Oh, Portland....

Portland, Oregon is a beautiful city. Unless you're trying to navigate through construction on one-way streets.

Finding my way to the downtown Art Media store for the demo yesterday morning was not so bad until I discovered two blocks before my destination was closed down.... Thank goodness I was running super early and had time to circle the area three times before finally getting onto the right street just to find out where to park.

Oh, Portland...

The demo at the Downtown Art Media was quiet. Several people interested in discovering what PanPastels were, but just quiet in general.

Then off like a shot to Beaverton....what should have taken 13 minutes (according to Google Maps) took closer to 40 while trying to find my way to the streets the map directed after re-routing from the parking structure. Inhaled some food and into the Beaverton Art Media where a number of people were waiting for me!

The day was overall very exciting, meeting new people and showing them a new-ish medium.

Coming up, there's a show opening at the Emerald Art Center November 2nd featuring students of Jerry Dame's workshops this past year. I'll have a portrait and a still-life on display. If you're in the Springfield area, check it out.

Also, shortly thereafter, it's time for the Tools of the Trade show at the UofO! One of my favorite events all year.





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Canvas Event at the Duck Store

Next Thursday and Friday, July 15th and 16th, I'll be out front of the UofO's bookstore painting a very large canvas (48"x48" - hope it's not windy!) for their Canvas Event. I'll be out there with Sarkis Antikajian painting. Anyone is welcome and they'll have canvases available for anyone to paint on and take home. Check it out!

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Colleen Howe Workshop, part 2

Okay! As promised, pictures!

Colleen working with the watercolor underpainting of her demonstration piece.

The underpainting completed, pre-pastel application.

Colleen applying pastel over the dried watercolor.

Germaine, Donna, and Debbie out at Owens Rose Garden Friday morning.

Colleen helping Randye with her rocks. (It was rather cold Friday morning....especially if you're from Utah. ;) )

Random of Randoms - Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, Leia (behind the parking sign pole - you can kind of see the buns) and a Sand...person, whose names I forget. XD They walked past the gallery Saturday afternoon.

The piece I completed en plein air out at the Rose Garden.

The piece I completed inside the gallery on Saturday, since plein air rather sucks in the rain.

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Now on Etsy!

Hi all! As the title indicates, I've set up shop at Etsy.com! You can see what I've got to offer here.

As always, I'm taking commissions as well as slowly getting more goodies listed on Etsy.

See you soon!

Contact me - Want to get more information on a piece, purchase a piece or inquire about a commission? Email me!

Oh dear

Oh boy....where does the time go?

I'm sorry I haven't updated this in a while. Been super busy -- Trader Joe's, University of Oregon's Creative Duck store, Divine Cupcake, Emerald Art Center, private commissions... The list just keeps going!

Commissions have slowed a bit, but things are still hoppin' - In July, I'll be out front of the University of Oregon's bookstore painting for two days (15th and 16th.) I'll also soon be offering a class at the Emerald Art Center on pastels and portraits (more details to come once they are finalized.)

To see some photos of the Stop In Studio I did on May 8th, check out this out!

Tonight I go back into Trader Joe's to install a new mural. Photos to come. Now, must sleep to prepare........


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Tools of the Trade, Day 2!

Wow! What a couple of days! So many wonderful people and artists there, lots and lots of laughs and caffeine, but we made it through, and even got not only a little art done, but a LOT of art done!

"Little Megan"
20"x28" Pastel on Colorfix paper

"Come and Get Me"
20"x28" Pastel on Colorfix paper

"On a Hike"
28"x20" Pastel on Colorfix paper

"Freesia 1"
28"x20" Pastel on Colorfix paper

In case I haven't said it yet (but I know I have) I LOVE COLORFIX! These photos were not edited in any way for color adjustment - that's just how brightly the color pops from the way the paper grabs onto the pastels. And hopefully I've turned some other artists onto it as well.

Some other pictures of other artists at the show...

Erika, who also works for the Creative Duck (where the event was held), has an amazing hand for Illuminated Manuscripts.

Ursula Stocke does beautiful oils with bright, vivid colors. Check out her other stuff too!

Dan Chen (doing the amazing sculpture) and Do Mi Stauber (who does beautiful, detailed colored pencil drawings).

And a few shots of where I was working (and me working.)

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Grady

A quick sketch of an amazing photo of my brother, taken by Kate Noelle.

I'll hopefully be doing a more refined pastel of this later.

Title: Sketch of Grady
Date: Nov. 13, 2009
Size: 9x12
Medium: Graphite
Availability: NA


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History of Eugene murals - finally completed

Well, the last of the History of Eugene pieces went up at the Trader Joe's in Eugene this last week. Number six depicted the Olympic Track and Field Trials held at Hayward Field, July, 2008.


