Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Rocklyn Summer

pastel

Meadowgrass

pastel

Ashley Creek Lane

pastel

Nathan's Day Off
pastel

I have been painting up a storm, and it seems that when you get into a rhythm the work just flows!! There are several upcoming entry deadlines in the near future for juried shows....so it's good things are flowing so well.

I just received notice that two of my paintings have been juried into the Peninsula Art League's Ninth Annual Open Exhibition that will be at the Gig Harbor Civic Center from Oct 6 to Dec 2nd. The juror is Richard McKinley, a master pastelist I so admire. I look forward to any feedback I may receive from him. Shows equal great learning experiences! Seeing other great works, and hearing remarks from the viewers on what they see in the pieces, as well as from other artists and the juror.

I have two upcoming trips to the mountains in both Colorado and Montana that should prove very inspiring also.

So let the flow continue!!!

Check out my work on my website: http://www.ladonnakruger.com/.

Cameron Gardens Paint Out

Morning Light

Another satisfying paint out day this past Thursday at Cameron Gardens on Steamboat Island Road. This is such a beautiful rural garden surrounded by beautiful forests. It's truly an escape from the busyness of life. Diane Jacob owner of Cameron Gardens treated us like royalty with herb infused lemonade and fresh sweets baked by her neighbor. The weather was lovely, the turnout of artists was good, and we had a wonderful morning painting to our hearts content!

I painted for the first time with a new easel setup specifically designed for my portable pastel carrying case. It worked beautifully....and I am very happy with the results. Diane's comment, "you really feel like you are in Cameron Gardens" more than thrilled this artist. That's what it's about....trying to convey to the viewer the same sense of calm and retreat you felt as you viewed the garden and it's quiet spirit.

Yes, it was a very good day!

Painting Out with the Art League

Dappled

pastel

Each Thursday morning from May through September the Olympia Art League has a group of artists that paint out together at various sites around Olympia. Most Thursdays... weather permitting.... you will find me painting en plein aire (in open air) with this group. We paint around town, at private gardens, parks, nurseries, and various other venues and enjoy gentle critiques from each other at the close of our session . It is a great experience, and we watch each others skills grow from year to year, even from week to week.

These paint outs have definitely been good for my growth as an artist. I find I usually struggle the first week or two, but then get back into the rhythm as the summer progresses. Not long ago we visited Lattins Cider Mill and I set my easel up to paint a group of trees and their cast shadows. I wanted to capture the light through the leaves and the beauty of their dappled shade. Three short hours later I walked away with one of my favorite paint out successes. Just days before this session I had read an article from master pastelist Richard McKinley about changing values in small increments and not adding strong contrasts too soon. I kept this in mind as I developed my painting.....moving from middle values to darker and lighter in small increments. "Dappled Shade" is the resulting painting, and I feel very satisfied with the days efforts.

Best of Show!!!

My painting, "Bill" received Best of Show award at the Lakefair Juried Art Exhibition at the Phoenix Inn in Olympia, WA! It was a very exciting evening for me, and thanks to friends and family who came to the Artist Reception to support me. It was great to share a special time like this with you! I also received many encouraging words from viewers and I am energized to create more!!

Lakefair Juried Exhibition

Summer Walk

Bill

"Summer Walk" and "Bill" have been juried into the Lakefair Exhibition at the Phoenix Inn, 415 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA. The show will be open to the public July 15th through August 11th. There is an Artist Reception, Friday, July 15th from 6 - 8 PM, with awards announced at 6:30 PM. The daily hours at the show are 10 AM - 6 PM.

Two Eateries from my mind!

Blue Street Cafe

East Bay Eatery

Two new pieces just finished are totally fabricated from my imagination. They follow that "Cafe" theme.....and I had so much fun coming up with names. I want my viewers to fill in the story! Who are these people, where are they, what is the conversation about, what is their story? So much of our conversations are over that cup of coffee, that shared meal. We stop our busy lives long enough to connect with the ones we are with, share the stories of our lives, and listen to deep thoughts or dreams....we take the time, we savor the moment.

Let your imagination go.....fill in the blanks.....enjoy!

Mentor, Artist, Friend

Bill

12 x 16" pastel

Once a month I attend a class taught by artist, Bill McEnroe. Bill is 89 years young and an artist I truly admire. Although Bill has so many years of experience under his belt, he and his work have the freshness and creativity of a young soul. What a joy to sit under his mentorship! Every class he demos a painting for his students and in just a short few minutes both amazes and challenges us. Bill has a wonderful sense of humor and is beloved by his students. We feel very fortunate he is still able to share his expertise with us. His assignments always push us to attempt new techniques or improve our skills.

Recently during one of Bill's demo paintings I photographed him as he worked. From these photos came the resulting painting above. I believe it captures both Bill's likeness and the affection we, as his students, feel toward our artist mentor. We are so priviledged to call him mentor and "friend".

