Dear Friends,

Before things get busy with the fall holidays, I thought I might pass on these four paintings completed in pastel during the week in between Escalante and Moab.

It had been months since I used pastel, and had almost forgotten how easily these brilliant sticks of pure pigment slide across sanded paper to give an image that delights your color-starved photoreceptors. I'm grateful to Chris Rex, who first inspired me to try them many years ago.

I probably would not have painted any still life, were it not for a workshop with Barbara Churchley. She was showing Moab pastel artists the value of still life painting and the importance of good lighting and choice of backdrop. I had fun painting flowers on a table, for a change, and although there is no story, they are nicely framed now and would make good holiday gifts. "Dark Sunflowers" and "Light Sunflowers" are both about 5x7" and framed identically.

I also painted two landscapes, which are of places I visited recently. "Late Sun on the Colorado" is a memory from our heavenly trip down the Grand Canyon last May. It has already been gifted to a good friend as a thank you for her donations to two organizations. The fourth painting, "Devil's Garden" is also now framed (9x12") and ready for you for a modest donation to a worthwhile cause.

Take care and share kindness wherever and whenever you can.

margie lopez read

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