Just off the Easel: Garden Path

Number 13 of 30 Small works in 30 days...

"Garden Path"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
$60

"Garden Path" is painted from photos taken last spring at the UNC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill, NC. See here and here for two more paintings done from the gardens.

I used a new underpainting technique, alcohol wash, that I learned from Karen Margulis' art blog.  She does amazing works in soft pastel and I am finding that much of her underpainting and plein aire tips can be used with oil pastels.  Here is the post where she talks about alcohol underpainting.

Here is the underpainting using Nupastels and 70% rubbing alcohol, and the finished piece on the easel on the right:

This piece took about 1 1/2 to 2 hours including waiting for the underpainting to dry.  This was a fun, loose piece using a limited palette.

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Captain Bill's, Morehead City

Here's #12 of 30 in my 30 Small Works in 30 Days challenge! I wanted to do something with a United States flag in it for Memorial Day.  

"Captain Bill's, Morehead City"
oil pastel on board
9" x 12"
$75

I found a reference photo from our trip to the beach last summer... This was perfect since it is for Memorial Day and it says "Captain Bill," which is my Grandpa Pearson's first name.  He served in the USAF, though he retired as a Colonel NOT a Captain!  

My Grandfather, Dad, both of my Dad's brother's, and two of my cousins are all USAF.  Thank you to all of our Military for your sacrifices so that we may be free.

Captain Bills is along the waterfront in Morehead City.  I loved the signs, angles of the building,  and of course the flag.  I may work a little more on this later, but am pretty pleased with it for now.  I'll wait a bit and see how I feel about it in a few weeks.

I got behind on my Challenge with the commission I've been working on for Father's Day.  Now that it is done, I am getting back on track!  I will share the commission after Father's Day so I don't spoil anyone's surprise.

Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!


Bethany

Horses, Goats, and Barns, Oh My!

 More paintings from my 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge:

#9: "Carousel Prancer"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45

"Carousel Prancer" is painted from photos I took of the antique carousel at Pullen Park.  We went a few weeks ago, and our little girl loved it! The highlight for her was the train ride.  Pullen Park is an incredible park in the heart of Raleigh. The whole park was recently renovated, and it is really beautiful for children of all ages!

#10: "Peek A Boo"
oil pastel on board
5" x7"
$45

This goat at Fearrington Village was checking me out!  I enjoyed trying out a cooler color palatte on this painting.  I'll be going back to get more pictures, since the light at noon was too harsh and I only got a few good reference photos.

#11: "Afternoon Shadows"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45

I loved the light on this white barn.  I tried to keep this painting quick and loose. It is one of my favorites of this series!  This barn is located in Fearrington Village, just south of Chapel Hill, NC.

Stay tuned...I have more paintings to catch up on!

Thanks for reading,
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Miss Busy Bee

This is my little girl watching the bumblebees in the gardens at Fearrington Village.

"Miss Busy Bee"
oil pastel on paper
8" x 10"
$60

I will probably make a few small touches (and sign it).  I loved the shadows and colors in the flowers.  I'll be working on some more paintings of just the flowers, too.

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Beautiful Baby Boy

I can finally share this baby portrait commission.  It was being delivered to his Mommy this weekend in Chicago!

oil pastel on paper
8" x 10"
commission

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Wimberly Road Azaleas

Here's #7 of 30 paintings in 30 days... 

"Wimberly Road Azaleas"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"
$45
contact for purchase

This is a quiet road on the backroads of Apex.  The light was falling through the trees perfectly and the hot pink azaleas were in full bloom.

Stay tuned for more paintings this weekend. I'll share a baby portrait commission and some more new small paintings.  Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Afternoon Shadows

This is #6 of 30 paintings in 30 days...

"Afternoon Shadows"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
$45
contact for purchase

A house located on Beaver Dam Rd in Cary, NC.  The home is in front of "Big Red," the barn I painted last week. I love a wrap-around porch, and this old home had the light hitting just right for some great shadows!

I've found that painting in oil pastel in this smaller size really makes me simplify shapes and not focus on too much detail.  It's really exciting for me, and a bit out of my comfort zone.  Painted on gray Pastelbord with no underpainting.  I'd like to paint this same scene in a larger size, too.

Stay tuned! If you aren't subscribed to my posts via email, please consider subscribing so you don't miss a post!  Enter your email address in the box "Follow By Email" on the right side of this post. Also, see me on Facebook for more about my work. 

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Splashing in the Surf

Here's a painting I've just finished... #5 of 30 for my 30 in 30 days challenge.  

"Splashing in the Surf"
oil pastel on board
8" x 10"
$45

Painted from reference pictures I took on Emerald Isle, NC last month.  This boxer was biting and chasing the waves and his owners were laughing at his antics.

This is painted with oil pastels on Ampersand Pastelbord in the sand color.  I liked the sand color for this beach scene. Usually I stick to the gray and white Pastelbord, but in my last Jerry's Artarama order I got the 5" x 7" sampler pack.  It came with the gray, white, sand, and green boards.

Stay tuned for more as I catch up on my challenge!  I am still behind 2 days, so I'd better get to painting!

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Big Red

I was in love the moment I saw this huge red barn!  The house that goes with it is very charming, too.  I'll be painting it soon!

"Big Red"
8" x 10"
oil pastel on gatorboard with Colourfix
$60

This barn is in my hometown of Cary, NC at Beaver Dam Rd and Green Level Church Rd.  I'll have to go back and capture some more photos of this intense red barn.  I'd love to see what the early morning and late afternoon shadows look like!

This is the first time I've tried painting on Gatorboard primed with Colourfix primer.  I head about using this method from a local soft pastellist, Kim Werfel (her blog post about the method here).  I liked it so far and have to experiment with using several layers of primer and sanding the board.  With only one coat the ridges were much more noticeable than when I use the primer on paper or paper based boards.  In this painting it worked with the vertical lines in the barn siding.  What I do love is that the Gatorboard won't warp with wet media and is much lighter in weight than Ampersand's Pastelbord.

Stay tuned for more of my progress in painting 30 small works in 30 days...I'm only up to #4 and I'm on day 6.  I have some catching up to do!

Thanks for reading,
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Whatcha Looking At?

My third painting during my goal of 30 small works in 30 days! 

Whatcha Looking At?
oil pastel on canvas board
5" x 7"
$45
Contact me to purchase

Stay tuned... Some barns are are up next!

Thanks for reading,
Bethany

Just off the Easel: Odd Man Out

Here's a friend of the other two cows I just painted.  This cow was just hanging back watching his buddies "work it out."

"Odd Man Out"
oil pastel on board
5" x 7"

I have a few more of these cows to paint, and then on to some barns! 

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Just off the Easel: Bovine Mediation

I loved these cows playing. I captured these photos at the Artists for Animals Faire a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to get painting them!  

"Bovine Mediation"
oil pastel on canvas board
5" x 7" 

It is my goal for the next 30 days to finish one small painting a day, no larger than 8" x 10".  I have taken so many great reference photos of barns, animals, and the beach lately... stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!
Bethany