My husband and I had to escape those cold lines of winter and headed south to Puerto Vallarta where we celebrated my birthday. We left at just the right time as it became quite cold here in Denver.

We watched people on beaches and wandered beach towns near Puerto Vallrta. I spent a great day sketching and watching in Sayulita. Also it was the celebration of Our Lady of Guadelupe and there were nightly processions to the Cathedral in the center of Puerto Vallarta. It's a striking building and I was able to spend a few moments sketching both here and on the Puerto Vallarta beach on Sunday.

A time for Lines

I looked out one morning and saw a line of frost along the top of the fence. All the riotous colors of fall are disappearing and leaving, at least in my part of the world, lines and forms exposed.

Then the next morning I awoke to snow. All was quiet,white Rocky Mountain snow, the city was muffled and silent. I made a white, Potato soup, inspired by "La Tartine Gourmand3", at http://www.latartinegourmande.com/.

Now all the lines and structure of the city and land are exposed. Its time to bring out the pen and draw what has been exposed

Unknowingly Influenced

When I received the recent edition of the blog " The Pastel Journal" I was delighted to see the opportunity to view a video on Odilon Redon. I first discovered Odilon Redon when I was about 10 and spending and hour or so looking through my Mom's art books. When I came upon a drawing of flowers in a vase painted as I had never seen before I was mesmerized. What fascinated me even more was the magical two words printed underneath - "Odilon Redon". Whispering those two words I fell in love with the sound. It took me some while to figure out that Odilon Redon was the name of the artist and not the art work. So began my love of the french language and the desire to work with pastels.




If you would like to find out more about Odilon Redon let me introduce you to an autobiography written using notes and journals of Odilon Redon. "To Myself"Notes on Life, Art, and Artists, by Odilon Redon.

Soon:
You will find a variety of blogs listed here about France and from fellow francophiles.

Fall red

Sometimes in June the small crab apples on the tree in the back yard began to appear. After twenty years of watching this you think I would be blase and walk under its branches paying no attention. In the summer all those small red apples almost disappear surronded and covered by green leaves. Our family eats beneath the branches accepting the shade but barely noticing the red of the minature apples. Then as fall comes the green leaves change to yellow-orange, some yellow-green and then the red of the apples begins to assert itself more. Finally, yesterday, the leaves were almost all gone leaving the structure of the tree and these red pearls dangling enticingly for the hungry squirrels and for my eyes. What elegant jewelry.

So I moved myself out into the sunny 72 degree November day with easel in hand, pastels arranged about and searched for 2 hours for the right way to show off those dangling orbs. It is was an afternoon well spent.

Belle Jour

This is one of those days, an amazing November day that is gloriously warm, a perfect day for working outdoors. I will make this brief. I love color and am continually looking for a variety of ways to express my excitement for color in my pastel work. I work both in the studio and en plein aire. Right now I am reorganizing my studio space into a designated room. I have graduated from the corner near the catbox. hoorah!! More about that later, I am looking for tips and pictures of pastel artists studios. If you have any ideas send them my way. For now I must take advantage of this warm Colorado day and GET OUT AND PAINT!