Austin Pastel Society - rotating demo/paint around

I participated in a "paint around" (or "rotating demo") during the last Austin Pastel Society (APS) meeting with four other artists (Regina Burchett, D. K. Richardson, Mike Etie and John Bittick). The artists started paintings of their choice (from reference pictures), then switched every 10 minutes to work on their next door neighbor's painting, and finally finished in front of their own paintings to complete the rotation. The final paintings were sold for a total of $220 that will go to the APS scholarship fund.

It was a fun experience and I would do it again! Not only was the paint-around a first-time experience for me but painting in front of an audience as well. I was the last one to set up my easel and the only place left was in the spot in front of everyone. Initially the idea was that people would rotate to the next easel. So I would be there only for 10 minutes. But we ended up rotating the paintings instead of the people. So I got stuck in front (or people got stuck watching me unless they stood up and walked around). That part was not as nerve-wracking as I initially thought, and I may have enjoyed it (I think ;-)

Every rotation was a surprise and the first question was "What am I going to do with this?" and I could almost hear an echo from the audience "What is she going to do with this?" (that was probably my nerves echoing :-) The next question was "What can I do to make this painting closer to finished with what I have (actual painting, times, palette, ...)?" It was not always clear the direction I should take, but I had to make decisions and work quickly.

Here are some pictures that Libby Peters graciously took at my easel during the rotating demo. To see other points of view see Jo Castillo's (current president) pictures and to see the (almost) final paintings see Regina Burchett's pictures.

Austin Pastel Society - rotating demo

Rae Andrews (the organizer of the paint-around) took a video of the activity and I will let you know when it will be available.

Thanks to everyone who participated, who came and who organized this activity.
Cheers
Johanne
http://www.JohanneMorin.com
http://JohanneMakingArt.blogspot.com

Pastel: Gone Ashore - study

Although I'm looking forward to going back to painting with oil, I'm going to stick to pastel for the next few weeks.
I want to be ready (warmed up) for a "paint around" (or rotating demo) in which I will participate at the end of the month during the Austin Pastel Society (APS) meeting with four others artists (Regina Burchett, D. K. Richardson, Mike Etie and John Bittick). Each one starts a painting of their choice, then switches every 12 minutes to work on their next door neighbor's painting and finishes in front of their own painting to complete the rotation. The paintings will be up for silent auction, and the money will go the the APS scholarship fund. I'm excited to be part of this and hopefully it will be exciting to watch as well.

Here's a pastel painted from a picture I took a few years ago on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada. I like that it's loosely done and not perfect.

Pastel on Kitty Wallis paper, 8 x 6"