Mona Mandall

Pastel Journal April 2011

2011-05-28T15:24:00.000-04:00

I'm so happy to be published in one of my favorite magazines.

The Creature's Teapot

2011-05-28T14:52:00.000-04:00

I made this teapot for a teapot show. I was inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon which was filmed here in Florida. It actually functions but I never use it. Maybe I should serve green tea in it.

The Cuddler with Kitten

2011-05-28T14:47:00.000-04:00

Ceramic with Glaze
Here is the female version of "The Cuddler" You can see she is cuddling a kitten. See how the kitten reaches out its paw? Don't worry, cuddle fish don't eat kittens.

Here's a back view so you can see the mottled effect of the glaze.

The Cuddler

2011-05-28T14:40:00.000-04:00

Painting 16"x20"
I painted this for a show called Manimals. I decided to do a Cuddlefish Man. I think he's kind cute.

Key Largo Sunset II

2011-05-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

Pastel 19"x22"
Another sunset in the Keys. My dad used to say it was one of the few places where you could catch as sunrise over the water and a sunset over the water within walking distance.

Key Largo Sunset

2011-05-28T14:26:00.000-04:00

19"x22" Pastel
This drawing was also done as a painting after I did the pastel.

Behold Boo Boo!

2010-12-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

"Behold Boo Boo" Pastel 19"x 25"
Boo Boo was my mom's cat. I drew this pastel portrait of him after he died to comfort mom. I also displayed it in the Cat/Dog exhibit that was held at the Miami International University of Art and Design. I'm going to miss gentle Boo Boo.

Peacock

2010-10-16T12:10:00.000-04:00

"Looking Towards Eternity" 19"x24" Pastel

This was a peacock that I saw in the Arboretum in Pasadena. I wanted to capture the metallic luster and brilliance of the colors in the feathers. I also like its beady eye. Stay back or you get pecked!

The Sea Hunt

2010-10-16T12:04:00.000-04:00

The Sea Hunt is a 19"x 25" pastel. I love the feeling of actually being in the water with the turtle. This drawing won first place in the animal/wildlife category in the Pastel 100 competition of pastel Journal. It will be published in the April 2011 issue. Am I excited? You Bet!

Ceramic Horse

2010-10-16T11:56:00.000-04:00

I sculpted this ceramic horse for an art exhibit based on horses. It got knocked off its pedestal and suffered four broken legs. Fortunately I was able to glue them back on and hide the cracks instead of just shooting....I mean dumping it in the trash.

Time for Sweetpea's Nap

2010-10-16T11:15:00.000-04:00

This is a ceramic tile I started as a demo for a ceramics class. I liked how it was coming out so I finished it. All I need to do is add real whiskers to the whisker holes. I'm waiting for some whiskers to fall out of my hairy cat Cupcake so I can collect them and glue them on. That would make this a mixed media piece. Sweetpea has no hair but she does have a few kinky deformed whiskers. I think normal looking whiskers would look better.

Gobble

2010-10-16T10:55:00.000-04:00

"Gobble" 5"x7" Pastel

Gobble is the name of my cousin Craig's Tortoise. Gobble was found wandering around and rescued and then adopted by Craig. Gobble has her own little house in the backyard, a swimming pool and all the fresh fruit and vegetables she can eat. She loves strawberries and has a ravenous appetite. That's why she's called Gobble. It's a good thing Craig's wife Denise has a business called Edible Arrangements. Gobble will always have plenty of strawberries.

Julius the Mysterious

2010-10-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

This is a 19"x25" pastel of my hairless cat Julius sitting on pillows by the window. He's wearing his pink t-shirt to keep warm. I was inspired by the sun shining through his translucent ears. He has no whiskers but he doesn't seem to mind.

My Toy Creature

2008-12-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

This is an oil painting (9"x12") of my toy model of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I have always loved the creature so I set him up as part of a still life. Also seen is a blue glass egg cup, a silver paperweight kitty and a pink ribbon. I had lots of fun painting the reflections in the silver. Upon reflection, I now see that this painting reveals elements of my personality. How very odd.

Above the Clouds

2008-12-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

This is a pastel that I did after returning from NYC this summer. It looks like water but its all clouds. I entered it in the faculty show this year. It reflects my feelings of ambiguity upon leaving my home town to return to my residence of choice which is Miami. I have always had a love hate relationship with NYC. It has a distinct nightmarish beauty that still has a tremendous hold on my psyche.

Feeding Frenzy

2008-05-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

This is a pastel drawing of some Parrot Fish in the Florida Keys. It's the first time I've used La Carte pastel board by Sennelier which has a rough sandpapery finish. I found it to be a delightfully sensual drawing surface and recommend it to anyone using pastels, even at $10 bucks a sheet. I like the gloomy murky atmosphere of the water and the serious down to business attitude of the fish.

2007-09-03T23:25:00.000-04:00