Pastel Painting of a Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

Vivid, colorful strokes are used to create a particularly playful image of a Yorkshire Terrier puppy. A red planked floor with colored joints sets off the puppy and reinforces the playful quality of the whole.

The expressive and visual power of red is exemplified by two of Henri Matisse's paintings; The Roofs of Collioure, 1905, and Large Red Interior, 1948. Another example is Marc Chagall's Big Sun.

Pastel Painting of a Colorful Maltese Puppy

Art means different things to different people. I love color and the creative interplay of colors, textures and patterns. Flowers are beautiful color expressed in pleasing patterns. For me color expresses joy, freshness and exuberance. Since puppies have these qualities, I decided to paint a colorful pup.

I was sitting with a friend who has an irrepressible white Maltese puppy. White is made up of all colors. So my Maltese is shaped by colorful strokes and set against a blue floor with colorful joints to highlight the dog while making an integrated visual design.

Marc Chagall used blue to contrast and set off bright, colorful and expressive images. Three wonderful examples are Horsewoman on a Red Horse, 1966, Child with a Dove and On Two Banks, 1957.

Pastel Painting of a Ballerina on Stage

A ballerina is a very “painterly” subject. A ballerina is expressive. Her costume is a great opportunity for colorful fun as is the wood floor. I used a pointillist style to suggest a painted landscape stage backdrop. The modeled ballerina becomes the focus against the suggested curtain and floor while at one with both because of the use of complementary color, patterns and texture.

Softer images are brought to life by the lively colors of the Fauvist style. Three examples by Henri Manquin are Model Resting, 1905, Jeanne at the Fountain, Villa Demiere and Morning at Cavalliere, 1906.

Pastel Painting of a House

For me, color is a joyful experience. It makes little difference to me whether or not a chosen subject was colorful to start. I suppose this is one reason I like Van Gogh so much. Two examples are Van Gogh’s White House at Night, 1890. and The Yellow House, 1888.

Pastel Painting of a Baby Elephant

Inspired by my first teddy elephant more years ago than I want to admit, this is proof that we never have to lose our sense of fun. Little “Pinky” is a whimsical subject set in a pointillist scene of texture, patterns and color. This is meant to combine a childlike sense of fun and an adult sense of art.