In the art world, there is a language one must learn. Outline translates to contour. Form to mass. Lightness or darkness of an image to value. Color = hue. In the pastel world, the surface you apply your pastel to is referred to as support.  There are an array of supports one can use... sanded surface, un-sanded surface, prepared surface with a grit substance called gesso.  Each has its own unique properties when receiving the application of pastel. I have tried them all and am convinced that SUPPORT MATTERS... Support matters....in life, too. Sometimes it's the make it or break it moment when the support you ask for is given or not... As a parent of two adult children who are in the productive "making it" phase of their lives, I am their cheerleader. I am their support. Their coach. Every moment is an opportunity to make their day .... or break it. Support matters.  As an artist, I am selective to whom I reach out to for support...Usually it is my fellow artists who offer the best support...they've been there. Making art is a solitary journey...even if you are in a studio full of others making art at the same moment. Each one of us is putting our creative juices out there for everyone to see...and judge. Be kind. Encouragement goes a long way for one to reach success......Support matters.   As a world citizen, how I live and make my footprint on the earth matters to me. I try to portray the beauty of my surroundings with my landscape paintings. I support the earth in my contributions to organizations that matter to me and the world.  https://www.nrdc.org https://earthjustice.org  Please check out these organizations to see the work they do to protect our environment.   Here is a recent painting now available! "Placidly Purple" http://donnatheresafineart.com    I love to paint birds and animals. I am a fierce advocate for humane treatment of all animals big and small. I contribute monthly to this organization and by supporting me you also contribute!  https://www.humanesociety.org "Fur Baby" http://donnatheresafineart.com    As a concerned ally of people of color and marginalized communities, I have intimate knowledge and experience having raised children, now adults, who are different in our world. Of course, to me , they are perfect! Unfortunately, some people perceive others different from them a threat .I support the organization, Southern Poverty Law Center, whose mission is to fight hate and teach tolerance. You can check out their work here: https://www.splcenter.org    I so hope you have continued this far in your reading of my message to you. While I love to share my art with you, I thought it important for you to know who you are supporting when you support me!   I now have fine art prints available in my print shop! The originals of these prints have sold and so I now offer premium giclée prints among other products. Please check it out at: https://geogalleries.com/DonnaTheresaFineArt/   https://geogalleries.com/DonnaTheresaFineArt/15414/img/292579/     https://geogalleries.com/DonnaTheresaFineArt/15414/img/292557/ Thank you for taking the time to read my latest newsletter. Be safe, be well, and take good care of one another.  Much love to you and yours, Donna Theresa

SPRING FLING!

Happy Spring to You!   Hello my friends in art and beauty.... This is just a quick hello to tell you all that I think of you in this uncertain time. Spring is here. The birds are busy building nests and feeding their babies and carrying on despite what is happening to the humans in their world.  Life is going on as it always does...Time continues to march on and life will likely be very different for all of us for some time to come.   I am hoping that you are all healthy and safe and somewhat sane!   I have been very busy in the studio challenging myself to complete a painting a day everyday for the month of April...I'm halfway there! I'm including some of my efforts for you to see and enjoy! My family and I are safe and healthy. The nest is full again with our adult children home from college early...Travel plans needed to be postponed and while that is just some of the disappointments in my little bubble, I cannot complain one bit because I have health and stability and a home full of love and art! These pieces of work I am sharing with you today are mostly small renderings and can be found on my website https://www.donnatheresafineart.com My time as an artist is largely spent in solitude...Life during this time of isolation has been a lesson in patience and gratitude and learning to use very little of everything! I find the silver linings in listening to the birds sing and reading stories of the animal world coming out to play! Perhaps the world is healing a little bit... Hoping you are all well and would love to hear from you!           "Turquoise Powder on a Flower"                              "Joyful"                                     "Waxing Beauty"

A NEW YEAR…A STUDY IN VALUES

Happy New Year my friends in art and life!

I hope this greeting finds you all in good health and good cheer!

Winter is a time for inward reflection for me. Spending more time indoors by a cozy fire with a good cup of coffee and the silence of a winter day allows me to evaluate , reassess, sit, and just be. My exploration of “tonalism” with winter landscape compositions has been my latest painting experience.

Tonalism was a short lived art movement during the early 20th century. Working within a carefully chosen palette of closely related colors, the Tonalists aspired to emulate musicality and inspire contemplation. By arranging color and forms, they believed that landscapes could evoke emotion and suggest deep, cosmic harmonies. Their gentle color schemes and softly brushed contours quickly became popular, influencing musicians and poets. Unlike their contemporaries, such as the Luminists and the Impressionists, the Tonalists favored cool palettes and often chose nocturnal or modest scenes of contemplative quiet. The simplicity and attention to composition found in Tonalism contributed to the abstractions that would develop in 20th-century American modernism.

