JUST FOR YOU

Just in time for Xmas...

"OLIVER"

(a private commission)

11x14" pastel on suede mat

AWESOME AWARD

more of "Painting all the P's"

Addition to our growing collection of Southern California's pumas/cougars/mountain lions-
Meet P-37 as a cub!

"P-37"

11x14" pastel on velour board

matted reprints available ready for framing

$30 online at #SAVELACOUGARS

Great gift idea!  You will be doing your small part toward building our critically needed #101 wildlife corridor/overpass!

Understanding my techniques-

Recently, I found much interest after my presentation of just HOW I paint my Puma portraits.  Of course, to me it is just 'the way I create' & never stop to think others would like to understand how it all comes about.
Let me begin by sharing that I draw, sculpt, and paint in oils as well as pastels.  And what are pastels?

What are pastels?

Pastels are made from the same pigments used for oil paints.  Pastel is not colored chalk, nor does it refer to pale colors.

Pastel comes from the French word pastische, meaning paste. The pure, powdered pigment is ground into a paste with a small amount of binder and then  formed into sticks. These can then be rubbed and blended onto archivally abrasive ground, embedding the infinite range of colors into the “tooth” of the surface to create paintings. 

Because the pigments have a lasting brilliance, pastel is as close as an artist can come to painting with pure color.  There is no cracking or discoloring with age as oil paintings & their varnishes do.

Pastels originated in the 16th century and became really popular in the 18th century. Famous artists (Degas, Delacroix, Millet, Monet, Renoir, Toulouse Lautrec and Whistler) all used pastels and these paintings are still around today and look the same as the day they were painted.  Amazingly, pastel paintings in the Academy of Fine Arts on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (dating back to 1703), are as vibrant & fresh today as when they were painted.  Despite the heat, humidity, and lack of air conditioning, the pastel paintings are in perfect condition & have never needed restoration.

In 1983, Sotheby Parke Bernet sold at auction two Degas pastel paintings for more than $3,000,000 each.  Both Pastels were painted about 1880.

When properly cared for, pastel is is among the most permanent of all painting media.  Pastel retains its' vibrance over centuries if it is properly framed behind glass and kept out of damp areas & direct sunlight/heat.  Glass protects the painting from smudging and it will safely last as fresh as the day it was painted for many generations.

              -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, that is your introduction to understanding pastels!

Now, why do I use them for my animal portraits?  

Because, to portray  the depth of fur realistically, we only need think of the many colors we see when delving into the full thickness of an animals' coat.  I truthfully cannot explain how I know how to capture that depth, -but I do know (did you) that there is always green in blond hair! 

Ask me any further questions at KColmanStudio@gmail.com.  As time allows, I will certainly be happy to share any other details with you to add to your new understanding!  I find that I am still

learning as I go, too.... 

Surprise Recognition!

(Taken at the first annual P-22 Day in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA) 10/22/2016
I needed a break after painting multiple mountain lions (pumas), so I felt my oils in my studio calling to me -and surprised the shy wildlife biologist, Jeff Sikich, with this portrait in honor of his tireless work tracking our local mountain lions.  Check him out online at: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/28/local/la-me-mountain-lions-20121029

Our P-22/Urban Wildlife Week was overflowing with wildlife supporters!  National Wildlife Foundation's CA Director, Beth Pratt, hiked the 47 mile route the awesome mountain lion, P-22, must have taken in order to make Griffith Park his new home.  He is safe there, but it is amazing that he traversed so many developments, residential communities, and crossed two busy freeways to get there from the Santa Monica Mountain range, where he was born.

Jeff Sikich has monitored P-22 in this new location & caught him near death due to the one threat facing him now on a daily basis: ingesting rat poison used by the surrounding homes.  Administering an antidote saved our now-famous P-22!  (I have also portrayed P-22 at that time.  To see his condition is heartbreaking.)  Thank you, Jeff!

