Sandy O'Brien Art

Love the dramatic lighting here. I really wanted to show lights and darks. This style excites me! Soft pastel on green LaCarte.

Yuji is our wonderful host in Portrait Carousel. It’s fun trying to capture him.

It’s fun using the background color as your skin tone color. I love carving out the profile.

In this 15 min session I was searching for darks and lights. It looks wild to me but I find the contrast exciting.

Steve posed with a hooded sweatshirt. 15 minutes is such a great challenge for me and even if I don’t capture the essence of our sitter, I do like the gesture and energy of my marks. Progress over perfection.

Glad I had a toned piece of Uart. I like working on purplish pink. It’s easier to paint someone you know. Have met Joyce in person and she always strikes a great pose. When she shared this portrait on her own Facebook page, a friend commented that it looks like her….even if it’s not her coloring. Yay! I see color differently and as long as the values are correct, I know it works. Also, just like in my landscape work, I’m not fan of using local color. Instead, I find excitement when I look for the colors I see reflected in the shadows and skin and that may be different for other artists.

Steve was new to our portrait session. Always a good challenge when you are painting someone for the first time.

She was new to our Portrait Carousel session. Tricky working on pink but I am up for it. This is Muse paper my friend Yuji shipped to me from Taiwan. I’m still learning how to work on it!

This was the first pose of the session. I thought she was a professional model. Then I realized it was a fellow artist. What a wonderful, striking pose. Everyone enjoyed it!

20 minute pose. Love life drawing at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Our model was amazing. 12"h x 9" w on La Carte Siena.

Anna modeled for us today and I love the colors she wore, very inspiring. 14"h x 11"w. This is a dark warm merlot toned background. I love it!

Trying out a new surface and color in Portrait Carousel today. Soft pastel, 12"h x 9"w.

My first portrait of the session, just getting warmed up. She had a lovely afghan behind her and was reclining. 15 ½ " h x 11"w.

This is our wonderful host of Portrait Carousel, Yuji Sakuma. Always a pleasure to paint. Soft pastel on a new paper that Yuji shipped to me from Taiwan. Thanks, Yuji. 14"h x 9"w.

Love Else's work and thought of using turquoise toned paper as I see her using blue green in her works. This is 14" h x 11"w.

Love our model's arched glance and ability to hold a pose so beautifully. Live at the PAAM life drawing session, short pose day. Soft pastel on Lacerate Earth tone.

Love our artist sitter, Potatoes. This is on Kitty Wallis Paper, a treat from Evelyn Brody. 12"h x 9 "w.

What fun to paint Jan this morning in Portrait Carousel with Yuji Sakuma and artists! Soft Pastel on LaCarte Salmon. 13 ½ "h x 10 ½" w.

Wow! Loved Suzette's feather boa. She's always a delight to paint. Soft pastel on LaCarte Sienna.14" h x 11"w.

Very good challenge for my brain to use a dark surface. I think this is Uart, repurposed, toned with dark blue and alcohol wash. 12"g x 9"w, Had fun!

From a live session with Yuji Sakuma, host of Portrait Carousel. Decided to refine this portrait. Soft Pastel on repurposed Uart, toned with deep blue. Tricky, I forgot how to work on this surface and it smears! Not sure if I captured him, but I had fun. 12" h x 9"w.

Just love our wonderful model. This was actually done in two, 20 minute sessions. Long pose today at the PAAM. Including here in 15 minute section because getting the portrait likeness is more challenging for me when I’m 12 feet away, than from a close up on Zoom! Soft pastel on light blue PastelMat, 16”h x 12”w. I used to do a lot of 9 x12, then 11 x14, now I love 16x12. If a longer session, I may go larger!

Love this model's arched glance. Love painting live at the PAAM. Wonderful to paint someone several times over the summer. The best thing is painting with new artists and old friends!

This is on LaCarte Peach tone. Never used that color! This portrait was at end of session and I was tired. But, also warmed up so I'm happy with the result. 12"h x 9"w.

So fun using Salmon toned LaCarte. 12" x 9". Using cooler colors on warm tone is good, will try more flesh tones in future. But I do like how the red is the mid tone.

Was late to the session but that forced me to work very quickly. I do like the lines I got! !2"h x 9" w on Canson, smooth side.

It's fun when we get to paint a person more than once, we get to know them. 12"h x 9"w on black Multimedia Art board with clear gesso.

On Gray LaCarte, 12" h x 9"w. I like how I captured her saucy expression!

It was great having Rachel pose for Portrait Carousel. There's a bit of a romantic feel here, I am happy with that. Using LaCarte Sienna is my go to surface it works well for mid tone. 12" h x 9"w.

Love this model! Painted at PAAM at a life drawing session. Ok, so it's two 15 minute sessions. Include in 15 min portraits, because it's live, and that presents a different challenge than working from a close up on a screen! We are not close to the model (about 12 feet away) and if you get a decent portrait it's a win! 14”h x 11”w on LaCarte.

So wonderful to paint this model, her hair is amazing. Love her facial structure. Something off about angle of the eyes, my earlier drawing was better. If I go for a finished portrait, I'll remember that. 12"h x 9" w on LaCarte.

This surface is so fantastic for mark making. I'm not going to lie, I know the feel of it and what pastels will do. But am trying other surfaces for a challenge! 12” h x 9” w, LaCarte Earth tone.

So with Karen's gorgeous auburn hair, I thought green paper would be a great contrast. Sure is fun trying to capture a portrait, hat and hand in 15 min. It's getting easier. 9” h x 12”w on Canson.

Rarely work on Canson. But Yuji has been sharing his work on bright paper and I was inspired by him.

Not sure if got a likeness in the portrait but I love the hat!!! And I was captivated by that soft blue blouse. 12”h x 9”w on Canson. This is a new surface for me, not sure if I like it or not. Am trying!

Reclining pose is a great challenge, especially when trying to capture a portrait. Done at Life Drawing at the PAAM, Provincetown, MA. Putting in 15 Minute category, although it was two 20 minute sessions. Progress over perfection: a good mantra by one of my instructors, Alain Picard.

Always a joy to do the 15 minute portrait, especially enjoy capturing our artist/sitter, Suzette. 12”h x 9”w on blue gray PastelMat. Love her hair, it makes me want to scribble, something leftover from childhood, I think! My teacher and Mentor, Tara Will, is also an influence, love her markmaking and vivid use of color. Done in Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji Sakuma.

From latest session of Portrait Carousel. 15 minutes is such a great time constraint! 12"h x 9"w on a piece of Uart that I toned with Magenta/pink NuPastel. Learning how color reacts on a hot pink surface! Loved her red shirt it was reflecting on to her neck and chin. Loved her auburn hair.

Well Joyce is sitting and working in the outdoors, so it feels Plein Air to me! Love her glasses and cool attitude plus her joyful smile. On Pink toned Uart, 11 ¾”h x 6 ½”w. About these random sizes…I just use the excess from when I cut say a 12 ? 16 piece of paper. I used to use canvases, and they always came in frame able sizes. So we have freedom as pastel artists to make whatever size we want. Of course, then if it’s frame worthy, you need a custom frame.

The lighting was very warm, I saw this as a high key portrait. Used some olive green and blues to cool a bit. But I love a jazzy portrait. This is about 16" h x 8"w. Soft Pastel on PastelMat Brown. Portrait Carousel with Yuji Sakuma, host.

Well, the first pastel after a break is always interesting! Haha! Meaning, I’m a little rusty on this one. Sometimes I have gotten a really good likeness of Yuji, but not sure if I captured here. Oh well, it’s 15 minutes and I can get it next session. Later, I did try to refine and lost the freshness! Will share that, too.

From Life Drawing at the PAAM. 12" h x 9"w. 20 minutes. I love the challenge of capturing the model in a time limited pose. The light is very diffuse and comes from above so I do a lot of squinting to find the shapes. Soft pastel on LaCarte.

Just adore this model’s style. He has this classic look that reminds me of an old fashioned movie star…while still being very current! Soft Pastel on LaCarte, Sienna, my fave surface and tone. One thing I have learned from Lizet Dingemans of Raw Umber, is that the shape of the head tells us who the person is. I try to think about that as I develop the portrait. Seems to be working! Carving in with a bright turquoise is a technique I learned from Alain Picard.

Love our model at life drawing. 30 min pose. Sharing here because it is a time limited pose and it’s live! Liked carving in the shape of the head with turquoise. 12” h x 9” w on LaCarte.

Love our model at Life Drawing in Provincetown.

Our model is so stylish! This was done live at The Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Figure Drawing session. This one is 20 min, that’s how long the last few poses are for the short pose sessions. On Canson smooth side, 12” h x 9” w.

Yes this pose was iconic. Love our model. This is on LaCarte Earth tone.

Our amazing host, artist and sitter, Yuji Sakuma. I hope this feels serious yet kind, like Yuji. 12” h x 9” w on Uart that I toned with gray and blue.

!2” x 9” on Uart Dark. Limited color palette. Like leaving these a little undone. Not searching for perfection.

This is a 15 minute portrait. Ok, plus 5 more minutes! Soft pastel on Uart Dark, 12" x 9". Gave myself time limit to make every mark count. This is a new way of working for me. Photo Source is from Steve Shafer, copyright 2024. Steve lives in Hanoi, Vietnam and is owner of Viet Sun Tea. Have been painting with artists in Yuji Sakuma's "Portrait Carousel," live via Zoom on Saturday morning's. Experiencing such joy by not overworking portraits! Sold!

Something about Suzette just makes me happy to paint her. 12”h x 9” w on Uart 400. Toned it a rusty color which worked out perfect for this pose.

You know a profile always challenges me. This is soft pastel on PastelMat. 15 minutes with Yuji Sakuma’s Portrait Carousel. 12”h x 9” w on PastelMat beige.

I had a little square pice of Uart that I toned “Ombré” style. Purple at top, then pink in the middle and red at the base. Well Else had a red blouse on so this worked perfect. I like carving in the shape of the head and hand with lights.

12” h x 9” w on Uart Dark. What a challenging pose! Loved it.

Joyce was sitting outdoors, which made for great light and shadows. 12"h x 9"w on toned Uart 400. Terry Ludwig soft pastel.

15 minute portrait, soft pastel on Anthracite PastelMat. You have to think and act quickly. What a great challenge! We paint each other, in Yuji Sakuma's Saturday morning sessions. It's a delight! This is Evelyn, she's a fellow pastel artist that I admire so much.

15 Minute Portrait. Loved the angle of her pose. And her red blouse! 12"h x 9"w on LaCarte, Earth tone.

15 minute portrait. Loved the light and shadow. On Toned Uart, Terry Ludwig soft pastels.

15 Minute portrait. You have to work fast. This is a model, Anna, she does two poses on Saturday mornings. Grey PastelMat, 12"h x 9" w. No noodling after the session, if I can help it. I leave it and learn from it!

15 minute portrait. Soft pastel on Uart Dark. Having fun with warms and cools. Yuji is the host of Portrait Carousel and I'm so grateful to him for his art, his inspiring work, his excellent poses and for the opportunity to paint quickly.

15 Minute Portrait. Learning to let go of perfection. I would like to solve some issues here but I'm not going to. Was juror of selections and awards for a recent show and one thing I was surprisingly attracted to was abstract work. I'm drawn to it and long to work this way.

15 Minute portrait. This was done during Portrait Carousel, hosted by the fabulous Yuji Sakuma. Have learned so much here, including trying different toned surfaces. I love purple, so did an alcohol wash on Uart 400, 12"h x 9"w. Had fun picking the palette to complement purple. I think it works!

15 Minute Portrait on dark Uart. This is fellow artist in Portrait Carousel, Potatoes Tseng. His nickname is "Mr. Potato." Want to hear more about that! Feel good about my mark making. Letting myself be free, and free from perfection or overworking,

15 minute portrait. Soft pastel on Art Spectrum ColorFix, 12"h x 9"w. having fun using a limited palette. Like using cool lavenders and bluish purples against warm background. Having fun!

15 minute portrait, charcoal on newsprint. This was my first portrait of the session and thought it would be good to warm up. 18"h x 14"w. Done in Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuki Sakuma. Artists take turns posing.

15 minute portrait. I love using jazzy, expressive colors and marks. This is our host, Yuji Sakuma, and I love when he poses in Portrait Carousel, as I'm getting to know his face! June 1st session. Soft pastel on Gray PastelMat. 12"h x 9"w.

15 minute portrait. Had so much fun on this pose as I loved her expression and colorful shirt. Part of the fun for these limited time portraits is not fussing over things like the hand. I did love how her light was bright on one side of face, you could hardly see anything on the dark side. Soft Pastel on burgundy PastelMat, 12"h x 9"w.

Loved our artist model's hat and expression. Sassy! I toned a piece of Uart with light blue pastel and alcohol wash. It's a blast trying a different colored surface. I just love her almond shaped eyes and cupid's bow lips! Soft pastel on Uart, 12"h x 9"w.

I call this my warm up 15 minute portrait. It's kind of wonky! But I'm not unhappy, I can take what I learned to next Portrait Carousel session. There are no portrait police lurking around. I find tremendous freedom in not perfecting the portrait. Do I get a likeness? Yes. Done! Soft pastel on toned Uart, 12" x 9". Grateful to Yuji and other artists for these Saturday Morning sessions. I am unleashed!

15 Minute Portrait session with Yuji and friends. This is the model, Anna. Love her gorgeous bold facial structure. Fun to explore with red on blue PastelMat surface.

