HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, EVERYONE!

Freedom is what our Nation is all about. Not only are we free from political tyrants, but we are free to become the best that we can be and enjoy all that life has to offer. We may not hear bands playing and see fireworks every day, but we live in peace and serenity, thanks to the sacrifices of many others. We should celebrate our Freedom not just today but every day.  

My thanks go out to all the men and women who have served our Country here at home as well as on foreign soil.  My heart goes out to all those families through the years who have lost loved ones in the fight to keep our Country free.

Upper Messerschmidt's Pond in Winter, 9 x 12" pastel on handmade archival paper, copyright Joan Cole

Because of the sacrifices of these fellow Americans, my husband and I were able to enjoy a quiet pre-Fourth day, celebrating with friends.  The children were mesmerized at the thought of catching sight of "our" pet otter, Otto.  They paddled around the lake, hoping to spy him on a rock or peeking up next to our raft.   I heard the girls shriek once and thought, "Oh, no, they've seen our sometime visitor--Mr. Black Snake."  Fortunately, it was only their delight at hearing Mr. Bullfrog, croaking in the reeds.  What simple pleasures!  A day with family and friends, enjoying each other and the beauty of the natural world around us.  I wish all of YOU as peace-filled a day today as ours was yesterday.

On a separate note, I was pleasantly surprised when one of our guests fell in love with "Upper Messerschmidt's Pond in Winter," one of my pastels on handmade archival paper.  She went home treasuring it, imagining where she would hang it.  Since Messerschmidt's Pond looks nothing like this winter scene now, perhaps part of its appeal was its cooling view on a warm summer's day.  Be that as it may, I'm very happy that a painting which bears the touch of my spirit resonated with something in ZsuZsa's heart.  

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY, EVERYONE!   

Upper Messerschmidt's Pond in Winter, a pastel





Upper Messerschmidt's Pond in Winter by Joan Cole
Pastel 9 x 12" $400

I am so excited by my work in pastels. Masterpastellist Claudia Post is sharing so much of her vast knowledge in our Gallery class.  (You may remember that still life of the apple, pear, and lemon?  I'm still working on that and others.)  Landscapes are in my blood; this one brought me great joy and satisfaction.

There is so much to learn about pastels.  Who would have guessed that it is advisable to sharpen one's pastels to get a finer line or point?  (I must say, it is NOT my favorite part of painting with pastels.)  Claudia can sharpen a NuPastel with a single-edge razor blade lickety split!  It takes me SOOOOOOOOOOO much longer, and sometimes I break the stick in the process. 

It is possible to use turpentine to affix initial layers of pastel to the paper.  I used that method with this piece and found it gave me a more painterly feel--more like the feeling of plein air painting in oils.  Anyway, then I was able to build over that layer with additional layers of color.

This afternoon, I picked up the painting from the framer, drove to Maple & Main Gallery of Fine Art, and Claudia hung "Upper Messerschmidt's in Winter" in the classroom on our lower level.  Teacher and student were both tickled.

When you are in the area of Chester, Connecticut, stop by Maple & Main and check out "Upper Messerschmidt's."  It's in VERY good company--among more than 100 diverse works of art by thirty artists from across the fine state of Connecticut.