creativeness of that artist in painting a flower was an "aha" moment. I had never wanted to paint flowers before; painting people is my thing. 

But this way of looking at a flower, painting a single bloom rather than a floral arrangement, painting in colors that come solely from imagination, that would be fun. I knew I could use a black and white photo as a value study and translate those values to whatever color scheme I chose.

Kaleidoscope Magnolia was the first, and was a big hit. Many flower paintings have since found their way onto my easel. They become mesmerizing, and looser than my figurative art.

Reading Vanessa Diffenbaugh's book, The Language of Flowers, I realized that all this time I had been telling the language of flowers with my paintings. Instead of using words to describe flowers, I had been using the beautiful range of pastel colors to describe their them.

I've admired Raphael's The Three Graces, and many artists' interpretation of them. It was an easy transition to my version, three magnolia blooms twining and curving into each other. My own Three Graces grace the opening scene in my YouTube Video, Painting the Language of Flowers. Enjoy the pastels, the color, the music, then visit Pick A Flower, to purchase an original for $150.

I'm Trying Something New

Morning Glow, Pastel, 8.5x8.5

FLOWERS FOR A FRIEND OR JUST TO SAY THANK YOU

Pick A Flower, Pick A Quote, Pick A Friend

A flower beautifully painted in pastel and framed — $150

A card with the same beautiful artwork and a specially chosen quote — free

The purchase on my website with PayPal — easy

Your friend's reaction — thrilled

Sometimes my kids send me flowers, and I love them (the kids and the flowers). It's an unexpected treat to open the door and be greeted with a bouquet of the most beautiful kind. Aches and pains, bad moods, hectic schedule — they all disappear with a smile. And every time I see those flowers I smile again. Life is wonderful! Then the flowers wilt and drop those gorgeous petals, leaving only the memory.

WHAT IF you could send a flower to a friend, and it lives through every season! Long lasting beauty and all the great feeling, for about the same price as fresh flowers. Just stroll through my garden, and purchase an original pastel artwork.

THEN choose a Blooming Quote in just the right words for your friend. After your purchase and selection, email me with the details. I'll print the artwork and quote on high quality card stock and carefully package the original work with the card. USPS, UPS or FedEx will handle the shipping; everything is included in your $150 cost.  

Pick A Flower has all the details. Pick A Quote has the magic words. My garden has all the flowers; click an image for a larger view. Each link available on my website.  

Subscribe to SCRUMBLE, my monthly e-newsletter that lightly touches upon art, travel, golf, and life. The March issue travel feature is Monaco and Eze.