"Queen of Swords"

Wanting to paint something different....my friend posed for me with her fencing equipment this Summer.  So many good photos....I particularly liked her expression in this one..



"Queen of Swords", pastel, 24"x18"©Kim Werfel



She reminded me of the Tarot Card...the "Queen of Swords".  Her confident gaze seems to make one wonder what she's thinking.  I think this has a rather otherworldly look...almost like a female superhero of sorts.

Part of the Tarot interpretation "a woman who is intensely perceptive, quick and confident in all she does....a woman of strong character..."

This was fun to paint and has encouraged me to do more portraits that have strong personality!

I plan to have this painting in the exhibition at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro for the 20th Chatham County Studio Tour this December 1 &2, 8 & 9.   The reception for the show will be on November 30th from 7-9pm.  The artwork will be on display there Dec 1st & 2nd and will be in my home for the 2nd weekend of the tour (Dec. 8th & 9th).

I'd love for you to come to the reception and the tour!   For your map and info click HERE

You'll have a great time, so mark your calendars!

best to you all,

Kim Werfel

www.kimwerfel.com



Invited to Demo at Art of the Carolinas!

Jerry's Artarama hosts The Art of The Carolinas, a huge art expo with over 100 workshops and fantastic sales and bargains on art supplies.  They have asked me to demo for their line of handmade soft pastels, Mungyo Gallery.

 

The Art of the Carolinas Expo will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 9th, 10th and 11th at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.  Trade Show hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 - 5:30, Sunday 10-3.  Workshops start on Thursday.  Free admission and parking.

If you find yourself there, please stop by my vendor booth and say hello!

Kim

www.kimwerfel.com

Continuing Pastel Painting Class

My "Introduction to Pastel Painting Class" has been humming along these past four weeks and after being asked, I decided to create a new class "Continuing Pastel Painting".

The new class is not for beginners....but will build on the elements of design from the Intro Class.

We will introduce the principles of design and different types of composition.  Preliminary value and color studies will be explored giving you tools to create great paintings from life and/or photos! 

Beginning pastel student working from her own still life set-up

 

Class begins on Thursday Oct. 25th from 10am - Noon.  Click on this link to register at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.  Class number 1024B Continuing Pastel Painting, $82 tuition, Friends of the ArtsCenter $74, day of class tuition $87.

Materials List is here. 

Questions?  Feel free to contact me at k-e@mindspring.com.

http://www.kimwerfel.com

New Baby Girl Portrait

This blond beauty was fun to capture in pastel.  Her delightful grandmother worked at my bank and decided to have her granddaughter captured at the tender age of three.

Blond Toddler, pastel, 13x14",©Kim Werfel

 

 

The portrait is painted on a light blue Art Spectrum paper mounted on mat board.  The parents may plan to make giclee prints, and if so, I plan to get one too.  I like American Art Editions in Apex for my prints - great people to work with and excellent quality.

 

Her pink dress and white collar with her embroidered initials are lovely with her pale porcelain skin.  I had to change the background color from the photo, as it was a dark orange and didn't work with her coloring or the dress.  To help her come forward, I added cool darks with a touch of lavender behind her.

 

These make great gifts that become heirloom pieces handed down through generations.  Contact me at k-e@mindspring.com to discuss creating a your own pastel portrait.

 

Thank you for following my blog :)

 

Kim

 

http://www.kimwerfel.com



"Fire and Ice" wins award

My pastel painting "Fire and Ice" has won 3rd place in the 10th Annual Fine Art League of Cary's Senior's Art Exhibition!

"Fire and Ice", pastel, ©Kim Werfel, $600

 

 



This same piece got juried into the PSNC's Statewide Pastel Exhibition this Spring.   It's a departure from my commissioned portrait pieces...painted in fun for myself as a color experiment.  I need to do that more often!

This artwork is available in giclee prints and greeting cards. 

Contact me at k-e@mindspring.com if you're interested. (makes a great Christmas Card!)

Thanks for following me :)

Kim Werfel

www.kimwerfel.com




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