2010 Pastel Retrospective

[robertsloan2]

Donna, "Far from Home" is so powerful. I love his expression. He's so young and so lost in thought for a moment, obviously far away with his loved ones. Great composition. I like the softened figure in the background too. This is one of the most emotional paintings I've seen.

Lisa - Kitty is sweet! First thing I noticed scrolling down the thread - what a great cat! I don't know Kitty personally so don't know how close you got the likeness, but Kitty seems absolutely true and real. I love that expression. Bright-eyed, ears up, looking off with interest, Kitty is a happy cat. Love that big muzzle, Kitty looks masculine and big. Beautiful handling of the shadows on white and the highlights on black. Black animals and white animals are the hardest to paint, in this cat you've handled both beautifully. Love that little slightly shining nose, reminds me of my Ari!

Bull Britches is wonderful too. Well painted. That one could win some awards. Not as personal a subject to me as cats but so well painted that it draws me in and gets me interested in the story. Excellent.

Chris, I did post here. I put a couple of landscapes on the first page. Ironically "Autumn Ramble" has been reworked again but I'm not sure if I should post the newest versions since they're now coming into January.

Maybe it says something good about me as an artist that the best pastels I did in 2010 are the most recent pastels I did in 2010! Glad that I'm growing!

[allydoodle]

Robert,

Yes, I found them after I posted. You posted before me, and there are so many now, that I'm easily confused . My daughter calls it OLS (Old Lady Syndrome, and I'm not that old ). I especially like Flower Meadow, the colors you used are georgous, and it's so painterly, really beautiful!

I'm gonna have to use all my knowledge from now on, I can't be missing things like this again, it's too embarassing!

[DAK723]

Wow, the incredibly high quality of the paintings posted here is amazing! It is a tough act to follow, but I'll bring the quality level down a bit and post my two favorites for 2010. I only did a handful of paintings in 2010 - and only 4 were from my own references. And while I used to use a lot of references from other sources when I was younger, I have increasingly found a much greater connection to the final painting when the reference is mine.

Autumn Tree on Uart paper, 12" x 9". Originally presented in an early Spotlight (the one on wet underpainting) and revised somewhat since then.



Sunflowers in a Vase On Pastelmat, approx. 15" x 11". From the Spotlight on Flowers.



Obviously no one here knew me until a few years ago, but I can assure that I used to be known as "monochromatic Don!" So for me to be using this type of bold color is definitely a breakthrough of sorts.

Don

[chuas2]

Originally Posted by bnoonan

I can't even pick my favorites - but I'm sure going to be back to look at this frequently to see what has been posted and see what I need to learn from all of you.

WOW BArb

Ditto, WOW is right! Deborah, your "Cedars" is one of my all time favorites, but ALL of these are just wonderful, and inspiring!

[robertsloan2]

Don, these are great! I remember those two Spotlight challenges. Your orange tree is wonderful, I love the way you handled its brilliant color against the sky and the foliage masses. Good Sunflowers too. I like the way the flowers grab all the attention and the vase looks so natural and clear even though you softened it a little to push attention back up to the flowers.

[Colorix]

Awsome works!

I didn't paint so many last year, too much happening, and I also spent most of the summer doing PA (none showable, but will be good for studio ref). I made only two still-lifes, as I'm still on the quest of conquering landscapes. Still-lifes are my first love, though. This one is a flirt with oriental looking objects, without trying an oriental style. Stone for Japanese stone gardens, for example. (And you who know Chinese, what on earth have I written on the table-cloth? )

Orchid and Chopsticks


Here's one that started as a plein air, with lots of people walking behind me, stopping and looking, but I was oblivious. (My husband told me I had had quite a crowd.) Then I made the studio-version below, but the PA I'd put by it in my Open Studio sold... go figure. (PA was tiny, just a quarter of the studio version.) The statue is Hebe, who poured wine for the Greek gods, before they gave the job to a boy (Ganymede). I chose this one out of 4 other favo candidates for this thread, as it truly represents the colours I saw on this bright summer day, and as I just have a special feeling for it, maybe the gracious statue is what makes it? Also because I re-arranged the background quite a lot, it was basically a straight mass of trees with no visible sky. I feel the patch of sky opened it up and let the air and light in.

Hebe (sorry for it being so blurry)

[DAK723]

Charlie, Absolutely gorgeous pieces! The wood bowl and chopsticks in the 1st are phenomenal. The light, shadow, highlights, reflected light are all incredibly observed and rendered! The second piece has so many wonderful things happening, but the statue steals the show. Again, your ability to see and portray the many facets of the light/shadow/reflected light are stunning!

Don

[the drover's dog]

I'm so enjoying this retrospective and it's interesting to see what each artist considers their "best" for the previous year.

There is really is some stunning work in this thread.

Congrats to everyone and I look forward to seeing many more. Ashamed to admit that I only finished five paintings for the whole year......well, almost finished!

Dale

[*Deirdre*]

chrsalg Two strokable felines, good as they look, I'll resist the temptation! Well done!


Paula Ford Two lovely pictures that showcase your enviable reputation for painting trees and landscapes, beautifully done!


robertsloan2 Your palettes are a feast for the eyes -both so different, but appropriately applied, you should be proud of these. Lovely pictures.


- Gerri Mc I love this one too, so subtle, yet so expressive...beautifully done!


- Ruthie57 Such a distinctive portrait of John, and an absolutely beautiful ballerina - wonderful work, the sort we've come to expect from you.


