Girl in Chair, Canson Drawing from Life, Female Portrait

 

I've been cleaning out my studio, and it's a walk down memory lane. This was drawn from life at the Artists' Guild in Melbourne, Florida. 

Carmen

Caricature of Dave, 8x10 Pastel Portrait

I've been through all our closets now, so I don't think I'll be finding any more new art forms. This one is Dave Schotter, Air Force NCO from Indiana, who regaled us in the Graphics Shop with stories about the Shoe Tree and the Squirrel Hunting Convention. Those days were my best memories in 31 years of government service.

Carmen

Caricature of Lamar, Pastel, 8x10

This is another blast from the past, a caricature of Lamar Walker, my friend and coworker at the Air Force Photo Lab in the 80s at Patrick Air Force Base. I really got into caricatures for a while, but I eventually got over it. This was a farewell gift when Lamar was transferred to another base.

Carmen

Caricature of Suzanne, Pastel, 11x14

Due to our closet remodeling, I recently discovered some caricatures I did years ago. This is my daughter Suzanne in her poofy blue dress in the 80s. I was still working for the Air Force then and I did many caricatures of retiring VIPs. I moved on to oil painting, and now, to book illustration. Since I'm too busy to paint much, I'll be posting more of these "oldies" for a while.

Carmen

Aunt Bea, 16x20 Pastel on Paper

I have learned that lots of people, not just Opie, have an Aunt Bea. Mine was a corker. When she gave us stink eye we knew we were in trouble. She figures prominently in my book Crackers and Oranges. When my daughter Suzanne was a baby she fell asleep in her high chair with a pork chop in her hand and Aunt Bea said, "Hmph! She's faking it." Devious little baby. 

This portrait was done years ago when I was dabbling in pastels. It's the only pastel I've ever posted on this blog. I do enjoy the medium, but I need to concentrate on my oil painting. I had a period of doing caricatures in pastel, which really worked for that medium. Let's face it, there are only so many hours in the day and so much energy I can expend, so I am working on the application of squishy oils on canvas, which I enjoy most of all. And the occasional collage. 

Kayla, 18x20 Pastel Life Drawing

NFS

There is nothing better for an artist than drawing from life, but it is hard for me to squeeze that in, what with daily painting commitments and some other big projects (shiny objects) I am chasing. I am taking a monthly class from Stephen Perkins, an internationally known sculptor. We are so fortunate to have him here to share with us at our Artists Guild. The above drawing was to give me some practice between his classes.

I suppose I will never be one of those "known for" artists, as in "she's known for her..." still lifes, or landscapes, or whatever. Some people paint the same thing over and over and over (I call it Kinkading), but my inspiration fizzles if I am too repetitious. That's why my Etsy shop has oils, collages, zentangles, and abstracts. Of course, oils are my first love.