Title: Track and Field Trials, 2008
Size: 48x72
Medium: Pastel on panel


Contact me - Want to get more information on a piece, purchase a piece or inquire about a commission? Email me!

Mayor's Art Show piece - finished and detail

Title: Danni
Date: Sept 20, 2009
Size: 20x28
Medium: Pastel on Colorfix paper
Availability: Not yet available


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Mayor's Art Show piece - work in progress 2

Well, here we are - day two of work, about another 3 hours on it; it's slowly starting to meld into the shape I'm looking for. Thank gods for the husband who has an eye for what's wrong. :D

Anyhow, here we are - work in progress number 2. Enjoy!





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Mayor's Art Show piece - work in progress 1

Two posts in one day.... I think this is some sort of a record...

Anyhow, as promised, work in progress shots of the piece I'm doing for the Springfield Mayor's Art Show in October. The piece is 20"x28" (roughly - art paper never seems to be evenly sized) on Colorfix paper.

The reference image - a photo of a dear friend who was sweet enough to do some modeling for me.

Because of the truly bizarre and yet intriguing angle of the photo, I had to graph the image to accurately transfer it. Not something I usually do (or particularly like doing) but I felt it was a necessary evil to get it quickly and accurately enlarged to the page.

Here we are about an hour after graphing. Mostly laid in the background, starting a bit of detailing here and there. It's going along quite well so far, I think, and I'm reminded just how much I LOVE Colorfix paper. It's a bit pricey but worth every penny.

More to come!

Contact me - Want to get more information on a piece, purchase a piece or inquire about a commission? Email me!

Upcoming show

I got a very interesting and exciting phone call today while working at Trader Joe's. The University of Oregon has their annual Tools of the Trade show in November (this year, the 18th and 19th). I've attended the last two years as much as I could to see the various product demos and pick up some tips from the artists demoing.

This year, they have asked me to demo pastels.

I'm incredibly excited about this prospect. Just to get to spend two days talking art with people and drawing... And I'm also terrified.... What am I going to draw?!

Meanwhile, I have a piece in the pre-work stages that will be entered into the Springfield Mayor's Art Show. I will post progress photos of that once I am able to start it.

Contact me - Want to get more information on a piece, purchase a piece or inquire about a commission? Email me!

Continuing on...

Number 5 in the series of History of Eugene for Trader Joe's.



Title: Filming of 'Animal House', 1977
Size: 48x72
Medium: Pastel on panel



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Been a while

Work has kept me busy, but as I sit relaxing in San Francisco, I finally find some time to post a few of the pieces I've been working on for Trader Joe's in Eugene. Currently, 5 of 6 are finished. But for the moment, here are 3 of them.



Title: Eugene Fire Department, 1913
Size: 48x72
Medium: Pastel on panel



Title: Willamette Street, 1940
Size: 48x72
Medium: Pastel on panel



Title: Willamette Street, c.1960
Size: 48x72
Medium: Pastel on panel



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World of Warcraft Portrait commissions open

Commissions are now open for World of Warcraft character portraits!

Below are examples of mediums available, all using my human warlock Adrazel as an example.

Mediums, sizes and prices -

Pencil 8.5"x11" $40


Marker (greyscale) 4.5"x7" $20; 9"x12" $40


Pastel 9"x12" $40

*All prices are for bust shots only. Full body piece prices will be discussed (based on complexity of armor)*

What will I need from you? A couple good screenshots of your character (different angles are preferred) and if there is anyone that you picture you character looking like. (Actors, singers, your grandmother...if that's the case, please supply photos. :D)

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments or want to order a commission!

Contact me - Want to get more information on a piece, purchase a piece or inquire about a commission? Email me!

July 2, 2009

Today's daily offering is a completed painting, plus a work in progress of yet another painting. Enjoy! And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me or post a comment.


Title: Rose 1
Date: July 2, 2009
Size: 24"x30"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Availability: For Sale - $600


Title: Untitled work in progress
Date: July 2, 2009
Size: 16"x20"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Availability: Not yet available

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Work in Progress - June 16, 2009

I thought I would share an oil painting I've been working on the past few days. Inspired by a rose in the garden that screamed to be painted.




I will post further progress as I draw closer (ha, no pun intended) to finishing the piece.

Daily Offering for June 15, 2009

Title: Mistress of the Blade
Date: June 15, 2009
Size: 4.5"x7"
Medium: Copic Marker
Availability: For Sale - $30

Daily Offering for June 14, 2009

Title: Elven Rogue
Date: June 14, 2009
Size: 4.5"x7"
Medium: Copic Marker
Availability: For Sale - $30

Daily Offering for June 13, 2009

So yes, I know it's the 14th, but the piece was done and supposed to be posted yesterday. So, today is a double dosing of Daily Offerings.



Title: The Hunters
Date: June 13, 2009
Size: 4.5"x7"
Medium: Copic Marker
Availability: For Sale - $30