October fun with bright colors...

"Mama Bear" 18x24 painting done in pastel by Gail Watford

Finishing up a big 18x24 pastel painting, I visualize my bear as a momma bear with her cubs, in my mind I see them.... they're just to the left of the painting about to get into trouble, jumping around in the mountain stream. Momma bear is definitely getting annoyed with them! This painting was a fun project, pushing myself into a stronger pallette. Red has never been one of my favorite colors, but I loved working in the reds, oranges and yellows in this painting. It felt very timely with the October weather and the changing leaf colors. Maybe I will paint those cubs I have in mind?

"Western Tanager" 5x7 painting done in pastel by Gail Watford

When I paint I have found, I like to work on more than one painting at a time.  It gives me time to think about the painting I'm not working on and see it with a fresh view. This little 5x7 pastel "Western Tanager" was done while working on the bear painting.  It worked out well using mostly the same palette but working in a different style and manner.

Watercolors to the Wyoming Women's Expo!

"Hummingbird with Yellow sky" 5x5 inch Framed Watercolor by Gail Watford

As you know I love painting hummingbirds and our Wyoming state flower, the Indian Paintbrush!  My paintings this week are fun little studies working in watercolor.  I love how watercolor allows a softness of one color flowing into another.  When I close my eyes and think of a object or certain place, many times I visualize it as a watercolor.  A misty impression with very few defined lines..... colors melting into other colors...... layers of softness, like looking at the clouds in the sky.  As an experiment, stop now, close your eyes and think of a favorite person or place.  How do you visualize your object? I think most of you will be surprised to find that you don't remember objects looking like the photos you've taken, but remembering them less defined more like an impressionistic watercolor painting!  

Would you would like to see my little watercolor paintings? Works of Wyoming in Laramie will be showcasing some of their galleries artists at the upcoming Wyoming Women's Expo in Casper, Wyoming on October 3rd and 4th.  These are two of the small watercolors I am sending to the show.  Both of these pieces are 5x5 inches framed and priced at $48. If you're in Casper at the Women's Expo drop by and see the ladies from the Works of Wyoming booth and check out some Wyoming art.

"Indian Paintbrush Sunset" 5x5 inch Framed Watercolor/ink by Gail Watford

What does princesses and dystopia have in common?

"End of Dystopia" Watercolor Collage by Gail Watford

These two paintings are not what I typically post but very much like the princesses I drew as a little girl.   

A while back I took a refresher class in watercolor at Laramie County Community College. The assignment was to create a painting of dystopia and change to the opposite or vs versa.  I chose to paint dystopia (a city with pollution) first and change/use it in creating a painting of a princess like I loved to draw as a little girl. After completing the city, I started the princess painting and used parts of the first dystopic painting as a collage. If you look closely you will find some of the polluted city in the last painting.  The project  was fun and pushed me out of the box of doing something I never would have done.... which as an artist is always good!  

The painting "End of Dystopia" is now at the Laramie gallery,  Works of Wyoming (WOW).   Maybe it will go home for a little girls room that also loves to draw princesses? 

Watercolor painting of a city of ppulllution

More fun painting birds.....

"Sparrow Hawk"
5x 7 Pastel Painting by Gail Watford

"Yellow Warbler"
5x7 Pastel Painting by Gail Watford

Even though the Meadowlarks paintings have flown to Asia, I am still working on birds. Here is my two latest paintings.  

Meadowlarks travel to Asia!

Brown Sky Meadowlark- 4x6 pastel painting by Gail Watford

Last week I was working fast and furiously on commissioned meadowlark paintings.  At the same time my friend Vanda Edington was painting 15 Indian paintbrush all had to be completed by by Sept 2nd. We got them done by the deadline and now they are on their way to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan! 

Working on my 15 meadowlark paintings at
one time!   A little bit messy but lots of fun!

Why Asia you ask? Some of our Wyoming state legislators traveling to Asia will be exploring opportunities to export Wyoming coal, natural gas and other state natural resources. It is our great honor to have our paintings offered as representative gifts from the state of Wyoming!

Our framed paintings being wrapped and ready for travel overseas.

I may never have the opportunity to travel to Asia but it is certainly a big thrill to have my art work in the homes or offices of those on the other side of the world! 

It's been so long I have forgotten how to write a post!

"Prairie Spirit" 18x24 pastel painting by Gail Watford

Can't believe it has been a year since I have written a post.  I could go into all my excuses but who wants to hear a whiner! Never the less it truly has been a busy year with art and family. Once we returned from a visit to see our first grandchild,  I have settled back into painting and am starting to show art again!  

Tomorrow evening, August 14th I will be one of the Art Design and Dine artists in the ALL PASTEL SHOW at the Nagel Warren Mansion from 5-8 pm.  I would like to invite you to come out and see me.... and some of my pastel paintings.  I will have my new piece "Prairie Spirit" there.  It's a piece I did to honor of the art in the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, my tribute to the sculpture in the 1800's plaza!  We are so lucky to have the gardens in our city.... such a beautiful place, always inspiration for artists!

If tomorrow evening is not in your plans the paintings will hang all the month of August. The other featured artists in the August show at the Nagle Warren Mansion are Vanda Edington, Maureen Bader, Bob Nelson, Jeanie Schlump, and Barbara Wolf. You will see a variety of genre and techniques using the pure pigment of pastel! We would all love for you to come out!

ALL PASTEL SHOW 

at the Nagel Warren Mansion 

222 E 17th Street 

August 14, 2014  from 5-8 pm.