Vibrant Contrasts… :)

Ok…So I thought I'd do something different today ( I finally have some time to get a post up ;)

   Aside from just posting pictures of my art, I realized I don't really post anything about myself, my over interests and activities.. a lot of it is just not feeling super comfortable just sitting here writing about myself…. but I realize there might be some of you who are interested in the "artist" as well as the art itself, and what I get some of my inspiration from. :)

   For those of you who don't know, I work at an Art Gallery.  Junction Gallery in Peoria, IL.  The Gallery is owned by my Father :) (This is him wresting a huge frame together) He's owned it for 16 years (give or take) so it's been in my life for a long time :) I've worked there on and off since I was a teenager.  Even before that I would go "work" with my Dad when I was young just to be there around him and the art, mostly him. ;) He was patient enough to let me rummage through the garbage and pick out old chunks of frame that I thought were just too neat to throw away. :) I developed quite a collection at home much to my mothers chagrin ;).  I remember going out and standing next to him when he helped customers, working with them and their sometimes difficult desires to achieve "that look" and was giddy when a lady who was waiting her turn at the design table saw me standing there and asked me if I could help her.  Trying to hide the enthusiasm that I felt at being treated like a "adult" I put on the most "professional demeanor" I could muster.  She was sweet to be patient with me as my hands were not quite big enough to fan out the mat color choices as dad did.  But I'll never forget that, just a simple and patient act by a woman who I only remember had dark hair that curled at the ends. :)
   I am by nature not really a people person, but theres something about designing and helping a person pick just what they want that I really enjoy.  Maybe it's because in that act of creating theres a release, something else in me that takes over.  (not that I'm super great at it by any means, and am constantly learning more and more about what different art requires from the other woman I work with, pictured above) Theres something about creating and working with my hands that I have a deep love for.  These hands that are now quite big enough to hold the stack of mat colors ;).

   It's working with my hands, i find, that motivates the kinds of things I do.

Other things I do…hmmm :) I actually went to collage for Sign Language Interpreting.  Something  I got into from my older sister and brother-in-law, but thats another story. :)
I Interpreted professionally for four years, but decided a couple years ago to put that on hold to help my Dad full time and not just in-between "terping" jobs.  I still Interpret a couple times a week for church activities though, and will always have a special love for it, for that "creating" with my hands in a different way.





This time of year when I'm not working, I'm outside in my garden :)….Oh, how I love my garden. :} black soil in my hands, watching things grow…I still marvel every time a new little plant sprouts up, matures and brings forth "fruit" from just a small seed.
Living in central IL, I'm surrounded by corn and bean fields and NEVER get tired of seeing the vibrant contrast of the fresh "new green" color against the dark soil.

The things you see that are made out of wood, are something else I enjoy doing...

                                          
   



      

Vibrant Contrasts… hmm I think that sums up what I like to achieve in my art, that same beautiful line that is created between light and shadow.  Pastel is one of the most vibrant mediums there is and I think thats one of the reasons I'm so drawn to it.  With it, to create that which is produced when the morning sun hits (literally, sometimes I hear a "POW" ;) the earth and makes everything turn a color for which there is no name.  I see joy, peace, love and faithfulness in this, and it encourages my heart.

"For the Lord God is a SUN and shield, the Lord gives grace and glory, no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Ps 84:12

So this is my way of sharing the "Sun" with you.
May it evoke thoughts that there IS One who designed and created its faithful light.

Brumbies :)

So who's seen the Man from Snowy River?? ;)  when Jim Craig rounds up the wild horses that roam the mountains known as Brumbies…thats what this reminds me of :)

I tend to make a mess….but thats half the fun ;)

It felt good to have  my hands deep in pastel after a little break.  Always thankful for any time I can devote to "Arting" ;)

I think horses are some of the most beautiful animals.  with their muscular build and flowing manes.  Theres a small part of me that wished I lived somewhere that involved riding horses, but maybe then I wouldn't appreciate them as much if I had to muck-out their stalls everyday…

Something different

I wanted to post a pastel that I did for a good friend of mine. 

She wanted and english cottage/garden with sheep and chickens, done with more "pastel tones" so not my typical bright pieces. ;)  

I have to say I was nervous about doing something this different at first, but greatly enjoyed the process! I worked on a much smaller scale then I usually do which allowed for more detail and being able to use my pastel pencils a bit more than I normally do.  

She may just have started a new trend ;) 

In return for my piece she is knitting me this sweater!!
 Im SO excited! She is an awesome seamstress!
 check out her blog! http://delightfulhandwork.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-voice-of-spring.html
She knits some amazing stuff!

Meet Daisy Mae Bell. :)

Hi, My name is Augusta and I live vicariously through my art… :D

If I can't own a cow I can paint one!

Call me crazy, but I've always wanted to own a milk cow. Unfortunately I don't see it happening in the foreseeable future… until then you may be seeing a lot of cows on here. :)

In the works... 

