Heading to NAMTA! Come say hello.

Next week I will be at the NAMTA trade show checking out all the new art materials.  It's going to be like visiting a candy store!  I'll be doing demos all three days for UART.  They make the most amazing pastel paper/board.  If  you are attending, please make sure you stop by the UART booth to say hello!

Workshop May 25th If you know of anyone who is interested, please share the information below.

One Day Workshop with Lisa Ober Saturday, May 25 - 9am-4pm If you have ever wanted to learn how to create detail with pastels, this is a workshop for you.  On Saturday, May 25, Paint Saint Louis and I are planning a one-day still-life workshop.  This "hands-on" workshop will show you the creative tricks and techniques I use to create my paintings. The workshop will be limited to 15 artists so everyone gets plenty of personal guidance. I will provide the U-art paper.You need to provide your own pastels, a ground cloth and easel. There are tables if you prefer to work flat. You will have the choice to work from a real still-life set-up or from a photograph. It's an all day workshop at Garry McMichael's studio, and includes snacks, and one of Diane's famous healthy lunches.    Price for the workshop will be $110.  For more information please contact: Garry McMichael (314) 773-4112 garry@imaginagrapher.com

Tidbits

Adding to my small works collection for a show in May/June at Grafica.  About 6 more left to complete so I have a nice square display.  6 X 6 oil on panel.  

I loved creating a painting of this little girl in pastel.  She had such a sparkly personality!

24 X 18 pastel on board.

Mixing It Up

Piece number two for the small works group show.  Creating this painting made me realize how complicated the mixing of color is up close.  I had never really paid much attention to the very subtle gradients that form between colors on a palette not to mention how many little sparkly highlights exist in wet paint.

Help me name this piece!

Lately I have been working on smaller pieces for a group small works show this coming summer.  All of the pieces will be square.  This is my first complete piece.  It is an oil on panel and measures 6 X 6.

I have been receiving title suggestions on my Facebook Page and would love your suggestions as well before I make a final decision.  You can leave a suggestion here in the comments section or on my Facebook Page by clicking HERE.

I was so excited to have two pieces in February's Pastel Journal as part of an article on food paintings in pastel.  "Sweet Rewards" was the section title.  Ria Hills and Karen Howard were also featured so I was in great company.

Pastel of Pastels

Pastel on board.  20 X 17.

Sometimes it's nice to change it up and paint something that isn't a variation on tan, peach, brown, beige or white as it often is when painting portraits.  Throwing some tissue on my drawing board with a few of the pastels I used to create this piece seemed the perfect remedy.  It all seemed so simple at first until I realized how much I had crumbled the tissue.  That just created a lot more detail work than I had anticipated.  No matter, I like a challenge and this one certainly provided that!

Image Distortion-Marbles Magnified

Pastel on board.  26 X 10.

For many months now I wanted to include a beautiful magnifying glass that belongs to my mom in one of my paintings.  I finally remembered to ask if I could borrow it.  I've always loved marbles; I am fascinated by what happens to the light as it passes through them.  What better opportunity to get a closer look at the flowing swirls, the little air bubbles, and the distortions?   

Retiring Judges Honored with Portraits

 

I had the honor (pun intended) to paint 3 retiring judges from St. Charles County this past year or so.  The portraits of Judge Lucy Rauch, Judge David Dalton, and Judge William Lohmeier were presented recently at a special luncheon recently and I was fortunate to be invited to attend.  I love painting these wonderful people who dedicate themselves to the service of our community.  I wish all three of them a happy and healthy retirement! 

Pastel Journal Article--Exciting News!

I'm excited to share news that my work will appear in the February issue of Pastel Journal along with artists Karen Howard and Ria Hills!  I am certainly in great company and appreciate Anne Hevener including me in this great magazine for pastel artists.  You can get a preview of the article here:  Pastel Journal

Colored Pencil Just for Fun!

I was inspired by Colored Pencil Magazine's Facebook Page to play around with colored pencil for the first time in decades.  Using my 20+ year old Prismacolor pencils I did this 18 X 14 portrait of a sweet little Lab on 600 grit UArt Pastel Board.  The colored pencil worked well on the surface and I found colored pencil to be as much fun as I remembered!