Workshop Wonderful!

I really enjoyed sharing my love of pastels while teaching a workshop last weekend sponsored by the Standing Stone Art League. Sixteen talented, enthusiastic artists gathered, and explored the wonders of the pastel medium during a full day workshop. I appreciated the well-lit, spacious facility, and advance planning by the art league, so that when we gathered together, everything fell in place, and we could enjoy the work. I loved seeing people connect with this medium, and hope that many will incorporate pastels in their artwork from here on!

I'd love to hear from participants about their completed paintings, and will post an image of the landscape which I started as a demo. as I develop it- stay tuned!

Teaching Pastel Workshop

I'm excited about teaching pastel techniques in a day-long workshop with the Standing Stone Art League this weekend! It sounds like there's a lot of enthusiasm for working with this medium (the workshop is full!), and I can't wait to share some of my experiences with the wonders of pastel, and the creativity and skills of others!

The Show is On!

Alice Kelsey with collectors Leslie Smith and Dwight Florence

The show is on! Twenty three of my recent oil and pastel paintings are exhibited and available for purchase in a solo show near Media, PA! I enjoyed sharing my work and discussing it with others at the opening reception, and seeing my paintings in the well-lit, inviting exhibit area. I appreciate the comments about my work from viewers seeing it for the first time, as well as those who have followed it over time. The above photo features two collectors of my work, whose insightful feedback, and support I greatly appreciate. We are standing in front of the large oil on linen which I recently completed, "In the Woods- Light" (see photos section of Facebook for image).

The show continues through Dec. 2, and is open to the public daily from 9 am - 6 pm. For details & directions, see http://www.pendlehill.org/events/690-paintings-by-alice-kelsey   Please share your impressions with me if you get a chance to see the show! 

Framing For Show (and Slight Cat Incident)!

Yeah! I've finished framing ALL the works which will be in my solo show which opens in three days in eastern PA, near Media! It's been a busy time, and I'm thankful that I started well ahead of time, since the matboard took two weeks to find in my favorite type of warm off-white, and ditto with two gold-leaf frames for oils. Aside from a cat jumping up on a finished mat (aargh!!!), the framing went well, and I'm VERY pleased with my new work and can't wait to show it as a group, and share it with others! Here's a link for more info. about the show http://pendlehill.org/events/690-paintings-by-alice-kelsey

Evolution of a Work - 'Light After Rain'

I chose a new challenge for myself to go out plein air painting with watercolours, and it turned into a pastel painting that I'm really pleased with!  I haven't used watercolour much, and feel pretty lost with it because the paint is translucent, and colors can not be lightened by overlaying them.  So this requires very different thinking and approach than oils or pastels.  Here's the finished pastel.

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Alice Kelsey 'Light After Rain,' Pastel, 12" X 17"

I felt clumsy while making the watercolour sketch, yet in the process of painting, I noticed more about the scene.   This site is about half a mile from my house, where I often hike or ride horses.  I decided to make a pastel of this painting since I liked the atmosphere of the scene so much.  The sketch was just enough to remind me in the studio of the colors and composition. 

Initial watercolour field sketch

This photo shows me reviewing the painting with my husband, when it was nearly finished.  The area where I'm pointing ended up being the place that I felt a need to put in a darker line which I felt the work needed to be complete.  Compare this image with the final image above, and particularly note the space where I'm pointing, and to its right.  Without a darker line there, the parts just didn't feel like they connected to me.  When I'm completing a painting, I look for the overall balance in the work, and I feel free to adjust the scene to achieve this sense of the parts fitting together as a whole- It is a bit difficult to describe this process, but it has a lot to do with how my eye circulates throughout the painting, without becoming stuck in one spot (or leaving the image).

Reviewing in-progress work in the studio