Basalt Columns

Pink & Green Feathers

4" x 6"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

Tall Boulders are Talus

Rock Group

6" x 9"

Pastel & Charcoal

Casey Klahn

Old Sticks

You will enjoy this article about a keepsake pastel box.

My Old Wooden Pastel Box.

Maria Paterson.

Ballerina Sketch

Ballerina @ The Mall, 1.2

@10" x 4"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

I'm working on figures, again.  This ballerina was at the mall in Spokane, preparing for an upcoming Nutcracker event.  From a photo I took.

2014 Plans

New Vision

Long Remembered New Vision

13" x 21"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

Available

Gig Harbor Wrap

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Casey Klahn workshop in Gig Harbor, WA, last weekend. See Differently. Authenticity & Your Art. Hosted by the Northwest Pastel Society, in the studio of Donna Trent. Photos: Denise Champion.

Casey Klahn on art process, The Artist's Ideas, and your personal authority as an artist. 

Critique group.  We unpack the works produced during the 3 days we spent in studio and also in the open air.

Rocks with Light

Granite State Light

5" x 7"

Pastel & Charcoal

Casey Klahn

Exuberant In Boston!

Expressive art and exuberance may go together.  Here I am trying to light a fire under my attentive audience.

The reception given me by the artists, attendees, and the North River Arts Society was a memorable one.  You have my thanks.

See Differently workshop, Marshfield Hills, MA.

The Violinist on Claret Paper

The Violinist

Not a finished work, but my first efforts on Claret Paper!

Bogus Sketches and The Violinist

Degas book, original sketch from life, Degas study of a male violinist, and my working sketch on Bogus Rough paper.

How interesting that the sketch I made at the Yellowstone Lake Hotel remains the best of the bunch, even after I have done several studies now to arrange it into a finished piece.  I will keep at it.

On another note, I have been trying to make my own ground now, off and on, for several years but have finally stumbled onto a workable surface, I think.  It might be a life changing event.  Claret paper.  Not my own formula, but I did deviate from the recipe I was following.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Claret Paper, in light blue and claret hues.  I will credit the original recipe after I test this to see how it works.

Ocean Shores

Ocean Colors

13" x 12"

Pastel 

Casey Klahn

Head Starts

Civil War Face

@ 9" x 7"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

Indoors

Barn Interior Color Sketch, 2012

7" x 6"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

River Detail, #1

Madison River Turnout, Detail 1

@9" x 8"

Pastel

Casey Klahn

I seldom post details of works, but this one called to me.

Ocean Shores 1 Day

There were 9 artists in attendance.  I taught technique, and had an interesting closing question from Roy.  He wanted me to state 5 key tips for the beginner pastellist.  Here is what I said:

1. Peel the paper off most of your sticks, and put them all in a tray.  In other words, get them out of the foam box and into a studio palette system.

2. Find a paper you like and stay with it a while. 

3. Use artist's grade tools.

4. Find out what your ideas are and develop those in your work.  The truth is available for an artist of any skill level to tell.

5. Line up several of your artworks and write down 25 observations about them.  This will help you understand what it is you have been doing, what your ideas are, and what makes your work unique.

I couldn't help going to process solutions because I like to focus on what makes fine art fine.  

But, I want to have a technique-focused answer that's less esoteric.  With more thought, I might replace 4 and 5 with the following:

4. Learn how to handle your values and to blend colors.  We spent a good deal of out time on this in the 1 day workshop.

5. Work from good drawings that you have done.  

Degas at the Foundation Beyeler

Edgar Degas in der Fondation Beyeler. Kurator Martin Schwander zum Konzept der Ausstellung.

On Color!

Photos from this past weekend in Denver.

Pastel Painting Atelier, By Ellen Eagle

Phyllis, 2002

11 3/4" x 7 7/8"

Pastel on Pumice Board

Ellen Eagle

sensitive

Atelier is the French word for that place where you do your painting. It feels more intimate than the word, "studio." In her new book, Ellen Eagle has invited you into her atelier and offered you a look at her expertise and practices. Pastel Painting Atelier covers basics, such as studio set-up, pastel choices, brands, and pastel tools and surfaces. But the real experience of reading her book is like that of participating in a Japanese tea ceremony. You are made to feel special  and revelations abound.

observant

Ellen spotlights both historic and contemporary artists working in pastel. A favorite section of the book for me was the in-depth walk through of her process where she unpacks her thoughts, feelings, and methods while showing progress on portrait, figure, and still life works.

attentive  

The following is what Ellen wrote to you, the readers of The Colorist and Pastel Workshop.

Pastel Painting Atelier is my first book. I began the writing by entering my studio. I looked into my work environment and the treasured tools of my trade. My opening preface emerged naturally, and that personal statement set the tone for the whole book.  Throughout, I wrote about my inspirations and hands-on working practices.   My goal was to suggest to the reader ways to open up his and her own path. 

