Blog

Much of the United States is experiencing record lows, and Montana is no different.  We've had a winter weather advisory for 3 days in Central and Western Montana.  Today, it was -2 degrees in Missoula, but the low will only be 3 degrees tomorrow.  Yikes!  Where's the space heater?!  

I am participating in the Artists Along the Bitterroot Studio Tour again scheduled for June and November.  I'm looking forward to it, but find when the temperatures are soooo low and the skies soooo gray, I really struggle finding the inspiration to paint!

The Director of the AAB Studio Tour asked for a photo of our favorite tool and suggested we use something that no other artist would use.  Our photos will be used to create a graphic image for the brochure.  Great idea!    

What does the term tool mean?  I googled it and Merriam-Webster listed this:  a handheld device that aids in accomplishing a task.   I hold pastel sticks to create my art.  Wouldn't my vibrant, luscious sticks make a great photo?  Except there are 3 other pastel artists who participate in the Tour; a photo of my sticks would probably be redundant.

What about my brushes?  I love using a brush for several reasons.  When I do a wet under painting, I dip a brush in rubbing alcohol that dissolves and sets the pastel pigment I've laid down.  I LOVE gently pushing the pigment around!  I also love that brushes can be used to soften an edge, or brush off a passage that's not working, OR they can softly blur a passage so that it clearly recedes.  Brushes, I have a lot of them!  They would make an interesting photo.  Wait, there are several watercolor, acrylic and oil painters on the Tour.  That's not going to work.

And then I found it!  It was staring at me all along.  I love sketching with Dick Blick or Faber-Castell art markers.  Sketching gets the creative juices flowing.  I can try out compositions in a smaller format.  If I like the idea, I can develop it further for a pastel painting.  

This is the photo I sent.  I've got my art markers and sketchbook out and I'm feeling very inspired! 

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me.  I hope you take a look at your favorite tools and find new inspiration there!    

Seven years ago in October of this year, I got very serious about painting with pastels.  By that time I had looked at probably hundreds of pastel paintings and images trying to learn more about the medium.  

When I first started my journey,  I often wondered how many different pastel sticks a pastel artist would use to create a particular painting.

(I'll just say here that I  also wanted to ask them just how long it took them to create it! But I digress.)

I just finished this pastel painting of a dahlia titled, "Unfolding", and also took a photo of the pastel sticks I used.  I always found what other artists used fascinating...maybe it will help you on your journey.  

As you can see, there aren't a lot of pastel sticks.  I know what you're thinking, "You're kidding me.  That can't be right!  Or is it....or did she not photograph all the sticks she used? "

This is the real deal.  I didn't use any other pastels than you see pictured here.  The top 2 rows of medium round ones are Rembrandts.  You may already know they are fairly hard pastels.  They are my favorites.  They're very dependable!  They're inexpensive, good quality and the pastel doesn't stain your hands to the degree some of the softer sticks do.  They also don't create as much dust! 

The smaller sticks  at the bottom of the photo are Prismacolor NuPastels; they are also a little harder pastel than most other brands.  I often use these when I want to dissolve the pastels with rubbing alcohol to create a wet underpainting.    

There is a smaller mid-tone green in the 3rd row, and that's a Girault pastel.  Love this brand!  Softer than the harder pastels, a little more expensive, but the colors are swoon worthy!  And the Girault sticks make wonderful blending tools. 

The bright white stick (which was only used in the very center of the flower on a few tips of the still to unfurl dahlia petals) that  is 1/2 of a Blockx White 802.  It's a new acquisition.

The pastel pencils are Gioconda Koh-I-Noor brand.  They are kind of an expensive brand.  I bought this set off ebay and got a pretty good deal.  I use these to draw the major shapes before I flesh out the shapes with the pastel sticks.  

I do grid the surface of my Pastelbord to help me keep track of proportions.

In my next blog post I'm going to share a tool I just started using that's really been useful.

I'm not aware of anyone else writing about this tool, so please stay tuned.  Until next time.....get out and enjoy some nature!

Randy Higbee Gallery

102 Kalmus Dr.

Costa Mesa, California 92626

My husband made a remark that got me thinking about why I love painting apples.  He thinks the pastel paintings are well done, but he doesn't understand why I choose to paint fruit.    

I just love a fresh, crisp, juicy apple.  I look forward to fall's new harvest of apples and we always have apples in the fridge.  I love apple pie, apple crisp, baked apples, apple cider, applesauce.....pretty much anything apple!  I love their color variation and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge of painting their nuanced colors and shapes in pastels.  But, for me, there's a deeper meaning/message here.

The painting's subject reflects the abundance in our lives.  

I think it's safe to say the abundance in our lives is so abundantly abundant that sometimes we take our abundance for granted.  Yup, I'm guilty.  A change of circumstances approximately a year and a half ago brought that clearly into focus for me.  The recent news stories about refugees leaving their homeland to find a safe harbor has reminded me there is a stark contrast between their lives and ours.  Abundance, for us, is everywhere.

My abundance/blessings start with the fact that my twin sister is well and happy; my husband supports and encourages my art making; we have lovely family and friends; we have a wonderful home with two healthy little cats; we are well; we have food in our pantry; our cars run; our bills are paid on time; our water is clean; we both have jobs (I have a full-time job that supports my art habit!); we live in a small, progressive college town....the list is endless.  

When you look at my art, the subject I've chosen is something I consider beautiful and want to honor.  That subject is also a celebration of the abundance in my life.  (And I do mean the abundantly abundant abundance.)  I hope you see that I adored the crisp, juicy apple or I was gobsmacked by mother nature's beautiful scenery, or I was intrigued by a small vignette of leaves.  I hope you feel my sense of joy and gratitude for these treasures the natural world provides and for the opportunity to paint them.         

If you feel so inclined....leave a message about your abundance or your art.  What inspires you?      

May the universe be gentle and generous with you. 

Next Blog:  B is for Beauty.      

Framed.....frame of reference.....in the right frame of mind.  

Let's face it.  As artists, everything we do is "framed".  That's why some people are drawn to our work (no pun intended) and others are not.  The people who are ultimately intrigued with our art probably share a similar frame of reference.  They get it......it gels with them.....they feel what we feel.  And that's good.  

Our art is framed by our talents, insights, life experiences, choice of medium, friends, internal struggles, our definition of beauty or significance, and maybe even that day's breakfast.  Our artwork is our signature; it's easily identifiable as no other artist shares all of these intrinsic ingredients...let's call them.  These intrinsic ingredients drive us forward and we create our art.    

This is all fantastic.  However, for me, there is an eventual disconnect in the making of my art.  What is that disconnect you ask?  One word - framing.

Would you agree?  So we create this masterful work of art, and now (at least in my case as I work in pastels) the question is:  How will I frame it?  Do I frame it with a simple gold frame that enhances the effect of a sunny day?  Do I use a black frame to create a dramatic background for the piece?  Do I use a silver frame because that's what I have available?  What about a metal frame and mat?  Or would a simple black wood frame with an archival mat show off the piece to greatest advantage?  

Here's why this part is difficult for me:  everything about this piece of art is about my frame of reference, but now the maddening question that torments me is.......what frame will work for my collector?  What frame will work in his/her home?  What's the right frame of mind here?  I don't know!

Recently I had a collector tell me he didn't like the frame I used on a piece he purchased.  The funny thing was, I wholeheartedly agreed with him.  I thought the frame didn't give the piece any "breathing" room.    

Which frame do you prefer and why?  The comments section is open....operators are standing by!  Thank you for taking time to comment.  The framing of art is a constant challenge.  Any help or insight you can provide will be much appreciated! 

While working in my garden recently I got a wonderful surprise.  On Saturday, June 13th, Doug Warrick of Oregon State University and Kristen Crandell Ph.D. student at The University of Montana stopped by to talk about swallows.  Several years ago The University of Montana Flight Lab had studied a colony of barn swallows that built nests in a ditch near where we live.  At that time, this area was less populated and the road where they set up their equipment wasn't as busy.  Fast forward to today - that road has too much traffic, it's too noisy and it's certainly not a safe option any longer.  They asked if they could use our pasture to conduct their study.  Of course!  We walked the property and reviewed all the places they could set up - in the shade!         

They captured barn swallows and cliff swallows - both were of interest to them.  They graciously allowed me to take some photos.  I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the people!  The researchers included: Doug Warrick of Oregon State University who was the lead on this study, Bret Tobalske of The University of Montana Flight Lab (that's his hand holding the barn swallow),  Andy Biewener  of Harvard University, Ty Hedrick of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Kristen Crandell Ph.D. student at The University of Montana.  

These barn swallow youngsters are waiting for a meal!  The background is nice - perfect for a pastel painting!  

Bret releasing a swallow - it's v shaped and just to the right of him.  

If you have an interest in birds - google The University of Montana Flight Lab  and like them/follow them on Facebook!  Fascinating stuff. We were honored to provide a safe harbor for them and the swallows while they conducted their research.  They must be the hardest working researchers in the country....the first day they were here at 6:30 am and they often stayed until 6 or 7 pm and a couple times even came back after having a short dinner break.