Art Cards

Cards are on sale for $2.00 or 5 for $9, and because it’s my last sale of the year (plus I’m cleaning out my studio), many paintings and prints will be at extreme sale prices too!!

“Austin Shine”, an original pastel, 10″x20″ will be part of this show ~

After years spent in solitude, Ben is surprised to encounter Orion, a red-tailed hawk, and two young children who also share his telepathy. But he must continue to hide his ability when he meets Sara Martin, an attractive veterinarian who prizes science and practicality above all else. Once she discovers his gift, Sara faces a struggle between her growing feelings for Ben and her fear of his unusual talent.

But this strange town holds another revelation for Ben when he overhears a mental conversation between the Lancers – as members of an ancient sect who have perfected their power over many generations, Brigid and Coyle Lancer become determined to stop Ben’s growing curiosity – by any means necessary.

Click here for more information at Amazon.com for your Kindle or Kindle for PC, also available at Barnes & Noble !!
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In addition to creating art, the other thing I’ve loved to do in life is writing. About twenty years ago I started a book, finished it in 2000, revised and rewrote for several more years, and have now published it as an e-book on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble). It is a contemporary fantasy about an artist who has telepathy and the challenges he faces – you can read more or purchase for $2.99 at the link above!

Friends of Orion -  Coming soon…. to an Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble PubIt! eBookstore near you!

(Cover image adapted from a red-tailed hawk photo by Jo and Gene Castillo)

Indigo Lion

Mellow Elephant

Pastel, 13″ x 13″ — (Click for larger view)

I’ve started a new series. I’ve never really even done a “series”, but decided a while back that I wanted to try something new. So I’ve spent the last few weeks having a lot of fun and working on the first couple of pastel paintings. These are jungle animals for kids – with bright and unusual colors, not scary faces, and maybe a little mystery, for sale as prints. That’s what I’m going for. I don’t know what to call this series, so if anyone has a suggestion, I’d love to hear it!

PRELIMINARY SKETCHES

Prior to painting these in pastels, I did preliminary sketches freehand in pencil.  The lion was basically a quick study, mainly focused on how I wanted to do the mane.  The elephant was more detailed, because I was less familiar with their facial features. But tracing these on my light table with the sanded pastel paper taped on top of the drawing did not work well, since the pastel paper is so thick – I ended up squinting a lot and did most of the drawing all over again, using these as a reference.

And the very complex, intricate, convoluted answer I came up with – because it’s fun. It’s fun to create, it’s fun to use your imagination, it’s fun to play with color and application, it’s fun to see a piece evolve minute by minute, day by day. But we all need input from others and a dry spell in sales can give cause for a lot of self-examination. And too much focus on oneself.

Over the years, we’ve all known people who brought to mind the phrase “enough about me, what do you think about me?” So to guard against too much “me”, it’s necessary at times to get away from your own little self and see what is going on in the world – or at least in your part of it.

Yesterday, I was able to attend several art events exhibiting work by artist friends. One was the Real Gallery, part of the East Austin Studio Tour, which has an impressive number of artists and locations, and a wonderful variety of work. Another event was at a friend’s house, where we enjoyed inspiring music and a beautiful display of her art and technique. And lastly, a visit to another house where the art was created from wood – lovely work and design.

So it was nice, for a change, to not feel the pressure to sell my work – that’s why God made the space between walls and sofas – and to spend time enjoying and appreciating the fruits of other’s creativity.

I think it is a fantastic and amazing library where I can instantly – and usually for free – find the answer to any question that pops into my little pea brain.  Who played JR’s dad in the television series Dallas – both actors?  What is the best way to ship pastel paintings?  Where can I find a list of prime numbers?  How can I color my hair back to grey?  Is there a Quantum Physics for Dummies book? (YES!)  Do I give my dog oatmeal after he ate an entire chicken off the counter top?  (Yes, among other options, and you get to watch over do-do for the next few days)

Absolutely anything you need to know is there.  Someone else has had the same question, problem, or curiosity at some point, and other kind people have helped them to figure out the answer.  Yep, I’m a Pollyanna and I don’t care.

One of the things that tickles me the most is when I see that someone from the Isle of Man or Prudenville, Michigan has visited my blog.  I was lucky enough to visit the Isle of Skye, and Holyhead Wales, and Agana Guam, and I’ve lived a lot of places because my father was in the service. So I love seeing that someone in Romania has checked out my blog.  I hope that I have helped someone get started in learning to draw or to use pastels.   Send me a comment, and I’ll check out your site!

Some of the visitors from yesterday – courtesy of Statcounter.com (a free service) show the city, state, and country of each visitor.  Not your name nor anything else, just the search terms and the city location ~
Isle Of Man / Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation / Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam / Madras, Tamil Nadu, India / Sioux Falls, South Dakota / Austin, Texas / Coronado, California / Saint Paul, Minnesota / Cambridge, Ontario, Canada / Windsor, Ontario, Canada / San Diego, California / Prudenville, Michigan / New York/ Altoona, Pennsylvania / Oakville, Ontario, Canada / Grand Rapids, Michigan ( I used to live there! - And in Ada, Lansing and Kalkaska) / Collierville, Tennessee / Radford, Virginia / Washington, Durham, United Kingdom / Blandford Forum, Dorset, United Kingdom / Memphis, Tennessee / Los Angeles, California / Plasencia, Extremadura, Spain / Leicester, United Kingdom / Banbridge, United Kingdom / Albuquerque, New Mexico (Hi, Jo!) / Roslindale, Massachusetts

How cool is that?

So Hello and Kanys t’ou? to Manx! (”the people born on the Isle of Skye are known as ‘Manx’ and are classified as British (as opposed to English” – www.isleofman.com) and bienvenidos a mi blog to Plasencia Spain too.

I was lucky enough to make one cup of very good coffee, and took it and a leftover scone and Charlie (our terrier) out to my studio.  I opened the shades, and we sat on the window seat and I drank coffee and read the latest Pastel Journal.  Then I painted for several hours and was happy with my progress.  I listened to the Moody Blues and John Fogerty and Linda Ronstadt, and during breaks from painting, Charlie and I danced. (well, actually, he bit my feet while I danced).

About 12:30, I came back inside and worked on paperwork for business. And I didn’t feel guilty at all. What a great day.
]]> http://www.fallshadows.com/blog/2009/09/07/797/feed/ 4 http://www.fallshadows.com/blog/2009/06/11/my-cherry-amour/ http://www.fallshadows.com/blog/2009/06/11/my-cherry-amour/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:27:15 +0000 Regina http://www.fallshadows.com/blog/?p=635

My Cherry Amour

Finally found a little time to paint today.

Whew! Now I feel better.