Spring is springing! My Chinese Magnolia is blooming... always one of the first things to show off! Playing with the new camera... I also took it to a horse show and took a few jump shote with it... So far I love it!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
orchid surprise!!
I got the most wonderful surprise delivered to my door this afternoon! The friends that I help with the dog rescue calendar (Danny and Ron's Rescue) sent this as a thank you! And I had just gotten back from the dentist with a numb mouth! And was looking over the shambles that is my bank account at the present... boy did I need a good surprise!! Ron and Danny are just the BEST friends anyone could have!!!! And I am thankful for getting to be apart of something as wonderful as their rescue operation!
And I played with the new camera (Nikon D300) on these pics. So far so good
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Reggie #2
pastel on suede
private collection
actual size 20"X26"
www.djfitzgerald.com
Every once in a while you get a really good client... actually I do have quite a few good repeat clients! And this women is one of them! She has two homes. And instead of getting copies of the work I do for her, she has had two originals done of each portrait she has commissioned. I just love it when you find someone that appreciates the difference... and can afford it! That is why you might think this portrait is a repeat. I did the first one back in november of last year. It is a slightly different pose and a different background. The portrait is done on the suede because I did the first one on suede. I used the darker warm gray suede, which I think is much better than the light pinkish gray I had been using... it definitely does better for the darker colored animals. I do have to replenish my dark brown pastels!! It is so hard to find really good dark purpley browns. And I am down to crumbs!!!
My next piece is on suede also because it is bigger than the 20"X26" size. So, it might be a little while before I post my next pastel... BUT, I just got a new camera!!! ( NIkon D300!!!) My Fuji is starting to have "issues" and I can not afford to be without a camera. My back up is a negative camera.... can't go there any more.... that boat has sailed!!! I am hooked on digital. Can't even imagine changing rolls of film!!! I will have to do some experimental shooting with the D300... so I will post some photos between now and then! Actually I used it to photograph this piece... I took a few shots with the old camera to compare.... LOVE IT!! Now I just have to finish reading "the book" on it!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bayley
pastel on Ampersand pastel board
private collection
actual size 16"X20"
www.djfitzgerald.com
Now for something a little different! This was fun. But I think I spent more time working on the water than Bayley! I really had fun with all the colors in the water. I must also note that this was from the clients photo... she is a wonderful photographer. I have used her photos for a portrait I did for her sister also. You might remember the portrait I did of a little boy in the water. Years ago I did a water color for their mother of 5 labs in the water!... see a theme here with this family?! I probably should start charging extra for water!! It is a subject in itself! I have also done a lot of horses for them over the years.
This was done on Ampersand pastel board.... it was alright... the gray is definitely better than working on the while board. But I think I prefer the sennelier board. The Sennelier has a sort of "stickiness" that this one does not. And it is a little grittier also. I have definitely had to learn a few new techniques when working on these types of surfaces... I use those little pointy sponges with handles, little sponges in different shapes, fingers, and a kneadable eraser. The kneadable eraser has been the best tool! Sort of like a finger, but you can shape it to a point to get into hard areas... very useful. And it sort of presses the pastel into the board with out smearing it too much. I have also found that I have had to develop a lighter touch with these surfaces.
When I work I listen to a lot of music. I have good head phones. But I am always looking for new music so I don't get bored. And it seems that some music gets attached to the art work that I am working on at the time. So when this happens, I thought I would start mentioning it... with this piece I have gotten reacquainted with Fleetwood Mac. I have not listened to them in years. It has really been fun... especially the early work... "Silver Springs", Landslide", and "Sara". I was a big fan of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham before they joined Fleetwood Mac. They put out an album called "Buckingham Nicks" back in 1973, that was totally over looked in its time. I had a friend copy it from my vinyl album to cd. To date only a couple of tracks have been digitized. If you ever have a chance to listen to it, do! There are some great guitar pieces by Lindsey! And I don't think they have ever written better work. Some of my favorites from this album are "Crystal" (which has also been done by Christine McVie and Stevie... Stevie recorded it for the movie "Practical Magic") On this album Lindsey is singing. Also "Races are Run", and Frozen Love" This is one of those albums where I like almost every track. I find it interesting that I listen to them now with such a different appreciation of the music than I did 30 some years ago......_
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Clancey&Kelly
pastel on velour
private collection
actual size 16"X20"
www.djfitzgerald.com
O.K.... I have now gone full circle back to velour... and I liked it! I did my first pastel on velour, but switched to suede matt board when the company that made the velour went out of business. The only other velour available at the time fell apart at my abuse! I did like this paper and better yet, it held up to me. It definitely has its place when doing animals... has that nice soft quality that works well with fur. But, it is hard to keep a crisp line. I think I will probably end up using different papers for different projects. And I still have a couple more that I would like to try.
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