Celeste Vaught Art

Chocolate Set with Coneflowers

2009-07-08T09:12:00.001-04:00

A pastel painted from life - 9 x 12" Colorfix. I inherited this lovely Chocolate Set from my grandmother and had fun painting this. Soft pastels create such shimmering color. My goal now is to do a version in oils. May change the flowers though for it - we'll see!

Apple in Japanese Bowl

2009-07-06T23:06:00.001-04:00

Oh how much fun I'm having with this new Colorfix Pastel paper! Here's a 9 x 12" pastel painting done from life tonight. I just love this Japanese bowl I found years ago at a yard sale. One lone apple provided a nice color contrast to the blue and white dish. Couldn't see any other way than from overhead to portray the lovely patterns within the bowl.

Naples Sunset

2009-07-04T10:35:00.000-04:00

So I'm having a grand time trying out this Colorfix paper with my pastels - just a quick study this morning from a gorgeous sunset scene from a beach in Naples, Florida (wouldn't it be nice to be there)?!

9 x 12" soft pastels.

Summer Pinks

2009-07-03T23:06:00.002-04:00

A bouquet of pink flowers from the hot summer garden include Purple Coneflower, Crepe Myrtle and Hosta blossoms. All those pinks looked lovely in my Shamrock green Fiesta Ware pitcher. This fresh painting was completed with pastels on a piece of 9 x 12" Colorfix.

Morning at the Cleaners

2009-07-03T08:17:00.002-04:00

Some of the dry cleaners in downtown Tulsa inhabit the coolest buildings! Phoenix Cleaners is one such place on the south end of downtown. I did my small 6 x 6 painting of the building as a dark rainy scene. This one's now a bright sunny morning. Those angled shadows caught my eye - so this one's really about the morning light.

Oil on 10 x 8" stretched canvas.

Little Blue Vase with Hydrangeas

2009-06-25T22:46:00.001-04:00

So I came home to paint again only to find my prop somewhat wilted...goes to show you in this heat - you better paint the wilty parts first!

Anyway, this is an acrylic on 8 x 10" hardboard panel painted from life...

"Bishline Banjos" - Bluegrass & Deco

2009-06-21T00:24:00.002-04:00

Growing up in the Ozarks exposed me to a genre of music that I find irresistible: bluegrass. One instrument that I feel epitomizes the music is the banjo.

Everyday I have the pleasure of driving in downtown Tulsa where we have an abundance of wonderful deco architecture. I'm particularly drawn to the clean lines of some of the more simple buildings - like the little jewel that houses Bishline Banjos.

I knew someday I'd want to give a go at painting this building, but felt a special tug to do so when I knew that inhabiting it was a craftsmen responsible for making some exquisite instruments. Be sure to take a look at the link to his site. You won't be disappointed!

Here's an acrylic with heavy application of paint. The finished painting is a 5 x 10" format to accommodate the slender sleekness of the building.

Purple Coneflowers - Pastels

2009-06-12T13:39:00.002-04:00

I just love the forms, color and durability of Purple Coneflowers. Took a snap shot just before the sun went down last night and did a quick pastel study of some of them. I coated a 12 x 12" sheet of green paper with fine pumice gel medium first, let it dry, then worked in some masses with acrylic and completed the rest with soft pastels.

Water Street Art Gallery - 6 x 6 Art Show & Sale - Opening Night

2009-06-04T08:04:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to let folks know about a cool opportunity to see and purchase original art at an amazing price starting tonight! Water Street Art Gallery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma is hosting their first "6x6 Art Show" tonight, June 4 from 6-9 p.m. It will continue through June 20. Choose from nearly 100 little 6x6" original paintings by some of Oklahoma's finest artists at $66 each! 25% of the proceeds will benefit the Sapulpa Community Food Bank.

Here's a sampling of some of what you'll see. Trust me, these will go fast! If you can't make it tonight, stop by Saturday during Sapulpa's annual Route 66 BlowOut...there will be lots of fun all around.

