International Festival African Energy

International Festival African Energy 11x14 Pastel on BFK Paper

International Festival African Drummer Boy - a Singing Drummer

International Festival African Drummer Boy 11x14 Pastel on BFK Paper

This man was singing and drumming at the same time which I here is very hard to do.

Internationa Festival Dancing with Joy

International Festival Dancing with Joy 11x14 Pastel on BFK Paper

I am really enjoying this series and I think it is taking me in a new direction. Figures have always been more challenging for me and I am ready for a challenge. With this series on the International Festival I am working to get the action of the characters giving a sense of movement and excitement.

International Festival Happy Music Maker- African Drummer in Action

International Festival Happy Music Maker 11x14 Pastel on BFK

Pastel is the closest medium to pure pigment that you can get. This allows me to get very intense color and the fact that it is between drawing and painting allows me to put down expressive strokes.

International Festival Serious Music 11x14 Pastel on BFK

International Festival Serious Music 11x14 Pastel on BFK

Playing the Kora from the Heart 11x14 Pastel on BFK Paper

Playing the Kora from the Heart 11x14 Pastel on BFK Paper

A painting from the series of the International Festival in Lawton Oklahoma. This instrument that is being played in this scene is a Kora, a west African 21 string harp-lute that produced a very beautiful calming sound. The group was the KUMAASI African Ensemble - they have a website but it has not been updated so it may not be available but here is the link: http://www.kumaasi.org/cgi-bin/events.pl