Day 79

This is a pastel of the top of Cadillac Mountain, after the sun rose.

Day 78

This is my holiday offering, just because of the red and green.

I took a break from pastel today and tried some watercolor. I got the paper nice and wet and let things flow.

Now, back to pastel. I think I just burned out my vacum and the light I am using seems to be melting around the blub and dripping plastic. It can be quite scary around here sometimes, especially when no one is around to supervise me.

Merry Christmas to all!

Day 77

Pastel again today! This is the view of sunrise from our room at Old Orchard Beach. We try to take the dogs down for a walk at least once a month in winter. Joining us on the beach are cross country skiiers, horses and riders and lots of other dogs. Large pockets are required to gather shells and other beach finds.

One of my orders of Wallis paper is here, and the other is on the way. I also purchased a few sticks of pastel from Dakota which should be here in a few days....I can't wait to try "bottle green".

Day 76

Well, time to be honest here. I am totally infatuated with pastel.... I never thought this would happen. I woke up this morning thinking about a Terry Ludwig set of Cobalt blues. I just love the pure colors, the way you can just get it off the paper and start again. I don't seem to be making as much mud as I do with oil, and it has the color that I love with watercolor. I don't even mind the mess it make on my hands since I discovered how wonderful it is to keep a chamois cloth in your hands. It gives me something to play with while I am "thinking" and it gets a lot of that dust off my fingers too.

This is a view of Tumbledown I have tried many times and just made messes....I am starting to like this one.

Day 75

Rangely Lake in the rain. Finally there is a bit of chill in the air, and the ice is forming on the ponds. I am anxious to paint the shadows on the snow.

I am still waiting for my Wallis paper. I ordered from two sources, and both were backordered. One shipment has been released and is in New Jersey. I have a painting that I don't plan to keep that I did on Wallis, and I am going to put it in the sink and wash it. This paper is supposed to be tough. A much better solution than the wood stove!

Day 73 and 74

Right at the moment many of us are hoping that this body of water freezes over in time for ice fishing and snowmobiling.

The reference for this was taken from our sailboat in the early summer. No thoughts of ice then.

Day 71 and 72

Mixed media is such fun, I really got some stuff sloshing around on this one.

New rules, I just can't post some paintings, and so, I won't. They will be posted in my Daily Painting gallery, but you will have to go there if you want to snicker! This should help me get through the rough times, and there are many.

Now I will try to get caught up on my postings. Christmas preparations are all done now, so I have no excuses. Just a week to go!