The steps of Sunrise 1

The lightest spots

This is the time in the painting that I forget to take more photos. Sorry.

Sunrise 1, pastel, 5x7 inches

Sold Thank you J.G. for adding Sunrise to your collection.

The steps of Sentience

I have a collection of scraps of sanded pastel paper. Some is gessoed with vermilion or black.  This month I'm trying to paint a 7x5 inch pastel each morning to use up these scraps. This morning I chose a black ground. I had forgotten how quickly it progresses.

This is the point where I become involved in the process and I forget that I'm supposed to be photographing each step. Sorry.

Sentinence, pastel, 7x5 inches

At Auction for 7 days at DailyPaintworks $75

First Painting of 2019

Riverbank at Dawn, pastel, 7x5 inches

This little painting sat on my easel all through the holidays. I finally got back to it today and changed it from big body of water scene to a more intimate river bank scene.  I added the indication of a path that goes back to the glow of the sunrise. Sold

Art Goals for 2019, back at the easel

Not sure where this one will end up but it's good to be back at the easel after weeks of distraction. I also wrote my art goals today. Happy New Year!  Art Goals for 2019

First pastel for 2019 - in progress

Last Day of 2018

December 31, 2018

At the end of 2017 I wrote that in 2018 I would be more discerning about my art commitments both in showing my work and in teaching/mentoring. I felt ready to paint less, knit and garden more. Retirement was looking good but then some things happened that got me fired up again. 

I was honored to do the walk-through comments on the Award Winners at the 32nd International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition at American Art Company, Tacoma and I judged the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council Art Festival. 

Another motivator to paint came in the Fall as I hauled empty frames, mats and glass out of hiding places in the studio and began "painting to the frame" - I painted and framed about a dozen pastels in a relatively short amount of time. I also installed a new Walker hanging system in my Studio to accommodate the paintings. I still have a few empty frames (with mat and glass) to go before I change from pastel to oil to fill the frames without glass. 

Walker Display Art System

Another thing that makes me want to paint is the rearrangement (yes, again!) of my Studio. I have finally bonded with this space and it was because I set up a large table for both my Fletcher and Logan mat cutters. Yay!

Big table in my studio

Throughout 2018 I participated in online and gallery shows with some of the art organizations I belong to  - Women Painters of Washington, Pastel Society of the West Coast, Plein Air Washington Artists, Black Diamond Arts Alliance, Oil Painters of America and International Association of Pastel Societies. I was reminded how it feels to be an award winner. 

I was also happy to have six paintings in the  "Natural Instincts" exhibit at Ajoya, Mercer Island and I continue to be represented by Attic Gallery, Camas, American Art Company, Tacoma and  Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes.

In 2018 I held mentoring sessions in my Black Diamond Studio. Similar to Private Sessions, these mentoring sessions are for 3-4 artists each time. I enjoy sharing what I have learned and will continue Mentoring Sessions in 2019.

Today I was looking at the Editorials I wrote for the Northwest Pastel Society November 2009 through August 2012. I still find them informative and I thought you might too, especially if you are relatively new to pastel. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2019.

Newton Editorial NWPS November 2009

Newton Editorial NWPS February 2010

Newton Editorial NWPS May 2010

Newton Editorial NWPS August 2010

Newton Editorial NWPS November 2010

Newton Editorial NWPS February 2011

Newton Editorial NWPS May 2011

Newton Editorial NWPS August 2011

Newton Editorial NWPS November 2011

Newton Editorial NWPS February 2012

Newton Editorial NWPS May 2012

Newton Editorial NWPS August 2012

Pacific Northwest Winter Morning 7x5

I'm cleaning out my flat files (again!) and found two 7x5 demo pieces from a workshop a couple years ago. The paper is Pastelmat and it is tough so I brushed them off and began again.

I used a reference photo from a couple winters ago. At that time, I painted this scene in oil and was happy with it. Thanks to M.G. for adding that one to her collection. This time I painted the scene in pastel. The photo above shows the initial block-in for value and the photo below is the completed painting.

Pacific Northwest Winter Morning, pastel, 7x5 inches
©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

50% OFF Sale

Happy December everyone. I just put twelve pastel paintings on SALE at 50% off. Take a look by searching BBNewtonArt on Etsy or my name on Daily Paintworks. Or, just click on the links to either site on the sidebar of this blog. 

Shortly after I posted this I received notice of the first sale of the SALE. Thank you J.S. of Ohio!

Rock Creek Winter Steps

I'm painting over the ghost of a previous painting. White NuPastel and Charcoal stick. 

An oil wash for the water and left it to dry overnight.

Pink and Blue pastel for Step 3

Pink and Blue pastel again but in a lighter value.

Initial block in with pastel

Rock Creek Winter, pastel, 13 x 18 inches

Rock Creek Friday

By the way, I have finally bonded with my new studio! Click here to read more...

My reference photo and corresponding lines for placement on the ghost of an old painting.

I have obliterated the ghost of the previous painting using an oil wash.

The next morning I began applying pastel and charcoal.

Rock Creek Friday, pastel, 13.5 x 12 inches
©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Meadow Stream

Yesterday I posted the oil-wash for this pastel painting. Here it is complete: pastel over oil wash on Ersta 500 paper. "Meadow Stream," pastel, image 9x10.75 inches. ©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Night time advice

Night time advice: never go to bed with an empty easel (unless you are taking a break from painting).

With the switch back to Standard Time today and early evening darkness I was ready to go to bed at 7 pm but I knew if I left my easel empty it would be easy to NOT paint tomorrow morning. So, though I'd rather be in bed reading my book, I printed my reference photo in color and grayscale and began.

Oil wash on Ersta 500 sanded paper. By morning this wash will be dry and ready for pastel. I'll be glad I made myself do this.

Gold Creek Step by Step

Charcoal value sketch on Ersta 500 sanded pastel paper.

Started this one working flat and wishing I had done an oil wash under-painting.

Gold Creek, pastel, 11.5 x 13 inches ©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Oil Wash Foundation Saves Time

This is a reference photo. It is mainly green. My last painting, "Lakeside" was green and I'd like a different palette so I printed the green reference photo as a grayscale and worked from that.

I set it aside to dry and went on to teach my last Mentor session of 2018. If you are interested in spending 3-4 hours with me once a month in a mentor situation in 2019, let me know - I'm starting a list for January, February and March. Also let me know which week day you prefer. Now, back to this painting...

I quickly did an oil wash on Art Spectrum Colourfix off-white paper. 

I chose my pastel colors first based on value, then on hue. Darkest value first.

November, pastel 11 x 18 inches $1100.

When the students left, I started applying pastel to the oil wash foundation (darkest value first as shown in the photo above). I had about 2 hours before we were to leave for dinner so I worked quickly and then walked away. This morning I made very minor adjustments and framed it. This painting came together quickly because of the oil wash foundation.

Art Spectrum Colourfix paper

Found a piece of Burgundy Art Spectrum Colourfix paper in my flat file and it reminded me of autumn. Found an old reference photo of the creek by our dog-sitter. Applied a dark oil wash and after it dried (an hour or so) I began applying pastel.

Autumn Creek, pastel, 9x14 inches
©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton