Susan Mitchell's Blog

Check out Susan Mitchell's Blog - she's doing a pastel a day! And beautiful ones at that!!!

Okay, here's the link: http://13twenty13.blogspot.com/

Smiling on Cesar at the Clark County Fair!

A miniature portrait of mine won a BLUE RIBBON (First Premium) - thank you Clark County Fair art judges for deeming "Smiling on Cesar" worthy of your esteemed praise at this year's Clark County Fair (2013).

Other entries included "Dark Sun in Trees"...

and "Ecola State Park - Haystack Rock"...

All three of these pieces are pastels done on suede mat board and framed.

Also, if you get a chance, check out the Battle Ground Community Library -- tomorrow's the last day of the show being put on by Carol DeGregory and me. (It's coming down, oh yeah...)

Cascade Park Community Library - the art show continues!

Hope you can make it by some day soon... or mark your calendars for our closing reception and workshop: Thursday, February 28th!
Thanks, Jillian and daughter Kaysea and all those who came to our opening reception!

Carol DeGregory and I are Crazy For Pastels, and you can get a glimpse of that craziness at the Cascade Park Community Library going on now through Thursday, February 28th. If you like (and if it's not already filled), you can even sign up for our pastel workshop, to learn some basics in working with the pastel medium. Come see why we're crazy for pastels! We'd love to see you!

Crazy for Pastels Art Show and Reception

We're having an artists' reception tomorrow from 1 - 4 p.m. featuring the artwork of two artists who are Crazy for Pastels -- Carol DeGregory and Lani Sakai. It will be held at the Cascade Park Community Library in Vancouver, Washington (600 NE 136th Avenue) on Saturday, January 5th, 2013. Included among the subjects are animals - cats, dogs, birds; landscapes - sunsets, waterfalls, trees, flowers; and people. We hope you can join us for refreshments, music and camaraderie!

Sammie loves her portrait!

It's been a while since I've posted anything new, but here's an update on Sammie 2's portrait. It's been given to her master (who is very pleased with how it turned out, I'm happy to say), and has been viewed by Sammie herself.

I'm glad to see that she seems to really like it! It always makes me glad to know that the subjects of my portraits enjoy my work. So thanks, Sammie!!!

Sammie2 Pastel Portrait

Meet Sammie2 - such a cute pup! She's a little tyke, probably older than her face that you see, and I have yet to meet her in person, but from what I can tell, she definitely has character...and charisma too!

She's Sammie2, because a few years back, I did a portrait of another Sammie, who, alas is no longer with us.

Anyway, here is Sammie2's portrait after a few hours of work... Next posting you'll see how she looks after several more hours on the job.

Stay tuned~!

Western Airlines PHOENIX Poster now on eBay

Beautiful poster from the 1970s - early 1980s featuring Phoenix, Arizona, one of Western Airlines' many destinations. Alas, the airline is no longer around. But the company's memories live on in the minds of its former employees, and physically in the form of memorabilia such as this poster!

Check out Wally Bird on the golf ball in the foreground, in his typical on-the-back tail seat, as he sips a glass of bubbly, saying "Western Airlines...the only way to fly."

The bidding begins at $19.99, a small price to pay for priceless memories.

March brings SNOW

It's almost spring, but can you believe it?, it snowed last night...and the snow stuck! Luckily I didn't have to leave the house early early, so by the time I DID leave, the roads were clear, and the snow just brushed off my car.

Art Show at Cascade Park Community Library - Reception this Saturday, January 7th!

An art show featuring the pastels of three local area pastel artists (including me!) is going on now through February. We'll have a reception complete with snacks and items for sale at the Cascade Park Library Community Room on Saturday, January 7th from 1 - 5 p.m. The library is located at 600 NE 136th Avenue in Vancouver, WA 98684.

Hope you can make it by!

Sergio Aragones again - Five (5) pages of Original Art

Here is another listing featuring original artwork by Mad artist Sergio Aragonés. The title of this set of five pages is "A BURNING SENSATION" and it was published in Warner Paperback "In Mad We Trust" in 1974. Bidding begins at $19.99...

The last panel features a whole town of happy people. Hmmm...wonder why they're so elated?