15 Minute Portrait. Just love when our artist sitters wear glasses. I loved carving out the left side of his face with turquoise and light purple. Soft pastel on Blue PastelMat. Love using a darker surface.

15 Minute Portrait. I had fun with a toned pink Uart Surface that was just waiting for a portrait to be done. Feel joy in these sessions. Cool palette of lavender and blue works nice on pink.

15 Minute Portrait. Love his expression!

15 minute Portrait. Looking back on earlier sessions, I can see by switching surface and marks that I have changed as an artist! I love this and am embracing it fully. Soft pastel on small size piece of LaCarte.

15 minute portrait. Soft pastel on small piece of LaCarte.

15 minute portrait. This is an artist sitter, Suzette, in our Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji Sakuma on Saturdays.

15 minute portrait. Soft Pastel on PastelMat. Joyce is a friend of mine from New Orleans Drawing Group another artist that I'm familiar with and feel that made it easier for me to capture her.

15 Minute Portrait. Was just starting to get used to these timed sessions. Did I get it all in? Maybe not but I'm happy with how I carved the shape of her jaw, neck and shoulders. Sometimes it's the outline of the human that tells us who it is, it's unique to them. That's what I've learned with Lizet Dingemans in Raw Umber. Soft Pastel on Canson smooth side. I hardly ever use that surface!

15 Minute Portrait. Oh I love this one of Yuji Sakuma. Soft pastel on dark LaCarte. Love using cools and warms for this sitter!

This is one of my favorite 15 minute poses ever! I just loved capturing his expression. Is it an award winner, would it sell? I can't think about that right now, all I know is that I feel him emerging from the surface. He's an artist I know from the New Orleans Drawing Group, so maybe it was easier to capture him. Plus I love a beard and this one is magnificent!

15 Minute portrait. This model reminded me and others of movie star glam. Something about her is so engaging. Soft pastel on small piece of LaCarte.

15 minute portrait. Soft pastel on small piece of LaCarte.

This painting was done in Portrait Week, with Alain Picard. What a joy to study with Alain and a large group of artists in this special week. Alain is a master of the portrait and I learn so much. 16”h x 12”w on PasteMat, siena tone. I highly recommend The Painterly Portrait Course, it was a game changer for my art practice. Photo source: Alain Picard, copyright 2025.

Wow, what fun to paint the amazing Crystal Durant (@djcrystalclear). So inspiring to paint this NYC based DJ/SInger/Rock show producer/Podcaster/Model/Muse/Designer/Artist & Art Educator/Writer/Storyteller/Activist. Crystal was kind enough to critique my art on her reels, boy was that affirmation of the work that I am doing. Thank you, Crystal, yes, you are my Muse! 20”h x 14” wide on LaCarte, light blue tone.

What a joy to paint RaSha’aan. 82-Years-old, and dedicated to helping others. US Citizen, originally from Trinidad. Before painting this portrait, I spent the afternoon on a walk with my son, Beck. There is some kind of magic that happens at the easel after I spend time with him! Grateful.

Gazelle is such a professional model! 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Sienna. I appreciate her styling so much. Done in a live session with Portrait Sketch Zoom hosted by Karen Meneghin.

Love this pose by Kenyatta Ali. 16”h x 12”w on La Carte Sienna. Thanks to Karen Mehegin for hosting live at Portrait Sketch Zoom Sessions.

Sometimes a model or person lights my brain on fire! Loved this pose done with Portrait Sketch Zoom Session. Model: Yaa Afriyee. One hour time limit pushes me to work fast. 20” h x 11” w on LaCarte Earth tone.

Model: Yaa Afriyee. Oh boy, what a beautiful human to paint! 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte blue gray. One hour pose. With Karen Meneghin in Portait Sketch Zoom Session.

Love the styling and wardrobe by the lovely and amazing Kenyatta Ali. Done in Portrait Sketch Zoom Session hosted by Karen Meneghin. 20”h x 14”w on LaCarte, Sienna tone. I love rich color and feel good about my unique style. I realize I’m having an impact on other members of the group.

Kenyatta posed with a red background. I was so glad I had a Salmon colored piece of LaCarte to work on! Loved her styling. Have painted her before. This session was with Portrait Sketch Zoom hosted by Karen Meneghin. 16”h x 12” w. Painting this was exciting, felt my energy is unleashed!

Soft pastel on Uart Dark, 14”h x 11”w. This is a wonderful model from The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists, hosted by Tim Herron. Photo copyright 2024, Tim Herron.

Wow, was so inspired by Simone. She posed for me and did a wonderful job, this beautiful white blouse was really stunning with her olive skin tones. Soft pastel on LaCarte.

What a chameleon Simone is! She posed in this gorgeous dress with orange and green tones. Her hair was loose and wavy. So inspired by her beauty and she was completely at ease, which helped me paint more easily. Soft pastel on LaCarte.

16"h x 12" w on LaCarte Siena. Done with New Orleans Drawing Group.

16" x12" on PastelMat Blue.

19" x12" on Dark Blue LaCarte. Learn a lot about the figure in a pose like this! Photo source: Lenin Delsol, copyright 2024.

Met this beauty in Ptown! She inspired me with her gorgeous fashion and smile. Soft pastel on LaCarte. 2023.

Oh the magnificent Gazelle inspired me! She is such a creative, professional model. She “brings it” to each and every session! 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat brown. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels. Painted via Zoom with Sandra Burshell’s New Orleans Drawing Group. Have been painting with them for years now!

What a great session with Alfre Woodard, in Paul Schulenburg’s figure and portrait group, via Zoom. Had fun! 16”h x 12” w on my favorite, LaCarte Pastel Card in Sienna. Thought about using spots of color and light and dark values after watching Kevin MacPherson’s talk from the Portrait Society of America.

Well this was fun. Portrait Artist of The Year held a live event to set a Guinness World Record. There were 200 artists participating in person and 1150 online. It was a challenge to work with the broadcast, so I grabbed a screen shot and worked from that. Have been a fan of PAOTY for years, a great show!

Something so regal and strong about our fabulous model. 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat, light blue.

There was something so sweet about this fabulous pose by Deandrea Dior. Painted Alla Prima with the New Orleans Drawing Group online group. Soft pastel on PastelMat, 16“H x 12” w.

This is one of the healthcare folks that takes excellent care of my 88-year-old dad at Holden Skilled Nursing. She’s a real character, full of fun and personality. Does her job so well, makes my dad laugh and I appreciate her!

Over the moon with this news: First Place Grand Prize winner in the UArt 2023 Online Pastel competition. Truly honored and humbled, this award meant so much to me! Thank you to the juror, Desmond O’Hagan and UArt. 12”h x 9”w, Soft Pastel on Uart Dark. Spring 2023. Reference photo by Rachel O’Brien copyright 2023.

Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 14”h x 11’w. Painted Alla Prima on Wednesday night session with Figure Painting at Schulenburg studio, live via Zoom.

12”h x 16”w, soft pastel on PastelMat. 2023. Painted with Schulenburg Portrait and Figure painting group live via Zoom.

12”h x 9”w, Soft Pastel on Black Uart, 2022. Just love Lil Nas X as a performer and model. Enjoyed painting in this expressive style, after taking a Tara Will Master Workshop this summer in South Yarmouth, MA. Will be painting more like this! Photo source Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET Copyright 2019 Getty Images.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on Pastelbord, 2023. Photo source and lesson with Alain J. Picard, copyright 2023.

16”h x 12”w, Terry Ludwig soft pastels on PastelMat. 2023. Painted with New Orleans Drawing Group, live via Zoom.

12”h x 9”w, Charcoal and NuPastel on PastelMat. 2023. Reference Photo provided by Rachel O’Brien, copyright 2023.

12”h x 9”w, Terry Ludwig Soft Pastel on Uart Dark. 2023. Photo source: Rachel O’Brien, copyright 2023.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, Summer 2022. This session with BT was just so much fun! After drawing her in person at the Provincetown Art Association Figure Drawing sessions this summer, I was excited to paint a color version. She wore a white halter dress, channeling Marilyn Monroe. This is my favorite painting of the summer!

David and Danielle Greendeer, 14.5”h x 20”w. Terry Ludwig and Unison Pastels on LaCarte, 2022.

16”h x12”w, mostly Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte, Summer 2022. Singer Songwriter at Gabriella Simpkins Music. Painted in person, with Schulenburg Sessions in Eastham MA. One of the best things is having a musician sing and play the guitar during the breaks. Music inspires art!!

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte, Fall 2022. This was my second chance to paint BT in a Schulenburg All Prima Session. This angle is called a 7/8 view and it is a challenge for me to paint. Had fun and felt this turned out well. It helps to know and have studied the model several times.

Delighted to share great news! This portrait was one of the 50 top paintings to make it into UArts 2023 Online Pastel Competition! Thank you to the juror, Desmond O’Hagan and UArt. Also making the cut is my portrait of “Betyel.” 12”h x 9”w, Soft Pastel on Uart Dark. Spring 2023. Mozelle Andrulot, 12”h x 9”w, Terry Ludwig on Uart Dark, 2023. Photo Source copyright 2022, Joe and Kristen Navas, Organic Photography.

14”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte. Painted in person at Taylor Fox Studio in Harwhichport MA. What a gorgeous model, love her expressive eyes.

This summer I was thrilled to paint the fabulous Mozelle at the historic Mary Heaton Vorse House in Provincetown. This event was hosted by Helen Addison of Addison Gallery in Orleans. One of the best parts was painting alongside some of my favorite painters: Andrea Pettito, Maryalice Eizenburg and Paul Schulenburg, the host of Schulenburg Sessions. Those weekly, live, 3 hour sessions got me and a lot of other artists through Covid. The practice continues in 2022 and I take part whenever I can. This is the third time I’ve painted Mozelle. She is a wonderful singer you can hear her in the video that Johnny Bergmann of Lower Cape TV recorded.

https://www.artslight.org/live-painting-at-the-mary-heaton-vorse-house

One of my favorite Drag Queens from the Crown & Anchor, Provincetown MA. Always the consummate performer. Wowed by her costuming and makeup. That wig! Photo Source copyright Bobby Miller.

Pastel, 14”h x 11”w, 2022, on PastelMat, mostly Terry Ludwigs. Kenyatta posed for a session of New Orleans Drawing group. Loved her cool glance.

Kenyatta Ali, 14” h x 12”w, Terry Ludwig Soft Pastels on PastelMat, 2022.

16”h x 12”w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on PastelMat. Painted in person with Schulenburg Session Group in Easham MA, Summer, 2022. So excited to paint with this fabulous group of artists, we were thoroughly entertained by BT she sang a bunch of songs, what a beautiful voice!

Winner! 2nd Place in Dakota Pastels 2nd Quarter Competition, Emerging Artist Category. Here’s what Juror Otto Sturcke had to say, “Such rhythmic excellence in this piece. The expression on the young woman’s face coupled with the expressive color notes makes this work of art jump right off the page. This is a display of confidence, an understanding of simultaneous contrast, and I can’t help but think that this artist truly enjoyed creating this work: It seems effortless.” Felt good that he recognized that Gazelle was a joy to paint, she inspired me and she educated me with her tribute to Boston Poet Phillis Wheatley. Pastel, 14”h x 11”w, 2022. Mostly Terry Ludwig on LaCarte Pastel Card.

Winner! First place in the Dakota Pastels Competition, 2021 Grand Final in the Emerging Artist Category. 12”x9” Pastel on LaCarte, 2021, Mostly Terry Ludwig and Unison Soft Pastels. Painted Alla Prima with Paul Schulenburg Group.

Soft Pastel on Uart. 14”h x 11”w, 2021. Danielle is a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on the Cape and owns the Wampanoag Trading Post & Gallery in Mashpee. She recently published a children’s book, “Keppunumuk Weeachumun’s Thanksgiving Story” with her co authors, Anthony Perry and Alexis Bunten.

Pastel, 12”h x 9”w, color study on LaCarte. Painted while working as a Community Mentor in Alain J. Picard’s Painterly Portrait Course 2022. Photo Source and lesson ©Alain J. Picard.

Small color study, on Lacarte Sand, with soft pastels by Terry Ludwig, and NuPastels. Done while studying with Alain Picard. This was a breakthrough for me, as I really started to understand about painting skin tones and creating impressionistic backgrounds. Reference photo by Alain Picard from The Painterly Portrait Online Course. ©Alain J. Picard

Keisha posed for figure and portrait painting at Schulenburg Studio, hosted by the amazing artist, Paul Schulenburg. We paint almost weekly during the year and I am delighted to be part of this group. With regular practice, I find painting a portrait is getting a little bit easier. But still a good challenge!

Done at New Orleans Drawing Group Session.

Pastel, 12”h x 9”w, 2021 on LaCarte Sand. Painted while enrolled in Alain J. Picard’s Painterly Portrait Course 2021. Photo Source and lesson ©Alain J. Picard.

Pastel on La Carte. Tianna entertained us during a session at Schulenburg Studio, Eastham MA. Beautiful music, so inspiring!

Pastel on Canson. Tisch performed at the Crown and Anchor, Provincetown, MA. So fabulous and entertaining. This is a recent portrait, I wanted to put all my new skills learned during Covid to use. Photo Source copyright 2022 Bobby Miller.

Pastel, 12”h x 9”w, 2021, on ArtSpectrum Colorfix. Mozelle pose and then sang us some beautiful songs in a Schulenburg session. Loved the fur trim on her coat.

Pastel on La Carte. Done in a recent workshop with teaching artist Aline Ordman. See her work at www.alineordman.com

Pastel on La Carte, 12”h x 9”w. Painted during a wonderful winter workshop with Aline Ordman. Inspired by Portrait Artist of the Year, a great show! Carlos Acosta, Ballet Director and Dancer. Photo Resource © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel, 9”x12”, 2022. Mostly Terry Ludwig on LaCarte Pastel Card. The lovely Gazelle posed for us in a recent Provincetown Art Association and Museum Life Drawing class. After observing her movement and gesture in short poses, she settled into this posture. Love the colors she picked for the background.

Breonna Taylor, 2020, 9”h x 8 1/2”w, Pastel on Uart.

Commissioned Portrait, Pastel, 16”h x 12” w, 2016, on LaCarte, sand tone. Mostly Unison and NuPastels. Two portraits in one, a good challenge for me!

NuPastels and Terry Ludwigs on Uart. Photo source © Mubarak Showole on Unsplash. Started this one with orange and yellow underpainting to get values right.

Charcoal and NuPastels on Toned Tan. 2021 Have been studying with the fabulous Alain Picard since March of this year. While enrolled in the Painterly Portrait, learned to do a “thumbnail”, a small study in black and white, before every putting color on paper. This discipline has elevated my practice. Now I know where to go, and get the values right. As many teachers have taught me, “Color gets the credit, value does all the work!”

Pastel, 9”H x 13”W, 2020. Photo Source © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel on Gator Board, 11 ¾”Hx10 ¼”W, 2020. Photo Source © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel, 12 ½” H x 9 ½”W, 2020. Photo Source © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Ashley Walters, 2020, 16”h x 10 ½” w, Pastel on Uart. Love trying out vivid color palettes. Photo Source © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel on paper. Photo source copyright Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel, 6”W x 10”L, 2020. Photo Source © Portrait Artist of the Year.

Pastel underpainting, 4x4, 2020 on Uart 400. Tried a small thumbnail size color study to get values correct. Photo Source © Saturday Night Live.

Charcoal and NuPastel, 4x4, 2020. Photo Source © Saturday Night Live.

What fun to go back to pastel portraits after an oil painting class. This is Alice and I love her calm demeanor. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Sienna. Painted live in an online zoom session with Paul Schulenburg.

Felt lucky to paint Abriana, such a lovely pose! 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat Light Blue. Painted in a live session with Portrait Sketch Zoom hosted by Karen Meneghin.

so appreciated Lee’s inspiring slope style. I couldn’t wait to paint the goggles but I made myself wait. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte light blue. I have my own unique style, use of color and application that are inspiring others, now! That’s good as many artists have inspired me.

Freddy Borges is such an incredible inspiration to me. 16”h x 12w on Salmon LaCarte. It excites me to paint with bold backgrounds.

Our model was inspired by Scottish Highland style. The tweed jacket and tie were so much fun to paint. 16”h x12’w on LaCarte Sienna.

What a delight to paint Dennis Minsky! I’m a big fan of his writing in The Independent newspaper, on the Outer Cape. He also does a lot of great work with The Provincetown Conservation Trust. 16”h x 112”w on LaCarte Sienna. Done with Paul Schulenburg’s group live via Zoom.

A red hot dress on a cool winter afternoon. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Siena. Painted live in a Portrait Sketch Zoom session hosted by Karen Meneghin.

A great challenge for me to paint the 7/8 pose. Our model, Esteban Arana, was so elegant. Painted live in a Portrait Sketch Zoom Session hosted by Karen Meneghin.

What a lovely pose by Aubrey. The fishnet top was a great challenge to render. Painted live in a Portrait Sketch Zoom Session with Karen Meneghin.

Love painting a model I am familiar with. Raven did two poses so each one was about 60 minutes. I’m not worried about finishing poses like this to a “refined” stage. It’s about the process for me. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Siena.

Love the pose by Jamie and she made the dress so I had to paint that! 16”h x 12” w on LaCarte Green (I think!) Painted live with Portrait Sketch Zoom sessions hosted by Karen Meneghin.

What an honor to paint Harry! 20”h x 14”w on LaCarte Sienna. He was paying honor to “Conclave.” Painted live in a Portrait Sketch Zoom Session, hosted by Karen Meneghin.

Really enjoyed this model. Casey is a writer and screenwriter. I was captivated by his eyes. He posed so beautifully for us. Done in Paul Schulenburg’s Figure and Painting session. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte blue gray.

What a feeling of serenity by this model. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Sienna. Painted live in a two hour session with Portrait Sketch Zoom hosted by Karen Meneghin.

Giovanni Ortiz modeled for us. Loved his makeup, wardrobe and styling choices, my first time in this group and I was delighted! I had a yellow shade of PastelMat and it worked out great for this pose. This surface is cool for marks. 16”h x 12”w.

A great night with New Orleans Drawing Group. Love the energy and spirit shared by the artists. Wonderful camaraderie! 16"h x 12"w on LaCarte Earth.

16”h x 12”w on blue PastelMat. Done in a session with The New Orlean’s Drawing Group hosted by Sandra Burshell.

Isabella's expression reminded me of a Madonna and child painting or statue. A wonderful pose with Isabella Diaz. Love painting with the New Orleans Drawing Group. 12"h x 9" w on Kitty Wallis paper, generous gift from Evelyn Brody.

A great evening of music by Natalia Bonfini. Painted live via Zoom with Paul Schulenburg and the gang! Soft Pastel on light blue PastelMat, 16” x 12”w. Lately I’ve been happier with looser paintings, but once in a while, will refine. The camera flattens out facial structure and darkens shadows, so we have to adjust for that!

What a treat to paint in Studio with Paul Schulenburg and all the artists! This is 16"h x 12"w on PastelMat Brown. Love being able to see the shadows and light better, live.

Our model was so beautifully still, what a professional! this is 16"h x 9"w on LaCarte, Earth.

Soft pastel on LaCarte Sienna, 16"h x 12"w. From Paul Schulenburg's Figure Drawing session, via Zoom. Nice to work with a model I'm familiar with. Great to be back with the group, love the camraderie of working with fellow artists in these 3 hour sessions.

Painted our model at the 204 in Harwich. Taylor Fox is the host and this group is great to paint with. Did two portraits because I like the practice and seeing the model in a different angle is a great challenge. This is my second one, and I like it better than the first! On LaCarte Sienna, 14"h x 11"w. Mostly Terry Ludwig Pastels.

Keep trying portraits on black because it forces my mind and eyes to think differently. Had fun. 12"h x 9"w on Uart Dark. Photo Source copyright Rachel O'Brien.

Painted with Taylor Fox at his Studio in Harwich. Really nice atmosphere and love the camaraderie of painting with other portrait artists. Soft pastel on LaCarte Sienna, 16"h x 12"w. There is no other surface I enjoy painting on more!

Beautiful pose by this model. 14" h x 11" w, soft pastel on PastelMat Gray. Done in Paul Schulenburg's Figure Painting Session online via Zoom.

This is the refined portrait, the trick is to refine without overworking as my instructor, Alain Picard taught us. Lesson learned. Soft Pastel on Uart Black.

Looking back I actually wish I'd stopped here and started a new one. Lesson learned! Lovely Luisina posed for us with the New Orleans Drawing Group. This is fresher! Soft pastel on Uart Dark, 12"h x 9"w.

15 minute painting. Toned Uart, 12”h x 9”w. I love exploring different color palettes. This is from Portrait Carousel session hosted by Yuji Sakuma. Learning so much by working within a time limit. Make every stroke count. No noodling!

From 31st Portrait Carousel Session hosted by Yuji Sakuma in Taipei, Taiwan. Live via Zoom. This session I tried to pick different backgrounds and palettes. Pretty happy with this one...15 minute time limit is teaching me to make every stroke count.

15 minute pose. Trying to capture someone’s essence quickly is challenging me this spring. My art mind is on fire! Thanks to Yuji Sakuma and his group, Portrait Carousel, for encouraging and inspiring me. Artists take turns sitting/posing for these sessions. I am getting a lot of work done, enjoying the time limit and freedom I feel to paint the way I want to paint.

15 Minute Portrait. Am very curious about his nickname: Mr. Potato! 12”h x 9”w on Uart Dark. Feel very free in Portrait Carousel to paint loosely and with expression. Yuji Sakuma hosts this session on Sunday and my creative spirit it unleashed!

31st session of Portrait Carousel. This is Evelyn Brody, an artist I admire and paint with during New Orleans Drawing Group sessions. She inspires me with her fabulous composition, drawing and color skills. This is on Anthracite Pastel Mat and I used a limited palette, It's kind of wacky but I like!

15 minute pose of Ilana, an artist in Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji Sakuma. Loved the shadow. On PastelMat wine tone.

15 minute pose. Love when Yuji poses, as I am getting familiar with him! 31st Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji. PastelMat Gray tone,

15 minute pose at 31st session of Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji Sakuma. Love Nancy's sassy hat. Used a toned piece of Uart, following Yuji's lead to use different colored surfaces. Why not?

Wanted to leave my first painting loose so moved on to this angle. Am always challenges bye ¾ view. Will keep trying and learning. Ken held the pose so beautifully! Done with Paul Schulenburg's group, live via Zoom.

Had a blast painting Ken. He posed for us in Paul Schulenburg's Figure and Portrait session, live via Zoom. 16"h x 12"w on LaCarte. Ken shared that his family has Scottish background and he wore a kilt. But I had to focus on his handsome face!

Done in Yuji Sakuma's portrait carousel, the 29th session. This is small, 7x7 on toned Uart. We take turns posing and Yuji also has a model pose for two 15 minute sessions.

15 minute pose with Portrait Carousel, hosted by Yuji Sakura. We have to work fast! PastelMat Blue. Yuji's 29th session!

15 minute pose, no noodling afterwards! Love the expression in his eyes. Had fun in Portrait Carousel, with Yuji Sakuma, his 29th session. Want to thank Yuji for bringing fun and freshness into my portrait work. Am invigorated!

15 minute portrait. Yuji hosts Portrait Carousel and he also poses for us. These time limited sessions mean everything to me! I am invigorated like never before! This was Yuji's 29th session.

This was my first painting of Anna and it's a bit off. But that's ok, these are 15 min sessions. The background got smeary, so I gave it an a wash with alcohol, so spent 5 -10 more minutes on that. Choosing to leave it, am more concerned with learning and keeping it impressionistic! 12" h x 9" w on Uart toned to a jade green shade.

From 29th Portrait Carousel with Yuji Sakuma. This is my first 15 minute portrait, the first one is always a little wild to me....just settling. Yuji is the host and a brilliant portrait artist. Learning so much from him, especially to use different colored backgrounds and color palettes.

Loved Julie's beauty, wavy hair. 12"h x 8" w on LaCarte, Dark Green.

Lately I’ve been staying loose. Felt like this one needed a bit more, so I refined after session, but not too much! Painted live via Zoom with Paul Schulenburg and group. Terry Ludwigs and Unison on LaCarte, 13”h x 9”w.

What a delight to paint Janna with the New Orleans Drawing Group, live via Zoom. Had fun with movement in hair.

This model just brims with energy and charm. A delight to paint with Paul Schulenburg’s Figure and Portrait Group, live via Zoom. 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat.

Had so much fun painting Benton! He posed For Paul Schulenburg’s Figure and Portrait Group, live via Zoom. Decided to go for multiple poses, continuing my goal of staying loose. What I’ve learned: keep size of surface small, use a limited palette, limit time spent on each. Vertical format helped me keep his face more true to shape. So happy with this one!! 15”h x 8”w on LaCarte.

Loved painting Harry with the New Orleans Drawing Group, live via Zoom. Liked using warms and cools. The picture frame behind brim of his hat made me think of the Eclipse! 15’h x 9”w on PastelMat. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels.

You may notice I don’t attempt this view very often. But I’m willing to try! This was done in Paul Schulenburg’s Group, live via Zoom. On LaCarte. Benton is a glass sculptor and he wore his work jacket, goggles and other protective gear for the session.

A square format, so I may have made his head a bit too wide. That’s ok! Permission to try and learn from doing. On my favorite surface, LaCarte. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels.

Loved hearing about Bob’s illustrious work. Done in Paul Schulenburg’s Figure and Portrait Group live via zoom. Quick study: 40 minutes total, two 20 minute timed sessions with a break. Goal: get looser and stop fussing. Having fun! This is 10” h x 7” w on LaCarte. Just such a lovely surface.

This is smaller than I work but it was fun, I like a constraint. 8”h x 5” w on LaCarte. This was a twenty minute session x 2. It’s good to take a break in between sessions. My current studio space is small so I have to kind of leave the room to “step back!” Done with New Orleans Drawing Group live via Zoom.

Tried another 40 minute session, two 20 minute segments with a good break in between to rest my eyes..and shoulder. Bob is a prolific artist and creator. Done with Paul Schulenburg and group, live via Zoom. On a small piece of LaCarte. 12”h x 8” w. Staying loose and lively!

Calling these studies, because they are time limited poses. It’s my goal to work loose and keep creating more paintings. It’s ok to leave undone, am not searching for perfection. And I learn from each one. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte. Mostly Maggie Price Basic Values from Terry Ludwig and some red from my landscape palette. Having a blast!

What an awesome wild card night with the New Orleans Drawing Group. Just love Freddy! We had to work quickly as pose was timed for 20 minutes and I did not touch or fuss with after. Want to maintain spontaneity. 20” h x 9.5” w on LaCarte.

Twenty minute pose forces you to work fast. next time I will figure out shadow side of face. But leaving for now because I can learn. New Oreans Drawing Group Wild Card night and Freddy was up to the challenge. 12” h x 8” w on LaCarte.

This 15 minute portrait was done live via Zoom with Portrait Carousel hosted by Yuji Sakuma. Am so refreshed by working quickly. It has just changed my outlook and my feeling about capturing the sitters essence. You must choose your marks wisely and work quickly.

So excited about this 15 minute portrait. Know Paul from New Orleans Drawing Group. But this was done in Portrait Carousel hosted by Yuji Sakuma. The sitters/models are the artists. Boy, do I love painting a beard!

15 minute portrait with our model live via Zoom in Yuji Sakuma’s Portrait Carousel. Such a joy and relief to work quickly and not fuss. Learn so much. If something isn’t right, there’s no time to adjust: freedom!

15 minute pose. Am just overjoyed at creating these works. Love a dark surface. Yuji hosts Portrait Carousel on Sundays. The artists are the models/sitters. We take turns. Love when someone wears eyeglasses, it helps you find the eyes, nose and bone structure.

Gosh I just loved joining this group, “Sit in Turn,” on Sunday morning. Yuji Sakuma is the host and I’m grateful for this group. We worked live via zoom and the artists take a turn posing. As fellow artist Evelyn Brody said, 15 minutes flies by when you’re painting, but fees like forver when you are posing! Limited Palette is from Terry Ludwig, Maggie Price Basic Values. On LaCarte.

15 minute pose. Time restraints are my theme this month. Joined this group, “Sit in Turn,” hosted live via Zoom by Yuji Sakuma from Taipei, Taiwan. Artists take turns posing. Used Maggie Price Basic Values set from Terry Ludwig on LaCarte.

What a treat to paint Richard. Loved his magenta hoodie. This is 16” x 12” on light Blue PastelMat. Richard posed at Preservation Hall in Wellfleet, and I joined in on the fun via Zoom. Have found the best way to replicate the live aspect, is to work from my larger monitor. Just like if you were there in person the model slightly changes position. But I feel I capture more of their essence working this way instead of using a screen shot.

There’s a lot I could adjust here…but wait a minute, no! This is a 15 minute color study and I will learn from it. I may have gone too dark under her right eye. Permission to experiment. Then, will take this knowledge to a more finished portrait. This is on Canson, which is a surface I hardly ever use. I know there are artists that love this surface, so I’m trying!

Awarded Honorable Mention in Pastel Painter Society of Cape Cod Member show. Jane Robbin’s, Juror of Awards comments: “A paradox of a quiet, sensitive portrait achieved through high chroma and strong marks. A lesson in artistic judgment and balance.” Eleanor Dubinsky is a wonderful singer and musician. She and Dario Acosta Teich performed during the breaks. Such a good vibe going on. 16”h x 12” w on PastelMat.

I do love painting facial hair and really loved his glorious head of hair! 13”h x 12” w. Soft pastel on PastelMat.

Just loved the expression in our model’s eyes. They sparkled. I’m really happy with how I painted the flesh tones in this one. It was a joy to paint. 15” h x 12” w. 2023

Inspired by Vincent's poetry. 19"h x 13"w on Sienna LaCarte.

What a wonderful night of music! Emerald Rae is a singer and fiddler. Music inspires me, always! 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat Sand tone. Letting this one be loose.

Done in fall workshop with the magnificent Corey Pitkin on Cape Cod. Learned so much. This is 16 x 12 on wine PastelMat.

Have always admired Desiree, she is an artist, hairdresser and businesswoman on the Cape. Was delighted when she sat for us at Corey Pitkin’s fall portrait workshop. Learned a lot! 16” x 12” on Wine PastelMat. Letting this be loose, when I work live, I don’t worry about getting every detail!

Done in a workshop with the incredible Corey Pitkin in the fall on Cape Cod. Corey did some cool lighting and that made for an interesting purple shadow! 16”h x 12” w on light blue PastelMat.

Loved the lighting in this session with Paul Schulenburg’s group. I started out painting the figure, but then switched gears and felt good about painting this portrait quickly. Have painted the model before, that always helps. 12”h x 9”w on one of my fave surfaces, LaCarte.

Soft pastel on PastelMat. Painted in studio with Paul Schulenburg’s group. 14”h x 11”w. 2023.

This was painted live, in about 2 hours, in a workshop with Jeanne Tangney. Just going to say Jeanne was an amazing teacher! Focus was on shape and form and Jeanne had some mind blowing tips—stuff I had never heard of or seen before. Exciting!! 14”h x 13”w on gray PastelMat. Mostly NuPastels and Terry Ludwigs.

Had a blast painting this model’s downward glance. On Gray Pasteboard, a surface I don’t use that often. But I always have fun with it. Staying loose.

Soft pastel on PastelMat, 16”h x 12”w. Made time to paint the wonderful Raven Chavez, what an honor and what fun. Painted with the New Orleans Drawing Group, hosted by Sandra Burshell. Love the community and conversations in this group!

So honored and excited to have this painting selected for the PSA Member Pastel Showcase. Was recently admitted to the society at Signature Level. What fun to paint Freddy Borges! This was done with New Orleans Drawing Group hosted by Sandra Burshell. Soft pastel, 14’h x 11”w on LaCarte.

A chill pose! Loved the straw hat! Soft pastel on LaCarte. 2023

So much fun painting Harry, for the first time, live via Zoom, online with New Orleans Drawing Group. 16”h x 12”w on PastelMat.

Emily Wade sang beautifully for us in a recent Schulenburg Session. Music inspires me! 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte.

Soft pastel on PastelMat, 14”h x 11” w. Loved the tilt of our model’s head. Painted Alyssa Alla Prima on Wednesday night with Figure Painting at Schulenburg Studio.

Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 14”h x 11”w. Done Alla Prima in online session with Figure Painting at Schulenburg Studio.

Updating with a recent photo by my brother Rob. Color Study of one of my favorite drag queens. © Illusion Theater and © Miss Richfield 1981, 2023.

16”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023. Painted Diandre with Schulenburg group, live via Zoom. This is a painting group of fabulous artists that have been painting together for years and I love being part of it. Paint in the studio when a space opens up. Learn so much by seeing how other artists approach a painting. No instruction is given, it’s camaraderie and pleasant get together to do our art work!

16’h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte. 2023. Painted Jasmine during Alla Prima in Schulenburg Session live via Zoom. This is strictly a painting session, no instruction. Love painting with the group of masterful artists.

14”h x 11”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Alla Prima portrait painting with Taylor Fox in Harwich on the Cape. Sometimes you learn from a painting. This was my first attempt and I struggled to capture her. Did another session later in the summer and that was easier. Learning it’s ok to work through an attempt, so you can make a better one next time.

12”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig Softpastel on PastelMat, 2023. Painted Alla Prima with Schulenburg Group, live via Zoom.

12”h x 16”w, Terry Ludwig Softpastels and NuPastels on PastelMat. 2023. Painted Sydney on a fun night with the entertaining group of artists in the Schulenburg Sessions, hosted by Paul Schulenburg. Just loved her diaphanous wrap and flowy jumpsuit.

14”h x 11”w, soft pastel on Toned Uart, 2023. Painted live with New Orleans Drawing Group via Zoom.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023. Painted the lovely Isle with Schulenburg group. Always inspiring! When someone has a symmetrical face, it’s a challenge you want to make sure it’s equal. On the other hand, she was so lovely and easy to paint!

This was a tricky one for me. So glad I had the chance to paint Freddy again, with a pose and lighting I liked better. . 11”h x 14”w, Terry Ludwig Soft Pastels on LaCarte, 2023. Staying loose and experimenting with risk free color in this portrait done Alla Prima with New Orleans Drawing Group, live via Zoom.

14”hx 11”w, Soft Pastel On PastelMat. Don’t you just love his hair? Jeremy is one of the first models I painted during an in person session with Taylor Fox at the Harwich Cultural Center on the Cape. Left this a little undone, like it loose.

10 ½ “ h x 10 ½” w, Pastel on PastelMat using my favorite Terry Ludwig Pastels. Paige posed for us in the Schulenburg Sessions, Summer 2022.

Pastel, 14” x 11”, 2022. Terry Ludwig Pastels on PastelMat. Loved the model’s costuming, it reminded some me of “The Gilded Age,: on HBO. Painted with Schulenburg Figure and Portrait Sessions Group, hosted by Paul Schulenburg.

14”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2022. Loved painting Andrea Pettito, artist. Love her art work. Painted with Paul Schulenburg’s group, always a pleasure.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2022. Joined a new group this summer hosted by Taylor Fox in Harwichport MA. This is a smaller group, 5 artists, painting portraits. What an amazing opportunity to paint with experienced, dynamic artists. Taylor always provides a great play list. This is his daughter, she held the pose beautifully!

12”h x 9” w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte. This summer I went back and forth to Harwich at the Cape to paint with Taylor Fox and group in his studio. Loved these small sessions. We get to know the model, that makes them easier to paint. Erika is a gardener and one of the gorgeous gardens she planned and maintained is right around the corner from our house. Her husband is a shell fisherman.

14”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on PastelMat. I loved this model’s expression. Also loved the shadow side of her face, it is one of my favorite types of lighting, thanks Paul! Natalie posed for us in the Schulenburg Sessions in the summer of 2022. What a fun, almost tropical background. Appreciate the weekly practice in this group.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat. Loved this young woman’s expression, felt I caught it here! Spring, 2022, with Schulenburg Figure and Portrait painting group, hosted by Paul Schulenburg.

14”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig soft pastels on PastelmatMat, Summer 2022. Painted with New Orleans Drawing Group, live, online with host Sandra Burshell. Model was very relaxed on a settee, propped up with pillows. I loved painting her hair and top of her satin gown.

This is a color study of Greg, 9”h x 12”w, done loosely on PastelMat. Summer 2022. Done in Cultivate Online Learning Community with Alain Picard. Photo Source Copyright 2022, Alain J. Picard.

9”h x 12”w, Pastel on LaCarte. Painted with New Orleans Drawing Group, hosted by Sandra Burshell. These weekly sessions keep me focused on learning the planes of the face, shape of the head and study of hand. Profiles are challenging, learned so much on this one!

Winner: Honorable Mention in the Dakota Pastels Competition, First Quarter! Yay! 14”h x 11”w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte. Summer session, 2022, painted with artist Taylor Fox and friends. Love the energy we get from working alongside other portrait artists. Learn so much. Enjoy learning more about our subjects during breaks. I loved painting his hair, and learned how to paint facial hair over skin. Definitely paint the skin tones first!

16” x 12”, Terry Ludwig Soft Pastels on LaCarte paper. Joanna is a much loved model in the Schulenburg Sessions, hosted by artist Paul Schulenburg. Really enjoy being part of this group, it’s the highlight of my week to paint the models live, whether in studio or online.

16”h x 12”w, Soft pastel on LaCarte. Summer 2022. We had an exhibit at the Eastham Public Library, “Zoom in on the Figure and Portrait.” Showed two portraits from Schulenburg Sessions. Then, as part of the month long event, we painted our model Ben, in person, at a special session at the Eastham Library on the Cape. We had an audience and during breaks we chatted with attendees. Also was interviewed by Johnny Bergmann of Lower Cape TV about my experience painting with the group during Covid, live on Zoom. https://vimeo.com/742056879

14”h x 11’ w, Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte, 2022. Painted Olly with the New Orleans Drawing Group, hosted by Sandra Burshell.

Kenyatta, 14”H x 11”w. Mostly Terry Ludwig. Done in New Orleans Drawing Group Session, hosted by Sandra Burshell. Have been lucky to paint Kenyatta again with the DC Art Model Collective group, from Washington DC.

Pastel on LaCarte, 14”h x 11”w, 2022. This model had very symmetrical features, it made her easier to paint. She was so lovely and that slight tilt of the head was beautiful.

Pastel, 12”x12”, 2022, mostly Terry Ludwig and Unison on PastelMat. Mark played great tunes for us in an afternoon session with Figure Painting at Schulenburg Studio. Music inspires art! Solo American Roots Music, award winning and nationally recognized. Find Mark at https://marktsmall.com/

Nate Church, Pastel, 14”x11”, on PastelMat. Terry Ludwig and Blue Earth Pastels and NuPastels. Done in Figure Painting with Schulenburg Studio group, hosted by artist Paul Schulenburg.

Pastel, 11”x14”, 2022, mostly Terry Ludwig and Blue Earth on LaCarte Pastel Card. Had a lot of fun with this one. Jerome is an artist, singer, musician, joke teller and just a great human being. Met him through the Schulenburg Sessions and loved the chance to paint him recently. The colors in the background were inspired by the heat and color of Miami. Also used pastels from the Picard Portrait Set available at Alain Picard’s store at www.picardstudio.com.

Beyond excited that this was one of three of my paintings accepted into the 30th National Pastel Painting Exhibition, Pastel Society of New Mexico. Grateful, as I have never had 3 paintings accepted into one show! Pastel, 16”h x12”w, 2021. Alla Prima means “at the first” and in art it’s used to describe a painting completed from one sitting or a single session. This took one main sitting and then another short one. Portrait of my husband Kevin, who always makes me laugh—that’s why he’s still the one! Mostly Terry Ludwig and NuPastel on Urt 400.

