Backlit Berries 6 X 18 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

OK everyone you get 2 entries on the blog today due to my lack of getting anything posted in a while.

Second in my Backlit series to be completed, although this one took me a while since I've had 2 classes running for the last 6 weeks.  Amidst many family obligations this was a fun one to work on.  I again like the size of this piece as it looks great on a small easel on my kitchen counter while I wait for the frame to be delivered.  A more stretched out version of this one at 6 X 18 versus the 6 X 12 of the citrus piece a few months ago was also intriguing.  The glow of the light through these strawberries and the juice droplets on the surface plane convey everything I love about strawberries.

I hope you like them!  Have a colorful day!

Gloria

Spring Colored Pencil Painting Class Finished

These are just a few of the finished or nearly finished "Pick A Pepper" projects from my spring students in the beginner colored pencil classes.  All with their own unique style and variations.  I can't tell you how proud I am of these adult students.  And also how wonderful they all are as artists and people.  It's the best part of teaching getting to know other artists, despite what they are constantly teaching me.  I am also constantly thinking what else can I show or teach them?

They will currently be working on their 3rd project, their personal one.  Each with an image of their choosing.  Many will continue until mid June when my open studio session is over.  And I can't wait to see how they finish their work or start another.

New classes for beginners Painting In Colored Pencil will start in the fall (Sept. 6 - Oct. 11 1:00 - 4:00 pm) and for my continuing or experienced students a new class in Sanded Surfaces with Colored Pencil, Sept. 6 - Oct. 11th 9:30 - 12:30.

Contact me at my gloria@gloriacallahan.com email address if you'd like more information.

Have a colorful Day!
Gloria

Backlit Citrus

                                            6  X 12 Colored Pencil on Ampersand Pastelboard

Here's a new piece I finished right before we took a short trip to Florida and my spring classes started.  A small one, that really looked good in the black frame with gold inside trim, I placed it in.  And especially on an easel on my kitchen counter top.  I left it there for a few weeks, one because the under counter lighting made it look so luminescent and two because I've been very busy working on teaching my current two classes of new colored pencil students.   And I have some great students!  Who are 2 classes in and doing so well.

I'm currently working on a slightly longer new piece with the same theme of back lighting.  One that I've worked on setups for during the last 4 months.  The thin format should make these great pieces for kitchens, under cabinets or in a grouping.  But really I'm playing with this layout and lighting,  planning for a larger work yet to come.  No drama here, I'm just working things out in my head and in photos first.  Testing palette colors and playing with my cp's. 

I hope you enjoy this piece and I hope to be posting the new one soon.  Oh, and have a colorful day!
 

Shrooms and 8 X 10 Colored Pencil on Pastelboard

This small new piece was finished last week.  The reference came about on a wonderful August day which was spent with my oldest Granddaughter Cora on her first Plein Air Painting day with me.  At the time she was just 7 and really enjoyed our day at Sunday Park in Brandermill.  These colorful little mushrooms were growing after a pretty wet week here, just loving the moist understory of oak trees sharing the spot with a small creeping ground cover.  (of which I haven't identified)

I actually started this piece as a demo back in Sept. at an outdoor art show, and worked on it for just minutes that day and on each of the 3 consecutive shows thereafter.  I find that having a sample of my artwork helps people to understand that it is indeed colored pencil on board.  Some have actually argued with me that it's not.  So this is much easier.  Since I was busy with the holidays and commission pieces this little gem was neglected until now.  The original reference was great on the details of the mushrooms but really bad on the dark forest floor, so I had fun winging it, and just plain old recreating the area from my mental notes and sketches from that outing.  I just love turning a leave and drawing folds.

So here you go, it always bugs me when I don't immediately finish a piece.   Enjoy the small things in your life today!