Day 26 30 Paintings in 30 Days Art Challenge

'Rolling Cumulus'

Pastel on Canson

8" x 12"

Through this cloud series I have been hoping to capture the ever changing
tremendous art of the skies.
It also has been fun to create the skies in color these last few posts. Either way graphite or pastel, I enjoy creating them! 

Day 25 "30 in 30 Art Challenge"

Summer Cirrus 

Pastel on Wallis Sanded Paper 

9" x 12"

As I was working on this sky, I couldn't help but think about wonderful 

summers growing up. It would be so much fun to lay in the grass

and look up to a beautiful sky filled with wispy Cirrus Clouds.  Ahhh....

We are on Day 25 of the challenge.  This piece gets me current!
 Five more to go!

Day 24 "30 in 30 Art Challenge"

'Breakup'

Pastel on Canson 

8" x 12"

Here is my Day 24 Art!

 I've been experimenting with different papers: sanded, unsanded, white and tinted.
 This is smooth white Canson Paper. If you like to blend, this paper will allow easy blending. 

Looks like I have a cloud series going.

 I am enjoying working on them.

Hope you are enjoying them too!

Day 23 "30 in 30 Art Challenge"

'September Clouds'

Pastel on white Wallis sanded paper

9" x 10"

I have been having fun drawing and painting cloudscapes lately.  I have so many photos of clouds and skies that I have photographed--it is fun to use some from my accumulation!  I even had a chance to photograph some great Cumulus Clouds this evening. They were huge and amazing!  They looked like whipped cream!

Today, I was cheered on by one of my art students!  Thank you Nancy for the kind encouragement -- this post is for you! 

Horse Drawing Day 22 30 Paintings in 30 Days Art Challenge

'Early Light'

Horse Study

Graphite/Charcoal

9" x 9"

There is something so beckoning in the eyes of a horse. I love to paint or draw 

their soulful expressions. My recent exhibit at the Naperville Riverwalk show in Illinois included several equestrian works.

You can see some of them on my website, mariedonato.com 

Thought maybe by working on a cropped image yesterday that I might get it finished and posted a little earlier. Nope.

And here it is Monday already. Whew!

 This challenge is making the month fly by!

Day 21 Art Challenge

Graphite/

charcoal Study

10" x 10"

Returning to a figure study again. Started late this evening and now it's 

  time to say good-night.

Six o'clock will be here too soon! 

Day 20 "30 in 30 Art Challenge"

Cloudscape

Pastel

8" x 10"

Working on clouds and sky is an opportunity to really work abstractly.  

As I put down color shapes

it was very calming and relaxing and.... of course I was imagining being near the water!

This piece was done very quickly as a color study. 

Almost as if it were done on site,

where I was putting down basic color notes and then it started to rain....