Pastel on PastelMat, 2022, 14”h x 11”w. This portrait was fun to do, I don’t know how the models hold their head at that angle but I love it. Painted with Paul Schulenburg and the gang online via Zoom.

Pastel, 16”x12 , 2022, mostly Terry Ludwigs on Uart 400. I couldn’t resist a portrait within a portrait, that’s another model, Grace in the background. Amazing music by David Roth, nationally recognized folk musician.

14”h x 11”w, mostly Terry Ludwigs on PastelMat. Grateful to paint Lea with Schulenburg Group. Admire her ability to hold pose so gracefully.

Winner! First place in the Dakota Pastels Competition, 2021 Grand Final in the Emerging Artist Category. 12”x9” Pastel on LaCarte, 2021, Mostly Terry Ludwig and Unison Soft Pastels. Painted Alla Prima with Paul Schulenburg Group.

16”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte. Summer 2022. This is pretty loose but I like it. Sometimes I choose not to refine the portrait. I may leave as is or come back later to adjust. Always learn something from these 3 hour sessions with Taylor Fox at his Studio At Harwich Cultural Center on the Cape. Felt lucky to be part of a small group, learn so much from other artists in group, including Rosalie Nadeau, a wonderful artist from Eastham. Good times!

Pastel, 9”x12”, 2022. Mostly Unison and Terry Ludwigs on LaCart Pastel Card. Barbara posed as part of the New Orleans Drawing Group. Loved her gown and this profile pose reminded me of figureheads that would be placed at the front or prow of old-fashioned sailing ships.

Pastel, 12”x9”, 2021. Mostly Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte Pastel Card. The title came to me from a comment online when I posted this in our group. The model’s mom said she remembered her daughter making this same expression when she was a girl. Created from the Schulenburg sessions, hosted by Paul Schulenburg, live and online. Staying loose and abstract on this one for painterly vibe.

This is Tracy, a model from the New Orleans Drawing Group on Zoom, hosted by Sandra Burshell. We start each session with short poses to warm up. Then the model holds the pose, with breaks. Really been enjoying the creativity in this group.

Avery posed in the New Orleans Drawing Group on Zoom. After several warm up poses, she settled into the longer pose in a tutu! As a mom of a daughter that took ballet for many years, I loved the costume and the feeling. Session hosted by Sandra Burshell.

12” h x 9” w, 2021, Terry Ludwig & Unison soft pastels on LaCarte Sand. Another painting done in the Alla Prima method, with Paul Schulenburg group.

So humbled by the award received at the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod show in July for this pastel, 14”h x11”w. 2021. Mostly Terry Ludwig, Unison and NuPastels on Uart 400. It’s easier to paint a portrait when you’ve had the a chance to meet and chat with your subject. Paul Schulenburg introduced me to Kathleen and we hung out at a few historic sites in Provincetown in the summer of 2021, along with fellow artist Jerome Greene. Painted “alla Prima”, or “all at once” in a Figure Painting with Schulenburg Studio Group. Kathleen is an actress appearing on the Netflix series, “Inventing Anna.” She also played Laura Bush opposite Viola Davis as Michelle Obama. She’s been in many tv shows such as Law and Order, Billions, and Star Trek Voyager. Find her at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0308150/

12”h x 9” w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, Summer 2022. Painted this fun odor study with the New Orleans Drawing Group. We start out each session with 10 short figure poses to warm up. Then the model poses for longer session, and we can do portrait or the figure. Had always wanted to paint Raven, he models regularly and was fabulous and professional.

What a wonderful expression from this model, she held her smile during the pose! Loved the lighting from below. Done with with Paul Schulenburg and the gang, live and on Zoom, figure and portrait painting session.

Love it when I know the model, because it makes the portrait so much easier to do! Created from the Schulenburg sessions, live and online with Paul Schulenburg and friends.

Pastel, 10”x10” 2021, Mostly Terry Ludwigs and NuPastels on MiTientes Touch. This is Natalia Bonfini, a fabulous blues musician and songwriter. She captivated us with her beautiful voice and guitar playing. Created from the Schulenburg sessions, live and online. She’s on American Idol this February and has been called, “Cape Cod’s Future Star”. www.nataliabonfini.com

Pastel, 16x12, 2022. Mostly Terry Ludwig and Unison on LaCarte Pastel Card. Teresa Bloemer, violinist. This was a great music and art session. Paul Schulenburg hosts these weekly sessions, live and online, and he always finds great models and musicians. Will admit listening to the music and watching them perform gives me creative energy!

During our Painterly Portrait Month in Cultivate Membership Community, Alain Picard shared a painting done by William Merritt Chase. I’ll admit I did not know much about him. But I knew by studying and creating this painting, I would learn a lot! Study the Master William Merritt Chase ©William Merritt Chase

Pastel, 2022, 14”h x 11”w mostly Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte Pastel Card. Was so inspired by the artistry of Gazelle as she posed in the New Orleans Drawing Group. Such a joy to paint. Winner! Second Place in the Emerging Artist Category, Dakota Pastels, 2nd Quarter Competition. Here’s what Juror Otto Sturcke had to say: “Such rhythmic excellence in this piece. The expression on this young woman’s face coupled with the expressive color notes makes this work of art jump right off the page. This is a display of confidence, an understanding of simultaneous contrast, and I can’t help but think that this artist truly enjoyed creating this work: It seems effortless.”

12” h x 9” w, 2021, Terry Ludwig and Unison soft pastels on Uart 400. Really enjoyed this model from an Alla Prima session with Paul Schulenburg group.

Pastel, 9”x12”, 2022. Mostly Terry Ludwig on LaCarte Pastel Card. The lovely Gazelle posed for us in a recent Provincetown Art Association and Museum Life Drawing class. After observing her movement and gesture in short poses, she settled into this posture. Love the colors she picked for the background.

12”h x 8” w, Mostly Unison and Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte Grey. Study from the book, “Painting Beautiful Skin Tones with Color & Light: Oil, Pastel and Watercolor.” Painting source © Chris Saper.

Alla Prima, 12” h x 9”w, 2021, Terry Ludwig and Unison Soft Pastels on LaCarte, Sand tone. Painted with the Paul Schulenburg gang on Zoom.

12”h x9” w, 2021, Terry Ludwig Pastels on LaCarte. Inspired by the background, the setting and the cool hat! Alla Prima painting with Paul Schulenburg and group on Zoom.

Monochrome study of Jerome Green, artist and musician. Charcoal and NuPastel on Toned Tan. Photo Resource © Paul Schulenburg

Plein air session about 90 minutes. Met some friends at a parking lot on the Provincetown Beach, West End. This is looking back towards town. 19"h x 13" w. I think I will go larger next time. Is this finished? No. But I prefer to leave and will start another.

So thought it would be nice to. share my Plein air set up. Using Take-It Easel. And an Aluminum box for my soft pastels. Black foam core to act as backing board for a sheet of Earth tone LaCarte. Painted with friends I met at figure drawing at the PAAM. Want to do this more!

Loved painting along with Alain Picard during his recent landscape week. This is on toned Uart, 9"h x 12"w. Always a joy to practice mark making with Alain. It's interesting, because this method uses layering and color and recently I like to work with looser marks on LaCarte. Both have their beauty and advantages.

This was done during a paint a long lesson from Alain Picard. We limited the number of pastels and limited our strokes. I love it. I am leaning towards abstraction and expressive marks. Will do more. Photo copyright Alain Picard, 2024.

This was painted using analogous colors. 6" h x 8"w on Uart 400. Done during Alain's Landscape Week, September, 2024. Photo source: Alain Picard, 2024.

Wanted to study Joaquin Sorolla before I took a workshop on flowers and gardens. This is "Maria Dressed as a Valencian Peasant Girl, 1906." Love a figure in the landscape and studying a master is a pleasure. We can learn so much. Left the face very loose as my surface was not that large. It's also a good challenge to use pastel to replicate oil. 20"h x 11"h. On LaCarte Sienna.

A master study of Joaquin Sorolla's work, "The Gardens at the Sorolla Family House." Really appreciate how he connects big shapes with marks and edges. 14" h x 11" w on Uart 400 with a toned underpainting. Learn so much studying a master and it's fun.

12”h x 16” w on Uart 400. This is from a recent master workshop at the Cultural Center, Yarmouth. Can always take something learned from another painting, like when I painted “Crazy for Daisies” I thought about the turquoise colors in petals that are in shadow. Source Photo: Cindy Crimmins.

Took a stroll in the morning before a recent master pastel class with Cindy Crimmin. Liked this view, and since we learned about using diagonals in composition, gave it a whirl! 12”h x 9”w on Uart 400 with a warm yellow and magenta underpainting.

Love this little tidal pond in the South End of Portsmouth. Still learning about reflections in water and skies.

Am taking a workshop called The Value of Markmaking with Tara Will. This study is for figuring out light and shadows on buildings.

Markmaking directional study because I am learning in a work shop with the fabulous instructor and artist, Tara Will. The flower heads felt like little aliens! 11” x 11” on LaCarte.

Landscape work with Tara Will. We were learning about showing light on buildings. And shadows! 13” h x 14” w on LaCarte.

Found a bit of snow on the ground in Maine. Really like studying light on buildings and shadow and how it affects the color of the building. Learning so much from fabulous teaching artist, Tara Will. 12”h x 16”w on LaCarte.

Keeping it loose and lively. Done during a Tara Will Workshop in Saco Maine. Love this beach, I walk there often and search for beach glass. It’s a steep hill down and I hope I caught that!

Found this little gem of a house when I was scouting around for a plein air site at Edgewood Farm on the Cape. Love when window shutters are closed up for the season…or longer! 16”h x 16”w on LaCarte.

Love the iconic Days Cottages in Truro. Created this during a fall workshop in Saco Maine with Tara Will. Sold.

Soft pastel on LaCarte. North Beach, Miami. Loved the shadow patterns on the building…and the building design pulled me in. Maybe a hint of Art Deco in that style. 19”h x 24”w. 2023.

Love this special spot in Ptown, The Red Inn.

This is a rectangular version of 490 & 494 Commercial Street, WOMR and Schoolhouse Gallery. 12”h x 9”w, on Dark UArt. I love using expressive colors and marks to create a scene! 2023.

Had fun painting this, the kayaks reminded me of fish leaping to the shore! Soft Pastel on dark green LaCarte. 13.5”h x 13.5”w. 2023.

Love this cottage across from the Red Inn in the west end of Provincetown. Soft pastel, 19.5’h x 13.5”w on LaCarte.

Soft pastel on LaCarte, 12”h x12” w. Have strolled by these homes on Commercial Street in the West End of Provincetown many times and always loved their intersecting lines. 2023.

Walk by this beautiful garden on my way back to Grace Hall Parking Lot in Provincetown. Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 16”h x 12”w on dark Green LaCarte. 2023.

Plein air study, in Portsmouth NH. As part of the Cultivate Community led by Alain J. Picard, we stepped out of our studio into the fresh air. This is a favorite spot to take a walk at. Enjoyed this quick, loose one hour study, aiming for a Painterly Landscape. Met some nice people, too!

Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 11”h x 11”w. Love the gorgeous front porch & flowers at this home in the East End at 416 Commercial Street. Before the renovation, it was the gallery home of Thomas Antonelli. My husband and admired his seascapes and loved chatting with him.

One of my fave beaches on the bay side of Truro, Cape Cod. Great for collecting beach glass. Caught these two taking in the fab view. 14”h x 12”w. Soft Pastel on LaCarte.

Love the boats tied up at the docks in Provincetown. This was from the Portuguese Festival. 8 ½” h x 8 ½” w. Soft pastel on LaCarte. 2023.

Donated the proceeds from the sale of this painting to the 12 x 12 PAAM Auction Fundraiser last fall. 2023. This is 490 Commercial Street and 494 Commercial Street, home to WOMR and Schoolhouse Gallery.

Portsmouth historic homes. We lived right across the street after graduating from college. Stroll by these lovelies almost every day. Soft Pastel on LaCarte. 11”h x 11”w. 2023. Learned so much in a workshop with Tara Will on color, mark making and value.

Caught this guy caulking the windows and loved his cast shadow on house front. Soft pastel on LaCarte, 12”h x 10”w. Under the influence of Tara Will, studied with her through Scottsdale Artists’ School. Learned so much about expressing myself with color and marks. Have always enjoyed painting cars.

Love this little cottage by our favorite bayside beach in Truro. This is where the pilgrims discovered the corn that the Native Americans had buried. 9”h x 10”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. 2023. Feeling free to express myself with vivid colors. Love work by contemporary artist Peter Batchelder. Done while studying with the fabulous Tara Will.

10’h x 10”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Walk this road when doing “the loop” in Truro, from Great Road to Corn Hill Beach and back to Castle Road. The light was coming down through the trees, wanted to catch that. Done this spring while studying with Tara Will.

12”h x 9” w, soft pastel on Uart Dark, 2023. This is a very quick 20-minute study but I really enjoyed. Done while studying mark making and value with Tara Will. Learning to let the painting be a little unfinished, I like that!

16”h x 12” w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Painted plein air in Yarmouthport MA on Cape Cod during a workshop with Tara Will. Learned a lot about light and value. Finished in studio.

8”h x 8”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. The colors of the lifeguard towers on Miami Beach inspire me. Feel the heat of the city and pretty happy with the tropical colors. this was a quick, time limited study. Was supposed to be 20, but maybe more like 40 minutes! Under the influence of Tara Will. She and my classmates inspired me!

12”h x 16” wide, soft pastel on LaCarte. This is a color study done in a live workshop with Tara Will. I am in love with all the different colors used in painting these art deco lifeguard shacks. Only in Miami! Have painted several and will do more! 2022.

14”h x 11”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. This was a 50 stroke exercise done in a live workshop with Tara Will. Gotta remember to do more like this, it’s exciting to work fast and I like the energy.

Favorite beach in Truro. Hopper painted Corn Hill. This is large, 25.5”h x 19.5”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Tara Will workshop on the cape. Tara inspired me, she works on full sheets. How freeing and fun! 2022.

7 ½ “ h x 13”w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Color study in mark making. I know it’s zany and I will work on capturing shadows under car next time! Loved making marks that was the goal! Done in a workshop with Tara Will through Scottsdale Artists’ School. Walk by this car, it’s always parked at a truckstop business office! Intriguing.

This is a bit too photo realistic for my tastes now. Sharing so I can look at my progression!

April 2021. Painted while taking a workshop with Laurinda O’Connor.

12”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 2023. Done in live paint along session, Photo Source and lesson copyright Alain J. Picard, 2022.

Love fall, my fave time of year! Learned so much in this lesson with Alain Picard, photo source copyright Alain J. Picard.

Sometimes I like the study more than the finished painting! From a lesson with ALain J. Picard.

From a Cultivate online lesson with Alain Picard. Love cool blues and warm orange tones! Photo source Alain J. Picard, 2022.

This pastel painting is also in my animal category and maybe it should go under figurative, too! I love a landscape with human beings in it and adding horses was a bonus challenge. Credit to Alain Picard for motivating me in the Cultivate online community to paint this. I sketched it, did a monochrome study and scaled up to 13x23. Sometimes when you have several subjects, you have to pick a star, so that’s why I titled it, “My money’s on #9!”

In the winter of 2021, studied with the wonderful teaching artist, Todd Bonita. We learned the Grisaille method of creating a monochrome underpainting in shades of grey to get the values right. Once we were happy with our monochrome painting, we added color. Learned so much and was excited to work alongside fellow artists in Todd’s Bow Street Gallery in Portsmouth, surrounded by beautiful art for sale. Have painted many oil paintings but never so carefully as this!

Loved the styling here by Joanna Reddy. That was fun trying to paint her loungewear. Also, a real challenge to paint a smallish portrait! Had fun with color palette. 16”h x 12”w on LaCarte Sienna.

The lovely Isabella posed for us in The New Orleans Drawing Group hosted by Sandra Burshell. Sometimes a pose is a puzzle and I work to figure it all out. 14”h x 20”w on LaCarte Sienna.

Love taking part of Life Drawing at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. The light is from a skylight above. Let the LaCarte paper do some of the work here, no need to use pastel on every single part of the paper. Tara Will taught me that!

What a beautiful, graceful relaxed pose for us to enjoy. Love the green chartreuse Chaise lounge! Painting with Paul Schulenburg's Figure Painting group online via Zoom. The artists in the studio and online always inspire! 14h" x 20"w, soft pastel on LaCarte.

The lovely Joanna posed for us from her home. Done live via Zoom with the New Orleans Drawing Group. Adore this group, we always start with figure poses, timed, to loosen up. There are five one minute poses, then three 5 minute poses. Then we settle in and do a portrait or figure...or both! 12"h x 15" w on PastelBord, sand tone. This surface is sanded but different from LaCarte or PastelMat. A new surface sometimes gives me a creative jolt and forces my hand to work differently.

The shadows in this pose intrigued me and the other artists in the New Orleans Drawing Group. DaLawn is so professional and his poses were full of wonderful angles. Loved working on a dark, PastelMat Blue surface. 16"h x 12"w. 2024

Charcoal on paper. Done in Figure Painting with Paul Schulenburg in Eastham, MA. I like looking for patterns on the figure formed by light and shadow. Trying to figure out proportions and feel the practice I'm getting at PAAM is helping.

Feel lucky to have been able to draw and paint this model live at the PAAM. Am working on my craft! Such a wonderful place to practice and like working with models more than once. Charcoal on newsprint.

Love Life Drawing at the PAAM. Look for angles, lights and darks. Charcoal on Newsprint.

So amazing to observe the shapes the models create with their bodies. Charcoal on Newsprint. From Life Drawing at the PAAM, Provincetown, MA.

This is from a lesson with Lydia Cecil, charcoal on cardboard. I've never done that before, interesting, it allows you to smudge easily. We learned how to use traditional artistic methods for drawing the figure. Photo and lesson copyright Raw Umber Studios, 2024. Model: Virginie.

Loved painting this model, Deandrea Dior. She dazzles me! Had fun staying loose with the figure and face. Trying a new technique and start with a blurred image. It's like squinting. Photo references often have too much information. Tara Will, amazing teaching artist, shared this technique with me and it's helping a lot. 19"h x 16" w on Dark Blue LaCarte.

Visited my daughter Rachel in LA and we went to the Getty Museum on a rainy Sunday, it was packed! Just adored this woman's style. Keeping it loose. Dark blue LaCarte, 19" h x 12" w.

What a lovely model! Janna posed for us in the New Orleans Drawing Group. I love the thought and planning behind these sessions. 12”h x 8”w on Sienna LaCarte. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels.

Deandrea posed for the New Orleans Drawing Group and I was lucky to paint her portrait. Also wanted to capture this moment, Had so much fun with color, mark making and movement. That silver tea or coffee pot was a good challenge and I love it! 20” x 20”. Photo source copyright: Lenin Delsol, 2024.

This was a time-limited study, Was inspired by wild card night with Freddy Borges, a few weeks ago. Done with the New Orleans Drawing Group, live via zoom hosted by Sandra Burshell. On PastelBord, 14”h x 11” w. Something about that surface encourages me to make marks! Timed pose: two 20 minute ones, then a 12 minute one to finish. Constraints help me loosen up!

My first attempt this week with the New Orleans Drawing Group, hosted by Sandra Burshell, live via Zoom. This is 14” h x 6” wide. I like how his hair is flying off the top into the background. Wanted to capture his eyes, so the rest of the painting is very loose and unfinished. But I’m ok with that! It’s a study and I’ll take what I learned to the next one.

Twenty minute pose. Freddy changed his umbrella and vest but kept the white shirt and pants and fabulous red leather sandals. What a blast painting at “Wild Card” night with New Orleans Drawing Group via Zoom. Have not touched because I want to stay loose and not fuss with it. Can take what I learned and use on another one. Am happy with how I captured his hand in pocket! 12” h x 7.5” w on LaCarte.

Loved painting Rachel’s twirl. We love the Pamet Harbor in Truro on the Cape. When I saw this Lemon print dress in a shop in Ptown, I asked Rach if she would pose in it. Took a course with Peggi Kroll Roberts on the figure. Adore Peggi’s work! Photo source: Kevin O’Brien.

Wowee, a red umbrella, leather shoes and umbrella. Yummy color. Loved Wild Card night with the New Orleans Drawing Group. Not fussing because I loved the challenge of trying to create with a 20 minute time limit. Phew!!! Exhilarating! Adore Freddy. 19.5” h x 9.5”w on LaCarte.

My son, Beck, at the Portsmouth Farmer’s Market. Awarded Honorable Mention at The Pastel Society of Maine’s Fall Member Show. Here’s what the judge of Awards, Ed Higgins had to say: “There is no denying the joy of the artist’s process in this fun and lively work. Fast and loose mark making imbues the image with a superabundance of life. The figure is expressed with such fondness, that we can’t help making friends. The riot of flowers, the bustle of the crowd, reflections in sunglasses and even the baseball gods shining heavenly light onto the Red Sox hat, transport us to a time and place where we smile and accept the gift that this happy and engaging piece hands to us.” Thank you to my teacher and mentor, Tara Will, for encouraging me to paint on larger surfaces and inspiring me to let my mark making fly!

This was a lot of fun and a challenge. My proportions are off, but I’m learning. 20”h x 16”w on LaCarte. Painted live in studio with Figure Painting at Schulenburg Studio. Such a treat painting along with artists I admire.

Had so much funpainting this one! Just love the bouquets grown and created by Digree from Down Home Farm in Truro on the Cape. Studying how light affects color and form with Tara Will and putting her lessons to use.

19 ½”h x 11”w. Still fascinated with this bathing beauty, have painted her in the past. Updated version after studying figures with Peggi Kroll Roberts and mark-making with Tara Will. Photo source, Aline Ordman.

One of my fave beaches on the bay side of Truro, Cape Cod. Great for collecting beach glass. Caught these two taking in the fab view. 14”h x 12”w. Soft Pastel on LaCarte. Took an online class on mark making, value and color with Tara Will this spring through Scottsdale Artists’ school and another on Painting the Figure with Peggy Kroll Roberts.

21”h x 17”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023. Scaled up this work after several studies. What a challenge and joy to create my own version of Mary Cassatt’s Impressionist Masterpiece. Hers was done in oil. I’m happy with what I achieved using pastels. Learned a lot. Mary wasn’t shy about layering colors. Love her composition here, too. Was very excited to see Mary did a rough study of this with Pastel, came across that at the library in my research. What a fabulous month studying the masters with other Cultivate Community Members. Saw art by masters that I never had seen before!

What a great night painting with New Orleans Drawing Group. 13”h x 19”w on LaCarte. The gown and her hair just wowed me!

19 ¾ “ h x 11” w, soft pastel on LaCarte. Painted in Schulenburg Session, online via zoom. I liked the strong angle of her right leg. Liked this set up.

18”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel and NuPastels on PastelMat, 2023. Painted live via Zoom with New Orleans Drawing Group. Have painted Joanna several times with Schulenburg group, it’s always a joy to paint a model you know!

16”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023. Painted Alla Prima with New Orleans Drawing Group, live via Zoom. Love and appreciate the artistry of our fabulous model, Kenyatta. She was seated on an amazing, clear, inflatable chair, which allowed her to position herself in a powerful, strong pose!

16”h x 12”w, Terry Ludwig Soft pastel on LaCarte, 2023. Painted with Schulenburg Group.

12”h x 16”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 2023. Painted in Schulenburg Session, live via Zoom. A wonderful singer and songwriter, Gabriella Simpkins inspired us to make beautiful art. Done in Schulenburg session.

16”h x 12”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023.

Over the moon that this painting was accepted into the 30th National Pastel Exhibition, Pastel Society of New Mexico. It was one of three of my paintings accepted, that is a first for me, woohoo!! Pastel on toned salmon Uart, 12”x12”, 2021. Mostly Terry Ludwig and Unison on Uart 400 with coral underpainting. Daughter, muse and model, Rachel has such a great sense of humor and attitude. She was born under the sign of funny!

Pastel on Uart 400, 12 x 12, 2021. This pastel was done during figure month in Cultivate Online Course and I followed along with Alain J. Picard’s excellent demo. Photo Reference Source © Alain J. Picard.

Charcoal and NuPastel on Toned Tan paper, 10”x10”. This was done for the painting, “A Garden Stroll”. And done with Alain J. Picard’s demo on Cultivate. Photo Source © Alain J. Picard.,

Pastel on La Carte. Steve entertained us during a Paul Schulenburg Figure and Portrait Painting Session. So inspired by his awesome blues music, the music made me want to paint! Find him at http://stevemorgamusic.com.

Pastel on La Carte. This sweet image inspired me to paint in a workshop led by Aline Ordman.

Pastel on La Carte. I love studying light on the figure. This was done in a workshop led by the fabulous artist/teacher, Aline Ordman. I have learned so much through her demos and critiques and from observing fellow classmates work.

Charcoal and pastel on Canson. Bruce entertained us at live Figure and Portrait Painting session led by Paul Schulenburg.

Pastel on La Carte. Done in a workshop led by Aline Ordman. Aline is fearless when it comes to adding color in the background. I just love this model’s fabulous curves. She’s all that!

12”h x 9”w on Dark UArt. something about this surface excites me. Working on color and mark making as I study with Tara Will. Amy Brnger inspired my own set up. Soft pastel, using half sticks of Henri Roche and Terry Ludwig. Had fun!

Just love these beauties. Learned a lot while painting this. First, Echinacea means “hedgehog!” Now I think of those adorable animals when I look at the center of coneflowers. 18”h 14”w on dark green LaCarte. Photo source Dale Michaels Wade, copyright 2023. Sold!

Had a blast painting this one. These big beauties are from my brother Rob’s garden. Putting my mark making skills to work! Also thinking of movement, I love the sunflower head on lower right, it felt like it was flying like a superhero. 16”h x 12”w on dark green LaCarte. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels. 2024.

14” x 14” on Dark blue grey LaCarte. Enjoying the process! It’s a complicated composition but I am not afraid to try! The daisies challenged me, they are concave. Will keep practicing. They also reminded me of fireworks! Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels. 2024.

Inspired by Alain J. Picard’s set up, from a still life lesson in his Cultivate Pastel Painting Group. 2021, 9”h x7”w, Terry Ludwig and Unison Pastels on Uart 400. This is the top, final layer done on top of an acrylic ink underpainting done on homemade gesso board.

9”h x 7”w, acrylic Ink on homemade gesso board, 2021. Made use of inks in a summer class with Eileen Casey. She always encourages experimenting. The inks are like watercolor but very vibrant.

