TItle and Jerry's Artarama!

First, special thanks to Jerry's Artarama for sharing my review of the Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels along with an image of the painting I created with them show below.

Splatter Blog (Jerry's Artarama)

Secondly, I have a winner for the Facebook contest to find a title for this painting.  The winning title is "Art is the Best Medicine" by a huge margin.  Congratulations to the winner!

Finally, the painting has already sold.  It's been a good week!

First Painting with Gallery Pastels

I've just completed my first painting with the new Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels.  They were so beautiful new that I decided to include them in the painting.  I am running a contest on my Facebook Page to get a title.  Voting ends at 11:59 January 3rd, 2014 but if you want to vote on your favorite title head HERE.

Untitled (so far) 

Pastel on UART, 22 X 10

New Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels-A Review

Lucky, lucky me!  I received a new full set of Mungyo Gallery Soft Pastels from Jerry's Artarama along with a package of UART Sanded Pastel Paper just in time for my holiday break.  I have been asked by many people how these pastels perform so here is my review:

The full set of 200 is an excellent starter or base set with a wide variety of color choices packed into a beautiful sturdy and classy box which is perfect for travel. The set that I received was perfectly intact without a single break (I don't like broken new pastels). The colors are nicely arranged and AP non-toxic. Each pastel is about the size of woman's thumb, very similar to Unison Soft Colour Pastels. For me, the size is perfect. 

The quality of each pastel was consistent across the range of colors I used. The pigments are pretty rich…at least the blue/green colors that I pulled out for this piece and I assume that is true for the other colors. 

Gallery Handmade Soft Pastels have the approximately the hardness/softness of something between Rembrandt Pastels and Unisons. They are only slightly less blendable than the Unisons for this reason. The option to subtly shift tones in additional layers is excellent but for some, to significantly change a color with a subsequent layer would require a softer pastel such as Unison, Mount Vision, Townsend, or Schminke. This also may depend on the surface you prefer and how much pressure you apply when painting. Still, they are good for blending and layering and are a great base set for professionals and students. 

The Gallery's handled very well on the UART paper (600 grit) which is my favorite surface so far. I imagine they would be good on any professional pastel surface.

My overall impression of these pastels was excellent and even more impressive when one considers the value. The full set is priced at $624.99 but on sale through Jerry's (but out of stock, sadly-10-30-13) for $499.99, you really can't beat the price at all for the overall value. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts or any questions you have but I hope this helps. Happy painting!

November Pastel Journal suprise

Thanks to UART Sanded Pastel Paper, my painting "Oddball" appeared in an advertisement in The Pastel Journal.  It was an honor having a piece next to Toni James' artwork.

New Surface for Portraits

I rarely take progress shots of a painting but I had just discovered a beautiful linen panel made by a friend of mine so I decided it might be a good time to do that.  Here are the progress shots of a portrait followed by the final painting.  Oil on linen.  23 X 18.

Workshop Photos!

I'm catching up on fun events from last year and one terrific experience was my Still Life In Oil workshop hosted by Paint St. Louis.  Below is my painting from the workshop along with some photos from that class.  I had the best students!  If you are interested in a pastel or oil workshop, check out this link:  LISA OBER WORKSHOPS

"Sweet Somethings"      Oil on panel        16 X 14

Pastel Society of America Signature Membership status

I am very happy to learn that the Pastel Society of America has granted me signature status!  That is very exciting.  This is the first time I have applied so I am thrilled.  I'm told I can now put the initials PSA behind my name.

15th Annual Pastel 100 Win!

HOORAY! The 15th Annual Pastel 100 winners have been announced and guess what? I made the list! Second place in the Still LIfe and Floral category. How fun is that? And I will receive pastels to top it all off! I believe the Pastel 100 issue will be April's issue of Pastel Journal in which the competition winners will appear. Anyhow, check out the list. Congratulations to all the folks on the list. I can't wait to see all the paintings.  Here is the winning painting: