Come to the "Passion for Pastel Exhibit" reception this Friday!

The Waverly Artist's Group Gallery in Cary, NC invited me to participate in a "Passion for Pastel Exhibit"...my first invitational!  I've included two pastel paintings "The Picnic Place" and "Leading the Way". 

"The Picnic Place", pastel, 16x20"©Kim Werfel, $650

 

 

"The Picnic Place" is a view down my block where my neighbors and I have picnics now and then.

 

"Leading the Way" is from a photo taken of a doe and her fawn right outside my window...

 

 

"Leading the Way", pastel, 19x15"©Kim Werfel, $540

 

 

Both are personal favorites of mine...but I decided I should show them...if the right person responds it's meant to be :)  I've made cards and prints of Leading the Way just in case.

 

A surprise bonus third painting may be shown if there's room...so I may have "Rooster and his Chicks" there too!

 



"Rooster and his Chicks", 14x18", ©Kim Werfel, $450

 

The show will also feature works by Christine Berndt, Vinita Jain, Wendy Musser and Lori White, all fellow members of the Pastel Society of North Carolina and excellent artists.  The show runs from August 28th - September 24th.

 

Should be a beautiful show, so come on out to the reception this Friday, August 31st from 6-9 pm.  It's a full moon, so everyone should be up for a good time!!

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Kim

 

www.kimwerfel.com



 





ArtsCenter Instructor Open House Demo and New Fall Class Info

The ArtsCenter of Carrboro is sponsoring an "Instructor Open House" event this Saturday, August 25th from 4-6 pm to help kick-off the new fall classes.  I'll be there with my pastels and a painting demo on my easel.

 

Here's a photo from my current pastel class, showing one of my fabulous students at work on a pumpkin still life set up.  Brand new to pastel painting, she took to it easily and is making wonderful progress.

 

My next "Introduction to Pastel Painting Class" is on Thursday mornings, September 13 - October 18th, from 10 am to 12 noon at the ArtsCenter.  Class #1024 on page 11 of the new Fall ArtsCenter Class Catalog.

Click here for the catalog. 

This class gives an overview of different pastels, pastel pencils, papers and materials, as well as pastel blending techniques.  We will work from both photos and still life set-ups, with emphasis on shapes, values, and hard/soft edges.  Special care in framing pastels will be discussed as well.

Class runs for 6 weeks, $120 non-members, $108 members.

Materials list can be found here.

 

You can register in person at the ArtsCenter front desk, by mail with the registration form in the Catalog, by phone at (919) 927-2787 x201 with a credit or debit card, or online at www.artscenterlive.org.

 

Come join us, whether a beginner or intermediate level student, and learn about the wonderful medium of pastel! 

Questions?  E-mail me here.

Come meet me Saturday and sign up for my class!


Kim Werfel

www.kimwerfel.com
 

 



Rescue Sheltie-Mix Commission

Meet Frankie, a rescue Sheltie-mix commission.  He's to be a surprise gift for my client's friend, who lives out in Colorado.  Needless to say, I've never met Frankie, so had to work from a photo send to me by e-mail.

"Frankie", pastel, 13x18"©Kim Werfel

 

It's always better when I can meet the animal and take lots of reference photos, but I did my best with what I had.

Here's the original photo.  I eliminated the leaves and bricks as they were distracting and busy.  The bricks added too much warm oranges, and the patterns of both of them became as important as the dog....not what you want in a portrait.

I did keep his green leash, as I thought the owner would recognize it and it makes it more personalized. The dark blue helped balance the warms and brought him forward.

For some reason, the purples are jumping out at me on the computer screen, but are much more subtle and blended in the original art.  I've re-worked this several times, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Sometimes work just doesn't translate to the computer screen!

Hope you enjoyed viewing my art!

Check out my website for more www.kimwerfel.com

 





Husky-Shepherd Mix Commission

Meet "Beau" (or rather the southern version "BO" as his owner's wife said.)

This commission is a birthday surprise.  BO has passed on to doggie heaven, and was much loved by his owner.  I never got to meet BO, but somehow in the process of carefully painting him, I always feel a connection.

"BO", 14x18", pastel, ©Kim Werfel 2012

The owner's thoughtful wife never knew BO either, but knew her husband loved him so.  There are only two photos of him, so I chose the one with him looking at the camera....seemingly happy to me.

