Charity Show-Tucson Pastel Society

The Tucson Pastel Society is currently holding its Holiday Charity Show and Sale at Murphey Gallery at St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church on North Campbell Ave. thru January 10.  Each artist donated a 5x7 painting to be sold for $100 with the proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House.  At the opening reception over half the 33 donated paintings were sold.
My donated entry:

Tohono Chul              Sold                      5x7 Pastel

I have two additional 9x12 paintings showing and unfortunately do not have photos of them.  One is Agua Calliente and the other is Madera Canyon Fall.

2012 Members Juried Show-Green Valley, Arizona

Bison in Color                              Sold                                               12" x 9"  Pastel
Honorable Mention

" Bessie and the Boys"              36"x24"  Oil on Canvas
Peoples Choice Award

Tubac Center for the Arts Members Show 2012

Sunny Side Up                              26"x 12"  Watercolor

This painting was the only watercolor I completed this year.  It was painted on stretched watercolor paper.  The subject was another from southern Utah.  I took the photo at Pipe Stem National Monument in the demonstration garden.  The beautiful blue sky dotted with large puffy clouds provided the perfect backdrop for the bright yellow/orange sunflower head.  

Embracing Oils

Both paintings shown are set in the Mt. Carmel, Utah area.  It is in the southern part of the state between Zion National Park and Bryce National Park on Hwy 89.  We visited there twice in 2011 and both my husband and I fell in love with the area.

Mt. Carmel Farm                                                                16"x20" Oil on Canvas

Sunrise on Tait Lane                                20"x 16" Oil on Board

Painting and Posting

I just looked up the last time I posted and my oh my, it was last June.  Lots of paint and pastel have been applied to canvas and paper since then.  Most work was done in the Studio at the Springs and some done on location.  So here we go with a quick summer review.

Tohono Chul Courtyard                                  7"x5" Pastel

The above pastel was painted en plain aire at Tohono Chul Park last spring at group Paint Out with SRAL.  The day was quite warm so I found a shady interior courtyard to paint from.  This piece will be in the Tucson Pastel Society Charity Show at St. Phillips Plaza from December 7 through January 2013.  The painting is priced at $100 and all proceeds are donated to Ronald McDonald House in Tucson.

Blooming Beauties

The little paintings above are 6"x6" and are painted in acrylic paint using a palette knife on canvas.  they are gallery wrapped canvas and will not need framing.  All paintings were done in the studio from photos I have taken from this year's cactus bloom. 

Asarco Mine Center Paint Out

Cactus Garden                      12"x9"                              Pastel on Sanded Paper

Mine Car Planter Photo taken outside Mine Museum and Gift Shop

December found the Art League Paint Out group at the Mine Center on Pima Mine Road.  There is a wonderful cactus garden, display of large mining equipment and a super gift shop.  I added a photo to show one of the many interesting mine equipment pieces around the grounds.

Paseo Feliz Park Paint Out

Into the Wash                                                    12"x9" Pastel on Sanded Paper

The day was bright and sunny and the park was new to me.  It is on the west side of Tucson with a lovely open view of the Tucson Mountains or looking the other direction the city of Tucson spread out through the valley.  I stood up on a ridge looking down into a wash where the sun was hitting the sandy bottom of the wash.  

Madera Canyon Plein Aire

Madera Canyon Stream Study              9"x12"

For this study I was standing in the picnic area in the canyon looking upstream.  The light up through the trees was beautiful.  I'm not sure I captured it but I had a great day.  It was a Paint Out day with the Art League.  Sheridan, Karen and I enjoyed our time together.

Winter 2012 Plein Aire Paintings

Arizona Sycamores                                                      Pastel

In February Madera Canyon just east of Green Valley is a cold but beautiful place to paint.  I choose the white trunks of the Sycamores against the evergreens to capture the feeling of a winter day.    

Sabino Canyon Morning                                9X12 Pastel

This was painted just outside the Visitors Center at Sabino Canyon alongside the trail up the Canyon.

Sonoran Giant

Sonoran Giant            19"x25" Pastel on Canson Paper

January Paintings

White Dove Portal                      12 x 9  Pastel

  

Mine Garden                                                         12x9   Pastel

Pear Still Life                      6x4   Pastel

The top two paintings were painted on location at San Xavier Mission in Tucson and the Asarco Mine Center in Sahuarita.  Both mornings started out very cold (30's) but warmed quickly and I was quickly painting in shirt sleeves.  You have to love the Arizona winter weather. 

The third piece is not a piece painted on location but an experiment on very tiny paintings.  A painting friend was putting  a show of mini's together and I watched as she painted 3 paintings as I started one.  I thought I would try it and use her method of framing.  I think it was a success.  Small and affordable art for all!

"What's Black & White and Red All Over?"

This piece is 36" by 36" and is my entry for the 8th annual Eva Briggs Show.  This show is sponsored by the Santa Rita Art League and is open to any member who chooses to paint a 36x36 abstract.  My painting was done with collage, paint, dyed cheesecloth and gold foil.  The opening reception will be held on February 4 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 p.m.  at the Community Performance and Arts Center in Green Valley.

Old Masters Show

Another show went up last week with my version of a Degas dancer.  I sure don't claim to be Degas but enjoyed the challenge of painting one of his simpler dancers.  The Old Masters show is up at the West Center here in Green Valley until February 7th.