 And finished!  Recently my mom bought me a few new hand rolled pastels… oh boy are those nice! and vibrant! thats the red you see in this piece.  I will definitely be getting more of those :)
It's amazing how much smoother they are too, may have a new obsession… other than the cows. ;)

An art afternoon. :)

I so enjoyed a much needed day of "art relaxation" ;) Ive been pretty busy lately and unable to find the time to put pastel to board.  Thankful for the chance this afternoon! 

 A little glimpse of the process courtesy of my mother. :)

This is an idea I've had for a while, I'm pretty happy with how it came out. It was a good learning experience, I tried a couple things I hadn't before. always fun :)

Because who doesn't like old fashioned water mills. :)

Letting go…

After recently attempting to do a rooster (something I've never been able to achieve…) and after frustratingly putting my attempt in the burn pile… I have officially declared myself rooster inept. :) 

Sometimes being an artist means persevering in something til its just right…other times it means letting go and discovering your own style and your own loves. 

Some of my favorite things to paint are simple things, everyday things.  Simple moments that are many times forgotten in the business of this modern and technologically advanced age.  

Of course simple doesn't mean boring ;) 

 I think the world needs more purple in it :)

 This verse came to mind the other day so I decided to try something a bit different than what I usually do. :)

 

Fishing Buds :)

Today I went for a simple scene.  :) I found this photo and thought it was just darling, all the way up to the boy's tag sticking out. :) 

Some of the process. :)

No little boy is complete without a camo shirt ;)

And of course a "bud" ;)

All Done!

 I've also recently posted my art on Etsy. 

Here is the link for it! 

 Unfortunately as of right now my Etsy store is not called "Joyous Touch Art Studio", but rather just by my loggin name: 1gusnot2 

(People use to call me GusGus as a kid… ;)

I'm hoping to change it to my Art Studio name soon, but until then this how you find me :)

https://www.etsy.com/shop/1gusnot2?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Grazing the hollyhocks :)

A Cow in the Hollyhocks… 'nough said. :) 

Some of the process.

Getting my fingers in it is my favorite part. :D

She looks like a Loretta to me :) 

Something about a dog in a pick-up..

A Dog in a pick-up…these are a few of my favorite things. :) theres something about, down to earth, country, hard working, painted sky, simple pleasures kind of life that I love. :) and of course color ;) This picture makes me think of summer (for which I can't wait!)  I was ordering most of my flower seeds for my garden today, which filled me with the feeling of summer. :) I think I have a little while to wait though ;).  until then, pictures of summery things will be my companion. 

I only took one picture of the process…. got too involved and forgot…

I think I'll name her Tilly :)

Fall in Winter :)

Sometimes when you sketch out a painting you just have to go wherever it takes you.  This took me to Fall. :) I like to go on Pinterest and make a board of all the things I like, structures, animals, landscapes, clouds and of course old ford pick-ups… :)  Then I like to pick one and create a picture around it. 

I know some of these pictures aren't very good… :/ bad lighting in my room today...

Part of the fun of creating is learning to incorporate mistakes.. :) sometimes you can, and only you will know they're there, but sometimes you can't and you have to start over. And then there are those jubilant times when a mistake takes you to a better place then what you were originally thinking. This wasn't so jubilant, but I made it work ;) 

originally when I did the pick-up I didn't think to put a person in it… so it looked like a blue Mater just driving himself along… sometimes pastel is erasable ;) 

 And we're done! :)

The Colors of Winter

It's no secret in our house that I'm not a huge fan of winter, from the freezing temperatures to the mushy muck that comes when the snow starts to melt, I'm definitely more of a Spring gal. :)  That being said…I can't deny the beauty of a fresh snow fall.  The way the sun hits the white and turns life into a crystal world.  One morning this week I woke up on such a day.  The sun was just rising, with a magnificent orange that could scarcely be looked at.  I found myself staring at the colors of that morning, the oranges and blues that perfectly depicted a winter day.  God's paintings are indeed the best. :)

I couldn't wait to try to get the picture forming in my mind out. :)

Here are a few pictures from that process.
I pretty much make a mess anytime I'm painting (Pasteling??) ;)

I quickly realized that a snowman was needed. :) and of course a child building said snowman…

 The Lantern seemed like it just needed to be there. :)

I think there might be another winter scene in me….I have ideas forming, but not sure what I think of them yet…you'll have to check back and see.. ;)

Getting Started.. :)

Hi there!  I've decided to start a blog as a way to share my art. :)  I've worked in many different mediums, but  have happily landed in pastels.  :) I love getting "right into the art" by using my hands and fingers to act as my blending instruments.  I've always liked working with my hands, (gardening is a BIG hobby. ;) it gives me a feeling of being a part of what I'm doing.  

Here are a few of my pieces,

 

These are soft Pastels on acid free board.  

They are now at Junction Gallery in the Metro Center, Peoria, IL

Stop by and see them!