Something New for Easter

Easter at Connexion Service, 2011

Chalk one up to a new experience! I painted a pastel during the Saturday evening Connexion Service at Faith Assembly of Lacey. It was a little nerve racking to consider finishing a work in only 1 1/2 hours during a church service. But with planning, and a practice run the week before in my studio to work out all the bugs, the painting came together and the experience was a good one. Pastor Peter who willingly call himself a "non-artist-person" enjoyed the process too and after the fact said, "we should do that again!" Glad you enjoyed it, Pastor Peter. Maybe we will. And now my son's pastor wants me to do this in his church next Easter. We'll see!

Driving home after the service I realized I was the "Clara Brann" I had grown up with.....an artist in the church of my childhood who painted chalk drawings that glowed under black light during a few unforgettable services! How very interesting! I had forgotten about Clara until suddenly those memories flooded back on that drive home. I hope I have instilled a dream in some young artist-to-be as Clara obviously had in me.

Honorable Mention

Under the Tree

pastel

The first juried art show of 2011 that I have entered was the Peninsula Art Association's 2011 Spring Show April 18-30, in Shelton. I entered two pastels, "Under the Tree" and "The Dance". "Under the Tree" received an Honorable Mention award, and I was pleased when the juror Susan Christian so clearly picked up on what I was trying to communicate when she discussed this piece in her "Walk Through" with the artists.

New Website

Just the Two of Us

Finally I can check off "Create an online portfolio" from my "to do" list!! Sigh! I am feeling quite accomplished right now. The need for a website has been hanging over me for quite some time, so this is a great relief! I think it went well and I am satisfied with the results. Over time I may find things I need to tweak, but it should be a relatively easy fix. I have to credit my artist friend, Becky Knold for discovering "Weebly.com" and then sharing it with friends. I like the look of her website and love the affordable option weebly affords. It accomplishes what I want at a price I can easily live with. This is just one of the many times I appreciate my community of artist friends and how we support and mentor each other.

Please view my new webiste at: http://www.ladonnakruger.com/.

Playing at my work!

The Dance

pastel, 12 x 18"

Cafe Four (Cafe Series)

Pastel, 12 x 16"

The Fine Art of Being Me

Pastel, 12 x 18"

I've had a productive couple of weeks in the studio. Working again with figurative abstracts. These are such a joy to create....and I think you can see and feel the playfulness I experience while I work. Enjoy as I enjoy! :-)

State of the Arts Gallery

Two of my paintings in the Gallery Window

You may now find my paintings at the State of the Arts Gallery in Olympia, WA on the corner of 5th and Washington.....next to the Center for the Performing Arts.

Selling Flowers

pastel, 20 x 20"

One of the most colorful places in Olympia is the Farmer's Market. The sights, the smells, the sound of live music.....all of these combine to fill your senses! This painting hopefully transports the viewer to a moment in time standing before the seller of his flowers at the market while market visitors stroll among the wares.

Continued Inspirations

Cafe Three

After my experience with Cafe One and Two I decided to brush off another failed painting and work in the same vein as the prior paintings. Sometimes you have a work that just never makes it.....it is totally unresolvable. The good thing with pastel is....you can brush off the pigment particles and then wash down the Wallis sanded pastel paper with water. Let it dry thoroughly and you have a pretoned surface with the grit ready to take on new pastel. That's what I did with this new piece, "Cafe Three". Then I painted another abstract version of groups of people interacting in a cafe setting. I totally enjoy working abstractly like this. There is lots of freedom and color is inspiring of itself. Hope you enjoy these three paintings.

Cafe Love!

Cafe Two

Cafe One

These two pastels are a result of an earlier large pastel painting that I was not at all happy with. ....but there were parts of it I loved, it just didn't work as a whole. I was about to brush off the work and start anew....when I got the brainstorm to take it apart. I've seen other artists rework their paintings this way with success so decided it was worth a try. Cafe One and Cafe Two are smaller paintings cut down from the original piece and I absolutely love them. Yeah!!! Success. These are two great little works! Can't wait to frame them up.

Canoes for Rent

Canoes for Rent

pastel 12 x 16"

Last summer I went on vacation with all my children and grandchildren to the wonderful oceanside city of Seaside, OR. We had such a wonderful time all together. The weather was great and the city is delightful. There is a river that flows through the town on its way to the Pacific Ocean and vacationers can rent these canoes to paddle in the river and under the street bridges. I shot the reference photo for this painting while standing on a bridge looking down on the summer vacationers enjoying their time on the water. The painting is a reminder of special times at special places with special people! Ahhhhh, summer vacations....how we love you!

I wish each of you could know!

Cow and her Calf

pastel, 12 x 16"

Capitol and Fourth

pastel. 12 x 16"

I wish everyone could experience what it feels like to lose track of time and be absolutely wrapped up in each and every stroke....of being absolutely enthralled in making the choices of what color to lay here and what stroke is needed there. There is a rhythm that takes over that is so priceless that it is difficult to pull yourself away at the end of the day!

Being an artist just makes me happy! :-) And I wish each of you to have a similar joy in something you choose to do!