Barb and Charlie Paintings and Photography

2011-01-31T14:31:00.002-07:00

This pastel painting (not completely finished) has been in progress for quite some time. I am nearly there. It depicts our grandchildren at Chuckie Cheese where we have had good times together. It is not meant to be authentic as to placement. Rather I wanted a montage effect. I used many reference pictures taken last year.

2010-08-15T19:04:00.001-07:00

Medusa
See below

2010-08-15T18:52:00.002-07:00

If you look very hard you can see the top of our agave. It looks like Medussa. After I painted three agaves in a series, the plant decided to grow that middle stalk. We had it cut down and this is the outcome.

2010-05-29T14:22:00.001-07:00

I painted this in pastels after taking many pictures of a plant on our street that had hundreds of blooms. I hope I did it justice.

2010-04-20T09:46:00.001-07:00

This is beginning of the end. Quite interesting but wish it wasn't happening.

2010-04-20T09:41:00.001-07:00

2010-04-19T08:39:00.002-07:00

This is #3 in the series of Agave paintings in pastel. Some bad news. The plant that I am painting is growing the center spike which means it is on its way out. It gave us much pleasure.

2010-04-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

This agave painted in pastel is the first of a series. I have decided to paint different views of an agave in our front yard. I will see how long my endurance lasts painting the same subject again and again.

2010-04-02T10:51:00.001-07:00

This is the second in the series of Agave paintings. It has been fun. I am on the third now and still enjoying the process.

2010-03-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is a river of color.

2010-03-31T19:34:00.000-07:00

I have never seen the white poppies before today.

2010-03-31T19:18:00.001-07:00

We went to Bartlett Lake today to hunt for flowers. Wonderful array. It was as good as we have ever seen. Red, blue lupines, Mexican poppies, desert marigold. ......wonderful.

2010-01-10T18:56:00.002-07:00

In our Arizona Pastel Artists Assoc. we have a challenge. Several people are given an item to use in a painting. I chose to paint the "dishtowel" that was our group's challenge as a kite. Here it is: "Runaway Kite"

2009-10-25T13:47:00.002-07:00

This is the second panel for Sydney's birthday. (See below). I really had a hard time with this one since I used Gold Foil and had never worked with it before.

barb

2009-10-25T13:43:00.002-07:00

This is the 40 X 40 panel I did in acrylic for Sydney's birthday. Luckily I was able to get the figures at Michaels. Anyway, it was to her specifications and she received it yesterday.'These are her Princess Girls.

2009-10-07T12:46:00.002-07:00

I painted this pastel using a phote reference from Charlie's recent sky photos. This was taken right out our back door. I painted it on the new (to me) pastelmat paper, and I am in love with it. It is a smooth paper that holds oodles of pastel layers. I do not like the way I ended the mountain on the left lower corner but that can be fixed.

2009-08-26T14:21:00.002-07:00

This painting was started in Chama NM where we visited Susan and Tom Roper. Susan took the picture at their camp grounds. Mine is a watercolor underpainting finished in soft pastel. To see us painting, check Susans link on this blog. We had a great afternoon to begin a glorious week.

2009-08-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

If you don't like tea, choose coffee. This old grinder was Charlie's grandma's. The cups are also old from his past. I painted this on aqua board and sealed it.

2009-07-12T13:51:00.001-07:00

I am feeling stagnant in this heat. Decided to paint some watercolor for a change. This, AFTERNOON TEA, was fun to do. Hope you like it and stop what you are doing and have a cup.

2009-06-19T12:48:00.002-07:00

While at David and Marie's I painted three images on three walls in Royce's room. He is crazy about the movie cars. Here Sydney, age 5 and 9 months, is helping. She did the last three panels of the cars in the stands herself.....including the eyes. I was impressed. Royce and she did the green grass. The following pictures show the other walls.

2009-06-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

This is Luigi's Tire Repair from the movie CARS.

2009-06-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

This is another wall in Royce's room. It is the race track from CARS.

2009-06-19T12:38:00.002-07:00

This is one of the paintings I did on Royce's wall. He is crazy over the movie Cars . It is a street scene from Radiator Springs.

Earth Child

2009-05-15T12:28:00.002-07:00

Pastel painting on colorfix paper with primer added for texture.

This little girl was playing in the dirt, unaware of the many people walking around her. I took the reference while waiting to get in the Armstrong Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. I think our Sequoia will look like this in a few years.

2009-05-03T14:33:00.002-07:00

This is our presentation, booth 219, at the Peoria Home and Garden Expo. As you can see, several of Barbara's paintings and four of Charlie's photos.

This photo replaced an earlier version

2009-05-02T18:48:00.002-07:00

I see that I have to go back to the drawing board on Dreaming. The book is not right. Don't know what I did.

2009-05-02T18:47:00.001-07:00

Dreaming

2009-05-02T18:39:00.001-07:00

This painting is a pastel from pictures I took while Jane visited. She is trying to "find" a word.

It's a Puzzle

2009-05-02T17:26:00.002-07:00

This pastel painting is a close up of Jane's hands and her puzzle. I am doing a series of Jane.