I also reached beyond my studio, into the ever-evolving history of our gorgeous medium. It was very important to me to exalt the magnificent lineage of artists who, across centuries and continents and styles, continue to  bequeath to us breathtaking works in pastel, artists who daily transform powder into monument. I closed the book with an index of public collections in which to view firsthand the enduring beauty of our collective endeavor.  

Ellen Eagle.

intimate 

Pastel Painting Atelier

ESSENTIAL LESSONS IN TECHNIQUES, PRACTICES AND MATERIALS

Ellen Eagle

Follow Me With Another Tool

By now I hope you know that Blogger Reader is "buh bye" on Sunday night.  If you've been following here via the Follow tool, please consider following with a new tool of your choice.  On the First of July Blogger says it is discontinuing the reader service.

Thanks!

114th Annual Exhibition, The Pastel Society

The Pastel Society - The Mall Galleries

Photo: © Marc Volquardsen

The annual exhibition in London of the Pastel Society, is covered by Katherine at Making a Mark.  See her blog here, and notice that our friend, the terrific Astrid Volquardsen, has won the Daler-Rowney award!

IAPS in New Mexico

A Million Southern Mornings

Honorable Mention,  The Second Master Circle Exhibition

Pastel

18" x 18"

Lyn Asselta

Shadows of Rio Puerco

Honorable Mention,  22nd

Annual IAPS International Show 

Lorraine is now in the Master Circle

20" x 16"

Lorraine Trenholm

It feels like I am LiveBlogging the IAPS convention in Albuquerque, NM, although I am not there.  Such are the wonders of Facebook.  Friends are sending me pictures and reports of where my artwork is, and how it is hung, etc.  

Posted above are some notable works by friends of mine.

I have seen Lorraine's beautiful pastel in person!  Very strong, and no surprise it got an honor at IAPS.

International Association of Pastel Societies

This is the time that great pastelists get together in Albuquerque, NM to enjoy a big pastel party known as the IAPS Biennial.  I am not there, but in my stead is a pastel which is in the IAPS Twenty-Second Juried Exhibition.

The convention is June 6th. - 9th.

Is there anyone at the convention that is willing to send us a report?  I'd be glad to post it here.

Sergeant Major

Sergeant Major Sketch

@7" x 9." 

Charcoal and chalk on toned brown paper.

Casey Klahn

This is a life sketch I rendered last weekend at a battle reenactment.  The opportunity to draw the figure from life is rare for me, and Civil War reenactments are a grand time, with costumed participants, equipment and regalia for subject-matter.

Historicity; Pastel's Long Legacy.

Video by Stan Sperlak.

IAPS (international Association of Pastel Societies).

An Intimate Atelier

Ellen Eagle's art, her personality, and now her book, Pastel Artist Atelier, are a unified expression.  She creates intimate portraits in pastel, and her writing is a look into the private spaces of her studio and reveals her studio practice.  She has a soul of gentleness and introspection, and she perceives the subtleties of the visual world.

I will give you a finished report on the book at a later date.  For now, I am enjoying.

Pastel Painting Atelier.  Essential Lessons in Techniques, practices, and materials.

Ellen Eagle.

Making My New Palette

My old studio tray was 18" x 3' and the new "Pastel Crib" measures 2' x 4.'

Lots more space, and room to expand my palette to include the grays and also a nifty pencil box in the middle.

More photos soon!

Video Documentary/Interview - The Colorist Idea

Next Stop: Portland!

Durango was a great time!

Next workshop:

Portland, Oregon.  June 15, 16.

MoRock in Washington

The Feathers Shadow

4" x 6"

Charcoal & Pastel

Casey Klahn

Portland, Oregon!

2 Day Workshop/$240. See Differently is not a technique workshop. It is a break through event, where we look at your ideas. I demonstrate in pastels, however oil and acrylic painters have enjoyed this workshop.

Calendar

First Plein Air 2013

Unkempt Tree

@8" x 10"

Pastel & Charcoal on Wallis

Casey Klahn

Steven LaRose shares this:

En plein air (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛn‿ɛʁ]) is a French expression which means "in the open air," and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors, which is also called peinture sur le motif ("painting on the ground") in French.

Steven LaRose.

Spring Inspiration

This is a bit of an April Fool's joke, as the miniature flower pastel is from the imagination.  But, here is my travel and plein air box ready to go!  Maybe today I will get out the door and paint!

Special note: if I can get my studio palette spruced up, I will post a photo.  I really need to make another one of those studio boxes, as I have the space and too many sticks.

Black Earth with Yellow, @ 4" x 4," Pastel, Casey Klahn.

Denver at The Madden! Ken Elliot and Casey Klahn Will Teach On Color!

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July 20 and 21, at The Madden Museum in Denver Metro.  All media welcome.  Contact either Ken or myself.