- Winny Kerr A lovely landscape indeed, no wonder you used it for your Christmas card.


- Fata_Morgana You may only have done three, but this is an occasion that says quality rather than quantity! Well painted!


- SonyaJ Your landscape shows the cold stillness of snow-covered countryside, in contrast to the lively picture of that gorgeous dog...well painted duo!


- Dougwas Both joyful paintings - the first shows a gloriously colourful landscape that lifts the spirits, the second a green frog that makes one smile...well done indeed!


chuas2 A thought provoking tribute -beautifully painted with passion.


- Tracy LangYour pictures share a common theme, both are a delight to look at, yet both so different...a veritable feast of colour and style, beautifully painted.


- Deborah Secor What can I say that hasn't already been said? I can feel the sun...and the wind, when I look at your wonderful paintings! Well done!


- Kathryn Wilson Both your pictures invite one in- one to take up your hospitality, the other to drink in the view - both beautifully painted.


- RainySea Although you only did a few pastels this year, you were left with two good choices for this retrospective! The portrait is very expressive, and the fruit colourful and juicy!


Merethe T What can I say...these are both masterful both in composition and execution...well painted!


- winecountryBoth of these show a high degree of skill in all areas, composition, palette and technique....beautifully painted indeed!


allydoodle I like the landscape very much, but adore the way you painted that little girl. You have a definite way with portraits!


- OrchidaceaComposition, colour, clarity & clever competence...you show them all...well done indeed!


- Lisa M Your keen eye for observation continues to develop, as well as your rand of well chosen subjects...and you make a good job of executing them too! Well done!


- Donna T The most memorable picture of last year for many of us...outstanding work...well done!


DAK723 Your Autumn tree is excellent, surface looks warm yet we know it's getting colder! In contrast to those sunny sunflowers, whose radiance can outshine most!


- Colorix Your colourful renditions are so well known to us, indeed it is your signature. Both of these show the warmth of summer and the heat of the day...so well done!

[Colorix]

Thank you, Deirdre, the still-life was painted in winter. Indoors, halogen light.

Don, thank you! (comment on yours below)


Chrissie, Fantastic fur!

Paula, Beautiful, I love the dandelion one, amazing how some of the best subjects are right in the backyard!

Robert, Can see why you chose these out of many (many!) good ones, they're showing you taking an artistic leap. They made you sweat, so to speak, and the result is lovely!


Gerri, This a very special one, and you caught the loveliness (the danger of a glare being successfully avoided)!


Ruthie, No Swan? I'd've thunk... These are great, both of them, and I've oh-ah:d over them in profusion before.

Winny, What a lovely painting/card!


Yvonne, Wow, the tulips are fantastic! The glass one is a leap forward for you, love it.


Sonya Wonderful snow, with the creek as a great eyecatcher. And the noble Monkey is just fab!


Doug, Love how you let the flowers in the landscape really zing with colour, and wee Kermit is so adorable, great greens!


Chuas, This one eludes an 'alien', I'm guessing it is one of those military tags? If so, it seems this is highly personal and heroic. Beautifully painted, restrained, and emotionally loaded.


Tracy, Love the exuberance of both, and how well the 'deconstruct' works!


Deborah, Complexity shows so wonderfully how a seemingly simple motif is packed with -- right, complexity! The bowing cedars is just ice-cream yummy!


Kathryn Two chairs, one glass? May I bring a glass and join you? Evocative. The landscape, love it! (And people think my colours are bright...) Really really love it!


Rainy, You've been active with more than pastels! Love your colours!


Merethe It could only have been you, in the WC Best of! Both are wonderful, and I've said so before.


Colleen, The cat is adorable, great grass, everything, but Arnold has been a favo since you first showed it, Arnold is fantastic!


Chris Great light in the landscape, and the little girl, wow!


Kim, Like Merethe's, it is hard to believe these are pastels! You both are highly skilled pastellists! The bottles, what a complex and beautiful pic, great you have a husband who can lift you to greater hights!


Lisa, Amazing eyes in the cat, and I just love the boy showing he's gonna master the critter behind the fence, great story.


Donna T, Oh, yes, this very special one, Donna. Full of soul.


Don, Really wonderful to see Mr Monochromatic this smashingly colourful! The observation of all the nuances in the tree foliage is wonderful, and sunflowers! who can't help but adore them, and this one is so lovely! Colour suits you!

[robertsloan2]

Charlie, these are both so breathtaking I want to devote an entire wing of an art museum to Charlotte Herczfeld someday. No, I'm not kidding, I'm just not rich enough to do it yet. Your still life is incredible. It's also the one that got juried into the IAPS show, isn't it? As for Hebe... oh wow. I want to be there, in that light, feel that joy. It's wonderful.

[Dot Hoffman]

So many wonderful paintings, I'm almost (but not quite) hesitant to post mine, since I didn't paint as much as I would have liked in 2010. Nevertheless, here they are. The first one is in the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico.

And here is a white iris from my garden.

[*Deirdre*]

I have no hesitation in saying it's a beautiful Iris Dot...and a wonderful treescape!!

[Colorix]

Dot, fine paintings, it is clear why you chose them!

[aolaranora]

So many gorgeous works here!... just like a walk in a beautiful garden of art!
Not easy choice to make... what are my favorites for 2010... perhaps after all it will be those 2.

First one is on La Carte, about 8,5 x 11"
and the second one on Ampersand 12 x 12"