Another Award ~ WHEEEE!

The Dawning

Pastel on Hahnemuhle Suede Paper

24"x32"

On a crisp 4th of July morning, in the harbor of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, a predawn walk-about presented me with a moment that awakened a myriad of sensations. The sun had not yet risen. The dew was still thick and made walking on the docks dangerously slippery, without a morning coffee. The harbor smells were fresh and intense - in a good way. And, the quiet was astounding.

There in the sky and reflected in the water of the harbor was an amazing chevron of pinks, oranges, mauves - pierced by the spire of the majestic and nearly 100 year old Grosse Pointe Yacht Club tower.

The pastel above resulted. Today, this piece was awarded second place by the juror of the annual member exhibition of the oldest women's art organization in Detroit, Michigan - The Detroit Society of Woman Painters and Sculptors. Again, I am honored and thrilled by the affirmation that my work is appreciated and enjoyed.

Virginia Thibedeau Award

Regal Watch Oil Pastel 24x32

Regal Watch is an oil pastel, recently entered in the 71st Annual Member Exhibit of Grosse Pointe Artist Association and was juried by Phil Vanderweg. Regal Watch was awarded the Virginia Thibedeau Memorial Award, for drawing or pastel. Whee, I am thrilled for this confirmation. There are not many ways for artists to know they have done something 'right'. Art, afterall is subjective and relative. It's personal and as the heading to the pastel below says "one man's trash is another man's treasure".... if your car breaks, you fix it, it runs, you know you did good ....it is not that easy in the subjective art world. It often happens like this ~ if you do an art piece, you show it, it's rejected from a show, you wonder what you did wrong .... if you show the same art piece in another exhibit, it is an award winner, you are confused but very PLEASED. All this is to say, awards to me are not silly fluff. They confirm that for the moment, someone else believes you have "done something right".

Another Man's Treasure

Another Man's Treasure - Pastel on Textured Mat Board - Framed 19.5x21.5

Lets' do a total turn around ... no more snow, beautiful blue sky, different farm and family ... While driving back forth, back forth from Michigan to Bryan, Ohio I like to study the unencumbered open sky and tranquility of flat farmland. I see patterns of shape and color rather than winter wheat, soy beans and corn. The stretch of turnpike between Toledo and the Bryan exit is one huge patchwork quilt. Each shape is a new color and piece in the blanket.

As soon as I make the turn from turnpike toll booth to the straightaway toward the west, I feel calmed and freshened. For me it's the landscape and the open sky. Hoping the same will happen to you, I offer this pastel for viewing - Another Man's Treasure. I will not be surprised if your story and feeling for the scene is far different from mine, because I often hear "what DO you see in those run down old farms, anyway?" ... my answer is "Everything".

~ One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Thanksgiving - A Light Dusting

Thanksgiving - A Light Dusting, Pastel Framed 19.5x21.5

This farm is one which served as model 9 years ago. I did an oil painting of the same farm, surrounded by corn rows accentuated by a light dusting of snow. The piece sold immediately and I have missed the piece ever since.

Problem solved .... This is a new pastel, done the week I spent in Ohio, and celebrates the feeling one might have during the afternoon of Thanksgiving while taking a walk as the turkey bakes and makes the house smell grand, kids in the house tear the place apart, and whistles and cheers and talk of football games on TV add constant background noise to the day.

Escaping all that hustle and bustle, this is the late autumn scene I would like to see while taking time out in the fresh country air.

Williams County Castle - Hometown Ohio Series

Dusk at the Courthouse Square,
Pastel - Framed 20x22

.

I have developed a series of work inspired by the rural landscape, historic buildings and old fashioned values of the little town where I grew up. I am visiting there this week, doing works to add to the series. Scenes in the town offer pictorial images almost around every corner. The Williams County Court House stands in the center of town, and pretty much knocks your socks off when you see it. My choice for all time most magical view includes the band stand after sunset, when the sky is Van Gogh blue and the court house is bathed in dramatic spot lighting...the pastel I finished today.