Belt

2009-06-04T00:06:00.002-04:00

Just a quickie little study tonight. Acrylics on 8 x 8" canvas. Painted from life.

Pelicans - SOLD

2009-05-27T13:24:00.004-04:00

I made some adjustments on the previously posted Pelicans painting - removed the encircling dark area around the dominant fellow's head. This is a more accurate photo color wise than previously. Again, this is oils on 8 x 10" stretched heavy acrylic paper and will be framed.

"The Chalkboard" Final

2009-05-26T23:27:00.001-04:00

Going to call this one done now ... made some perspective corrections and some slight color modifications.

Work In Progress: "The Chalkboard"

2009-05-25T21:02:00.004-04:00

Tried to do this alla prima with oils, but will need another session to finish. The nice morning shadows made this scene compelling to me. I started this today and will look at it awhile to see what I think needs to be adjusted.

The painting is 9 x 12" and based on a photo I took last week in downtown Tulsa. "The Chalkboard" is the restaurant in one of our little boutique Hotel Ambassador.

"Pelicans"

2009-05-19T23:30:00.002-04:00

I've been a bird lover since childhood and seeing these large birds up close and personal in Florida is quite a spectacle! This view with the clear aqua water contrasted with the rugged rocks was quite appealing to me.

This is an oil on 8 x 10" stretched paper - Canson's Montval Acrylic paper in fact. I learned recently that you can soak heavy water color paper in water for 45 minutes and then you're able to stretch it like canvas around stretcher bars. It worked and made a perfect support for this seaside painting.

An Evening with Authors and Art

2009-05-15T21:42:00.004-04:00

Please join me next Friday, May 22, 2009 along with 7 other area authors at Water Street Art Gallery, 16 S. Water St., Sapulpa, Oklahoma from 7 - 9 p.m. for a lovely opportunity to meet this talented group of authors and enjoy fine art too!

I'll be discussing my book about my little Boston Terrier, Zoe and the joys of creative expression.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to visit with authors and artists of Green Country!

Beach

2009-05-10T14:34:00.003-04:00

Here's my 24 x 36" acrylic on canvas version of the "Beach Shadows" study in pastels. Still keeping with the abstracted view for a sort of contemporary feel to this beach scape.

Here it is on the easel for a sense of the scale.

Beach Shadows

2009-05-07T22:27:00.001-04:00

How I wish I was on the beach in Naples right about now after two weeks of RAIN! Here's a very quick pastel on black paper study tonight. I just quickly coated a sheet of 8.5 x 11" black card stock with pumice medium and used simple broad strokes and little blending to try out this shadow picture compositionally.

Wild Strawberries & Limes

2009-05-07T21:26:00.000-04:00

A little acrylic study on 7 x 9" paper - painted from life.

Rainy Morning at Phoenix Cleaners

2009-05-03T19:51:00.003-04:00

On my way to work one rainy, dreary morning, the neon sign, and bright fluorescent lights coming from this cool deco building south of downtown Tulsa, Phoenix Cleaners, beckoned me to pull over and snap a shot. I loved how the rain drops on the windshield glistened little bright spots of colors and included them in this atmospheric scene.

The pastel study helped me establish a similar color scheme, albeit darker colors. This is my acrylics on 6 x 6" gallery wrapped canvas that I'll put in Water Street Art Gallery's First Annual 6x6 Art Event. You can download the prospectus here. I thought it would be fun to do something nostalgic since it's in conjunction with Sapulpa's Route 66 Blow Out event in June. Water Street's 6x6 Reception will be Thursday, June 4. It will be fun to see all the entries!

Phoenix Cleaners

2009-05-02T15:59:00.003-04:00

I love this old deco building in downtown Tulsa with its curvy shape and cool neon signs. Had to stop and take a quick snap one dark, rainy morning recently. Through the spots on the windshield and from a rather blurry photo, here's a little 5 x 7" pastel quicky of the scene. I'd like to do a larger take later.

