Calgary Parks

For me, one of the best things about Calgary is its parks. And I love painting them.
I plan to paint at least one park from every quadrant of the city. Here is the first batch, from the S.E. (2) and Center:

 "Beaver Dam Flats Wooden Bridge". Soft pastel on prepared surface. Private collection.

 "Up the path you go". Soft pastel on prepared surface. Private collection.

"Reader Rock Garden". Soft pastel on prepared surface. Private collection.

Pet portraits

After painting people I decided to experiment with pets...

 "Darth Vader", soft pastel on Pastelmat. Private collection.

 "Fawkes", soft pastel on Pastelmat. Private collection.

 "Chevy", soft pastel on prepared surface. Private collection.

"Snickers" soft pastel on prepared surface. Private collection.

Portrait workshop

After I participated in a Pastel Portrait workshop with Jane Romanishko I became inspired to paint people. Here are the results:

"Madonna", soft pastel on Pastelmat.

 "Tibetan Nun", soft pastel on Pastelmat

 "Coffee Break" soft pastel on prepared surface.

 "Frida", soft pastel on Pastelmat.

"Marilen" soft pastel on Sennelier sanded paper.

Taormina

Back from my trip to Italy and inspired by the beauty around me, there are lots of  paintings that want to come out... Here is the first one from that tip.

"Taormina" pastel painting on prepared surface; 35 x 26 cm.

Spirit Raven - again...

"Harvest Moon Raven II" pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm.

There are "hidden" birds in this painting... do you see them? 

Fountains of Andalucia

This is a series of fountains inspired on my recent trip to Spain. The Moorish ruins had been reconstructed and I was fascinated by the stonework, the nooks and crannies, the water features...

Fountain I

Pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm

Fountain II

Pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm

Fountain III

Pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm

Spirit Foxes

 "Spirit Fox" pastel on prepared surface, 34 x 29 cm

"Changing Moon Spirit Fox" pastel on prepared surface, 21 x 27 cm. Private collection.

Rocks

 "Rock formation", pastel on prepared surface, 44 x 29 cm

"On the edge", pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm.

The Prayer

"The Prayer", pastel on prepared surface, 29 x 44 cm.

Flea Market Bottles

Pastel on prepared paper, 44 x 50 cm

Moon Ravens

Freezing Moon Raven
Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Blossoming Moon Raven
Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Mystic Pair

Pastel on art board, 28 x 35 cm

Northern Lights Spirit Bear II

Pastel on art board, 45 x 60 cm

Spirit Horse

Pastel on prepared surface, 45 x 60 cm

Pinwheels

Pastel on prepared surface, 45 x 60 cm

More experiments with abstraction - Spirit Bear series

Spirit Bear I

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Spirit Bear II

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Northern Lights Spirit Bear

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Private collection.

Spirit Bear III

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

As the Ravens Series in the previous post, the paper received a watercolor underpainting, then the drawing was made on top, then a layer of acrylic ground for pastels applied and finally the pastel was applied to create the painting. The texture created by the acrylic ground can be seen in all the paintings created this way. This adds interest and variety to the work, and it is a lot of fun!

More experiments with abstraction - Ravens series

Harvest Moon Raven

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Private collection

Reflection

Pastel on prepared surface, 15 x 25 cm

Happy Crow

Pastel on prepared surface, 15 x 25 cm

Red Raven; Yellow Raven

Pastel on prepared surface, 15 x 25 cm each

Crazy Crow

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Mystery and Magik

Pastel on prepared surface, 19 x 25 cm

Blue Moon Raven

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

Mystical Raven

Pastel on prepared surface, 28 x 35 cm

This series has been done following the teachings of Debora L. Stewart on abstracted realism and her way of handling the surface pastel is applied to. Starting with a sturdy paper, a watercolor underpainting is created. When it dries out the drawing is made, a coating of acrylic ground for pastels applied on top, and finally the actual pastel work. It is more involved, but an interesting texture results from all this and more colors and undertones can be realized, A lot of fun and surprises!

Andalucia

A corner in an Andalucia's town.
Pastel painting on Pastelmat, 24 x 30 cm.

Dos Amigos

Another Panama painting - the plaza in front of the Catedral Mayor.
Pastel painting on Pastelmat, 24 x 30 cm.

Snack time

I prepared a snack for us and I liked the colors so much I decided to paint it before we ate it...
Pastel painting on Pastelmat, 18 x 24 cm.