Sunday, November 8, 2009

Soft Pastel Rediscovered!


As I was arranging and rearranging my studio I came upon my pastel collection...no surprise they exist but a reminder how I want to do a series using them on some large paper I have been saving. I received these as an inheritance from a dear artist friend and I look forward to using them with hope of her magic attached. This got me to thinking of my artist list...it is a long list with materials and techniques and visions and series I have yet to explore or revisit. So much to do! Are these familiar feelings? I actually wrote a list of this past years accomplishments to ease the pressure on my very small full brain. Personal accomplishment: 1. revisited collagraph in the compass series. 2. 2nd visit to oasis series as my rest and recuperation. 3. Used limited materials and added 7 directions meditation to my art making. 4. Rediscovered sewing on cloth and paper in my Human/Divine series. 5. Ongoing self portrait/muse imagery. Most of this work shows in sets on my flickr site. I know there are more things I have touched on this past year but that seemed to ease my angst about "Paint Bucket Lists". I'm getting older and I have so much I love, so many things to express in so many ways that I sometimes get overwhelmed. Tell me about your "Paint Bucket Lists" ?

22 comments:

  1. holy moly, some of those pastels are giant! I have been doing much of the same - this year I decided to split my art allowance in ways I haven't before - I launched my website, rented wall space at a local gallery, ordered new business cards, ordered a trial of a mini image book, and have worked at getting my art out there instead of waiting for things to happen - next on the list is getting my portfolio in book form for presentation - it has paid off - so on we go :)

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  2. Jeane, Love your "Paint Bucket List" made real...my brain doesn't get mini image book...I've been considering http://www.blurb.com/ as a place to print my work in book form...is that the same goal?

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  3. It seems to be the time of year to think about what was accomplished and where we are going. I'm busy reading several books about the business of art. Imagine we have to be business people too. Not a spare moment for any of us.

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  4. Pastels are imbued with a sort of color magic, aren't they? One of these days I'm going to get mine out and go for it, too.

    Inspirational post for me.

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  5. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments this year, I admit I'm envious. What's the most unexpected thing that you discovered or enjoyed? I bought a huge oil pastel to "draw" with on one of my encaustic paintings...it was much softer than I thought and took a long time to dry. It will be interesting to see what you have planned for 2010!

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  6. As we grow older that list of things we wish to accomplish appears to be getting longer and more pressing with urgency, for during our youth we were to busy chasing dreams and sunlight, believing we were direct descendants of the gods.

    In the meantime continue on your path and make good use of your friends pastels.

    Wishing you a wonderful week,
    Egmont

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  7. Oh, gosh, I have a set of pastels just like this in the cupboard somewhere. I really should dig them out and see where it leads.

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  8. I like that "bucket list" but will have to give it some thought. Some of those pastels could do serious damage to a piece of paper. I can imagine taking the paper off and using it broad side. What fun you are going to have!
    At this moment my immediate goal is to close the business, get my purses on a flicker site and then put them on Etsy. But I just can't seem to get it together.

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  9. Your accomplishments are impressive. I'll have to give my bucket list some thought but I do know that I would love to try encaustics.

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  10. Those pastels are delicious. I love soft pastels. I have no bucket list as really I am not a real artist. I once had lots of bucket lists, one year, five year plans etc. But now my little brain needs to have no lists. Even though I do have a few. I do love your list of accomplishments which is a LOT in my view. Hurrah.

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  11. hi, blue sky...i like the bucket list concept applied to "paint". and so true, as we age==listings.\

    pastels are magical, messy, and i'm sure will carry your friend's energy to you.

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  12. Oh, pastels, they are the delicate dust from butterfly wings, I love them so much! I have been thinking about them a lot lately and then seeing your lovely spread of chunky colors...oh, yum! I really must answer the call, stop thinking about them, and use them!

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  13. I have oil pastels and regular ones - all very yummy colors - it is their tenancy to smear that keeps me from using them. As for a bucket list - I am deeply satisfied right now as my current life is leaps and bounds from a previous era. So I think in terms of "just to be the best artist I can be." That covers a whole lot...I love your piece on the inward direction. I look forward to seeing where you go with your pastels.

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  14. Beautiful view of the beautiful material!

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  15. Wow those pastels look yummy. I think we all have a list. I just need to get started on mine. LOL
    Katelen

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  16. I just rediscovered my oil pencils and love the rich creamy texture of oil in crayon or pencil.

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  17. Margaret, Having clear goals is a good thing!

    Patrice, Soft Pastels are inspiration for both of us...rich, soft, creamy chalk...don't delay begin soon!

    Lia, Unexpected was the sale of my "Flying Fearless Freija" painting! Special enjoyment in creating was my red "Ukraine Dreams" in the slideshow. A good year!

    Oh Egmont,My life choices in the past had more to do with changing diapers, carpools & family vacations...now art making is a full time event and gratefully so! ha

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  18. Willow, The pastels last indefinitely...dig them out and begin the magic!

    Pat, Your purses would be a big hit on both flickr and etsy!

    Robyn, Encaustics are great...the aroma alone is intoxicating!

    Suki, Maybe lists are not so important right now for you!

    Nancy, Thank you for your good wishes with the pastels. Life is so like a candy store...so many delicious flavors!

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  19. Laura, Great advice stop looking at them or thinking about them and start using them...delicate dust of butterfly wings that is...!

    Leslie, The pastels do smear and that can work against the artist or actually help?!
    I'm gluing the pieces in the inward collage this week!

    B&W, Yes,I agree yummy colors...lots of promise!

    Katelen, Good luck on starting your list...I had more fun writing the list than beginning! ha

    La Dolce Vita, I too like oil pencils and crayons...very creamy!

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  20. I will think about my paint bucket list.. but I do love yours so... it is such an authentic artist's list... Nick Bantock said in the workshop I took from him that patels are the purest color, and he would scrape of powder right off the stick and add it to his work...or mine! roxanne

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  21. never knew this idea of bucket list, but i want to make a sorta bucket list and hide it after new years, and open it again next year!

    you seemed to have accomplished so so much.

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  22. Roxanne, I agree, the colors are pure. Perfect to smear a little in the right place!

    Mansuetude, Great idea, who knows all that will take place in a year and how that will compare to the list!

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