"L'Elisir D'Amore" - Tulsa Opera

2009-05-02T09:03:00.003-04:00

I'm still basking in delightful feelings from last night's performance by Tulsa Opera of "L'Elisir D'Amore". Of the three operas this season, this was by far my favorite...it was beautiful, sweet and funny. You can read more about it in an article written by Holly Wall on her Tulsa Art Blog.

I have to say that I was absolutely blown away by Mari Moriya's debut performance in Tulsa. Moriya plays Adina, the lead female in the Opera. A small, lovely woman from Oyama, Japan, stunned the audience with her phenomenally powerful, lyrical voice. It seemed as if her power grew as the Opera went on. In previous operas I've sometimes strained to hear some of the voices, not so with Moriya. Many of her songs, particularly duets were quite complicated and demanding.

Another favorite from the Opera was Terry Hodges who plays Dr. Dulcamara, a shady "doctor" dispensing his magic potions...anything to "fix" anything...for a "small" fee. Laughter waves through the audience as he's up to his tricks. I particularly enjoyed the duets he performed with Nemorino (leading man) and then later with Adina. Their voices weave an energetic tapestry that was delightful and impressive to hear. According to the program guide, Mr. Hodges has the distinguished accomplishment of 2500 performances of The Phantom of the Opera, singing in all 50 states!

Last night's performance brought to a close, for me this season at the Tulsa Opera, but it certainly whets my appetite for more! Now to buy the tickets.

Be sure to take the time while you're downtown to stop in the Tulsa PAC Gallery to see the abstract works of Tulsa artist Diane Salamon. You'll not be disappointed. Salamon's paintings are colorful, interesting and richly textural with layers of various designs. I loved her piece "Procrastination".

Roses and Peonies

2009-04-30T21:32:00.002-04:00

Here's my pastel study tonight. This time I did a quick underpainting with gouache and pumice medium.

First Peonies - Sold

2009-04-30T07:36:00.003-04:00

I'm always thrilled when I see the plump, round buds of the Peonies finally open and share their elegant, heavenly petals and fragrance. My first Peonies to bloom this year are white. Of course they lasted on the plant minutes - perhaps hours before I discovered and plucked them for a pastel and acrylic painting.

Here's a look, nearly complete of this 12 x 12" version of the little bouquet painted from life.

Teapot

2009-04-24T10:55:00.002-04:00

Here's my quickie pastel/acrylic painting on a new color paper for me. 12 x 12" - painted from life and using imaginary colors.

Pastel Still Lifes

2009-04-23T09:06:00.005-04:00

Have been enjoying this combination of mediums - acrylics and soft pastels on paper. I start with archival, acid-free card stock. With this series it's been 8.5" x 11" black. This is taped with masking tape to a drawing board which is covered with brown kraft paper so as to have a quick surface to wipe off excess paint from my brushes. The board is then positioned on my easel. I like to stand while I'm painting set ups from life.

Then I place a small pile of Golden's Fine Pumice Gel Medium on my palette. I select my palette of acrylic colors from which I'll just paint the masses of shapes - establishing the darks and lights. Instead of just using the pure acrylic paint, I'll mix in some of the pumice medium with the paint and apply that to the surface. Of course one could just apply the pumice straight from the jar brushed onto your surface and let it dry. It dries clear so that's good. However, the purpose of using the pumice is to grab the pastel and as there may be areas in the background where you want a softer effect, I like just adding it to my paint. I usually use hog brushes to keep everything nice and soft. You can also use your fingers to smear/soften edges. Don't use too much water by the way - and keep a paper handy to wipe off some paint if necessary from your brush. You have to work rather quickly too! Next I start bringing in color masses and finish up with details with the soft pastels. Take care not to smudge your work.

Here are a couple recent examples of this continuing blend of mediums.