"JUNE'S DELIGHT" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 5-22-2013

This was my second painting for the Camp Hill Plein Air Festival.  The lady who was the owner of the house was so sweet.  Her first name was June and she was delighted that I wanted to paint her front garden.  Her neighbor Sandy was a master gardener and had planned, planted and maintains her gardens.  They were both so gracious and accommodating.  It took me all day Thursday and Friday morning  to complete.  The weather was sunny and beautiful on Thursday and Friday.  On Friday I showed the finished painting to June and she loved it.  Friday afternoon  I got a call and June wanted to purchase my painting.  So I called the gallery and they were to put a sold sticker on it which ended up to be little red circle on the back of the painting. At the awards ceremony Friday evening the last award was the "Purchase Award" and to my surprise I won!  But, I had already sold the painting. What to do!  I found out that the benefactor who gives that award did not know that it was sold and once they did they decided to give me the award anyway because they loved the painting.

"PINK PROFUSION" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 5-22-2013

This was my first year to participate in the Camp Hill Plein Air Festival.
It was an exhilarating and exhausting experience!  This was my first painting that I did in Cecelia Lydens neighbors yard.  Her yard was just bursting with Springs blossoms! So hard to choose where to paint.  There were so many beautiful flowers.  I got a late start and completed the painting the next day when the weather was off and on drizzle.  But I remembered the sunshine from the day before. 

"FULLER LAKE IN AUTUMN" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 10-6-2012

It was great to see everyone on Saturday for the annual picnic/paint out/meeting at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. There were a few sprinkles of rain but not enough to prevent us from painting.  I was not able to complete this on sight so I finished it in my studio at home.  The morning was a little grey but I punched up the colours to make it brighter.  The scuba divers were such an unexpected entertainment.  We would occasionally see bubbles and once saw 2 divers about 4 ft down. I had no idea that the lake was 125ft deep so for the most part we didn't see them once they submerged.  There were about 40 divers and they said they would be under the water for about 1 hr.  Quite an interesting day. The food and fellowship at the picnic was great!

"FLOWER MERCHANT" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 9-29-12

I  plein air painted at the Harvest of the Arts festival in Carlisle yesterday and it was bustling with people, music and activity.  So much so that it was a little overwhelming to choose a subject matter to paint.  So I focused in on a flower vendor in the market square with a barrel full of dried hydrangeas which are one of my favourite flowers. I kept it small and chose a 5 x 7 pastel board.  The weather turned out to be perfect for painting.

"COME RIDE WITH ME" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 9-21-2012

This was my first painting in Cape Cod. It was on the Herring River in Harwich, MA. I sat on a bridge over looking the marsh to get the best vantage point of the water through the marsh. The little red boat was just inviting me for a ride.  I loved the way the river snaked through the marsh and the way the sunlight shone on the grasses.   

"LAYERS OF BLUE" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 9-21-2012

Day two of painting.  The location was Fort Hill, Eastham, Cape Cod, MA.

The view from the top of the hill was stunning! It reminded me of the sand paintings that were popular years ago. You would pour different colored sand into a glass container and create patterns and layers of color to create a scene.

"NAUSET LIGHT HOUSE" AN ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING BY CLARE KLAUM 9-21-2012

Day 3 of painting. The location was Eastham, Cape Cod, MA.  I was only able to complete half of this painting on location.  The angles of the house were quite challenging.  I completed it in my studio at home.  There were so many light houses in Cape Cod but the Nauset Light House was definitely one of the most striking.