7 1/2" x 11" on Uart 400. Just finished a two day master workshop with Cindy Crimmins at the Cultural Center in Yarmouth. Learned lots about underpainting, layering and foliage. A different method and I'm still digesting all the techniques Cindy shared with us. Now I'm kind of a put a mark down and leave it kind of artist. Source photo copyright 2024, Cindy Crimmins.

Soft pastel on Kitty Wallis, 16”h x 12” w. Painted plein air on my front deck. Was feeling frazzled as I lost(and found) my phone at the market. Painting helped me calm down and a little chipmunk scampered back and forth under the deck as I worked. So pleasant, now I need to get out and paint some landscapes! 2023.

Painted along with the amazing Alain Picard in an online demo. Soft pastel on PastelBord, 9”h x 12”w. Photo source and lesson copyright Alain J. Picard, 2023.

10 ½ “ h x 11 ½” w, soft pastel on LaCarte. This was a deliberate exercise in mark making. We were studying water lilies in Cultivate Online Learning. Decided to combine my efforts and inspiration from Tara Will’s workshop. Had fun! Reference photo copyright 2023, Alena Reinfeld, Unsplash.

Color study, 7” h x 7” w, 2021. Terry Ludwig Pastels on Uart 400. My mom, Ginny, was a great grower of vegetables, flowers, fruit trees and berries. She would also do lots of canning and her peaches always tasted like sunshine to me. There are many fans of her yummy raspberry jam, and I was lucky to help her can a dozen jars. We lost our dear mom on December 4, 2021. Plan to do more like this to honor Ginny. As a child, mom always had materials and tools for creating paintings and crafting. Her creative spirit lives on in me and my three talented siblings.

Pastel on Canson. This was done in a workshop led by pastel artist Rob Dutoit. The assignment was to paint a purple orange green still life….but to only use red, yellow and blue. I was pretty happy with the result and learned a lot. Often when I paint with pastel, I search for the right color. Now I know more about mixing!

12”h x 8” w on Sepia Mi-Teintes Touch. Color Study for Cultivator class with Alain Picard. Photo by Tijuana Drndarski on Unsplash. Terry Ludwig Pastels on Uart 400. The surface I work on always inspires and challenges me. Most comfortable with LaCarte and have learned to love Uart. Have been pretty excited about results I get with Mi-Teintes Touch.

Photo source copyright Alain J. Picard.

Photo Source copyright Alain J. Picard. Done during Cultivate online learning with Alain Picard.

Small color study done while taking Alain J. Picard’s painting demo on YouTube, Painterly Edges. This is done on a small Uart surface with a warm underpainting. Learned so much, a great lesson and a leap for me! Photo Resources © Alain J. Picard

Still life done while studying reflective surfaces in Cultivate Membership Community with Alain J. Picard. In January 2022, we learned about reflective surfaces. This is my own set up and was painted All Prima. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels and NuPastels on LaCarte Sand surface.

I’m in the apprentice stage with Still Life subject matter. So it’s great to learn from Alain J. Picard in his monthly membership community, Cultivate. We did black and white thumbnails to learn about the light, middle and dark tones. Mostly Terry Ludwig pastels on toned Uart. Photo Resource © Alain J. Picard

7”h x 7”w, charcoal and NuPastel on Toned Tan. It always helps to do a tonal study before moving on to a color study. Practiced this method in a class with Alain Picard, “The Painterly Portrait,” and continued now that I’m in a year long program called, “Cultivate”.

12” h x 16” w. My own set up Inspired by teaching artist, Rob Dutoit. Pastel on Canson Paper. Trickiest part of the setup was getting the bluish purple paint I mixed up to to stick to the sides of the glass bottle. Then I had fun replicating that color with soft pastel!

I had a wooden cigar box top and used it for this painting. Was learning the Grisaille method: creating an underpainting using gray, black and white. Then layered oil paint on top. Studied with Todd Bonita. Need to study glazing technique more, the paint in the shadow under brim is shiny not matte. This was a fun study. Vermeer’s was 9”h x 7”w. My master study is 8”h x 7”w.

20" h x 11" w on LaCarte Sienna. Loved painting a master study of Joaquin Sorolla's work, "Maria Dressed as a Valencian Peasant Girl," 1906. It was fun trying to figure out that dress. This is small so not worried about getting facial features exactly right.

14" h x 11"w on Uart 400 using underpainting technique. Love doing a study of a master work, "The Gardens at the Sorolla Family House." Sorolla painted in oil and I'm painting in pastel, a good challenge.

21”h x 17”w, Soft Pastel on PastelMat, 2023. Scaled up this work after several studies. What a challenge and joy to create my own version of Mary Cassatt’s Impressionist Masterpiece. Hers was done in oil. I’m happy with what I achieved using pastels. Learned a lot. Mary wasn’t shy about layering colors. Love her composition here, too. Was very excited to see Mary did a rough study of this with Pastel, came across that at the library in my research. What a fabulous month studying the masters with other Cultivate Community Members. Saw art by masters that I never had seen before!

14”h x 23”w, Terry Ludwig and Unison Soft Pastels on LaCarte, 2022. Was thrilled to study the masters in Cultivate Online Learning. Honoring the wonderful Mary Cassatt, by studying her work and creating my own. Especially liked this because her original is in Pastel, not oil.

14”h x 11”w, soft pastel on PastelMat, 2022. This is a smaller color study, a section of Mary Cassatt’s oil painting. What a joy to look at the interlocking shapes Mary used to lead you through the painting, the child in front, then the mother seated, then the wall of windows looking onto landscape in the background. A wonderful challenge for me to emulate Mary’s work. This was my favorite month in Alain Picard’s online learning program, Cultivate. His study was of one of Joquain Sorolla’s paintings.

21”h x 14.5”w, Charcoal and Nupastel Monochrome Study on Newsprint, 2020. Did this prior to Cultivate Online Learning platform. So when the topic came up, knew this would be the painting I would study.

9”h x15”w, Charcoal and NuPastel on LaCarte, 2022. I adore Cassatt’s work and spent a month in Cultivate studying the masters. What a great exercise. Learned so much.

After learning all about soft, sharp and broken edges in a painting demo by Alain J. Picard on YouTube, I did a color study of one of my fave drag queens that performs in Town, Miss Richfield 1981. Learned so much about loosening up with painterly edges. also love a bold background, definitely want to credit Alain for teaching me to experiment with color in The Painterly Portrait course. Photo Source courtesy Illusion Theater and Miss Richfield 1981.

Tisch, 2017, 11 1/2"x15", pastel on paper. Photo Source copyright 2022 Bobby Miller.

Billie Jean Beetem, 2020, 14”h x 12”w, pastel on Uart. I adore Billie Jean and I’ve painted her before. Her glam pose here reminds me of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Photo Source Copyright John Fuentes.

Li Monahd sat for me in my studio in Portsmouth NH. So Talented!

Pastel on Canson. Tisch performed at the Crown and Anchor, Provincetown, MA. So fabulous and entertaining. This is a recent portrait, I wanted to put all my new skills learned during Covid to use.

Billie Jean Beetem.

David Scarbie Mitchell.

Billie Jean Beetem.

Love our model at Life Drawing at the PAAM. She’s incredibly focused and able to hold a beautiful pose for us artists. We had a good turn out today, nice for September. Grateful to Ruby T. For organizing. Charcoal on newsprint. I like the gesture.

Getting more familiar with this model from life drawing at the PAAM. Happy to report it’s getting easier to capture him. Charcoal on Newsprint.

Used a brown colored pencil on cream colored Strathmore paper for this one hour lesson with Lizet Dingemans. We learned about using shapes to create the form and hair of our model, Sowmya. This hour is always a pleasure…it’s very meditative for me. It’s interesting now, working on a longer session, I see the benefit of both long and short sessions. Photo copyright Raw Umber Studios, 2024.

I really love working with this model, he has chiseled features that are fun to try to capture. And strong shoulders! Charcoal on newsprint. From Figure Drawing at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

This is from short pose at Life Drawing at Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Very quick, so I’m looking for line, gesture and then add some features. Pretty happy with being able to enjoy short poses now, I used to avoid these sessions. Yuji Sakuma has been instrumental in giving me confidence in time limited sessions, by joining in the fun in his Saturday morning Portrait Carousel.

It was fun of capturing the angle of our model’s head, tucked into his shoulder. I may not have shared something “less than perfect” in the past, but it’s my website and I can do what I want! From short pose session of Figure Drawing at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Grateful to the models and to Ruby T. She organizes these fab events.

Charcoal on Newsprint. Did this pose at Life Drawing at the PAAM. It's a real struggle to just look for shapes, and not keep cocking your head at an angle to try to see the face in an upright position. A great challenge! love the model's bone structure and mass of wavy hair. Then I did it in color, in pastel. Fun!

Charcoal on Toned Gray, 12”h x 9”w. Love going to Life Drawing at the PAAM. Great to draw with other artists and the poses are always fantastic.

This portrait was done with Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Studios. We learned about observing shapes of light and dark and focused on putting them in the right place! Photo copyright Raw Umber Studios, 2024. Black colored pencil on white paper.

It’s great to observe and draw all angles of the head!! Charcoal on Newsprint . Life drawing session at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

Just a quick and loose charcoal portrait. Not always worried about perfection in life drawing sessions. It’s about gesture and line, for me.

Charcoal on Newsprint. Done with Yuji Sakuma, host of Portrait Carousel.

Brought my sketchbook and pencils to a Jazz event at the PAAM. It was fun listening to the music and trying to capture a moving musician. I rarely use graphite anymore, but it was easy and tidy to work with. Bart Weissman is a fantastic drummer.

Sunday Funday, portrait drawing session with Lizet Dingemans. Lizet was inspired by some of Sargent's classic drawings and I loved seeing his work in this session. Photo and lesson copyright Raw Umber Studios.

We focused on blending masses vs. lines in this one hour session with Lizet Dingemans. Vine & compressed Charcoal on Strathmore. Photo copyright Raw Umber Studios.

This one hour drawing was done under instruction of Lizet Dingemans, lesson and photo courtesy of Raw Umber Studios. We learned about blending and brushing out. Such freedom, we rubbed out many times using a makeup sponge, brushes and paper towels. Willow Charcoal and General’s Charcoal pencil on white Strathmore. Love Lizet’s class!

This portrait was done with Lizet Dingemans, and we learned the Atelier Method of drawing by looking for shapes. Black colored pencil on Strathmore. Learned a lot! Photo and lesson copyright Raw Umber Studios.

This as a great lesson with Lizet Dingemans, from Raw Umber Studios. We worked on perspective. Started by filling in the whole surface with charcoal. Love that method. Photo and lesson courtesy of Raw Umber Studios.

Charcoal sketch from Figure Drawing, live at Kittery Art Association.

Love Sunday lessons with Lizet Dingemans from Raw Umber Live. Learn so much about proportions and measuring. Wish to get a likeness in my own work and practice with Lizet really helps a lot. Photo Source and lesson copyright Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Studios.

Have never used white charcoal on dark UArt to create a portrait. Learned so much during this portrait drawing lesson with Raw Umber Studios. Photo and lesson copyright Lizet Dingemans, 2023.

Painted this elegant model at PAAM Live Figure drawing. Did this fast, at the end, 20 minute sketch. Charcoal on Strathmore.

Loved drawing this model at the PAAM in Provincetown at live figure drawing session. 2023.

Drew this model at live Figure Drawing at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Charcoal on Strathmore.

Learned about using charcoal and pencil to create form with Lizet Dingemans. Lesson and photo copyright Raw Umber Studios.

This lesson was wonderful. We learned how to make mistakes and adjust. Felt free from perfection. Love using willow charcoal on white paper. Lesson and photo courtesy of Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Studios live, online. 2023

This lesson was about basic measuring, which I always appreciate. Also, love a man with a beard, Dom did not disappoint. Lesson and photo source copyright Lizet Dingemans and Raw Umber Studios, 2023.

Charcoal on Strathmore. Photo source and lesson Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Studio. Love using vine charcoal, paintbrushes and a kneaded eraser to create a portrait. I love this techique, feel so good using paper as lightest surface and do not need to use white charcoal or Nupastel as I did in the past. Copyright Raw Umber Studios, 2023.

Pencil on Strathmore. Done in lesson with Luca Indraccolo, Raw Umber Studios. Lesson and photo source copyright 2023 Luca Indraccolo.

Was so excited to draw drag performer Billy with Liz Dingemans from Raw Umber Studios. We focused on dramatic lighting. Charcoal on gray toned paper. Copyright Raw Umber Studios, 2023.

Charcoal on paper done during an online Sunday Session with Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Live. Model: Jose.

Online portrait drawing session with Lizet Dingemans. Photo Source copyright 2023 Lizet Dingemans.

Online portrait drawing session with Lizet Dingemans. Photo source copyright 2023 Lizet Dingemans. Focus: mark making.

Lesson with Lizet Dingemans From Raw Umber Studios. We learned about dramatic shadow and how it hides visual info.

15”h x12”w, Charcoal on Strathmore, 2023. Photo source and lesson provided by Lizet Dingemans, Raw Umber Studios, copyright 2023.

Charcoal Study. Reference by Pixabay, Copyright 2023.

9.5”h x 11”w, Charcoal and NuPastel on toned tan. Photo Source and Lesson by Alain J. Picard, 2023.

Charcoal on paper done in the Painterly Portrait Course with Alain J. Picard. Photo Source copyright 2023 Alain J. Picard.