Wally Bird Sticker AND Western Airlines Wings!

Well, well, well... what do you know now? Here's Wally - an embossed-type sticker with no more stick to it from the "good ol' days" of Western Airlines ilk. (Ilk, that's a word, isn't it? Something I haven't heard in a long time - like the name of the old airline company Western Airlines -- that's been gone a while too...)

In any event, check it out! And the bidding begins at a mere PENNY! One cent US. "Why bother," you may ask. My answer: "Someone might want to reminisce with these two items, wouldn't you think, perhaps?" Just a thought...

Auction starts today, Tuesday, July 26th, and ends on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011.

Something to think about at least, or mull over "the only way to fly" from days long gone...

Flower Power ORIGINAL ART by Sergio Aragones

Here is a fun piece of early artwork by Mad Comic artist Sergio Aragonés in 1968. It's never before been published, and you see it now for the first time on eBay (Tuesday, July 26th, 2011) for a seven day listing, with bidding beginning at $19.99. It is signed and in color!

Finished!

Here they are - Molly and Kasey, pretty much complete!

Molly and Kasey Part 2

Here are Bernese Mountain Dogs Molly and Kasey again -- this is a shot of the portrait when it is almost complete. Just had to do a few finishing touches on it, like add a little background color and lighten up their fur... Coming up soon will be a look at the finished portrait.

Molly and Kasey Bernese Mountain Dogs - Portrait Start

Meet Molly and Kasey, two Bernese Mountain Dogs. Here is their portrait in two stages: To the left is one when I first started on their portrait -- they both seem to be such happy dogs, it was an honor to do their portrait.

Chewbacca aka Chewy

Here's my latest pet portrait project (still waiting for new photos from the owner that show his eyes better though) -- Chewbacca aka Chewy, who is an Alaskan Husky I believe. I like the how he is back lit while standing on the beach and smiling at the camera. Just wish his grey-blue eyes showed up more...

Watch for future posts!

It's about time!

Okay then, here is that finished Luka portrait, in his frame (it took a while to finally get a hold of the photo of the framed portrait, but now that I have it, here it is!)

There's some glare and/or reflection from the glass (sorry about that), but he's finished. Maybe I'll donate him to an auction... we'll see...


"Goji" - another Cat portrait...

Also another portrait for you to see: This is Linell's cat "Goji" looking up at the skies above. Linell took the wonderful photo that served as the basis for this portrait - it just begged for me to do a pastel! So of course I had to do it. I haven't yet met Goji in person, but I'm sure he must be a wonderful cat, seeing how he was such a great poser for the photo. (Of course, I know from all her work that Linell is also a great photographer as well.)

Both of these portraits were entered in this year's Clark County Fair in Vancouver, Washington back in August, but alas, neither of them won any ribbons other than "Participant" (sigh), but my teacher, Fariha, won an award - yay! Congratulations Fariha! I learned a lot from you and you deserve lots of prizes and ribbons...

Jeannie's Dog -- Just about done...

I'd say I'm done with this doggie for now. Actually he's been sitting in his little car, done for quite a few weeks. I just haven't been back to this blog for a while, as you can probably tell. So time for posting to get it over and done with... Maybe I'll send him to my cousin for Christmas - won't she be surprised!!!

Jeannie's Dog Driving a Car!

Here is a pastel portrait (still in the works, almost finished) of my cousin Jeannie's dog in a toy car! It's from a photo my father took in California, way back when. I wonder how they got him in that little car, and wonder also whether he really drove it. (Actually I don't even know if it was a boy dog or a girl dog... hmm...) Anyway, I like the way the background is turning out. The coloring on the car still needs work, but I think it's coming along quite nicely.

Beep beep!

Luka (Prior to framing)

Okay, here's Luka, pretty much completed prior to framing. I hope to show you another one in his frame... I did add some more white to his coat, and some more shadowing as well, but don't have a photo of all that yet (sorry!).

If you happen to head towards the Clark County Fair this year, check him out! The Fair goes through August 16th I believe.

He should be in the Art section along with another cat "Whiskers" Whiskers Sees the Light is the title I gave to that portrait.