Morning Chat

This is an old sketch of my brother that I finally completed. I made the sketch when he was first getting to know his most recent grandson. We were sitting in his living room and I liked the way the light was hitting his skin. Of course the colors are my added spice. I used ink on Shizen handmade paper for the initial drawing. I added the pastel this year.

Doing Aunties Hair

This is my niece doing my sister's hair. I took liberties with the colors. I did the initial drawing a few years ago. I just added color this year. I used a handmade paper by Shizen.

Sunflower Triad

Finally finished this one. I painted the flowers long ago and couldn't think of a background. Lately I have been playing with color theory. So one night this background popped into my mind. There you have it.

Cactus Flowers

These flowers were blooming in a neighbor's yard. I did some sketching on site and took a few photos. This piece was inspired by one of the photos. I used Shizen pastel paper. I like it because it forces you to get it down and done in as few passes as possible. Another advantage is that it comes in multiple colors. Lately I have felt a lot of freedom with my art. It's for me and my joy. More like my playground.

Card Player 2 and Bright Eyes

Pastel on Shizen Pastel paper. This is Tony a family friend that I have painted and drawn a few times. He has great features and skin. Plus he likes to dress well. My first painting of him sold through Mitchie's gallery here in Austin to a collector from South Carolina. I will do a watercolor next.

The drawing.

I sketched this little one while his grandfather (my brother) held him.

Mind Landscape 2

The little ACEO image has been fruitful. I worked on the Shizen Pastel Paper for this one.

Into The Fog Studio Version

Reading blogs is one of my favorite things to do. That is how I found out about the new Shizen pastel paper. I am already a fan of their watercolor paper. I used the plein air image below as inspiration.