Charcoal monochrome study. Photo reference copyright Teresa Nelson, 2023.

Charcoal Monochrome study, done live via Zoom with New Orleans Drawing Group.

Pastel on La Carte. The amazing Grace modeled for us at a session led by Paul Schulenburg, Eastham MA. Thanks to fellow artist Dave Kaphammer, I kept the background simple.

Pastel on Art Spectrum. Done during a workshop with Aline Ordman, a fabulous teaching artist. Visit her beautiful work at www.alineordman.com.

Oil on Canvas. My niece Lily is so beautiful. This painting was done in a workshop with Aline Ordman. I’m working on getting more expressive with color in my oil paintings.

Pastel on La Carte. Done in a recent workshop with teaching artist Aline Ordman. See her work at www.alineordman.com

18”h x 14”w, 2020, mostly Unison and NuPastels on LaCarte Sand. I’m a big fan of Pete. He’s an artist, writer and teacher and I love his outlook on life. He inspires me! Winner: Maryland Pastel Society Award at the “For Pastels Only on Cape Cod” Show. CUltural Center of Cape Cod, Yarmouth MA.

Ariana Lee, 2020, 18” h x 15”w, Charcoal and pastel on paper.

Commissioned Portrait, Pastel, 16”h x 12” w, 2016, on LaCarte, sand tone. Mostly Unison and NuPastels. Two portraits in one, a good challenge for me!

Ariana Lee, 2020, 12”h x 9”w, Pastel on Uart paper.

Completed this portrait after “Heads Above” workshop with Aaron Michael Thompson at Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

For the Tom Petty tribute concert to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of NH Pastel on paper.

Artist, teacher, wonderful human being.

From class with Adeline Goldminc-Tronzo.

Oil on Canvas. From class with Adeline Goldminc-Tronzo.

Color play: tertiary color. Red-purple and blue-purple and pink.

Oil on canvas. From class with Adeline Goldminc-Tronzo.

At Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

Jack, 2020, Pastel on Sennelier Paper,

Work in progress.

25” h x 19 “w, 2019, Unison Soft Pastel and NuPastels on LaCarte Sand. Inspired by Hellfirer. Sold! Grateful for Curtis Speer showing at his Cusp Gallery and finding a home for Miss Richfield.

Framed, 28”h x 23”w, 2020. Unison Soft Pastels and NuPastel on LaCarte Sand. Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA. This is just an everyday scene….but I knew I wanted to capture the joy and fun to be had at the tip of Cape Cod. You can stroll in the sun and have Scarbie come alongside you, coasting on her beautiful pink Schwinn Bike! Can’t you just hear her trill the bell on her handlebars, letting you know she’s coming through?

Framed size, 22” h x 28” w. Unison soft pastels and NuPastels on LaCarte Sand. Scarbie is one of my favorite drag queens! Inspired by colorful outfits and hats, all hand made by Scarbie.

21” h x 15” w, 2020, mostly Unison Soft Pastels and NuPastels. Commercial Street, Provincetown. Shown at Curtis Speer’s Cusp Gallery, Bradford Street, Provincetown. Dropped off at the Gallery and Curtis called me 15 minutes later to share the good news that it SOLD!

After Hopper. Pastel on LaCarte, 8”h x 10”w. Color Study of Edward Hopper’s “Chop Suey”. As I studied the women’s face in this painting, was amazed how Hopper uses simple shapes with value and color. It’s minimal but it works.

After Hopper. Pastel on LaCarte, 10”h x 8” w. This is a section of Hopper’s “Compartment C Car” oil painting. Studying from a master, love Hopper’s use of color and shapes and light.

A great place for prepared food, cheese and wine!

Rachel strikes a pose.

Rev. Ogun Holder.

Just a fun study I recently dug up in my photos! Painted while studying with Aline Ordman. She’s fantastic at horse & Jockey scenes!

Painted this cutie with Alain Picard as part of an Alumni Workshop for Cultivate Online Learning Group. 7" h x 12" w on Uart Dark. Just love how Alain showed us how to build form and choose an exciting color palette. What a fantastic instructor, highly recommend Cultivate. Photo and Lesson Copyright 2024 Alain J. Picard.

14”h x 11”w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 2023. Photo courtesy of Pixabay, copyright 2023.

My sister Patti’s sweet tabby cat, Tom Brady, basking in the sun. Soft pastel on LaCarte, 14”h x 11”w. Photo Source Patti Clifford.

12”h x 9”w, charcoal and Nupastel on Toned Tan, 2023. Photo reference by Pixabay copyright 2023.

12”h x 13.5” w, Soft Pastel on LaCarte, 2023. Painted with photo and lesson provided by Alain J. Picard, copyright 2023.

9.5”h x 11”w, Charcoal and NuPastel on toned tan. Photo Source and Lesson by Alain J. Picard, 2023.

This is a larger size painting, done in the Cultivate Membership Community, a year long, online learning group, created and taught by Alain J. Picard. Our theme this past month was “Magnificent Beasts.” Classmates did giraffes, sheep and elephants. In this monthly program, Alain J. Picard provides wonderful demos and photo sources. He also encourages us to use our own photos or sources available online. Once a month there is a critique and this piece was chosen for February. Want to credit fabulous photographer Paul, ©Paulo Camera, Flickr. Learning so much in this fabulous course!

This magnificent Macaw Parrot is from an online photo source, Unsplash, ©Charly Bron. This piece was created from a demo offered in the online learning platform developed by Alain J. Picard, “Cultivate”. It’s a monthly membership and I am hooked! Each month, we get new sessions, demos, artist spotlights, live Q&A sessions and much more. We share our work with other members in a private Facebook group. This exotic pet is done on dark LaCarte Pastel Card surface. It scares me to paint on dark, so a great challenge. Saves time and helps me to create bold color in subject and background.

Rick & Oren’s Treeing Walker Coonhound, such a model! I was inspired to paint her after she took me for a walk. She is energetic and full of spunk!

Humphrey the amazing pug! Shawn commissioned this portrait for her sister, Kitty, and her husband, Pete.

This is a small version of the Macaw Parrot from lesson in Cultivate online learning with Alain J. Picard. Done on Uart 400. Photo Source ©Charly Bron, Unsplash.

Patti’s Tabby cat, Tom Brady. My sister, Patti, gave me a set of Nupastels from a her best friend Ruth’s housemate, Alda Spencer. Alda loved to quilt and loved art. I first started making pastel paintings with these, but now I mostly use soft pastels. This was my first cat painting in pastel. Patti’s an artist, too, and she inspires me!

Portrait commissioned by Linda for her son, Ethan.

Ben & Rachel’s Bernese Mountain Dog.

Michelle’s awesome golden retriever. Desey was an amazing dog that many young readers connected with in the Children’s Room at the Portsmouth Library. He was a special dog and will be missed.

Janet’s English Springer Spaniel.

Marylynne commissioned this portrait of Sunny for her daughter, Cathy.

Gia is a guide dog I met recently. Such a good doggie!

Mary’s Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (PBGV)

The O’Brien’s cat. He found us at the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society. When he ambled over to us, Rachel said, “What about this one?” Although he was dusty and scruffy, he turned out to be such a love and there was a line of people waiting to adopt him as he showed himself to be an excellent lap kitty.

Maine Coon Cat.

Paul and Ellen’s Leonberger.

Source of inspiration: flickr.com

Color study with Mary’s PBGV, Monty.

Patti & Doug’s Chow Chow.

Color play with Ellen & Paul’s Leonberger.

Ellen & Paul’s Leonberger.

Claire’s husky.

Learned so much creating this portrait in a workshop with Corey Pitkin, through the Pastel Society of Cape Cod. He’s a master of portrait and figurative work. Incredibly excited to study with him. 16”h 12”w on Pastelmat. Photo source and lesson copyright Corey Pitkin.

What a wonderful class taught by the incredible artist and teacher, Corey Pitkin. Learning how to paint the satin of the dress was so fun. Corey used a blue light to light his model and this was fun to try to depict. Photo and lesson copyright 2025, Corey Pitkin.

Have painted Grace in other groups, loved the chance to paint her again, live, in Corey Pitkin workshop at the Cultural Center in Yarmouth. 16”h x 12”w on Wine PastelMat.

Painted live in a workshop with the wonderful Corey Pitkin. 12”h x 16”w on wine PastelMat. Desiree is an artist, hair stylist, businesswoman and lovely model. Was very excited about the opportunity to paint her.

Had fun with this one, Corey Pitkin was my instructor and he cast a purplish light from the side. 16”h x 12”w on light blue PastelMat. Love the chance to paint Grace in person!

Done live in a workshop with Jeanne Tangney, a wonderful instructor. On PastelMat. Loved our Model’s expression. 2023

This is a 12 x 9 color study on LaCarte. Painted while working as a Community Mentor in Alain J. Picard’s Painterly Portrait Online Course. Hope you can see the difference a year makes! Photo Source and lesson ©Alain J. Picard.

Small color study, on Lacarte Sand, with soft pastels by Terry Ludwig, and NuPastels. Done while studying with Alain Picard. This was a breakthrough for me, as I really started to understand about painting skin tones and creating impressionistic backgrounds. Reference photo by Alain Picard from The Painterly Portrait Online Course. ©Alain J. Picard

This portrait started with a pinky-purple underpainting on Uart 400. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels and a few hard NuPastels. Capturing the model’s youth and beauty was a great challenge, and learned method through Alain J. Picard’s Painterly Portrait Course. Have always admired pastel portraits where they leave the base of the painting a bit unfinished. Reference Photo and lesson by Alain Picard from The Painterly Portrait Online Course. © Alain J. Picard.

Small color study, on LaCarte sand tone. Done with mostly Terry Ludwig, Unison and NuPastels. Reference photo and lesson by Alain Picard from The Painterly Portrait Online Course. © Alain J. Picard

Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastels and a few hard NuPastels. This was created during Alain J. Picard’s Painterly Portrait Course. Learned so much. Reference Photo and lesson by Alain Picard from The Painterly Portrait Online Course. © Alain J. Picard.

Monochrome study with Tombow brush markers on Toned Gray, 12”h x 9”w. Photo source copyright 2024: Tim Herron, The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists.

Monochrome study using Tombow Brush Markers on Toned Gray Strathmore, 12” x 9”. Really love when we have a good shadow on one side of face. Photo Source copyright 2024, Tim Herron, The Pretentious Cleveland Portrait Artists.

Monochrome study on Strathmore Toned Gray using Tombow brush markers. 12” x 9”. Photo source copyright 2024, Kate Gauthreaux.

Monochrome study on Toned Gray, 12” x 9” h using Tombow Brush Markers. Revisited this method, learned with Alain Picard. It can be very helpful to try this before you go to color. Photo Source copyright 2024, Steve Shafer, Viet Sun Tea.

This was done with NuPastels on PastelMat. Learned so much about values and how to shape the head and hair with Alain J. Picard in Cultivate Online Learning Community. Lesson and photo source Copyright Alain J. Picard.

Learn so much about light and dark values when I work with charcoal and NuPastels. Reference Photo copyright Bobby Miller

Monochrome Study of model and fellow artist Ben. Was studying with Alain Picard lesson and used sepia toned NuPastels on PastelMat. Photo Source: copyright Ben Accorso.

Met this wonderful model while drawing in sessions at PAAM. There is no instruction given. Love getting to paint alongside other artist friends in the community for two hours, once or twice a week in the summer. This is one of my fave locations to draw at. Great variety of models!

Lil Nas X: Urban Cowboy. Loved learning about a sepia toned monochrome with Alain Picard lesson. Photo source Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET Copyright 2019 Getty Images.

You can really get your darkest darks and lightest lights with Tombo markers! Photo source Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET Copyright 2019 Getty Images.

Monochrome study of Rachel. Had a lot of fun figuring out composition of the figure in the floral landscape. Doing a black and white version helps me figure out my plan when scaling up to full color. Belonging to Cultivate Monthly Membership Community with Alain J. Picard motivates me to try a variety of subjects and themes. Photo resource © Theresa Nelson

Done on a coral underpainting on Uart 400. Mostly Terry Ludwig soft pastel and NuPastels. This is my own work and I learned so much from Alain Picard’s Figure in the Garden themed month. Photo resource ©Theresa Nelson.

Well who doesn’t love a little study of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings from Netflix’s “Bridgerton?” Charcoal and NuPastel on Strathmore Toned Tan. Photo Source: screen shot of monologue on SNL ©Saturday Night Live

Small color study using an underpainting on Uart 400 with some NuPastel and Terry Ludwig soft pastels. Experimenting with different colors and backgrounds can be fun and ignite my creative spark! Using cobalt blue in eyebrows and beard is a fun departure. From opening monologue screen shot. Photo Source © Saturday Night Live

Black and white monochrome study, charcoal and NuPastel on Toned Tan. Photo Resource © Mubarak Showole on Unsplash

This is ”Color Play” for me. Experimenting with a skin tone palette that is bold and bright brings me happiness. Then I can bring this to the easel in other sessions, where I may use a traditional skin tone and add some vibrant color. © Mubarak Showole on Unsplash.

Enjoyed finding dimension with limited color palette. NuPastels PastelMat, 12”h x 9”w.

Grisaille painted in a class with Todd Bonita, 2021, hxw, oils. Used a cigar box insert as surface.

Grisaille painting done in a winter class with Todd Bonita, 2021, hxw, oil on board.