Tag Archive | 7″ x 9.5″

Time Passes

Apr11

Time is a finite resource, it passes. Unused minutes get lost along the way. My last new pastel (or painting in any medium) was November 30th of 2024. That seems a very long time ago, though I’ve had at least one other very long period without new creative work.

I delighted myself with clearing the clutter from my studio and getting my workspace set up once again, over the past week. It feels functional, and the work feels satisfying. Maybe that’s enough?

There are a lot of ways to work. Large, small, at an easel, on the floor – what matters most is to do it in the way that feels most natural to the artist doing the work.

I haven’t had the use of my studio for the time between July 1st of 2024 until quite recently – yesterday, actually, call it not quite two years. I happily sat down at my tabletop easel this morning, and did the first piece of new work in a long time. I have mixed feelings about it, which does not surprise me a bit. I’ve had plenty to inspire me over this past two years, and finally sitting down to do something about it feels a bit…strange. I’ll get over it. lol

“Sunrise Reflections” 5″ x 7″ pastel on pastelboard, 2026

Instead of giving up after one piece, I sat with my thoughts and an assortment of photographs from recent hikes and visits to hidden coastal places. After spending some time refreshing my recollections of a particular favorite spot, I got back to work.

“Road’s End” , 7″ x 9.5″, pastel on Pastelmat

It feels good to be painting again. I cue up a new playlist. More to come…

Spring on the Clackamas River

Mar26

My week scouting inspiring locations for a bit of plein air work took me out to the Clackamas River. I enjoyed a chilly morning of hiking new trails, and scouting likely spots to sit alongside the river somewhere taking in the view. I finally found “my spot”, and I know I’ll be going back there. The chilly gray day threatened rain, but I did manage to get a bit of painting done before heading for home.

This piece was painted with Sennelier and Blue Earth pastels, on Ampersand Pastelbord.

“Spring on the Clackamas River”
7″ x 9″ pastel on pastelbord, 2025

Fireside II

Dec6
“Fireside II” pastel on pastelmat, 7″ x9.5″ 2025

I’m enjoying exploring this theme of campfires – almost as much as I enjoy sitting by the fireside on a chilly evening in the darkness. This is one of those themes I’ll likely continue to play with until I get that feeling that I’ve “gotten it right” or said all I have to say about it, somehow.

Fireside

Nov25
“Fireside” 7″x9.5″ pastel on Pastelmat, 2024

I took a few days of dowtime on the Oregon coast to paint and reflect. Time well-spent, but I was missing a certain specific experience that I often indulge when I go camping in milder weather (this trip was a hotel stay, with a lovely view of Siletz Bay) – hours sitting by a campfire, just staring into the embers and listening to the flames crackle. I had it on my mind, and it proved to be sufficiently inspiring to try to capture that yearned-for moment in pastel.