Pastel artist Sue Shehan of Castle Rock not only creates her pastel paintings, but completes the presentation with custom frames around each piece. Paintings are floated, with the deckle edge of the paper visible. She begins with black paper and works with soft, richly colored pastels produced by artist Terry Ludwig of Littleton, whose square pastel sticks are favorites with local artists.Shehan is exhibiting her paintings through December, in a collection called "Colorado Skies," at the Outnumbered Gallery in Downtown Littleton.She writes that she grew up in Kansas City and graduated with a degree in illustration in 1980. A move to Omaha was followed by another move to Denver in 1997.She is influenced by artists such as Wyeth and Hopper and loves being from the Midwest, where storms would come in over the plains and create drama overhead, a continual source of inspiration.Shehan has enjoyed classes at the Denver Art Students League and presently teaches art at Sky Cliff Adult Day Care Center in Castle Rock. She is a member of the Pastel Society of Colorado."Through pastels, I seek to explore the drama of color and light. I pursue subject matter that is simple, yet expressive. While I am inspired by all of nature, it is the cloudscapes that captivate me. My desire is to capture the viewer's imagination and to invite them to open the door into the world of pastels," Shehan said. She has also created a line of bird cards.If you goSue Shehan's pastel paintings will be exhibited through December at Outnumbered Gallery, 5654 S. Prince St. in downtown Littleton. The gallery exhibits paintings, pottery, jewelry, art-to-wear and other objects in the 3,000-square-foot space, with featured artists each month, introduced in a First Friday opening. Gallery hours: noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays (until 8 on First Fridays); 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. 720-389-9085.Ludwig Pastels of LittletonNationally known pastel artist/teacher Richard McKinley has compared a visit to Terry Ludwig's pastel shop and studio to a visit to Willy Wonka's candy factory. A look at Ludwig's website would explain why. One finds not just a blue pastel stick, but a box filled with a huge range of blues, from pale to deeply colored. It's the same story for reds, violets, greens, yellows and less showy, but necessary, browns and grays.One can understand how an artist like Sue Shehan is able to create the expanse of Western skies and the landscapes beneath them with the availability of colors to match any given weather condition or time of day.A profile of Ludwig online says that he was an oil painter for 35 years, until he was out painting one day with Lorenzo Chavez of Parker and observed the colors Chavez was laying down with pastels. He bought some and tried them and was not satisfied, so he determined to make his own and embarked on a number of years of trial and error until he reached his present formula. He credits his wife Marie with supporting the family while he worked out how to manufacture a usable product, now in demand worldwide.Hundreds of hues are available at the shop/manufacturing facility at 8113 W. Brandon Drive. Drive south on Santa Fe Drive two miles beyond the C-470 exit, turn right on Brandon Drive. Ludwig shares the building, third on the right, with Southwest Heating and Cooling. Usually open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. He suggests that one call before coming, to be certain it's open, 303-795-1232. At times, artists teach at Ludwig's -- inquire if interested.
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Big-Western-skies-explored-in-show,240398
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