Witnessing the recent bizarre attack on a multimillion dollar Gainsborough painting in London's National Gallery has haunted my thoughts. You may have missed the story, as it was overshadowed a few days later by the terrorist attack down the street, near Parliament. My first inkling was the shouting, though my husband insists he heard a slashing sound. […]
Playing with pure pigment is, for me, the best part of pastel painting. It's me and a soft stick of vibrant color, no brush or turpentine to interfere. Pastel sticks allow me to work in broad strokes, avoiding too much realistic detail. Instead, I show how it felt to be there. I'm not a camera, I'm […]
Painting is surprisingly hard work, much as I love it. Of course, I am standing the whole time – I simply can't paint while sitting. And I'm waving my arms around the easel and my pastel box, trying to decide which colors to pick up next. Then I'll choose a color, apply it, stand back […]
Patience is most assuredly not my strong suit. Clients who are glad I accomplish tasks quickly describe me as goal oriented. A friend pleased with my pushing for action termed me "a force" and asked me to join his board of directors. I can guess what people who fail to meet promises or deadlines call me, LOL. Anyway, I'll admit to […]
Irony is a wonderful thing, and for those who know me well, the following announcement fits the bill. I'm someone who loves to quote "so many books, so little time" in response to whether I've watched a particular TV show. Therefore, the fact that I was interviewed on TV about my art is beyond ironic. […]
Light and color can change mood, soothe and heal. A recent article in Pastel Journal reminded me of the documented therapeutic effects of visual art. It can change brain wave activity, improve immune response, or shift you from fear and stress to calm and relaxation. That, in turn, made me recall a consulting client who had developed […]
The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, crosses southern France to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. Commissioned by Louis XIV, it is an amazing engineering and architectural feat comprising 300+ year old stone bridges and locks. The small villages alongside it are pretty, the baguettes were fresh, and I got hundreds of photos to paint from. Miles […]
Last week's vacation cruising Canal du Midi in southern France started with two days in Barcelona before taking a train to find our boat. That proved challenging, given the rail strike in France – more on that in blogs to come. Since we spent our honeymoon in Spain, we were excited about getting back to Barcelona. Its architecture is […]
There are several questions people usually ask about my pastel paintings. If the questioner is standing in front of a painting while talking to me, question #1 is "how do you work with pastels?" If not, it's "where can I see your paintings?" They also ask about the scenes depicted, which usually leads to a discussion about travel. Since […]
An article about awe, citing everyone from a therapist, to a theoretical physicist (whatever that is!) to a UNICEF exec, got me thinking about what inspires and soothes us. For some, it's the immensity of the universe. For others, it's a cathedral, a spectacular sunset, a hundred voices lifted in song, an ancient tree, or a piece of art. […]
