Guinea and Marble Carving

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I wanted to write some more about art, but this week it has been too cold to carve stone. I spent this past weekend labeling postcards, ordering giclée, and doing many other art-business tasks. Now, I am a bit happy that the weather is not so warm because I am working on a painting for a competition and need not the distraction of the marble.

Art News -- Pastel Workshop Savings:

Robert Adams of Hawaiian Art Journey recently told me that he would like to help celebrate my ten-year anniversary by offering a special savings to you:
$100 off (that is $10 x 10) Registration for Art Workshop "Pastels in Paradise with Kelly Borsheim" in Kona, Hawai'i April 17-22: Register BEFORE 28 Feb.


So, how about that? Now, I would like to leave you with these two images of some of the company I keep when I carve stone. These guineas are half-wild and wander around these parts, mostly kept by a neighbor. I feed them a bit too, which is why there is a jar of bird seed on my work table, blocking the view of my current work-in-progress, the “Gymnast” in Colorado Yule Marble. It would be wonderful if I could finish her before May, but for the moment she waits . . .

Pastel Workshop Texas

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Due to a very special request, I am teaching again in Texas. (And if you like this workshop, I hope you will consider joining me in Hawai’I in January 2011.)

Texas Art Workshop Dates: October 23 & 24, 2010: 2 - 6 p.m. each day
Studio of Kelly Borsheim, Cedar Creek, Texas (20-minute drive southeast of Bergstrom International Airport - Austin)

In this hands-on introductory 2-day workshop, you will learn how to improve your drawing and observation skills and how to achieve a more 3-dimensional effect in your art using pastels and charcoal. Kelly will demonstrate, as well as assisting participants on an individual basis. For this workshop, we will work from photographic references - either from your images or copy a classical work of art. Or, if you prefer, bring in a current project that you wish to improve. Other topics discussed during the workshop as participants desire: framing, marketing, and pricing.

Participants do not need to have had prior art experience, although some drawing skills will be helpful. Class size is limited, so please enroll early. Details, as well as the supply list, are online at http://borsheimarts.com/art-workshops/Pastel-Workshop.htm.

Thank you for your interest! Let us paint together . . .

Pastel Streetpainting in Florence, Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Yesterday was a fun day in streetpainting here in Florence, Italy. I saw some old friends, met some people that I only knew from my Web site and Facebook, had a little party, and even got some pastel painting done in the street.

I have been given Thursdays with my colleague Johnny from Ireland. I drew with him last year, as well, and he is fun to work with. However, he draws with our friend Kumiko on Wednesdays and asked if I minded picking up where they left off the day before. Johnny models in the mornings (when I arrive to work) and later on Thursday evenings, he attends life-drawing sessions. I should, too, but since I only am permitted to draw one day as one of the madonnari fiorentini, I will draw in the studio another day.

Allora, we drew Michelangelo’s “La Sacra Familia” otherwise known as “Tondi Doni” -- all in pastels directly on the street. I was amused that a woman working as a badante (assisting people needing special health care in their homes) and living in Firenze for the past two years (but from the country of Georgia) stopped to ask me if I was Russian. I get this guess only second to my being French. It always amuses me and makes me want more to visit Russia.

Last year I wrote about some of my street performing friends, including Mimito Sorrydista He stopped by to say hello and I got to see him as a blonde this time ! I hope you enjoy these images.


This next image was of me with a high school class visiting Florence from Belgium. This was their last day in the Renaissance City. They stayed with me for at least 20 minutes (good for street painting visitors) and later several of the boys returned just before getting on the train home. I asked them that after a week, what was their favorite part of Florence and one boy (white T, standing) said enthusiastically, "You!"
I think he has a future in politics or maybe as a lady-killer. :-)

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If you would enjoy getting away from your normal routine and working with pastels, won’t you please consider this art workshop I am teaching in an amazing location on the Big Island of Hawai’I. We will work on-site, and even with a model for part of the workshop. This happens in early September and is hosted by Hawaiian Art Journey and the Kona Village Resort. They will take care of all of your concerns so that you may relax and focus on making your own art.

Registration is refundable up to 30 days before the workshop starts and we need to get commitments from art lovers early so that you all have time to make your travel plans. (You may also combine this art event as a romantic getaway – guests are allowed to have non-workshop attendees accompany them.) Check out the details below.
Pastels in Paradise – Art Workshop with Kelly Borsheim
Hawaiian Art Journey

Via Della Spada – Firenze Italia

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I have been creating more works with the pastel and charcoal combination that I began in Italy and am loving the effect! Here is the newest completed work of another couple in the rain: a night scene in the streets of Florence, Italy:

“Via Della Spada – Firenze, Italia”
25” x 18”
pastel & charcoal
copyright 2010 Kelly Borsheim

SOLD to a private collector-11 March 2010!

And check out my first pastel workshop at a resort in Kona, Hawai’i. It will happen this September, so mark your calendars, this is gonna be so much fun!
http://borsheimarts.com/art-workshops/hawaii-pastels.htm

Pastel Art Workshop Rae Andrews

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

I started my Halloween Saturday by attending a workshop on using pastels by colorist Rae Andrews. The workshop was held in Austin, Texas, at Jerry’s Artarama. I still consider myself a novice when it comes to color and the medium of pastel and one can always learn something from another artist.


It is always fun to watch the creative process and interesting when the creator is able to share the thoughts that go along with that process. Rae is more adept than I at being able to speak while drawing. I took these images (with permission) to give you some idea of the atmosphere of the demonstration. In this first image, Rae is reminding us that one must step back and look at our work from a distance. If you move far enough back, you no longer see the details, but simply the design of shapes. I was always taught that if, from across a room, an artwork does not intrigue the viewer enough to pull him towards the piece, what is the point of having details with which to engage him further?


I include this next image because it shows a pastel painting of horses in its frame (my apology for the glare from the fluorescent light above). Rae said that this pastel painting of the horses was sprayed with fixative and then framed very carefully with the pastel art on a board pushed right up against the glass - no mat! It must be secured well for this to work, but she has shipped this work successfully and carried it around for many years now. I was surprised that one could ship glass successfully and had no idea that pastel could be against the glass. She had a name for this time of framing (French something?), but I forgot to record it.



In this close-up shot, you can see how the sandpaper-like Sennelier pastel paper not only offers ‘tooth’ for holding pastel, but also allows for lots of texture. Although Rae’s style is not as tight as mine, one can still clearly recognize the subject matter. Realism is really just a specific arrangement of abstract shapes.

I thought I would include this image of the work of the parrots almost completed - at least for the demonstration. It is a quite colorful and fun composition and I also enjoyed the colorful papers hanging on racks behind the artist at Jerry’s Artarama. I daydreamed about what I could do with those . . .

Rae also spoke about two products that I had never heard of before: an electronic eraser (which Jerry’s did not currently have on hand) and pastel pencils! The electronic eraser is supposed to be a more exact and efficient way to remove the pastel without affecting other areas. The pastel pencils are truly pastels and with the ability to sharpen them, they are great for refining small details. Based on my current projects, I can see that they would be ever so useful for doing portraits, especially around the eyes. So, now I know what I want for Christmas!

Rae Andrews also did a demonstration of ocean waves crashing against some boulders on a shore. It had a very lively energy to it. Check out more of her work by clicking on her name in bold.

Another helpful link: Austin Pastel Society