This was the beginnings of the pastel in the next post.

This is the finished pastel I did of David, our son, and Royce, grandson. The reference was from a photo taken by Marie. I loved the contemplative tone of the photo.

The picture of this little tree was taken in Oregon by my neighbor Susan Siegle. This a pastel painting.

these two photos were taken on 12/1/2008 at 6:57pm featuring the moon, jupiter and mars; a rare happening. photo taken from our patio in Surprise AZ

received acceptance award az accc 11 2008

Portand Or rose

awarded 3rd place in az camera club council 11 2008

Bagno Vignoni Italy door

Award 2nd place in the az camera club council 11 2008

Cortona Italy door

Charlie received THREE ribbons today for photos submitted to the Arizona Camera Club Council competition. There were 750 entries and he got a second and third on the Italian doors already on this blog and a ribbon for his Oregon rose. We could not bring them home yet or I would put them up. Congratulations Charlie!!!

Here we are working on each other's paintings. (See next post). We had 15 min. to work at each painting and finished up at our own for the final 15 min. It was pretty intense but fun!!!

Yesterday, at the AAA Art show in Fountain Hills, Karen Budan, Liz Kenyon, and I did a paintaround. Here you see us (Karen is hidden) beginning work on our own paintins with reference photos we took in Italy. We are the Tuscan Trio.

This is the second door I painted; this one is watercolor. It was/is a very old door that has seen a lot of history.

This is the pastel painting I did from Charlie's photo.

Doors of Tuscany Italy, May 2008

This photo is one that Gene McDermermitt took of the taping of Fox News Ch. 10 AZ. Our club had 90 seconds of "fame." Unfortunately, we did not know it was a Live broadcast because I would have had Charlie record it.

another favorite entry way in Cortona Italy

note the wonderful old brick work

a favorite door in Cortona Italy

wonderful color in this old door

This the third painting I have done of this tiny cottage in Bagno Vignoni. While painting the side view, this cat appeard to sit at the gate. I took its picture and now it is painted in watercolor. He/she is looking back at the woman who just chased it out of the yard.

the photo: a five star hotel in Cortona Italy; in past years the building was a Catholic convent

The coyote says to the roadrunner "come on, follow me"

photo taken from our patio in Surprise AZ

This beautiful window was captured in Positano on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. We wanted to park our bodies there and stay.

This is a watercolor.

This is the final "Going Home". The image is still squatty. Hmmm? Pastel on Belgium Mist Kitty Wallis sanded paper.

I hope this is the corrected cat; Poor thing has been sitting in this basket for too long. She is free to go now.

This Cortona, Italy alley was very difficult to climb; yet, residents lived all along the steps. I took many reference photos of this interesting place. The actual painting is taller and seems more narrow than this photo. We will have to adjust that.

Ideas for titles are welcome: Going Up.... or Up, Up and Home....???

"cortona italy cat" in progress
watercolor

this is a "tuscany rooftops" in process

Our last night in Cortona, we were treated to a special event. It began with a parade, drums and trumpets, to introduce the guilds (neighborhoods) participating in the flag throwing contests. All were dressed in medieval costume. It was spectacular.

Can she see it now????

I was minding my own business in the art room yesterday when my "friend" Susan snapped this picture. We laugh a lot on thursday afternoons.

This sketch was done on location in Siena, Italy. Karen and I found a quiet place to sketch while the final James Bond movie was being made somewhere in the area.

Siena, Italy

This painting, watercolor underpainting and soft pastel, was done after our trip from the sketch on location in Siena, Italy. I loved the washlines. We waited patiently for a touch of sun to get some shadows. Finally.

as printed in the AZ Republic newspaper today,6/19/2008 "another spectacular Arozona sunset viewed from Surprise is like a painter's multihued palette. The colorful photograph was taken by Charlie Lang"

the beautiful bell towers at Cortona Italy church near where the Richard McKinley painters group painted

This painting was done in Cortona, Italy with rain interruptions but it is my favorite. The building was an old nunnery and is now a four star hotel.

This is Cottage # 2. See the poppy on the roof? This painting is too busy.

This is the tiny cottage with such a pretty little garden. It was gated . These are the Roman Baths used by the Medicis. A beautiful Renaissance arcade surrounds the spring. the next painting is a side view of the cottage.

My English friend and a bunch of children on a field trip. We were fortunate to have cover since it rained, again.

Painting in Bagno Vignoni, Italy

This is painting in Bagno Vignoni, Italy. It was raining so we took cover. I met some nice watercolor painters from England as I painted.

This painting, "On the Rocks" was accepted for the Chicago Pastel Painters 2008 Membership Show to be held in Chicago during May. I am quite happy since I will be in Chicago with my family during that time.

See the description on post below. Here Royce plays in the sand/mud. watercolor

Royce was nicknamed Sandbaby at the family place in Michigan last summer. Here he is talking to his reflection in the water. Watercolor.

This watercolor painting of Sweet Peas was fun and unlimiting. At a weekend show I received a commission to paint a similar piece but larger and with some other colors.

This pastel painting was accepted in the Arizona Pastel Assoc. Sedona Show.

This is the finsished, unmatted, unframed painting that I talked about yesterday.
Sorry for the delay. I painted today in Sedona; however, it was quite windy. We did have fun.

This painting ... double matted and framed with another stem added....sold today. This is the only photo I had of Serenity. She saw it in January and found my card to buy it in late March. It will be happy.

Magnificent Saguaros!!!

This gives an idea of the brittle bush.....not the most exotic plant, but pretty yellow.

This Saguaro broke off and landed in a neighboring tree. Nice Neighbors.

This is just one of the many pictures Charlie took this weekend in Tucson. We went to the Saguaro National Park once again. This time the brittle bush was blooming so the hills were blazing yellow. We missed the Mexican poppies and lupine by three weeks. Millions of suguaro. Amazing.

This painting, "Ladies, all in a Row" sold yesterday at our March Fair. The girl who bought it was so happy, it made my already great day wonderful. I did an hour demo in pastel earlier in the day.

feb paintings 2008

feb paintings 2008

This is the soft pastel version of "Pucker Up." I sold the watercolor version to a woman who lives in Oregon, Illinois. She is taking it back to her home there. This pastel version, while the same set up, is a far different painting. Which do you like the best? Comment.