Check out the photo below, for a view of "the castle" all decked out at Christmas.

I don't leave here for a few more days, so hopefully there be more additions to the series as the week progresses.

Soul Mate

Soul Mate
Oil Pastel Framed 25x30

This piece may look familiar because it was begun 11 months ago. Two soul mate monarch butterflies perched for a short time on the porch of the house we have been lucky to stay in each spring. This was Florida, certainly not Michigan! I was inspired to capture them as they stayed there motionless for half a glorious tropical day. But, I was never pleased with the result, because I feel true soul mates should be rendered with more passion, fire, connection and balance than I originally expressed. Today, in the hopes of rekindling that emotion, I revisited the work and this was the result -- Better! The work is framed and finished, at least for the time being ...

What would Monet do?

What would Monet do...
You’ve seen the bumper sticker. Well maybe you haven’t. You know what I mean. But if Monet was asked to do a bear for a benefit, would he do it, or say, NOPE, I just make SERIOUS art. Sorry.

Serious art or not, I’ve done a bear (subject as requested) for a benefit and will give the piece to the hosting organization for auction.

And, it’s my honor and pleasure to do so!

But, I hesitate to replace the previous artwork below, with this one, because I feel “Rain on the Hill” was one of those special pieces that when completed, the artist says … “who painted that? I held the medium, yes, but something took over -- and did the rest of the job”. Does not happen like that but a few times, ever! Such was “Rain on the Hill”. So to displace it with this pastel disappoints me. And to have gone from such a serious piece to this one … well …

...Back to the bear. It was fun. I am very happy to be able to help this cause. And, as always I took the creating of it very seriously.

But Monet is still rolling over in his grave, I bet.

Rain on the Hill, Grosse Pointe

NOTE added 11.12.09:

The artists magazine "The Pastel Journal" awarded Rain on the Hill an Honorable Mention in the catagory of Abstract and Non-Objective, and it was chosen by the publication as one of the top 100 pastel paintings of the year for 2009. The top 100 paintings will be featured in the April 2010 issue.

.

Blog entry: 2.21.08 .. .This pastel represents a sight I experienced last week at sunset ... at dusk I was driving up a hill, toward the small shopping district here in town. This happens to be that time of evening when the sky can appear Van Gogh blue. The rain on the cement, the water blurring my vision through my windshield, and the colorful orange reflections on the pavement were wonderful! This pastel on paper resulted. I started and finished it yesterday....Saturday, Feb. 21st, 2008.

Character Study for Cocoa McCracken from The Tales of Boots McGee

In the words of Mary Elizabeth Arwady~

Cocoa McCracken, A lovely black squirrel,
A good friend of Boots, for a long time, this girl,
Sent Boots a message, "we need you, you'll see,
To help us solve a big fudge mystery!"


To Mackinac Island, he sailed due north,
Cocoa in the harbor, she paced back and forth.
She was so sweet, the most stylish of squirrels,
With flowers in her hair and classic white pearls.

Character Study Boots McGee - February 13, 2009

It is a joy to be asked to try to create the first visuals for a character brought to life in poem form by another artist. Above, in the early stages, is a pastel drawing of Mary Elizabeth Arwady's character, Boots McGee.

Boots McGee is a great little cat, born with only one eye with which he joyously sees only the good in life, "no eye for the bad". His missing eye spot is dapperly covered with an eye patch, which makes him appear distinguished and somewhat jaunty. As captain of his very own boat (do you suppose its a cat-amaran?) Boots sails the fresh and salt waters of these great United States. As he travels, Boots meets other characters who, like him, experience some sort of minor malady in life which is quickly overcome, proving to young readers that personal strength is not gained by being perfect. Together Boots and his many animal friends visit wonderful places and they share warm and engaging and comical experiences in their many adventures.

Mary Elizabeth Arwady has created an endearing character in Boots McGee and has amassed an amazing batch of magical stories. It is my pleasure to work with her for a time, creating visual images for her many charming poems in the series,
THE TALES OF BOOTS MCGEE