Just off the Easel: Street Jazz

I've been working on this piece for the Apex Arts Council's Cool Notes show.  It will be held in conjunction with the First Annual Apex Jazz Festival in a few weeks in Downtown Historic Apex.

Street Jazz
oil pastel on board
7" x 11" 

This is oil pastel on board primed with terracotta pastel primer.  I used Neocolor II pastels to lay in the first layer, then added water to make a watercolor wash, followed with Sennelier oil pastels.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish a few more musical themed pieces for the show by next Friday! Stay tuned!

And SAVE THE DATE for Defining Design's Art Affaire!  I have been accepted to a juried show sponsored by the Apex Arts Council and Defining Design on September 24th in Fuquay Varina, NC.  It will be an outdoor arts event featuring artists in a garden setting with music, wine and food.  We're hoping for some beautiful Fall weather and cooler temperatures!

My talented artist Mom, Karen Pearson, will also be there showing her work!  See her blog here. :)

Just off the Easel: Three Petite Eggplants

We got our fruits and veggies yesterday from our local CSA, The Produce Box.  Everything was so pretty, I just had to paint the small eggplants.

Three Petite Eggplants
click here to view in shop
10" x 12"

I painted this with oil pastels on rag board primed with clear colourfix primer tinted a dark blue gray.  I used a pretty mesquite cutting board underneath the eggplant to show some nice reflected light.  Loving the yellow napkin I used as a backdrop.  Mustard yellow is one of my favorite colors.... 

love some yellow...above our fireplace
is painted a cheery mustard yellow!

I'm also eyeing some pretty peppers, cucumber, and smaller peppers.  They make make an appearance in a painting today before they end up on my dinner plate tonight!  Now that the eggplants have been painted, the big question is how to cook them up?  We had some grilled eggplant a few weeks ago, and I wasn't a fan.


Stay tuned for more veggies!