6 – 6″x6″ pastel on sanded paper studies painted in 10,8, 6, and 4 minutes.

I recently attended a workshop led by Jen Evanhus.  It was a great workshop, a nice chance to learn from a talented artist, and a good place to recconect with artist friends.  

7″x5″ pastel on sanded board.  This is what playing with color looks like to me.  

 I paint, often.  My pastel boxes see frequent use.  My Aunt Nancy has a great saying “every time you use something you increase its value”. By that definition my pastels are priceless.  My husband teaches our children through his actions, and his lessons, that caring and maintaining things is important.  Our bikes are well oiled, and our tools put away clean.  So today I did some pastel maintenance.

Here is 1/2 of my backpack pastel box.  It has many broken and dirty pastel sticks.  The sticks are camouflaged with generic grey dust.  Wait to see what they look like clean, I know the color is under there…

Ta da!  Don’t you want to color now? 

There are several ways to “clean” your pastel sticks. I wiped mine with an old towel (you could use tissues, or paper towels).  You can also shake a few at a time in a couple cups of rice or cornstarch.  You can also dust your entire box with a feather duster (outside, and hold your breath).  

Then enjoy playing with color.

9″x12″ pastel on sanded paper

“Success is not a destination, but the road that you’re on. Being successful means that you’re working hard and walking your walk every day. You can only live your dream by working hard towards it. That’s living your dream.”   -Marlon Wayans 

Walking to school series No•3

6″x6″ pastel on paper

“Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.” Robert H. Schuller

“Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it.”- Rumi

My life if full of beauty, it is everywhere.  I am constantly discovering it in the ordinary, what some might even call mundane.  If you are having a hard time finding the beauty in your neighborhood, grab a child by the hand and go for a walk 1.5 in any direction – they will discover beauty in places you never thought to peek.

Walking to School series No•2