2009-03-30T19:48:00.001-07:00

This painting of Sedona on a May morning is finished. The cliant is happy which makes me happy. Charlie was getting tired of seeing it on my easel.

2009-03-30T19:46:00.001-07:00

This is a painting I started in the White Tank Mountains and finished at home. It is so much better painting out with the light, etc.

2009-03-30T19:39:00.001-07:00

2009-03-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

Tucson Workshop with Richard McKinley

2009-03-15T13:53:00.002-07:00

The following three paintings were done under the supervision of the wonderful artist, Richard McKinley. They were executed with an underpainting of watercolor and then the pastel on top of that. He gave each of us so much attention and encouragement. We had a wonderful week working out in the desert; we even encountered two rattle snakes and a jumping cholla which was imbedded in my arm. Now I hope to continue with the enthusiasm of the week.

2009-03-15T13:36:00.001-07:00

Back at Catalina St. Park 3 /11/2009

2009-03-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Catalina St. Park 3/11/2009

Tucson Workshop with Richard McKinley

2009-03-15T13:24:00.004-07:00

Sabino Canyon 3/12/2009

2009-02-21T12:09:00.002-07:00

This charming caricature drawing was done by Madeline Ledzinski. I love it. Now we want her do one of the Art Chix for our tables when we have shows.

2009-02-07T20:52:00.002-07:00

This is the pastel painting that received a Third place ribbon at the Wickenburg show this evening. It is the one I decided to enter at the last minute.....even had to change my inventory sheet after turning it in. Many of our Sun City Grand members received ribbons which made us very happy. Lots of our friends were there to join in the fun. The representation of the painting here is not good due to the flash. The background is not this vivid in the original.

chihuly at desert botanical gardens 2

2009-01-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

Chihuly at desert botanical garden

2009-01-24T19:36:00.000-07:00

2009-01-08T09:26:00.001-07:00

Just a pencil sketch I was doing . This and the next post.....another door done in pastel are my latest Italy memories. Seems I just can't leave it alone.

2009-01-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

2008-12-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-12-20T12:42:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-12-08T09:30:00.002-07:00

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

2008-12-03T20:07:00.001-07:00

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

2008-12-03T20:02:00.001-07:00

2008-11-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

received acceptance award az accc 11 2008

Portand Or rose

2008-11-27T13:59:00.001-07:00

awarded 3rd place in az camera club council 11 2008

Bagno Vignoni Italy door

2008-11-27T13:56:00.001-07:00

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

Cortona Italy door

2008-11-22T15:42:00.004-07:00

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!!!

2008-11-16T10:08:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2008-11-16T09:58:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-11-02T12:10:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-11-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2008-11-02T11:48:00.001-07:00

Doors of Tuscany Italy, May 2008

2008-09-03T16:14:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-08-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

another favorite entry way in Cortona Italy

note the wonderful old brick work

2008-08-28T21:16:00.000-07:00

a favorite door in Cortona Italy

wonderful color in this old door

2008-08-23T15:00:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-08-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-19T15:26:00.001-07:00

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

photo taken from our patio in Surprise AZ

2008-08-18T14:36:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-08-10T12:13:00.002-07:00

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

2008-08-03T11:59:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-03T11:43:00.002-07:00

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....???

2008-07-13T16:06:00.002-07:00

"cortona italy cat" in progress
watercolor

2008-07-13T16:03:00.001-07:00

this is a "tuscany rooftops" in process

2008-07-09T19:46:00.002-07:00

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????

2008-07-04T09:49:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-06-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-26T09:18:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-06-19T20:25:00.003-07:00

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"

2008-06-14T17:03:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-14T16:56:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-06-14T16:54:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-14T16:49:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-06-14T16:46:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-14T16:30:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-04-12T10:01:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-04-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-09T08:46:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-07T15:23:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-04-07T15:14:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-30T18:41:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-03-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

2008-03-29T19:59:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-03-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

Magnificent Saguaros!!!

2008-03-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-26T19:35:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-26T10:04:00.002-07:00

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.

2008-03-09T09:36:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-03T21:34:00.003-07:00

feb paintings 2008

2008-02-28T09:23:00.004-07:00

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.

2008-02-28T09:23:00.001-07:00

I sent the image viewed below of Jim to Angie. She loves it and said Jim said, "That's me." Then he said, "Barbara painted it." I am so happy. I will deliver it when we go there in June.

2008-02-22T20:14:00.002-07:00

I "think" this is the final of Jim's painting; however, I have sent a copy to his wife; we all went to high school together and are very close. She/He will know if they like it.

2008-02-20T21:11:00.001-07:00

More of Sun Village. See picture below.

2008-02-20T21:03:00.002-07:00

This was Monday when I went to Sun Village, Nan Adam's Community, to conduct a fun two hours of monoprint painting. We had sixteen participans for an afternoon of lots of paint, surprises, laughs and all around happy outcomes.

Jim, then and now. pstel (in progress)

2008-02-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

This is a pastel painting that I have been working on for a few weeks off and on. It shows our friend Jim as a young man, in his sports mode and a more formal attire. My critique group will discuss it Wed. and then I can show it to Angie, Jim's wife