A limited value range contributed to creating mood and emotion. Value, in art terms, is the lightness or darkness of a particular hue or color.

Using a limited value scale creates a subdued composition with little contrast. It’s much like an overcast winter day. Thus winter landscapes are the ideal way to explore this style. The paintings I share with you here are my attempts in a tonalistic approach to winter landscape.

The new year seems to be the universal time to reflect, renew, re-evaluate….and in this writing as with my previous entries, I often find myself connecting a life as an artist to living life. So many principles correlate.

Values in the human experience can be a compass to a good life. They can be large intangible concepts like kindness and generosity. They can be conditions desired for daily living like a quiet house or a lively one. They can be personality traits you may admire in others. Naming personal values can lead to self awareness and self improvement. I strive to improve in my art practice and in my human practice.

Having said that, I created a mantra for myself:

Be Kind

Be Helpful

No Judgement

No Opinion

What do you value? I would love to hear from you!

As always, I am grateful to share my artful journey with you all and from the bottom of my heart, I wish for you the very best in the New Year.

Cheers!

~Donna Theresa

Summer is Here!

"Gathering" Pastel 15.5 x 11.5 inches

"Ocean Beach"  9 x 12 inches

"Golden Evening" Pastel 9 x 12

In most of the country ( United States ) , summer is hot and sometimes humid...

Here in the coastal haven of Santa Cruz, our summers are naturally cool often waking to foggy mornings that give way to sunshine by midday.

When I first moved to this part of California coming from southern Cal, it was a bit dreary during the summer and I complained..  As time marched on and I aged a bit, I have come to cherish these cool mornings and evenings as it is nature's air- conditioning! I have become less tolerant of heat and so time has placed me in the perfect location!

These recent paintings are my newest additions to my portfolio. Seascapes are a new genre for me and I was spurned on to try them by artist friends and inspiration from other artists in my medium of soft pastel.  I may have found my muse... and to think, the inspiration is in my backyard!

How lucky am I!?

Check out my latest paintings on my gallery page @

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/donna-theresa-9223

Wishing you a cool summer!

Starting off the New Year with a Chirp and a Screech

Happy New Year friends in art and joy! 

I am sharing the joy once again with a few of my paintings.  For the month of January I challenged myself to paint a painting a day for 31 days! Most of these are small little gems....sizes range from 

5 x 7 inches up to 9 x 12 inches. 

This experience gave me so much more than practice.  It gave me a solid goal, a purpose for each day, structure and decision making practice, and the result was rewarding!  Everyday I posted on social media and all my wonderful supporters cheered me on!  All these friends that I only know on my iPhone!  People I will likely never meet.  Yet, each day I reached out and shared and each day they responded with love and support.  

We humans are social pack animals.  We thrive in a group.  We have a biological need to belong.  For some that belonging is narrowed to the virtual world of social media and whereby I really never thought I could belong there....well there I am.  The trick is to stay humble and stay engaged.  It's not a platform to boast or gain "likes"....that stuff is kind of weird...but really if you look at it honestly, it adds some sense of belonging to your life.

Is it real?  That's up to you.  What's real for me at this stage in my life is seeking joy and happiness....and then sharing it.  

"Solstice Twilight" Original Pastel 8 x 10
©DonnaTheresaFineArt
Available @ donnatheresafineart.com

The longest day of the year approaches as the last days of 2018 wind down. As is so inevitable, often we take this time of year in the calm winter days to review our lives over the past year.

Did you set any goals? Did your dreams come true? Was life good to you this past year?

For me, 2018 proved a fruitful and creative year. I wish to thank all of you my friends and art enthusiasts for your support as I continue on my artful journey. Art is meant to be shared. It gives me humble pleasure to share my artistic creations with all of you. If I can shine a little joy and beauty your way every now and then, my efforts are rewarded.

From my heart to yours, thank you and may your season of gratitude be fulfilled…

Happy Solstice and Cheers in the coming of the new year.

DonnaTheresa

Stepping Up My Game!

A Riverview Morning Walk  Pastel 10 x 17

Capitola Palms Pastel 14 x 10

 This past weekend I participated in The Capitola Plein Air Painting competition! For three days I awoke at dawn and headed out for a day of painting putting as much pastel onto paper as I could get done! I produced 8 paintings in 3 days! Phew, I am tired and taking a much needed breather!

Jetty At High Tide  Pastel 8 x 10

Morning Cliff Walk  Pastel 6 x 8

Rail or Trail  Pastel 10 x 11

The other participating artist were the best in this area and beyond, some having flown in to compete in this event! Intimidated? You bet! However, there is something I learned a long time ago in my dance training....if you want to improve, train with better dancers! So too, it is with art...I was honored to be juried into this competition and excited to paint alongside some seasoned professionals.