pastel sketch

i am not experienced in working with 

pastels. while taking misty mawn's face to face 

online workshop, i attempted a portrait with pastels 

on pastel paper. here is the results.  no matter how much pastel

i added, it just blew off of the paper.  i was stumped as to 

how to get a more intense color from  the pastel paper which 

textured in such a way that the pastel does not sink into the 

recessed grooves.  i asked what to do on the online class forum.  

i was told to add pastels more heavily and rub with my fingers.

aha!  i will let you know how that turns out in a future post.

i braved a first this week.   armed with a fellow artist, i attend a live model 

drawing session.  i even sat in front and did this using nupastels.  the 

instructor suggested that i start by blocking in shapes and 

use three colors, a dark, medium and light.  i discovered

that pastels are forgiving and allow lots of layering.

i visited the norton simon as I mentioned last week.

it was a perfect spring day.  

the entry with sculptures on either side of the grand walkway

we had lunch here next to 

the lily pond and another sculpture garden

the reason for my visit, the  mulberry tree by van gogh.

and other amazing art

i felt transported for an afternoon.  the collection is just the right size to

be able to enjoy and not feel overwhelmed and photographs are allowed.

there were no crowds.  i stood in front of these masterpieces and more

imagining the artist, brush in hand, paints at the ready.  to see their 

brushstrokes, the colors no further than inches away....   the experience is 

still with me.  as for the mulberry tree, it was a troubled time in van gogh's life.

after his argument with gauguin and another breakdown.  he admitted 

himself into a hospital for rest again.  he painted many paintings

of the landscape and this was one of them.  i have begun reading

his letters to emerse myself even more.

happy paint party friday.  if you haven done so before

please visit these dedicated artists by clicking on their sites.

day 6

29 faces

i have gessoed around one hundred pages in my little altered japanese book and

added a little piece of collage on each page.   they are ready for the next 

step.  today i was inspired by a 1940 etching by melville kelly of a hawaiian islander.  

his work has a distinctive island feel.  i recently have been inspired by looking

at the art of others and using them as a reference image.

painting this made me think of the don ho song, i'll remember you.

 i looked it up and discovered it was  written by ho's childhood friend,

kui lee who died of cancer at a young 34.  on the night don ho learned that his friend

was ill he listened to the tune over and over for four hours so that he would

get all of the nuances correct.  ho could hardly get through the song without

chocking up the first night he sang it and the audience was in tears.

after reading this i was even more touched

by the song.  here are a few lines.

i'll remember you

long after this endless summer is gone

i'll be lonely oh so lonely

leaving only me to remember you


i'll remember you

your voice as soft as the warm summer breeze

your sweet laughter, mornings after

even after,  oooh, i'll remember you.