MORE OF MY 

PUMA PORTRAIT COLLECTION 

painted for SaveLACougars in support of restoring the natural migration corridor at Liberty Canyon at the #101

Having been challenged by the 

California Director of the National Wildlife Federation, Beth Pratt-Bergstrom,

to "paint all the P's of our local mountains",

I have kept my studio humming!

Now submitted to NWF's SAVELACOUGARS online store, 

these reproductions will soon be available
(more to come!)

"GHOST CAT"

"TRUST"

"P-32 as a Cub"

"P-38"

"P-10"

"TRAPPED"

"DREAMING OF LIBERTY"

Some originals will eventually be for sale, after the 2016 holiday season when they will be on exhibit at the Fred Kavli Theatre in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

These three new "P's" will be debuted today at a private book signing for Beth Pratt's book, "When Mountain Lions Are Neighbors"-

"P-10"

"P-38"

"Trapped"

Introducing P-10 (P is for Puma, which is the same as mountain lion, ghost cat, panther, jaguar)

NATIONAL WILDLIFE PORTRAIT SERIES HAS BEGUN

INTENDING TO RAISE FUNDING FOR THE DIRELY NEEDED WILDLIFE CROSSING 

(see#SaveLACougars), I am painting as many wildlife portraits as I can!  Most will be 'named' by their NPS identification, but I am taking artistic license with a few who really have a message.

This baby is still on my easel-

SOLD

FIRST PLACE WINNER 

in the current large Ventura County Arts Council show "101 Corridor"! 

I am on a cloud.. There are so many good artists from many counties exhibiting in this four-floor show at the government center's Hall of Justice! Wow.  Exhibit closes August 23, 2016

I am delighted to share my 14"x11" pastel portrait of 

"Sunset Coyote" 

From original photograph taken by wildlife photographer, Louise Rishoff, when she spotted him

 at sunset on the cliffs overlooking Malibu.

FOOD*SHOPPING*HENNA TATTOOS*PHOTO BOOTH*DESSERT*SKETCH ARTIST*HAIR STYLING*ART GALLERY  May 6th 2016, Friday, from 5:00-10:00 p.m., the second annual Girls' Night Out will take place at the beautiful Agoura Hills Event Center. 2016 Special Guest: Internationally known CEO and Model, Katie H Willcox, who espouses "Healthy Is The New Skinny!   For more information and to RSVP click here   email: culturalarts@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us This fun evening kicks off a month-long art exhibit of 15 of my paintings, many on loan from my personal collection.  I do hope you will find time to drop in and enjoy them between May 6- June 4, 2016... The Event Center is open  Monday thru Friday 7AM–8PM  29900 Ladyface Court, 818-597-7362

City of Agoura Hills - Community Services, 29900 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 SafeUnsubscribe™ directors@oldagoura.org Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by culturalarts@ci.agoura-hills.ca.us in collaboration with Try it free today

DON'T MISS THIS YEAR'S GREAT GARDEN TOUR 

in support of non-profit Camarillo Hospice services!

Sunday, May 1, Noon to 4 PM

tickets available online at www.camarillohospice.org

Beautiful drought-tolerant residential gardens in Camarillo, featuring music, art, opportunity drawings, boutique, refreshments, and fun!

• Enjoy art demonstrations and masterpieces by PSGC members Kathi Colman & four other pastelists.

I will be in Garden #3 on the tour & hope you will visit me!

ONE WOMAN SHOW

May 6- June 4, 2016

I am honored to have been chosen to exhibit 15 of my paintings 

in order to launch the planned rotating art exhibits 

at the beautiful 

Agoura Hills Recreation & Event Center, 

29900 Ladyface Court, Agoura Hills CA 91301 

(818) 597-7361

open Monday thru Thursdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Fridays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

(www.91301.org)

Please stop in to enjoy this magnificent building overlooking all of Agoura Hills!

