Video step x steps of pastel painting "Sequence"

 

"Sequence," pastel, 14.5 x 20 inches

©2021 Barbara Benedetti Newton

See the step x step videos on my Instagram page

Getting back to normal

 Ahh...things are beginning to get back to normal for artists. There are opportunities to show art in-person in addition to online. Because of that, I've been framing work for "Small Packages" at Women Painters of Washington (WPW) Gallery and for the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists (PSG) Summer Sale.

 

Left to right: 4 framed paintings for the PSG Summer Sale (see link below), 5 paintings for WPW, and a small pastel that has been entered into a show, waiting notification of acceptance. The large painting of a child is by my long-ago mentor and Northwest art legend, William Cumming.

Sale begins July 1, click the image to see the Sale.

Steps of Abandon

If you aren't following me on Instagram and would like to see the finished and progress photos of this painting, go here. 

Painting with Abandon

Hahaha...

Today Pinterest brought up a tiny thumbnail of a gorgeous painting. I clicked on it to see who painted it and was surprised to see that I did! It was from March of 2016,  titled "Wild," and sold to Sandy D.

"Wild," 5x7 pastel sold

This month I have been working in pastel again after more than a year working in oil. I'm painting for my annual Super Summer Sale and also to enter a few upcoming shows. Once again, I'm striving to paint with abandon and because of that I was interested to read my text from 2016 when I posted "Wild" on my blog.

"Sometimes I push a pastel painting past the point of no return. When the words "labored, contrived, sweet, pretty and cute" come to mind, it is time for me to hose it off (Wallis paper), brush it off (most other papers) or get the baking soda out (Pastelmat).

This painting was a big mess (well, as big a mess as a 5x7 can be). I finally took most of the pastel off and began again with ABANDON. Yay! I'm happy with it now."

And so, with abandon, here is today's painting.

"Bliss," pastel 10x8 inches
P-2021-6-16

On the easel 6/11/2021

I'm working 3-up. One done, two to go. "Overachiever," pastel, 8x8 inches. See the  progress steps below.

 

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

I started with Paynes Grey acrylic line/gesture sketch

On the Easel 6/7/2021...

 

Working title "Movie Star" on the easel today. Oil, 30 x 24 inches.

...and very attractive frames.

Once upon a time, I purchased inexpensive gold frames online thinking they would be OK. They weren't. A couple weeks ago I bought a can of Satin Black enamel spray paint and fixed them. I love the way they look now.

 

These two little oils will be in The Puget Sound Group's Summer Online Sale beginning July 1. Good paintings, good prices and very attractive frames. Email me if you want me to send you a link when the sale opens.