When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

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“Landscapes” Exhibition

October 12, 2024

Heber River, BC, 27H x 33W soft pastels on paper
Heber River, BC Canada, 27H x 33W inches framed, soft pastels on paper is showcased in The Artist Space Gallery’s “Landscapes” Exhibition through October, then archived for a year.

Categories: Art for sale, B.C., Canada, exhibitions, expressionism, Forests, landscapes, semi-impressionist, soft pastels, trees, Vancouver Island, water | Comments Off on “Landscapes” Exhibition

Purple Pansies

October 11, 2024


 

Purple Pansies, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Purple Pansies, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper – 27H x 33W” framed

Categories: Art for sale, expressionism, flowers, flowers and leaves, garden, soft pastels | Comments Off on Purple Pansies

Buddha Park, Laos

October 10, 2024


 

Buddha Park 01, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Oct.1st: Buddha Park 01, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper.

Right detail of Buddha Park 01, soft pastels on paper25 km from Vientiane, Laos, Buddha Park displays over 200 large, reinforced concrete statues based on integrating stories from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, created by Luangpu Bunluea Surirat and his apprentices, started in 1958. This is the first of many representations I have planned. I was there in 2016 and took so many photos, intending to do a series of drawings much sooner than today, but couldn’t decide where to start because there are so many interesting pieces and points of view.

Though the sculptures at first seem crudely done – for how easy can it be to manipulate concrete? – the artists have carefully rendered the grace of hands in prayer and portrayed such character in mythological gods, animals, demons, and combinations of all the above. Discovering cows grazing in the neighboring meadow as part of the setting in the far end of the park, it’s a place where the sum of its parts is so fantastic, that to dissect it in any portrayal will not do it justice. Better for you to read this link to all the information about this remarkable human achievement, than for me to only show you snippets of my impressions or try to describe it in words.


 

Buddha Park 02, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct. 4th: Buddha Park 02, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper


 

Buddha Park 03, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct. 8th: Buddha Park 03 – Vishnu as Narayana with Lakshmi and Sheshanaga, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

In the simplest of terms and with limited understanding, here’s my guess at what this group represents:  Vishnu with weapon and symbolic items missing, in the form of Narayana (“He who lies in the waters”), is seen lounging beside Lakshmi, his female counterpart. He is mounted on Sheshanaga, a many-headed serpentine demi-god, said to exist before the creation of the universe and will remain after its destruction.

In the complex belief system of Hinduism, literature regards gods, demi-gods and goddesses assuming many forms, with different names and aspects that change with each incarnation. The broad concepts and multi-layered symbolism are only learned by lifelong (or many lives of) awareness, devotion and practice.  Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are 3 aspects of the One Supreme Being, and are principal deities who create, protect and transform the universe.


 

Vishnu as Varaha - Buddha Park 04, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Oct 10th: Vishnu as Varaha – Buddha Park 04, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Categories: Art for sale, design, drawings, expressionist, history/multicultural theme, illustration, Laos, soft pastels, travel | Comments Off on Buddha Park, Laos

Leaves and Petals

October 5, 2024


 

Prickly Pear Cactus, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Prickly Pear Cactus, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper – 27H x 33W” framed, won Honorable Mention in Fusion Art’s 10th Annual Leaves and Petals Exhibition and competition.

Fusion Art Gallery Leaves and Petals Exhibition, Honorable MentionPrickly Pear Cactus is native to the Americas including Mexico, an important food source for desert animals and for humans, but now threatened to extinction by a cactus moth that has no known natural predators in the US. In 2021, a wasp was exported from South America to Texas to help control the spread of moth devastation.

 

Categories: Arizona, Art for sale, award winner, Conservation, Environmental issues, exhibitions, landscapes, soft pastels | Comments Off on Leaves and Petals

Haida Design carving, Campbell River BC

September 30, 2024


 

Haida Design carving, Campbell River BC, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Haida Design Shoreline Carving, Campbell River BC, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. There are so many beautiful sculptures along the shore here, but no information online about this wood carving. Every summer Campbell River hosts a chainsaw carving competition, so I assume this is one of the pieces created during one of those events.

Categories: Art for sale, B.C., beaches, Canada, history/multicultural theme, seascape, semi-impressionist, soft pastels, Vancouver Island, water | Comments Off on Haida Design carving, Campbell River BC

Foo Dogs

September 26, 2024


 

Foo Dogs, Zhejiang, China, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Foo Dogs, Zhejiang, China, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. These Chinese lion dogs or guardian lions, also known as shishi, are an integral part of Chinese art, architecture and folklore. Pairs are placed by the front doorway as symbols of harmony, protection and power, and in Feng Shui philosophy they represent yin and yang – male and female. The male holds a ball under its paw and the female holds a cub.

Categories: architecture, Art for sale, China, city streets, drawings, history/multicultural theme, soft pastels, travel | Comments Off on Foo Dogs

Elements of Nature

September 23, 2024


 

Moody Weather - Oregon Coast, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. 27H x 33W inches framed
Moody Weather, Best in Show, J Mane Gallery Elements of Nature 2024Won Best in Show and Featured Artist as part of the award, in J. Mane Gallery’s Elements of Nature 2024 with Moody Weather, Oregon Coast, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches.

Categories: Art for sale, award winner, beaches, elements, exhibitions, expressionism, landscapes, Oregon, Oregon beaches, seascape, sky, soft pastels, storms, water | Comments Off on Elements of Nature

Teravarna’s 8th “Color” Exhibition

September 21, 2024


 

Sumac, Fairy Lake BC, 12H x 16W inches oil pastels on paper, 16 x 20 " with white mat

         
  Herb Pots, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, 27H x 33W inches framed size   Orange Milkweed,15 x 22 inches watercolors, sold  
         

Honorable Mention Award in Teravarna's 8th "Color" International Juried Art CompetitionHonorable Mention in Teravarna’s 8th “Color” International Juried Art Competition:

Sumac, Fairy Lake BC, 12H x 16W inches oil pastels on paper, 16 x 20 ” with white mat

Herb Pots, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper, 27H x 33W inches framed size

Orange Milkweed, Kentucky 15 x 22 inches watercolors on paper, sold

Categories: abstract, Art for sale, Autumn, award winner, exhibitions, expressionism, flowers, oil pastels, soft pastels, trees, watercolors | Comments Off on Teravarna’s 8th “Color” Exhibition

Temple of Horus

September 18, 2024


 

Temple of Horus, Edfu Temple, Egypt, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Temple of Horus – Edfu Temple, Egypt – Falcon, Ruler of Skies and deity of the pharaohs, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

Categories: architecture, Art for sale, drawings, Egypt, history/multicultural theme, illustration, inspiration, shadows, silhouettes, travel | Comments Off on Temple of Horus

Seasonal Storm

September 16, 2024


 

Seasonal Storm, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Seasonal Storm, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. 27H x 33W inches framed size.

Categories: Art for sale, Autumn, expressionism, Forests, Seasonal, semi-impressionist, soft pastels, storms, trees | Comments Off on Seasonal Storm

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