Current Westlake Village Art Guild show,

April 5-29th, 2016 11-5:00 Mon-Sat, at 

Thousand Oaks Community Gallery,

2331-A Borchard Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320

is debuting two pastel portraits from my wildlife series.

I do hope you will visit this large annual multi-media show!

"A SAFE PASSAGE, PLEASE?"

"TRUST"

My rescue dog series, "Loyal Friends", 
is exhibited in the show "Inspiration" at the Galleria at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
March 4- May 2, 2016 hours: 4 to 6 pm M-Sat.

#SaveLACougars' paintings

Most recently, I have been painting solely for contributing to fundraising

 for‪#‎SaveLACougars‬, the online site in support of building a critically-needed wildlife corridor for our wildlife to once again have the ability to disperse northward to vast open mountain terrain. Shamefully & selfishly, our ten lane freeways have penned in the last of our native species within the Malibu area of the Santa Monica Mountains. Since NO taxpayer money is being used, all funding must come from private generosity. The newly engineered site will be at Liberty Canyon (yayy..."liberty" means freedom) across Los Angeles' #101 freeway. Until now, their attempts to escape have proven fatal for these innocent creatures: roadkill is all too common.
Fine art prints of these paintings will soon be sold reasonably thru the #SaveLACougars website.
I promise to let you know when! 🐾

artsy Ojai reception Feb 13, 2016 from 1-3:00

Hope you can make it to our Valentines' Day celebration in artsy Ojai..!  113 W. Montgomery St, from 1:00-3:00 

Top notch art, ...twenty friendly artists, ...and free-flowing wine to accompany a sumptuous buffet hosted by our organic produce farm owner/artist.  You will also quickly learn to appreciate the exquisite medium of Pastel artwork!

I hope you will come to visit me and enjoy my two endearing dog portraits, "Are You My Forever Home?" and "Happiness Is A Ball", one of which has been used in our media promotions.  Besides, I look forward to seeing your smiling face!

online gallery

A new "local" gallery has been initiated by webmaster and community planner, Craig Morton.  I am proud to be included in this group of outstanding Agoura Hills artists!  

http://agourahillsartgallery.com/index.html

Agoura Hills, California 91301 ART GALLERY

				ABOUT The Gallery's primary purpose is to make it easy to connect with fine artists living and working in and around Agoura HIlls, California. In addition, this site strives provide information and links to major fine art events happening in the Greater Conejo Valley such as the Thousand Oaks Arts Festival and ongoing shows at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery. For more information on this website contact Craig Morton via E-Mail or call (818) 991-6158.
	City of Agoura Hills REYES ADOBE DAYS Typically held at the end of September/early October, This event typically includes regional fine artists. For more information, click on the logo above to go to events offical website.
				ARTISTS The artists represented on this site include residents of Agoura Hills and those living in surrounding communites including Oak Park, Calabasas, Malibu and Westlake Village.
						ABOVE: "Rodeo" by Fred Stone©
	Thousand Oaks Community Art Gallery This is the primary public fine art gallery in the region and has ongoing shows throughout the year. For more information on the Gallery and its schedule, click on the logo above.
	Thousand Oaks ARTS FESTIVAL 2016 With eligibility restriced to residents of the Greater Conejo Valley and members of art organizationThis is the region, this is the premier outdoor festival of its kind in the region. Click on the logo above to go to the Festival's official website.
						ABOVE: "Snow Prince" by Kathi Colman©		ABOVE: "Hand Painted Silks" by Priscilla Kromnick.
				ABOVE: "Ship in Storm" by Ron Souza©
								ABOVE: "Day's End" by Helane Freeman©
				ABOVE: "Country Barn" by Lee Zimmerman©		ABOVE: "Brooklyn Memories" by Sheila Fein©

"Are You my Forever Home?"

"Are You my Forever Home?"

12x16"pastel, framed

This little guy was pooped after his first day without his litter mates

-but in his new, loving, Forever home

$750.