These small sketches will serve as "tests" for the design and composition. Here I am considering how I will you break up the space, what is the most interesting and pleasing arrangement or perspective of the positive and negative shapes, am I going to use a design structure for my composition, how does the light move across the forms, etc. 
The "test" is where most of the decision making gets done...if something doesn't work...no worries...I'm not committed or married to the composition...just trying it out.
Workshop participants are welcome to work through a few of these sketches prior to class. We will spend a good part of the morning looking at your subjects, finding interesting compositions and considering design elements. Below are a few other examples of subjects that work well for this challenge or follow the link to see some examples from a similar class earlier in the year.
Struggling for balance, I find myself retreating from the unnecessary... "stuff" that I often feel compelled to do relating to art... the exhibits, juried competitions, gallery responsibilities...and even teaching and blogging. Allowing time for the doing...allowing myself the time to clear the chatter in my mind and paint. Art is good for that, not only in the doing, but also the viewing...quieting chatter...calming the spirit.
This is a painting in progress I began a few weeks ago. Pastel (18X24) on an Ampersand Pastelbord. Most pastelist will agree I have an odd method for approaching the painting...to compartmentalize and work a section to completion. Having never taken a pastel class, this process feels natural for me. Much of my work is grounded in realism and therefore, requires a degree of spatial believability. That is...for me to create the feeling of perspective necessary to make this object (a stem) appear in front of that object (a blossoming bud for example), I must work that shape in the order as it occurs in space (from back to front). Since I have tested the composition and design as either a thumbnail value study (or after so many, in my mind), I have a mental picture of what the completed painting needs to be, the placement of lines, shapes, values to make the painting work and maintain a sense of harmony. For me, pastel is a precise medium, every stroke deliberately placed. If I have plan and know where I am going from the beginning, I can work one shape at a time. Sure, I probably don't have to work each shape to completion...but I just can't help myself...each shape is beautiful in itself.
These value masses, serve as a reference to relate other values in the painting. Now I can expand on the mass shapes, adding subtle value, color, and temperature accents. Supporting the value structure (and perspective) identified in my thumbnail sketch, will enhance the paintings overall "readability."
1. Homing Pigeons have been known to fly 700 miles in a day. A 10 year study carried out by Oxford University concluded that pigeons use roads and freeways to navigate, in some cases changing direction at freeway junctions.
2. Pigeons achieved a 98% success rate in the missions flown in WW II, despite enemy fire, and often with mortal injuries to themselves.
3. Pigeons are still used today by the French, Swiss, Israeli, Iraqi and Chinese Armies.
4. Noah's Dove was most likely a homing pigeon.
5. They were used by the Greeks more than 5,000 years ago.
6. They are bred, raised and trained as good as Thoroughbred Horses (four million or so worldwide).
7. They have been known to see very well over a 26 mile distance.
8. Scientist believe they may hear wind blowing over mountains from hundreds of miles away. The ability to hear sounds 11 octaves below middle C allow the pigeons to detect earthquakes and electrical storms.
9. In the late 1800 the most heroic recorded flight was from a pigeon that was released in Africa and took 55 days to get home in England. Traveling over 7,000 miles.
10. Unless separated, pigeons mate for life. They have been known to live over 30 years. Both parents feed their young milk.
11. In the 17th century, King George I of England, decreed all pigeon droppings to be property of the Crown—and the “lofts” were policed to enforce the law! (Pigeon manure was used in making gunpowder)
12. The pigeon has the rare ability for a large bird to be able to fly nearly straight up.
13. Advanced studies at the University of Montana conclude: “Pound for pound, columba livia (the pigeon) is one of the smartest, most physically adept creatures in the animal kingdom.” The pigeon can pass a mirror test, recognizing it’s own reflection, and is only one of 6 species, and the only non-mammal, that has this ability. The pigeon can recognize all 26 letters of the English language as well differentiate between photographs and even between two different human beings in a photograph.
14. Pigeons are the only bird in the world that do not have to lift their head to swallow water.
15. When the pigeon is in long flight, it reaches back and holds on to the short tail feathers with its feet in order to save energy from holding its legs up.
16. During breeding season, when there are more than a few babies on the floor, all parents will feed all babies, even if they are not their own.
17. Why do you never see baby pigeons? Pigeons lay only 2 eggs at a time, and then spoil those babies shamefully. The parents feed the babies until they’re totally fat, happy, and freathered out. By the time they leave the nests, they are the same size as adults.
My "browns" are usually mixed using the other colors from my primary palette, providing a color harmony and unity in a painting, but yet enough variety to maintain visual interest. Notice in the two paintings [in progress] how the warm and cool neutrals play a supporting role to the star colors in the birds. Though I have not intentionally painted any of my birds brown, the viewer will see "brown".
So, finally, the simple answer to the question...How do you make brown?
...but I am proudly exhibiting 
This month I am joining the family of artists at the Art First Gallery, 824 Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg. .jpg)
I look forward to the new directions this step will take me in art, insight into the gallery operations, teaching opportunities, and not to mention, exhibiting with an amazing group of artists.
Above is a photo of Studio #3 at Liberty Town Arts in downtown Fredericksburg...my space, my solace, where some of my work gets done, and I teach a few workshops throughout the year. Over the past few years, I attribute my success and growth as an artist, in no small way, to the support, camaraderie and creative energy of the artists and mentors at Liberty Town. In May, Dan Finnegan, the founder is hosting Liberty Town's Annual "Patron's Show". Local artists come together to donate paintings in support of the arts and vision of LibertyTown, and to celebrate it's anniversary. The concept for the "Patron's Show", simple: buy a ticket, take home an amazing piece of art... and enjoy the company of the colorful community of artists and patrons in Fredericksburg. Tickets for the event go on sale "First Friday" May 7th. Visit the website for more information. www.libertytownarts.com 
Another love to share this week...watercolor sketching (long overdue)... simplified, loose, and rich in color. Doing small sketches, I can explore a concept, test a composition, plan a color scheme and structure without having to commit. If a design doesn't "work" as a sketch, it won't work when enlarged to a finished painting. Only, I won't have invested so much time to the idea and therefore feel compelled to persist. I also avoid that uncomfortable middle ground in a painting, full of self-dought, when I am not sure if I can pull it all together. "Energy" takes on many forms.
A few sketches, soon to become paintings..jpg)
Secret Places 
The class jumped right in without fear, worked hard, and created some amazing work. 
Katie's man walking
Kayleigh's cleat.jpg)
Jaclyn's cups.jpg)
Victoria's self portrait.jpg)
Vaisha's easel
Vitor's tire
The Space Between
my chair study