This work is painted on Wallis paper that I undercoated with a burnt orange pastel and wet into the paper for a warm ground to liven up all the blue-greens.

Birthday is in August, so I must let him go so he can be properly framed for the birthday surprise. 

Now instead of a small snapshot, he'll be honored with his own portrait, a loving reminder of a faithful companion.

Love being able to do this for people.  It's the best.

Kim Werfel

http://www.kimwerfel.com

Introduction to Pastel Painting Class!

Introduction to Pastel Painting Class!

Now's your chance to play with this exciting medium!
Beginners and intermediates welcome.  I mentioned this in an earlier post, but since it's starting next week I wanted to send a reminder..................

I'm new at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro....I thought it might be cooler in the evening...and we can relax and enjoy ourselves :)

3018. INTRODUCTION TO PASTEL PAINTING: Tuesday, 6:30-8:30pm, July 24-August 28
(6 weeks)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 to Tuesday, August 28, 2012
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Enjoy the world of soft pastels with this informative and structured class designed to give you the opportunity to learn how to combine your drawing and painting skills to create successful pastel paintings. Pastel painting techniques, an overview of materials, attention to shapes and values, use of hard and soft edges and implementing color theory will be included in this course. Students new to pastel painting, as well as returning students are welcome.

*Click here for the materials list for this course.

*This course is part of The Artist at Work Certificate Program. Please click here for details about the Program.

Instructor: Kim Werfel

Tuition: $120

Members Tuition: $108 Not a member? Learn more!

Late Registration: $125

Click here to Register Now!

Any questions about the class, please send me an e-mail or call 919 240-4552.

Spread the word!  Starts next week!  Hope you'll be joining me.

Let's get creative - you'll love pastels!

Kim Werfel

www.kimwerfel.com

k-e@mindspring.com

Jack Russell - Beagle Mix

Meet "Mojo" - a Jack Russell/Beagle mix who is Maggie-May's "brother" (so to speak)

"Mojo", 6x6", acrylic ©Kim Werfel

He too, is on a 6x6" wraparound canvas and painted in acrylics.  And yes, his ear really does flip up that cutely...he's adorable. 

I couldn't just paint one dog without painting the other.  So now they have bookends :)

Here's Mojo's original photo that I worked from....changing the background to blue kept it dark, cool and pushed it back but brought some color into it.  Blue will recede and Mojo's a little guy, so it fits :)

I continued his paws around the edges of the painting...fun to do on wraparound canvases.

It was so much fun to paint these paintings that I think I will now offer them as a portrait option to my much larger pastel and acrylic portraits....providing there's a photo I can work from and it's the head only (six inches is a bit of a challenger to fit much else).

I'll be offering them for $150 - they don't need framing, are varnished and come with a little sawtooth hanger in the back so you can put them on a tabletop, bookcase or hang in a small spot on a wall alone or in a grouping.  Makes a perfect gift for a loving pet owner.  :)

Now to let him dry and gift him to my sweet neighbors!  (they loved Maggie-May!)

Kim

http://www.kimwerfel.com
k-e@mindspring.com

Jack Russell Terrier Portrait

My friends don't know it, but I painted their little Jack Russell - "Maggie May."  She's painted in acrylic on a 6x6" wraparound canvas and varnished twice. 

"Maggie-May", acrylic, 6x6"©Kim Werfel

 

This is a surprise gift for them as they just sold their home to move to the beach!  Sorry for the poor photo....pastels are easier to photograph as they don't shine back at you.  I must have used some gloss medium without realizing it in the background.

 

(original photo)

 

Thought you might enjoy a look at the original photo....she's very sweet here...but obviously a flash photo.  I like the strong contrast between her light fur and dark background.  Cropped the photo to focus on her face and pushed some light yellows, pinks and greens to give her some dimension.  Pushed dark greens and blues in the background.

They have another dog "Mojo" too that I've started, but won't have in time for their farewell party this weekend. I'll work on him his week and post later.

I think they'll love it...(I love surprises!).....

Stay tuned....I'll let you know how it all worked out :)

Have a great weekend!

Kim

http://www.kimwerfel.com